How to do it? Where to start? Well, that is why I wear the word. It’s a great conversation, starter and icebreaker if you will in sales and when you’re dealing with people.
I have witnessed to many people using my WWJD bracelet and that was the inspiration for my LLC.
The resurrected Lord commissioned us
In the gospels of Matthew and Mark, the Lord’s indisputable command to His believers is recorded. Matthew 28:19 says:
“Go therefore and disciple all the nations.”
And Mark 16:15 says:
“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all the creation.”
Before the resurrected Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave His believers one commandment: to go and preach the gospel. This was His commission to His church, which means it includes all of us who have been redeemed and born again.
Each one of us has been commissioned by the Lord to proclaim the good news of His salvation. The Lord Jesus commanded us to go forth with His precious gospel to all the creation, meaning everywhere, and to all the nations, meaning all people of every race.
So we must proclaim the gospel because our Lord, the One who died for us and rose from the dead, commanded us to do so. He has given us the responsibility to preach the gospel to sinners all around us, and even to the whole earth.
We are branches in the vine to bear fruit
The Lord Jesus said in John 15:5:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
Then in verse 16, He said:
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and I set you that you should go forth and bear fruit.”
The picture of branches in the vine shows us our relationship with the Lord. By staying attached to the vine, the branches enjoy the life of the vine and flourish. But the goal of this enjoyment is that the branches would bear fruit.
Fruit in John 15 refers to people who are saved through us. So we all must “go forth” to tell others about the Lord Jesus that many more can be saved.
The unbelievers need to hear the gospel
No matter who they are or what they have or haven’t accomplished, all human beings have a desperate spiritual need. Paul’s words in Romans 1:14 show us our responsibility toward them:
“I am debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to foolish.”
Every one of us believers is a debtor. We owe a great debt to the people around us who aren’t yet saved. Those who haven’t believed in the Son of God will perish eternally in the lake of fire. We owe it to our relatives, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and others to tell them about the Savior so they can believe in Him and receive eternal life.
Where would we be today if someone hadn’t told us about Jesus? Romans 10:14 says:
“How then shall they call upon Him into whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe into Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without one who proclaims Him?”
If people never have the opportunity to hear the gospel, how can they believe? This is why we must proclaim the Lord and His salvation to others.
Satan’s kingdom suffers loss
Satan wants to keep people under his evil authority. But when people believe in the Lord Jesus, they’re delivered from Satan’s tyranny over them. In Acts 26:18, Paul described the Lord’s commission to him in this way:
“To open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”
When we speak to people about Jesus and they receive Him as their Savior, they’re turned from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God. They receive forgiveness of their sins and obtain a rich spiritual inheritance. More captives of Satan are released and Satan’s kingdom suffers loss!
What is a Witness?
What do you think of when you hear the word “witness?” Most people probably think of someone in a courtroom. The witness is someone that has seen something take place and is there to tell of all that they saw, heard, and experienced. Likewise, as Christians, we are called to be witnesses for Christ who present a testimony about the truth that we have experienced and heard.
The Role of a Witness All Throughout Scripture
In Acts 1:8, Jesus calls his disciples witnesses and calls them to go to the ends of the earth with this good news by the power of the Spirit:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
But this isn’t just a New Testament thing that started with Christ sending out his disciples, it is something that we can see throughout the entire lens of scripture! From the beginning, we can see God’s plan to use His people to be His witnesses to the other nations around them. He calls a people to Himself to know Him, to be set apart, and to tell of what they’ve experienced to all the nations around them. They were to be His representatives to the world!
We can see this early on with Abraham when God promises to make him a great nation that will be a blessing to all the nations (Genesis 12). We see it all throughout the story of the Old Testament. And I love how we begin to see this take place in the book of Exodus. God has just rescued the Israelites from slavery and is calling them out as His people to worship Him and to proclaim all that they have experienced. Let’s look at this passage:
“The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” Exodus 19:3b-6
They are to reflect on all God has done for them, cling closely to Him by obeying His Word, and to be His treasured possession. This isn’t just for their own sake, but to be a Kingdom of Priests with the role of being set apart for Him in order to declare His praises to a lost world. And this theme continues all throughout the Old Testament with priests, prophets, judges, etc doing just that. We get a clear picture of this again in Isaiah 43:10-12:
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.”
Throughout all of scripture we can see God’s people called to be witnesses in order to declare this true and faithful God that we know and have experienced. This declaring is not only in word but in deed. Our lives should testify to the story we are a part of as God’s children: we are set apart, redeemed, sanctified, and live in light of this because of WHOSE we are. 1 Peter 2:9-10 brings this calling from all scripture together so beautifully:
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10
You can see here that it is God who does the calling and drawing His people near and then they are to go and declare this great God they have come to know and trust. So, it is God who causes those who are told the good news to believe, not the person who is the witness. The role of the witness is simply to share all that they have seen, heard, and experienced. God does the changing of hearts. It is also worth noting that ALL who know Him are to proclaim Him, not just a certain, talented or chosen few.
