TELL • The Practice of Evangelism
Life From the Tree
A Simple Way to Understand and Share the Biblical Story of Life
Life From the Tree is a simple way of understanding the larger biblical story from Genesis to Revelation and learning to share that story naturally with others.
A STORY TO KNOW AND SHARE
A Simple Drawing. A Larger Story.
Life From the Tree is a simple way of understanding and sharing the larger biblical story from Genesis to Revelation. The drawing can help you learn that story and, when appropriate, share it visually with someone else.
But you do not need paper and a pen to use what you have learned. Once the story becomes familiar, it can help you talk naturally about God, life, our human condition, Jesus, and the hope of life with God.
The story begins with humanity living with God and receiving life from Him. Humanity chooses another way. Access to the Tree of Life is lost. Jesus enters the story and gives His life upon the cross, which the New Testament repeatedly describes as a tree. Then, on the final pages of Scripture, the Tree of Life appears again.
The drawing is a way of learning the story.
The biblical story is what we carry with us.
LIFE FROM THE TREE
The Story at a Glance
The drawing tells the story through five simple movements. The paper itself becomes part of the story as the Tree of Life disappears and then becomes visible again.
A CONVERSATION, NOT A PRESENTATION
The Drawing Serves the Conversation
Life From the Tree is not a gospel script to memorize or a presentation that must be completed. It is a way of becoming familiar with the biblical story so that you can share it simply, naturally, and appropriately.
Sometimes you may draw the entire story. Sometimes you may draw only part of it. Sometimes a conversation may move in another direction before you finish.
That is okay. The goal is not to complete the illustration. The goal is to genuinely engage the person in front of you.
The diagram gets us to the conversation.
It does not replace the conversation.
LEARNING THE STORY
Five Simple Movements
When you do have paper and a pen, these five movements provide a simple way to draw the story. Do not worry about artistic ability. Simple trees, arrows, a stick figure, and a cross are enough.
DRAW
Life Was Meant to Be Received
Begin with the paper completely open. Draw a simple tree on the left labeled MY WAY (AUTONOMY). Draw the Tree of Life toward the far right and label it LIFE (GOD WITH US). Draw a person between them.
God created humanity to receive life from Him and to live with Him.
“The Bible begins with God creating people to live in relationship with Him. In the garden was the Tree of Life. Life was something humanity received from God. But there was another tree too, and with it came a choice: would we receive life from God, or would we determine life for ourselves?”
You do not need to memorize those words. Understand the idea and tell it naturally in your own words.
CHOOSE
Humanity Chose Our Own Way
Draw an arrow from the person toward MY WAY (AUTONOMY).
Rather than receiving life from God, humanity chose to determine life for ourselves.
“The biblical story says humanity chose our own way. Rather than receiving life from God, we wanted to determine good and evil and life for ourselves.”
You might ask:
“Do you think we still do that?”
Or:
“Where do you think people tend to look for life today?”
The answer may take the conversation somewhere unexpected. That is not an interruption. That is the conversation.
FOLD
Access to Life Was Lost
Fold the right-hand portion of the paper underneath the existing paper so that the Tree of Life completely disappears.
Do not draw anything else. Let the physical disappearance of the Tree of Life help tell the story.
When humanity chose life apart from God, we became separated from the source of life.
“According to Genesis, something was lost when humanity chose life apart from God. We became separated from the source of life. The story says humanity lost access to the Tree of Life.”
You do not need to stop here and explain every doctrine connected with sin, death, judgment, and the fall. The person can see that something that was available before is now missing.
CROSS
God Did Not Leave Us There
With the Tree of Life still hidden, draw a simple cross in the blank space to the right of the person. Label it:
CROSS
(THE TREE)
Draw an arrow from the person toward the cross.
God did not leave humanity separated from Him. Jesus entered our story and gave His life for us on the cross.
“But the Bible’s story does not end with humanity separated from God. Jesus enters the story. And interestingly, several places in the New Testament describe the cross as a tree. On that tree, Jesus gave His life for us.”
“When you think about the cross, what do you think it means?”
Resist the urge to immediately continue. Their answer may tell you much more about where they are spiritually than anything you could have assumed.
UNFOLD
Life Is Revealed Again
When it fits the conversation, say something as simple as:
“But that is not where the biblical story ends.”
Unfold the paper.
The exact same Tree of Life that disappeared earlier suddenly becomes visible again.
Draw the final arrow from the cross toward LIFE (GOD WITH US).
The biblical story ends with humanity once again living in God’s presence with access to the Tree of Life.
“At the very end of the Bible, in Revelation, the Tree of Life appears again. The story ends with God dwelling with humanity again. What was lost at the beginning of the story has been opened to us again through Jesus.”
Life is received from God,
not achieved for ourselves.
