Witnessing

[altya]

Is witnessing really necessary?
Mar 16:15 He said to them, "Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people.

Mar 1:17 Jesus said to them, "Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people."


Evangelism is an essential part of being Christ’s followers.
Rom 10:14 But how can they call to him for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed?

Your witness should include telling others how God has rescued you and healed your sin-blinded heart.
Joh 9:25 "I do not know if he is a sinner or not," the man replied. "One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I see."

Proclaim how God has answered your prayers
Psa 28:6 Give praise to the LORD; he has heard my cry for help.

Warn people about the coming judgement by the living Christ.
Act 10:42 And he commanded us to preach the gospel to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God has appointed judge of the living and the dead.

Be ready to explain why you have hope
1Pe 3:15 But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you,

Tell others the good news that eternal life is found in Christ.
1Jo 1:2 When this life became visible, we saw it; so we speak of it and tell you about the eternal life which was with the Father and was made known to us.

Tell how Jesus died on the cross to take away our sins.
1Co 2:2 For while I was with you, I made up my mind to forget everything except Jesus Christ and especially his death on the cross.

Explain the message of repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
Luk 24:47 and in his name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

Make clear the need to confess Christ as Lord and believe in His resurrection.
Rom 10:9 If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved.

Very important – How you live is an important element of your witness for Christ
1Th 1:5 For we brought the Good News to you, not with words only, but also with power and the Holy Spirit, and with complete conviction of its truth. You know how we lived when we were with you; it was for your own good.
1Th 1:6 You imitated us and the Lord; and even though you suffered much, you received the message with the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit.

[The Midge]

Is witnessing really necessary?


Yes.

Trouble is witnessing has become synominous with handing out tracts whilst walking down the street yelling "Repent! The end is nigh!" at passers by, wearing a sandwich board with John 3:16 printed on it and only pausing in order to fit a bit of door to door evangelism in.

Very few of us have the right gifts to pull it off.

[SpiritPsalmist]

Yes, witnessing is necessary.

I believe that witnessing goes beyond just speaking though. We must live what we say we believe. That, I think is the true witness.

As Jesus put it, "if you love Me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15)

All to often we hear the Word, we speak the Word, but we are not doer's of the Word. Actions speak louder than words.

[altya]

I believe, if you wait on the Holy Spirit, you will witness without planning it. It will come just natural.

A young guy, my youngest daughter friend, visit our house on a daily basis. I talked a lot with him but nothing about Christianity or to be born again. He often asked me questions and I answer them, and that was all. After three years he come to me when things in his life where very bad and asked me if God would help him. I said to him 'no' and his next question ‘why not’ gave me an opportunity to explain the salvation plan to him. He accepted Jesus as his Savior. One year later he was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit – God also help him to sort out his life.

Incase you wonder why I said ‘no’ to him is because I believe the first prayer God answer from an non-believer is one of repentance.

Witnessing is not a few words or handing out tracts, like The Midge said. It’s really to live the Word.

[altya]

I agree with Quaffer – I always said non believers don’t read the bible they read the behavior of the Christians

[SpiritPsalmist]

I agree with Quaffer – I always said non believers don’t read the bible they read the behavior of the Christians

I heard one time that the Christian may be the "only" Bible that a non-believer will read.

I moved to the mobile home park I live in a little over a year ago. There is one couple who is frequently sitting outside at a table and just talking with each other and any neighbors who pass by.

While walking my dog, if they are out there I stop and talk for a few minutes. They also have a small dog and the dogs seem to enjoy playing with each other.

Anyway, I've come to make it a practice to talk no differently around non-believers than I would with my church friends. I would be more careful with the words common among church people but other than that I talk to them like they already agree with me (speaking those things that are not as though they are :)) I often spoke of what God was doing in my life and just what I was up to church wise. I told her my church was quite lively.

She would always say how she felt bad because she smoked but I would just always assure her the God loved her and those things would be taken care of as time went on.

One evening, the lady came out and told me her mother was going to be visiting and wanted her to find a "penticostal" church for her to attend. My neighbor wanted to know if they could come to my church.

Of course I said yes and I even offered to pick them up. She said no but and then she began to cry and tell me that I was always so loving toward her and she just knew that I was a "real" Christian because no-one had ever treated her so well before.

She did go to church with me that once, when her mother was here, and she really enjoyed it but has yet to let the Lord have her heart. You can all keep that in prayer and that the love of Jesus continue to flow through me to her.

Quaffer http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/clap.gif Yeah Jesus

[altya]

I believe the seed is planted and it will grow. Surly I will keep her in my prayers too. Yes Quaffer the love of Jesus is flowing through you and will continue and increase. The nicest thing ever happened to me was the day I gave myself over to Jesus

[Blade]

For me it's what else in life is there? Everyone we see needs to here but who will tell them? Everyone we see everywhere we go we might be the only chance that person will EVER have to hear about the most wonderful, loving, giving and caring Jesus. Jesus help us to witness.

[hal weeks]

I believe the way Jesus did it is the way we should do it. Demonstrate signs and wonder and then explain to them who did the healing.
Those who are most open is because they need something beyone their own resources.

[Kaye8]

Quaffer, that is a really awesome story. I do believe that a HUGE part of witnessing to people in our schools, at our work, people we meet in the park is from our attitudes. We have to walk in the footsteps of the Lord. When you do that people can tell that you are following someone way bigger than yourself. Only Christ can give you peace in the most hectic moments or love people uncondintionally or just have joy all day long no matter the situation. People can see this in you and makes them want to ask questions, it makes them want to be like you and want to know more. I disagree with The Midge. Everyone can witness. Keep your hearts open to the Lord and what he is saying to you and you can witness to anyone. The Lord provides you with the words, you do not do it yourself. He is always with you.

[hal weeks]

Kay
Well said!

[kenneth558]

I like what Hal Weeks said, if ya'll don't mind me saying so. But just a little tiny difference. In I Corinthians 14:24-25, the Apostle Paul says (no, excuse me, God says ) the reason prophecy is such a better gift than tongues is because it is a witness to unbelievers. The Lord uses John, a friend of mine at my previous church, a lot in this area. Once, his daughter brought a friend over to his house and announced to her friend "My dad is a prophet", then asked John to give a word to her friend. John was caught by surprise, but the Lord instantly gave him a word for this other girl. As he explained how, in her own home, she had just put a knife to her wrist to kill herself but realized she needed to do it in the kitchen so as not to get blood on the carpet, she broke down and cried. You can bet that she knew then that God loved her enough to be mindful of her!

[hobart schmedly]

Witnessing is the easiest thing in the world once you know what to say. Let the overpowering integrity of the Word save them. Tell them they are lost, show them that to call on the name of the Lord will save them... tell them the Lord's name (Jesus!) and let nature take it's course.