For more details on what it means to be a witness for Christ throughout all of scripture, check out this helpful resource from The Bible Project.
Why Do We Witness for Christ?
Well, if the above section didn’t convince you, let’s have a look at some other passages to help us understand and back up why we are called to be witnesses and the importance of witnessing for every believer.
Jesus’ Example:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19
Jesus’ Command:
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Called to Be Ambassadors for Christ Who Proclaim His Greatness:
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10
Participating With God in Proclaiming the Good News:
“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:13-15
Witnessing is Part of Being a Disciple of Jesus:
“And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
Witnessing as a Response to What Christ Has Done For You:
“for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20
Witnessing Because We Love and Care For Others:
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” 1 John 1:1-4
“Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8
What Do We Proclaim As Witnesses of Christ?
It’s not enough to just understand that we are to proclaim Christ as His witnesses to the ends of the earth, but we must know the story we are a part of in order to proclaim it rightly and truthfully.
We must proclaim God’s Word.
We don’t just share our own thoughts and opinions, but everything we share must be rooted in the Word of God. It is through hearing the Word of God that people are saved!
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
We Proclaim the Good News of the Gospel.
I love how Paul explains the entirety of the gospel in so many parts of scripture. These can be great places to look and examine what to share.
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:1-10
There are so many great verses to share in this section, but for the sake of space, here are a few others that are helpful to look up: Romans 3:21-26, Romans 5:1-11, Romans 6:20-23, Galatians 1-2, Ephesians 1:3-14.
Ultimately, we share the good news of the gospel that we see in God’s Word. We share that God is God and there is no other, we share the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness and into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). This is indeed the best news, so why wouldn’t we want to declare it to all the earth?!
How To Be a Witness For Christ
Our role as a witness is to both tell of the good news with our words, but to also share through our actions. Witnessing is an all of life kind of thing because following Christ encompasses all of life! We are called to follow Him (Matthew 4:19), walk in a manner worthy of the calling He has given us (Colossians 1:10), be representatives of God in His mercy, grace, and forgiveness (1 Peter 2:9-10), and be prepared to tell of the hope we have in Him (1 Peter 3:15-16).
Being a Witness Involves Both Word and Deed
To continue on with our 1 Peter 2 passage, let’s look a little further into the passage and the book of 1 Peter to see how he connects both telling of the good news with words and deeds.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 1 Peter 2:9-12
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” 1 Peter 3:15
There’s a distinction in all of these passages. We share both in word and deed in response to all that God has done for us. It is out of who we are in Christ and whose we are as children of God that we go on to share and act in a way that is pleasing to God. Our good deeds don’t save us, but are our proper response to the saving grace given to us. Then in turn, people see our good deeds and are drawn to this glorious God that we serve!
You Must Draw Near to God For Yourself!
As you seek to share all that you have seen and heard, YOU must first be drawing near to God for yourself. Spend time with God in His Word, in prayer, in fellowship with others, and grow in your relationship with Him. As you do so, you will have first hand experience to witness about your own relationship with God to others! Look at the example of the disciples in this. They spent time with Jesus, learned from Him, and then couldn’t help but share all that they had seen and heard (Acts 4:20).
Being a Witness Involves Prayer and Dependence on the Spirit.
Remember, as a witness it isn’t your job to save people (that’s God’s job!), but to share all that you have experienced. So as you seek to share, do so with a heart of prayer for those you are sharing with and for your words to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Ask God to work through you both in word and deed, and do His work in the hearts of those around you. Pray diligently and depend fully on the work of the Spirit as you faithfully share.
“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”
1 Corinthians 3:7
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Tools to Help You Share With Others:
While witnessing is definitely an all of life thing as we live our lives with God, there are some wonderful tools to help us to be ready to tell of the hope we have in Christ when times arise. Here are some great resources that I like to use in sharing my faith with others.
- Your personal testimony. Your story is an incredible way to share the hope you have in Christ. It is your first hand story of all that God has done in your life. This can be one of the most powerful tools of sharing Christ with those around you. If shared well in a way that points others to Christ and not to you, it can bring the power of the gospel to light for those who don’t yet know Him. My biggest encouragement for doing this is to include the gospel message clearly (not just your own story) and include a gospel verse. Click here to get a great resource for thinking through how to share your own testimony.
