SOLVE THIS RIDDLE
(Before and After sketch board pictures posted at the end of this outline)  

INTRO:  Introduce yourself and where you are from.  PAINT these words in ladder lettering  SOLVE THIS and ask the crowd if they know what the last word is.  You could also paint up solve this first before you say anything as this will create curiosity. 

PAINT in ladder lettering this word: RIDDLE then, when someone guesses it  Tell the crowd you will be painting up 4 riddles that will illustrate some key events in the life of a man named Harvey.

BOX 1:   Start telling Harvey�s story by saying he was on a fishing trip with two buddies. PAINT Harvey�s two buddies in the boat fishing and mention that after a short period of time someone yelled.

Now PAINT these words:   MAN OVER BOARD

Ask the crowd what the 1st riddle says and then PAINT Harvey floating in the water.  You might make some application to similar tragedies that all people face such as hearing the word cancer, or you�re fired, or you failed the exam, or I don�t love you.  A personal story from your own life will help keep the crowd listening.

BOX 2:   The 2nd picture describes the weather conditions the day Harvey fell into the water while his friends tried to rescue him.  PAINT extended arms on Harvey�s two friends and PAINT up a 0 above MA  BA  PhD.  Ask the crowd if they can figure out how cold it was when Harvey fell overboard.  (3 degrees below zero). 

Once someone guesses the answer, tell the crow his friend worked fast and got Harvey out of the water.  

BOX 3:   The 3rd riddle is a picture of Harvey being united with his family and friends.  PAINT heads, elbows and feet on the crowd and complete the word ground.  Ask the crowd what happened to Harvey (6 feet under ground).  Tell the crowd Harvey was in the water too long and hypothermia set in and he died.  This is not the end of the story as one box still remains.

BOX 4:   Tell the crowd that while Harvey was alive he did some reading and research into a subject that is an interest to us all from time to time.  Since statistics tell us 10 out of 10 people die, it is an appointment all of us will make and it will not be our last appointment.  Even though we know our flesh is like a blade of grass (I Peter 1:24 ) most of us are also convinced that something awaits us beyond the grave (Eccl. 3:11 ).

PAINT up the words: DEATH / LIFE

Ask the crowd, �What was the subject that Harvey did research in?�

(You are now getting into the heart and soul of the Gospel message.)

Just like it has been put into a bird how to make a nest, a beaver to build a dam and the bee to build a hive, our Creator has put eternity in our hearts.  Most people think that their entering heaven after death is based on their performance here on earth.  No matter what type of philosophy or religion Harvey or you may investigate, the teaching is that good behavior is rewarded and bad behavior is punished.  The problem is that all religions define �good� in a different way.

God, since He created heaven as well as earth, has given us a definition of good.  It is reflected in the Ten Commandments.  Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was and He said there are two (Matt. 22:36 -40).  

I.   Review some of the Ten Commandments with the crowd. 

Ask questions like, �Have you ever told a lie?  What does that make you? � a liar!�  �Have you ever stolen anything regardless of its value?  What doest that make you?  �  a thief.�  The truth taught in Romans 3:19, 20 will take place if you use the Ten Commandments to teach about sin.  

II.   The consequences of your sin is death.  This does not mean you will be rewarded with heaven; it means you will be punished in hell.  We will give an account of our life to God (Heb. 4:13 , Rom 6:23 , Ezek. 18:4).

III.   God�s love and mercy provided a payment He could accept (Romans 5:8, I Peter 3:18 ).  God appeared in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16), was born of a virgin and lived by God�s law without sinning (II Cor. 5:21, I John 3:5, John 3:16).  Christ died for our sins and rose again (I Cor. 15:34).

IV.   The final point in your message will be a plea for your crowd to believe this message.  God�s promise is to those who agree with God that they are wrong and He is right (repentance) (Luke 13:3,5) and God promises eternal life to those who trust His Son (I John 2:25).  

IV.   CONCLUSION:   PAINT up this word in ladder lettering: FORGIVEN and quote Romans 4:7, �Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven and whose sins are covered.�  If this is the decision anyone in the crowd wants to make today / tonight, I would like to give you this booklet.

BEFORE

 

AFTER
           

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