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Way of the Master Week 3: Looking into the Mirror of the Law

2005 Archive: The Mirror of the Ten Commandments

Way of the Master Week 3 - The Mirror of the Ten Commandments image with tablets and reflective mirror.Discover the power of God’s Law as a mirror—see the truth, share the Gospel, and lead others to Christ.

Tri-Lakes Church Evangelism Training — August 24, 2005

By Brad St. Clair, Evangelism Coach

If Way of the Master Week 2 was like pouring spiritual gasoline on a fire, then Way of the Master Week 3 felt like someone turned on a high-powered spotlight as we looked into the 'Mirror' of the Ten Commandments.

The room went quiet as 118 people realized that God's Law isn't just an old list of rules—it’s a powerful tool that shows us exactly why we need a Savior.

In Way of the Master Week 3, The Mirror of the Ten Commandments, we saw how God’s Law reflects the truth about our hearts and points us straight to the Cross.

Many of us grew up thinking the Commandments were rules to follow, but tonight we learned they are God’s Law used as a mirror to show a deadly condition we can’t fix on our own.

You could feel the focus in the room as we moved past the “safe and easy” messages and started to feel the full weight of God’s truth again.

It was a meaningful shift from simply attending a class to joining a faithful rescue mission.

Our goal is to use the Law to show a person how they have offended a Holy God, ultimately leading them to a place of sincere repentance.

This isn’t something we made up — the Bible clearly shows that God uses His Law in evangelism to bring people to repentance.

August 24, 2005: Tri-Lakes Church Evangelism Training — Week 3

Way of the Master Week 3 showing the Ten Commandments as a mirror that reveals our need for Christ.The Ten Commandments aren't just rules—they are the mirror that shows a soul its need for a Savior.

Galatians 3:24 - "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (KJV)

Psalms 19:7a - "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul..." (KJV)

Romans 3:19 - "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." (KJV)

Romans 3:20 - "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (KJV)

I John 3:4 - "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." (KJV)

Romans 7:7a - "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law." (KJV)

I Timothy 1:8-9a - "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners..." (KJV)

Brad St. Clair headshot

Brad St. Clair is an evangelist and evangelism coach, and the founder of YouEvangelized — formerly Repent and Turn Ministries — with 22 years of hands-on ministry experience. He's an independent ordained minister with an Associate of Ministry Degree and a Diploma of Biblical Studies. Brad has trained hundreds of believers, led public-outreach sessions, and open-air preached to crowds. His ministry is documented at YouEvangelized. When he's not training others, Brad often turns motorcycle rides into opportunities for prayer and gospel conversations.


Way of the Master Week 3: Real Stories from the Field

Okay, back to the class...I discussed some of our personal experiences we've encountered while we have been out witnessing.

This really helps in the class; it shows people that they can get out and do this. It is not just for some Christians... it is for ALL Christians.

We’re challenging folks to take what they’ve heard off the pews and onto the sidewalks—living it out where people actually see it, not just nod along in the sanctuary.

Watching the fire grow in this room, I don't just hope for volunteers; I see a team already waiting for the signal to head into the streets.

The church bought Living Waters gospel tracts and we were selling them to use when we go out as a group.


A Door Opens for Teen Challenge of the Ozarks

After service, conversations kept breaking out as people admitted the message had confronted them—and they knew they couldn’t ignore it.

There were some teenage girls there from "Teen Challenge" who were saying they would need to miss next week.

Next week will be the WDJD episode (What Did Jesus Do). It shows step-by-step how to start a conversation with someone you want to witness to.

They really want to see this episode and listen to the training, so that they can learn how to witness this way.

They gave me the phone number for the Teen Challenge office. I am planning to call the person in charge and discuss the possibility of us going to their location.

This would move the training out of the classroom and straight into a real rescue mission—walking truth into the lives of people who are already hungry for it.

Class members shared how they sat in silence, gripped by this biblical use of the Law.

They haven't thought of it before, but it is very biblical and makes sense. I had the same thought when I first watched it.

The room buzzed long after the teaching ended, with questions, reflections, and a few eager hands raised.

This is proof that the church isn’t just listening to the Way of the Master training, they’re already leaning into it.

Like I said before, the plan is that in a week or two, we will be heading out with a group from church into Branson, Missouri with Pastor Mark at the head of the line.

The impact of these sessions wasn't just felt by the students; our leadership saw the extraordinary value in this biblical approach as well. Here is a quote from our pastor:


Testimonial from Pastor Mark Shorey, D.Min. honoring Brad’s series for helping his church reach the lost with excitement.