- The Bridge Illustration. This is a great tool for sharing the gospel in visual form. There are many ways to use this, but I like the one-verse bridge illustration because it is simpler than having to remember a ton of different verses to share and is also simpler for those you are sharing with. Now, it takes some adapting to get the whole big picture story of scripture and the gospel in there, but that’s the fun of adapting it in your own words! Click hereto get more information about sharing in this way.
- Share as you go. Much of witnessing about Christ comes during day to day conversations and lifestyles. Pray for opportunities to share about Christ both in word and deed and look for opportunities that come up to share about the hope you have in Christ. This may come up in a conversation with a friend about why you live the way you do or may look like standing up for the oppressed when no one else is willing to. It may be boldly sharing the gospel with a friend or taking every opportunity to show His sacrificial love with those around you. Both word and deed are essential as we live as God’s children in the midst of the world around us, declaring His greatness to those who have yet to hear this wonderful news.
- Read the Bible with a friend. Have a friend interested in learning more about Jesus? Why not ask them if they want to read the Bible with you so that they can see for themselves what it has to say and decide what they think about it all? My favorite place to start is by reading the book of John with someone and looking specifically at two questions: Who is Jesus? And what does He want from us?
- Share Christ in community. Welcome your non-believing friends into your lives and community. Overlap your community with your believing friends and non-believing friends and let them see what it looks like to live as a community of disciples transformed by Jesus. If we are truly living as God calls us to in community with one another as believers, our lives should look different and attract others to not only this type of community but to Christ Himself!
I pray that as we seek to live lives that are transformed by the gospel, our natural response would be to share about all that we have seen and heard. We have been saved, redeemed, restored, and made children of God, so let’s go out and declare His greatness to the world around us. May we live in such a way that shows our only hope is Christ and that gives us opportunities to share this great hope we have in Him! And let’s do this with prayer and dependence on God to do the work in the lives of those we love so dearly.
*This resource is meant to be shared! If you found it helpful, please share it with family and friends, use it as you disciple your children or others in your life that you are discipling, and continue passing.
Christians, we are all called to witness for Christ, but what exactly does that mean? Does it mean we are required to approach people at work, in our neighborhood or in the public square and tell them what Christ has done in our lives? Does it mean we are required to hand out tracts? Does it mean we are to approach strangers and ask if we can pray for them? It can mean doing these things. After all, letting others know what Christ has done for you and can do for them is witnessing.
Some Christians are so full of the love of Christ that witnessing comes easily. They are exuberant, out-going types who cannot wait to share God’s Word with anyone who will listen. But some Christians are introverted, shy, and fearful of opening up to others on deeply personal subjects. For these Christians, the thought of approaching strangers and baring one’s soul about something so deeply personal strikes fear in their hearts.
If witnessing for Christ is difficult for you, I recommend an approach that is effective, Scripturally-sound, and will not induce fear. It is based on a maxim you might have seen: Witness for Christ at all ties and use words if you have to. Using this approach, you can overcome any fear you have of witnessing for Christ.
Most Christians want to heed the admonition in 1 Corinthians 11:1 where Christ tells us to be imitators of him. This can be a difficult challenge when doing so subjects you to pressure, rejection, and even threats, but don’t despair. Whether in school, on the job, or in any other environment, you can be a faithful witness for Christ. The key to doing so is found in Christ’s own words where he tells us in 1 Corinthians 11 to be imitators of him.
Imitating Christ means setting a Christ-like example in all we do. You do not have to hand out tracts or verbally evangelize to spread the Gospel. In fact, in some settings these approaches are not appropriate. But don’t despair. There is an approach to witnessing for Christ that is not just appropriate in any setting, it is also effective. No matter what setting you find yourself in, you can show others the face of Christ by how you do your work, treat other people, make decisions, respond to challenges, and behave in emergencies. In other words, set a Christ-like example for the people you interact with. Consistently setting a Christ-like example in all aspects of your life may be the most effective form of witnessing there is.
For believers, appropriate responses to anti-Christian pressure, rejection, and even persecution are those that exemplify the teachings of Scripture. They are responses that personify what is written in Titus 2:7. In this verse we are told to show ourselves to be models of “good works.” This verse also admonishes us to demonstrate “integrity” and “dignity” in our teaching. Remember that you teach best by example. You can set a Christ-like example in even the most hostile territory because doing so means being honest, loving, caring, dependable, conscientious, and industrious. Even the most hardened rejecters of Christ appreciate interacting with people who personify these Christ-like traits.
