Basic Truths: Witnessing #3
- we've been talking about "Using our tongues to tell others
about Jesus Christ."
- so far we've studied a number of reasons why we ought to
witness.
- we also began talking about reasons why we don't always
witness as faithfully as we should.
- the first reason we talked about was the "love of approval,
respect, prestige"
- the Scripture makes it clear that those who carry God's
message will not receive universal approval.
- we studied some of those passages in depth and
saw that Jesus prepared us for this fact and that
the lives of the disciples proved the truth of
this idea.
- we also studied some verses that we ought not to
let the fear of man enslave us.
INPUT - do you remember the verse in Proverbs
that particularly addresses that issue?
(29:25 - the fear of man brings a snare)
- this morning I'd like to finish discussing the reasons why
we don't witness as faithfully as we should and then move
into one of the most effective means of telling others
about Christ.
(reasons why we don't witness as faithfully as we should)
B. "Unadorning" lifestyle
Titus 2:10 - adorn the doctrine of God
- Some folks don't tell others about Christ because
they haven't been growing and living a godly
life in front of that person.
- INPUT - Is that a legitimate excuse? What should
a person in that position do? (Ask
forgiveness, witness, change)
INPUT - can you think of other passages of Scripture
that "connect" the ideas of witnessing and a godly
life? (I Peter 2:12, 3:15-17)
(this is the "other side" of point "A". There ought to be a
natural attraction because of a believer's lifestyle)
C. Fear of failure
- let's develop this idea of the fear of failure some
more.
- often when we have this fear, we are being
motivated by the wrong things. (next page)
- Is witnessing a failure if the person doesn't
accept Christ as Savior?
- This idea needs to "balance off" some of the things
we presented in the introduction last week
concerning "Reasons we should witness"
(commanded, commended, condition of the
unsaved, reality of hell)
- We really need to divide those thoughts into
primary and secondary motivations.
- "Primary motivations" being ones that can be
satisfied even if the person doesn't make a
decision.
- INPUT - Which ones? (commanded, commended,
compassion, care for others)
- the other reasons are important, but
we ought not to translate a reason
like "condition of the unsaved in
hell" into a thought like "I must
rescue so and so from hell"
- otherwise you'll be discouraged if
that person doesn't make a
decision
- Input - when we're struggling with this issue
of "fear of failure," what kinds of thoughts
may have to be put off?
D. Failure to learn and study
INPUT - what's the balance on this subject?
- will never know all the answers, but need to be
growing stewards of the truth God has entrusted
to us.
(recommend handout of verses)
E. Failure to love and build bridges
- develop - we live in a self-sufficient society
F. Failure to focus on who He is
Isaiah 6
Luke 5:1-11 (cf. 11 - And when they had brought their
boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him)
Rev. 1:17-19
************************************************************
- we're going to "switch gears" here
- we've talked about a number of biblical reasons why we
should witness, and a number of reasons why we don't
- however, we're not simply trying to create a "guilt level"
and then stop there
- our Lord never does that with us
- He tells us what He expects, but He also tells us how
to accomplish that
- what we'd like to do with the rest of our time is to talk
about one of the best "methods" of witnessing, that is,
sharing our testimony
- definition - using the story of your personal salvation to
convey the biblical truth of the gospel
- the words of the defintion were chosen very carefully
- we're not talking about "telling personal
stories/antecdotes because they're more palatable that
the Scriptures."
- (cf. transparency - testimony/Bible - two separate
circles)
- instead, we're talking about using the story of how God
saved me as a means of conveying biblical truth
- (cf. transparency - 2 cocentric circles - testimony
inside of Bible)
- now, let's think for a minute about:
I. Why Should I Prepare My Testimony?
A. Because saved people have something to say
1. Psalm 107:2 - "Let the redeemed of the earth say
so."
2. John 4:39 - (woman at the well) - "And many of the
Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the
sayings of the woman, who testified, He told me
all that I ever did."
B. Because it is a proven method
1. Acts 22
2. Acts 26
C. Because you are commanded to do so
- I Peter 3:15 - "...and be ready always to give an
answer to every man that asketh you of the hope
that is in you."
D. It grieves the accuser
- Rev. 12:11 - "And they overcame him by the blood of
the lamb, and by the word of their testimony."
II. How Should I Prepare My Testimony?
A. three essential elements
1. what I was before
2. how I received eternal life
3. what eternal life has meant to me
B. Important points to remember
1. be positive
2. biblical motives for receiving eternal life
3. write it out first!