The Enduring Takeaway and Call to Action: Your Turn

Main Takeaway:

This week reminds us that the Ten Commandments act as a mirror, showing us the "smudges" on our souls that only Christ can wash away.

It is eye-opening to realize that the Law isn’t a ladder to climb to heaven, but a tutor—a schoolmaster—that leads us directly to the Cross.

When we try to share the Gospel without first showing someone the Law, it’s like offering a life jacket to someone who doesn't even know their ship is sinking.

We must be sincere enough to let the Law strip away every excuse so that the grace of Jesus can finally be heard.

A Challenge to Look in the Mirror

Call to Action:

I challenge you to spend time in the Word this week and let the Law do its sincere work in your own heart before you head out to share it with others.

Don't just be a 'hearer' of the word—be a dedicated laborer who is ready to offer the certain hope of the Gospel to a world that doesn't yet know it's lost.

Keep in mind that a clear and honest warning about the Law is the most compassionate expression of love you can give to those around you.

It takes a lot of courage to stop sugar-coating the truth, but the Holy Spirit is ready to give you the words you need. 

This includes the people God has placed around you, as well as the strangers you meet in your everyday life.


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Common Questions in Way of the Master Week 3: Looking into the Mirror of the Law

Evangelism Q&A with Coach Brad

Why use the Ten Commandments when sharing the Gospel? Why not just talk about love?

Because love without truth doesn't actually rescue anyone. If someone doesn't know they're in danger, telling them that "God loves you" sounds nice and comforting, but doesn't move them to do anything about it.

The Law works like a mirror. It shows someone the truth about their own heart before they ever hear the good news about the Cross.

There's an old phrase that sums this up well: law to the proud, grace to the humble. The Law - the Ten Commandments - humbles a proud heart first. Then grace actually means something once it lands.

Are Christians still under the Ten Commandments, or are we free from the Law?

Good question, and one that trips up a lot of believers. Short answer: we're not saved by keeping the Law — we're saved by grace through Jesus.

The Law was never able to save anyone; it was only ever meant to show us we needed saving.

But that doesn't mean the Law is useless now. We still use it in evangelism the same way a doctor uses an X-ray — not to fix the problem, but to reveal it so the real cure can actually mean something.

Isn't using the Law like this a little harsh or legalistic?

It may look like it at first glance, especially if you grew up thinking the Ten Commandments were just an old rulebook. But their goal was never to shame someone into behaving better.

It's really the opposite of legalism. Legalism says, "Follow these rules to earn favor with God." The Law - the Ten Commandments say, "Here's why you can't earn it — now let me tell you about grace."

One crushes. The other rescues.

What does it mean that "the Law is a schoolmaster" that leads us to Christ?

It's an old phrase from Galatians 3:24, and the actual picture behind it is stronger than "schoolmaster" sounds today.

The Greek word describes a guardian assigned to a child — someone who disciplined, corrected, and kept that child in check until he was grown.

The Law worked the same way. It didn't gently walk people to Jesus. It held people accountable, restrained them, and showed them exactly where they fell short — until Christ came and that guardianship was no longer needed.

Is this really biblical, or is this just a modern evangelism technique?

It's not just a modern evangelism technique. It's not something Way of the Master invented — it's straight out of the Bible, including Romans, Galatians, and 1 Timothy, and preachers going back centuries taught it the same way.

Using the Law before grace isn't a trend. It's just old, sound teaching most modern churches quietly stopped using.

Did this class actually lead to people going out and witnessing in Branson?

Yes, it did — that was the whole point. This wasn't a "sit and learn" class. By week three, our pastor was already planning to take a group out into Historic Downtown Branson to put what we'd learned into practice.

Is this Way of the Master class still going on at Tri-Lakes Church today?

This report is from August 2005 — an archived look back at week three of an 8-week evangelism course. It's not a class you can walk into today, and the building itself has changed hands since then.

But the material never expired. If you want to see how the whole 8 weeks played out — from the first nervous night to a church stepping out onto the sidewalks of Branson — you can follow the full series here on the site, week by week.

See below for the entire 8-week evangelism course links. 

← Previously: God's Wonderful Plan for Your Life — Week 2 | Next Up: The WDJD Strategy — Week 4 →

Walk through the full training—from the first 'hello' to the boldest street encounter. Follow our journey week by week:

Week 1 — Week 2 — Week 3 — Week 4 
Week 5 — Week 6 — Week 7 — Week 8