Don’t get me wrong. I fully understand how difficult it can be to respond to temptation, rejection, and pressure in ways that are consistent with the teaching of Christ. Secular humanism, moral relativism, and political correctness, permeate all aspects of American society generating ever-increasing levels of anti-Christian bias. Swimming upstream against the current of anti-Christian bias is not easy. I don’t want to understate this fact. This is why I tell my counseling clients who are struggling with this issue to remember Christ’s instructions to his Apostles before sending them out to spread the Gospel. In Matthew 10:16 Christ told the Apostles they were going to be like sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, they would have to be both wise and innocent. This is good advice for you too.
Witness” and “Witnessing” in Acts
Perhaps the best way to answer that question is to see how the apostles “witnessed” to Jesus in the book of Acts. After Jesus’ identifies his followers as his witnesses in Acts 1:8, Luke uses the word μάρτυς 12 more times to describe the witness-bearing of the early church (1:8, 22; 2:32, 40; 3:15; 4:33; 13:31; 14:3, 17; 22:5, 20, 15; 26:16). (He also uses the verb μαρτύρομαι twice, 20:26; 26:22).
From observing how this word is used we can begin to sketch what a faithful witness might look like. While a whole theology of witnessing could be written from Acts and the rest of the New Testament (e.g., see Allison Trites, The New Testament Concept of Witness), let me suggest five truths about witnessing from the book of Acts.
Five Truths About True Witnessing
1. Witnessing is personal.
Jesus begins by telling his disciples that in just a few days they will receive his Spirit, and when they do, Jesus says, “you will be my witnesses.” From John, we know Jesus’ Spirit is called the “comforter” or “helper” (παράκλητος). He will take Jesus’ place and be just like him (ἄλλος in John 14:16). In other words, the gift of the Spirit is the gift of Jesus’ very presence mediated by the Spirit. In this way, he will continue to be with them and in them (John 14:17).
Conversely, the disciples will be his personal witnesses. Witnesses bear testimony about what they know, and in this case it is Who they know. As John testifies in his first epistle, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life (1:1), so we bear witness to the God who we know. Witnessing is not possible for those who do not know Christ; and it is strengthened as those who know the Lord grow in love with and knowledge of the One who saved them.
2. Witnessing is primarily about the resurrection.
The first place where the content of witnessing is described is Acts 1:22: “. . . one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” In deciding who would replace Judas, the qualifications included eye-witness testimony of Christ’s resurrection. Significantly, the primary witness in Acts is not about Christ’s cross, but his resurrection from the dead (which, of course, presupposes and includes his cross). This resurrection-emphasis is indicated in this requirement and in the way testimony about Christ’s resurrection repeats in Acts (2:32; 3:15; 4:33; 13:30-31). In each of these verses, witness is made about the resurrection.
Accordingly, we who witness today must not speak merely of a God who is loving, a Christ who forgives sins, or a salvation that provides second chances. Such gospel messages truncate the full gospel and miss the power of Christ’s Lordship. Jesus is not a Forgiver who happens to be Lord; he is the Lord who died to secure forgiveness through his death and resurrection. Acts puts emphasis on his resurrection and we should too.
3. Witnessing is Christ-centered.
If witnessing focuses on Christ’s resurrection, it also includes all that he said and did. For instances, Acts 5:32 says the apostles bore witness to “all these things.” The “these things” are explicated in the previous two verses: “The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (vv. 30–31). Death, resurrection, and exaltation to the right hand of God were assigned to Christ, so that he might send his Spirit to grant repentnace which provides salvation; these are the primary facets of the gospel. And they are what true witnesses proclaim.
Likewise, Acts 10:39 speaks of the comprehensiveness and Christ-centeredness of true witnessing, “And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.” Like in Acts 5, Peter’s words are not without content. Rather, Acts 10:39b–43 highlight the main points of the gospel:
They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
Under Jesus’ command his witnesses are to testify about him, just like the prophets of old. And like the prophets God chose to carry his message, we see in Acts 10:41 how God chooses us, as well. We do not choose to be his witnesses; he chooses us. Therefore, just as the center of our message is Christ, so is our source. Only by God’s gracious election in Christ will we be, can we be, witnesses to Christ.
4. Witnessing is accompanied by the witness of the Spirit.
After the apostles identifies themselves by their testimony in Acts 5:32, they identify the Holy Spirit as bearing witness with them: “. . . and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” As Jesus promised in Acts 1:8, the Spirit would empower his disciples to bear witness. In fact, it is impossible to proclaim Christ without the Spirit. Therefore, witnessing is not something we do in our own strength, it requires the gracious work of the Spirit in us.
Therefore, witnessing is a profoundly spiritual activity. Just as the early church received the Spirit and had multiple subsequent”fillings of the Spirit” (4:8, 31; etc.), so we rely on the power and presence of the Spirit, too. Witnessing requires faith, prayer, and the power of the Spirit. In short, to witness to others, we need the witness of the Spirit.