CARRY THE STORY WITH YOU
You Do Not Need the Drawing
The goal of Life From the Tree is not to make you dependent upon an illustration. The drawing is a way of learning the story.
Sometimes you may draw the entire picture with someone. Sometimes you may sketch only part of it. Sometimes there will be no paper or pen at all.
What matters is that you have learned to see the biblical story clearly enough that you can talk about it naturally.
Life comes from God.
We chose life on our own.
Jesus came to restore us to God.
Life with God is offered to us again through Him.
Once this story becomes familiar, you may begin to recognize where another person’s questions, experiences, doubts, and hopes connect with it.
A conversation about purpose may connect with the question of where life comes from. A conversation about independence or control may connect with our desire to determine life for ourselves. A question about Jesus may open the opportunity to explain why the cross stands at the center of the story.
You do not have to force the whole story into every conversation. Knowing the story simply gives you a framework for understanding what you might share when the opportunity is right.
The drawing is the teaching device.
The biblical story is the tool.
THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENT
Put Down the Pen
If you do draw Life From the Tree with someone, the most important part may come after the drawing is finished.
Do not immediately move into a closing presentation.
Put down the pen. Look at the person. Give the conversation some room.
“Where do you think you are in this story?”
Then listen.
They may identify strongly with choosing their own way. They may believe in God but still have questions about Jesus. They may describe themselves as somewhere around the cross. They may say they already believe they are living with God.
Whatever they say, resist the temptation to immediately tell them where you think they really are.
Try something simpler:
“Tell me more about that.”TELL IN PRACTICE
This Is Where Double Listening Begins
Whether you have drawn the story or simply found yourself in a spiritual conversation, the posture remains the same.
Listen to the Person
What are they actually saying? What do they believe? What part of the biblical story connects with their experience? What questions are beginning to surface?
Listen to the Spirit
Quietly remain attentive to God. What might He already be doing? Is there a question to ask, something to share, an invitation to offer, or simply a need to keep listening?
“Father, what are You doing in this person’s life,
and how can I participate?”
AUTHENTIC EVANGELISM
Life From the Tree Within TELL
Life From the Tree does not replace the TELL practices. It gives us a simple biblical story that can serve those practices when a conversation creates an appropriate opportunity.
Trust
The relationship is genuine. The person matters whether or not this conversation ever happens.
Engage
When a natural opening develops, you can enter the spiritual conversation honestly and, when appropriate, share part or all of the biblical story.
Listen
Listen for where the person’s questions, experiences, doubts, and hopes may connect with the story. Remain attentive to the Spirit as well.
Lead
After listening, consider what next step might genuinely serve this person. Do not assume the same next step for everyone.
We genuinely love people.
We genuinely follow Jesus.
Both are true at the same time.
LEARNING THE STORY
Memorize the Movements, Not the Script
Life From the Tree should eventually feel like telling a story you know well, not delivering words you have memorized.
Practice It Naturally
- Tell the story once in about three minutes while drawing it.
- Tell it again without using exactly the same words.
- Tell the story without drawing anything at all.
- Practice with someone who interrupts you with questions.
- Practice stopping halfway through when the other person says something meaningful.
Finishing the drawing or finishing the story is never more important than listening to the person.
THE BIBLICAL STORY
From Genesis to Revelation
Life Offered
Genesis 2
Humanity lives in God’s presence. The Tree of Life stands in the garden.
Our Way Chosen
Genesis 3
Humanity chooses autonomy. Access to the Tree of Life is lost, and exile enters the story.
The Cross — The Tree
Acts 5:30 • Acts 10:39 • Acts 13:29
Galatians 3:13 • 1 Peter 2:24
Jesus gives His life for us upon the cross, which New Testament writers repeatedly describe as a tree.
Life Restored
Revelation 22
The Tree of Life appears again. The river of life flows from the throne of God and the Lamb, and humanity once again dwells in God’s presence.
An Important Distinction
Life From the Tree does not claim that Scripture explicitly identifies the cross as the Tree of Life. Instead, the drawing follows the larger biblical pattern:
Tree of Life → Rebellion and Exile → Cross / Tree → Tree of Life Restored
The story begins and ends with something greater than simply “going to heaven.” It begins and ends with God dwelling with humanity.
THE STORY IN FOUR SENTENCES
God created us to receive life from Him.
We chose to seek life on our own.
Jesus gave His life to bring us back to God.
Through Jesus, we can receive life with God again.
LIFE FROM THE TREE
Know the Story. Share the Story. Listen.
Life From the Tree is not about mastering a presentation. It is about knowing the biblical story well enough that it becomes part of the way you understand life, Jesus, and the conversations you have with others.
Sometimes you may draw it. Sometimes you may tell it. Sometimes knowing the story may simply help you recognize the question someone is really asking.
“Where do you think you are in this story?”
Know the story.
Pay attention to the person.
Listen to the Spirit.