5. The goal of witnessing is the salvation of others, not just the dissemination of (gospel) information.
In Bill Bright’s book, he defined evangelism as sharing the good news “and leaving the results up to God.” To be sure, this is a liberating principle: God grants salvation, not us. However, I wonder if it may lead to a kind of evangelistic indifference. I can imagine someone justifying, “It’s all up to God, so as long as drop a few gospel nuggets, I can minimize the awkwardness of the conversation, and trust him with the results.”Because evangelism is warfare, we come up with all kinds of excuses to witness.
For that reason, we need to steel our hearts with promises of the gospel’s success and our responsibility to stand up as witnesses to proclaim the gospel with power. One of those promises is that when the elect of God hear the good news of Christ’s resurrection they will repent and believe. Acts 13:32–33 says, “we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus.” The “we” and “us” in these verses are defined as “witnesses” in verse 31. Jesus taught his disciples how he was the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises, and now as his witnesses they explained these things to others, so that in hearing the gospel they might believe. Verses 33–47 demonstrate how Christ’s resurrection fulfilled the Old Testament, and then in verse 48 Luke records, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.”
In short, the apostles who received Jesus’ instruction did so in order to be witnesses of Christ. And filled with the Spirit they went out confident that their message would be heard and believed by those appointed to eternal life, i.e., the sheep of God scattered throughout the world (cf. John 10:16, 26). Therefore, witnesses go out with confidence that the gospel will be successful, and we cannot be content with simply discharging the message. Rather, we must long for the salvation of others, stopping at nothing to see others come to faith in Christ.
Let Us Walk as Witnesses
This is what we see in the book of Acts, a fellowship of disciples on mission to make disciples. To repeat what I said earlier, witnessing is not something we do; t is who we are. Thus like Paul, who said in 1 Corinthians 9 that he did everything for the sake of the salvation of others, we too should live our lives as personal witnesses of Christ, his resurrection, and everything else that he did.
To that end, let us labor, with prayerful confidence that God will take the gospel to the nations as we, his witnesses, fulfill our calling. May this short study help us understand that role, and may the witness of the Holy Spirit impassion us to grow as witnesses.
Having defined the gospel as the message that proclaims the arrival of God's blessed kingdom and the means of citizenship in it by faith in Christ alone, we can now move on to the broader biblical teaching on what it means to proclaim this message to all creation. As we will see, all believers are called to bear witness to the truth of Jesus Christ.
First, we should consider the distinction between witnessing and evangelism. Essentially, witnessing is a broad category of which evangelism is a subset. Biblically speaking, the task of bearing witness is to make visible what is otherwise invisible to us. Our task as Christians is to show forth the reality of God's blessed reign. We are to bear witness to the invisible kingdom of God and make it visible by testifying to its existence in a variety of different ways.
Bearing witness to the reality of God's kingdom includes telling the story of Jesus and calling people to repent and trust in Him—evangelism—but that does not exhaust the ways we bear witness to our Lord's saving reign. For example, the love we show to other believers is a powerful testimony to the rule of Jesus our King. When we love one another in the church, we show that we belong to Christ, who pours His love into our hearts (John 13:34–35). Another way we witness to the kingdom of God is through our celebration of the Lord's Supper. Strictly speaking, the Lord's Supper is not an exercise in evangelism, though it visibly portrays some of the content we preach in evangelism. As often as we eat the bread and drink the cup, we show forth the Lord's death until He comes (1 Cor. 11:26).
We should note two things at this point. First, that we will be witnesses to Christ and His kingdom is not in doubt. Today's passage records Jesus' final words to His followers before His ascension, and He says, matter-of-factly, that those who serve Him will be His witnesses. We will either be good witnesses or poor witnesses, but we will certainly be witnesses. It is inherent to being a Christian.
Second, knowing the distinction between witnessing and evangelism keeps us from confusing the two. Giving our testimony of how God saved us and is blessing us is a good thing, but it is not evangelism. Living in holiness witnesses to the work of Christ's Spirit, but it is not evangelism. Evangelism takes place only when we share the message of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and then call people to trust in Him alone.
Coram Deo
Most of us have likely been told to "preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." That's a well-intentioned but misleading phrase. We have not preached the gospel if all we have done is been kind to others. Kind acts adorn the gospel and show that the One whom we serve is conforming us to His image. But evangelism happens only when we proclaim the message of Jesus and call people to put their faith in Him.
1. The disciple will know the conditions for success.
2. The disciple will see new reasons to show genuine love for your neighbor.
3. The disciple will receive encouragement to witness.
Scripture Memory
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Agenda
1. Personal prayer and sharing.
2. Discuss the questions.
3. Review Scripture verses.
Sharing Christ with Others
I. A plan to follow to reach others.
A. Make a friend. Do this for the sake of knowing him for who he is.
B. Win his confidence with genuine love and friendship.
C. Be authentic—a genuine person.
D. Live your life before him in all faithfulness to God.
II. A few facts (though some are hard to embrace).
A. People are unfitted naturally to fellowship with God, Romans 8:8.
B. God desires the salvation of all people, 2 Peter 3:9.
C. People, in God's plan, are to be reached through other people.
D. Every believer is to share in winning souls, John 15:16; Matthew 28:19-20.
E. This is the most blessed service to people, Daniel 12:3.
III. Conditions of success
A. Our own personal experience of salvation, John 15:4-5.
B. Lives that are exemplary, 2 Timothy 2:21.
C. A working knowledge of the Word, 2 Timothy 2:15.
D. A life of prayer, Matthew 21:22.
E. A love for souls, Romans 10:1.
F. Perseverance, Galatians 6:9.
IV. Some "don'ts" for witnessing
A. Don't be messy or have poor personal hygiene.
B. Don't assume the attitude of knowing it all.
C. Don't be afraid of anyone.
D. Don't lose your temper or begin to argue.
E. Don't get overly personal, especially with those of the opposite sex.
F. Don't have confidence in your own personal ability.
G. Don't interrupt others.
H. Don't try to control a conversation.
I. Don't leave a person without giving him an appropriate verse or something to think about.
J. Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
What is Evangelism?
[from The Sword of the Lord by John R. Rice]
It is the sob of God.
It is the anguished cry of Jesus as He weeps over a doomed city.
It is the cry of Paul, "I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to my flesh."
Evangelism is the heart-wringing plea of Moses, "Oh, this people have sinned...yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin...; if not, blot me I pray Thee, out of the book which Thou hast written."
It is the cry of John Knox, "Give me Scotland or I die."
It is the declaration of John Wesley, "The world is my parish."
It is the prayer of Billy Sunday, "Make me a giant for God."
It is the sob of a parent in the night, weeping over a prodigal child.
It is the secret of a great church.
It is the secret of a great preacher and of a great Christian!
Worksheet
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARING CHRIST WITH OTHERS
This is a worksheet prepared for individual study on the subject of witnessing for Christ. Many people will have some difficulty with this spoke of the wheel, saying "my faith is a very personal thing," and will use this idea as an excuse not to witness. There is no denying that my relationship with Jesus is very personal. For each of us there must be a personal decision—a very individually-oriented commitment to Jesus and His Lordship, if I am to enter into life. But personal is not private. My faith in Christ can never be private. Salvation is a universal matter that relates to Good News which is the meaning of the word "Gospel." The purpose of this session is to help us see that we are to share our faith with the world, beginning with our neighbors and friends. Our Father has never meant for us to co-exist in a world with those who do not believe. He would have us win them.
People often want to say what is most important when their time to be with friends and loved ones is about over. What was the Lord Jesus most concerned about just before He returned to heaven? Acts 1:4-9
The Greek word for witness is the word marturion. From this word, we get the word “martyr.” What does this imply as far as the will of Christ for us is concerned? See also Luke 9:23.
A witness is one who "says what he knows and knows what he says." Where did Jesus say we were to be witnesses? Acts 1:8
Where is your Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and entire world?
Matthew 28:19-20 records words of Jesus just before He ascended into heaven. What was His commandment to His disciples?
It is important to note that the imperative is to disciple. What is involved in the making of disciples as urged by Jesus?
Mark 16:15 says the Gospel is to be preached to whom?
Luke 24:46-48 says what was to be preached to all nations?
To summarize the teaching of these verses, we can say that Jesus wants each of us to be ___________________. This means that I will say what I _________ and that I __________ what I say. Doing this certainly involves sharing my faith with another because I am commissioned to take the Gospel to _____ ________. I am first responsible to ___________________ and then to _________________ until the whole world knows. In the witnessing I am to do, I am first responsible to make ______________ , to encourage them to be ____________ , and then to ___________ them.
It is important to look at some basic realities that make my being a witness and willing to share Christ a genuine priority. The first reality is found in Romans 8:8 where the condition of man is discussed. Paul says that an unregenerate man cannot _________ God. Of course, the unregenerate or natural man can be good and can do many right things, but what does God say is the nature of man's righteousness? ________________________, Isaiah 64:6. It is apparent that all men outside of Christ will never be able to fellowship adequately with the Father unless they experience _________________________.
Another reality is that ________________________________________
_____________________________________________________, 2 Peter 3:9.
That men experience regeneration is in keeping with the will of ________. There is no man on earth whom God does not desire to ___________________. This He can do because His atoning work was for how many? _____________, 2 Corinthians 5:19.
Revelation 22:17 assures whom of the availability of eternal life?
What are some of the ways that men hear the Gospel today?
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According to John 15:16, what is a Biblical and universal way for the Gospel to be spread?
What does this passage say about the fruit remaining?
How do we help this become a reality?
What does Daniel 12:3 speak of concerning the sharing of Christ with others?
There are many joyful things about the Christian life. One of the chief things is the joy of sharing Christ with others. What does Paul say about those we win to Christ? 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20.
Sharing Christ is not only a gift of the Spirit (evangelism), but also an art. Though the Holy Spirit is the One Who energizes, witnessing is something we must learn to do. There are some conditions that must be met if we are to be maximally successful in doing this.
John 15:4-5 speaks of the "fruit of the Spirit," but what else do these verses imply in relation to one who is to be an effective witness?
2 Timothy 2:21 speaks of another condition for usefulness. What is this condition? _______________ Yet another condition is found in 2 Timothy 2:15. This verse says I am to _____ _______________ to present myself approved as a workman. What is "accurate handling" of the Scripture?
Yet another condition or aid in witnessing is to develop ___________________ which means I will not give up easily, Galatians 6:9. Anyone who has never shared Christ with another will probably not be too successful the first few times he attempts to do this. According to Galatians 6:9, what is he likely to do? ______________________ What promise of encouragement is in this passage?
There is a final condition or necessity. We are to be ______ _____ ______ ______________ ______ ________, Romans 8:14, if we are to be successful. This is because He must prepare the heart to receive the witness and His leadership will be in connection with the work He has done.
Read Acts 8:26-40 and from this text indicate all of the ways the Holy Spirit prepared the situation and led both Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.
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It is important that each of us actively trust the Holy Spirit to direct us in our way and prepare the hearts of men as we seek to share Christ. It is also important that we pray specifically for individuals with whom we share our Savior. As we earnestly seek His leadership and pray for people without Christ, we will develop a "love for souls." This is also an active condition that must be present if we are to be effective witnesses.
Fill in the names of two or three people you will actively pray for, and witness to, as God gives you the opportunity.
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It is interesting to note that an angel was involved in the directing of Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch. Not only will the Holy Spirit direct, empower, and convict, but angels apparently have a part in bringing men to Jesus.
The Parable of the Marriage Feast
MATTHEW 22 AND LUKE 14
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PERSONS INTERESTED IN EFFECTIVE WITNESSING
These are two parables in the Synoptic Gospels that obviously refer to the same occasion and subject. This is the marriage feast of salvation which involves God, our Father, choosing a Bride for His Son the Lord Jesus. We often see similar accounts in the Synoptics as those that teach identically the same thing. And it is true that in this account, it is the marriage feast (the calling of a bride for His Son), that is the sole issue. The Bride, of course, is made up of those who share personal faith and commitment to the Lord Jesus.
For those of us who believe in inerrancy of Scripture, everything said is significant. The tense of the verb, the number of the case, and everything in the language is important. In the present parable under consideration, there are some striking differences not readily apparent to the casual reader, and these differences are connected practically to our service in ways that are significant and far-reaching. Understanding these can make the difference between discouragement and the correct perspective when we share Christ with others.
It is the purpose of this discussion to elaborate on these differences in practical ways that relate to our witnessing or sharing Christ with others. Understanding the fundamentals will not only make reproducing ourselves in the lives of others a more efficient thing, but will keep us from hindering the work of God through us.
Let's look at the texts:
These are felt by Bible teachers to be comparable and referring to the same subject and occasion.
MATTHEW 22
Wedding is the involvement.
Servants are sent forth to call the invited ones.
The work of the servants is to
1. Vs. 3—Call
2. Vs. 4—Tell the invited of the feast that has been prepared.
3. Vs. 4, 9—Invite by saying "come to the wedding."
LUKE 14
The Great Supper is the involvement.
The Servant is sent at supper time to the invited ones.
The work of the Servant is to
1. Vs. 17—Say “come.”
2. Vs. 21—Bring in the poor, maimed, blind.
3. Vs. 23—Compel them to come in.
Practical Teaching and Observations
The work of the Servant is much more active and authoritarian than the work of the servants. Actually, the work of the Servant becomes forceful, while the work of the servants is to be quite different. It is more the simple dispensing of information...the sharing of good news!
Many of the servants were ridiculed and spitefully used. Some were even killed. This is not true of the Servant. But to Him, excuses were made. (Excuses are never made to the servants, so don't take things personally.)
Servants represent you and me as we labor in the vineyard. Note that when the work of the servants is described, one appeared at the wedding feast who was definitely out of place—he had no robe of righteousness, and he was cast out, vs. 11-13. Servants can, if sufficiently persuasive, get a person to say "yes," or they can get them to say the "sinner's prayer." But only the Holy Spirit, the Servant, can do the true work of regeneration that clothes a man in the righteousness of Christ. This should teach us that we should not be "pushy" or overbearing when we witness. We might rather wait for cracks of light which indicate to us that the Holy Spirit is genuinely dealing with the individual. Only as the Servant has prepared the heart, can there be a true work of righteousness in the life.
A final simple truth taught in the Matthew 22 account is that which pertains to the absolute mute condition of one who stands in his own righteousness. Note than the guest without a wedding garment was speechless. There was nothing he could say. Surely this teaches us that for those who choose to stand in their own righteousness before our Heavenly Father at the marriage supper of the Lamb, there will be no more excuses, nor will there be anything that justifies the presence of such a one. "I never understood clearly," "you are a God of love," or "I have been a truly moral person," will have no place before the Lamb. Let's not be overly enthusiastic in pushing people to make decisions.
A general truth that can be inferred relates to the mental condition of many who attempt to witness, and who are enthusiastic about doing it. We certainly want to share Christ with others. The last thing Jesus said before He ascended into heaven had to do with sharing the message with the world. "You shall be my witnesses ..." We often become discouraged in witnessing when we mistakenly try to do the work of the Father and fail to see the kind of results we want to see, or find people generally unresponsive.
The Purpose
We are to tell others about Him, nothing more and nothing less. We need not be discouraged if there is little visible fruit in salvation shown from our efforts. Our responsibility is to get the message out clearly and in a reasonable manner to those who are willing to listen. John the baptizer specifically “came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe.” (John 1:7-8).
The Person
Focus on the Person we represent and the person to whom we are witnessing. We are messengers of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15), the One who created and sustains the universe. He is the Savior, the One who laid down His life for the lost. He is the Lord and we need not be ashamed in any way. And, to whom are you witnessing? Do you have a genuine care and concern, or are you merely going through the motions? Imagine that you came upon a house that was on fire and someone was in the house and unaware of the imminent danger. Would you do all that you could to save them from a horrible death? Would you pull them from the fire? (Jude 20-23). The people to whom you are witnessing who are lost and on the way to eternity and the fires of hell, and the Lord has placed you in their path to tell them of Him. Do so.
The Preparation
Witnesses are open to questions so it is only natural that you will be asked questions about what you believe. You should be prepared with Bible study and prayer, but do not let your lack of knowledge keep you from witnessing. Be ready to provide answers for what you do know, and to get answers for what you do not know (1 Peter 3:15-16). In John chapter 9, the man who was blind from birth was given sight by our Lord. He was questioned by the Pharisees and he simply told them what had happened to him. When the Pharisees would not believe him and asked him the same questions again he states, “I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be His disciples?” (John 9:27). He did not have detailed answers to all the questions but he could tell them what happened to him. He was clearly not skilled in the scriptures, but was able to tell of his experience. We should be as prepared as possible and we can do that with regular prayer and Bible study (2 Timothy 2:15). But don’t let your lack of Bible knowledge prevent you from witnessing about your Savior.
The Plan
Have a plan and do not do things haphazardly. Are you planning to meet anyone today with whom you can share the gospel or have you asked the Lord to make someone available for you to witness to? Do you carry tracts and other materials to hand out? We are blessed with gifted speakers, gospel meetings, and excellent evangelistic materials. What is your plan today to meet and befriend one who is lost and to witness to them? As you study the New Testament you will see that the Lord sent His disciples out with a specific plan to cover the world with the gospel. We too must have a plan and then follow it to be effective for Him.
The Prize
In 1 Corinthians 9 and Philippians 3, Paul states that we should focus on the prize as a runner does and not the short term pain that we might be suffering. We have another example of our Lord in Hebrews 12:2, where it states that the Lord Jesus, “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Read Hebrews 11 where it is said that Moses would rather suffer with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Hebrews 12:1 states that we “are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” that have preceded us. What wonderful examples the Lord has provided us for our encouragement! In Philippians 4:1 Paul calls the brethren “my joy and crown, my dearly beloved.” Clearly, we need to focus on the prize of a soul saved and added to heaven forever, even when we are discouraged or frightened to witness.
In closing let me point you to the account of the servants who were entrusted with the talents by their master. How well did they invest what was entrusted to them? Will you be able to look forward to the words of our Lord and Master – “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:21). Be a good and faithful witness for Him.
Christians, go and tell of Jesus,
How he died to save our souls;
How that He from death might free us,
Suffered agonies untold.
Tell them of the joys of heaven,
Purchased by the Savior’s blood,
How, that they might be forgiven,
Jesus left His home above
