Lesson 18 - HOW TO WITNESS (Share Your Faith)
What is soul-winning? - Sharing God’s love with others and leading them into a relationship with Christ. - Revealing truth to a lost and dying world. Why witness? (your motivation is of primary importance here.) - They will die and go to hell without it. - The love of God should compel us to share with others. Qualifications - Born again - you can’t give what you don’t have - Live it - before you tell it, you must do it - actions speak louder - Genuine love for people - you are doing it for them, not yourself - Baptized in the Holy Spirit - that’s what it’s for (Acts 1:8). You need His guidance, wisdom, and power. Types of witnessing - Street evangelism - sharing with strangers - planned witnessing - Visitation - going to homes, knocking on doors, following up church visitors - Lifestyle - just let them see it in you. How many people could you reach if you never said a word? (This method is natural with friends and family, though sooner or later, the word must be spoken.) - Home outreach - use your home as an outreach center - home Bible studies, inviting neighbors for coffee, prayer, dinner, etc. - be a good neighbor. - Tract distribution - handing to people or putting on doors - Invite others to church - volunteer to bring them - Telephone outreach Methods - John 3 - When they ask you (1 Peter 3:15 - John 4 - When you go to them. Find a point of need and work from there. Approach - Be loving - Don’t just try to meet your quota or score another notch in your belt. - Be gentle - Don’ tpuch. People don’t like to be pushed, rushed, or condemned. Consider their feelings, opinions, preferences, time, etc. - Be honest - Don’t try to sneak the gospel in. Be subtle, but be open. (Sometimes people will just get irritated and still not know what your point was.) - Be natural - Don’t force of manipulate it. Seize the opportunity, but take it easy. - Be specific - Don’t just hint - give it to them straight. - Be wise - Know when to move in and when to back off. People are receptive during times of crisis - moving, death, sickness, changes, etc. - Don’t argue or get side-tracked - but do try to answer sincere questions. (Above all, don’t get mad.) - Stay alert - If you pay attention, you’ll get plenty of opportunities to share you faith. People are always looking for real answers. - Know your message - What is the gospel? - God’s love - God loves you. - Man’s sin - all are sinners and out of relationship with God. - Sin’s penalty and God’s judgment - God is just, but merciful. - Christ’s atonement - Jesus bridged the gap between you and the Father. (He died for you.) - Faith required - You must believe in order to receive. John 3:16; Romans 3:23; 6:23 ; 5:8; 10:9; John 1:12 Have a plan - Be ready for every opportunity, but make a deliberate plan and effort to share the message. - Ask God to show you who to talk to. Choose your target - pray through before you go - get in the door (establish a relationship) - gain their confidence - give it to them. Evangelism Approach Have you come to the place in your life that you know for certain that, if you died today, you would go to heaven? What would you say to God if He were to ask, "Why should I let you into heaven?" Did you know that you can be sure? Here are the facts: 1. Heaven is a free gift. You cannot earn it, and you will never deserve it. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no-one can boast." 2. You are a sinner and cannot save yourself. Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," James 2:10 "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." 3. God is merciful - He loves us - but, He is just - He must punish sin. Jeremiah 31:3 "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." Ezekiel 18:4 "The soul who sins is the one who will die." 4. Jesus is God in the flesh, and HE came to earth to die for our sins and save us. John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." Isaiah 53: 6 "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." 5. It is faith that saves us - that is, believing in and trusting Christ alone for salvation - nothing else. Ephesians 2:8 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--" Acts 16:31 "They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." It’s that simple. Just put your life in His hands, follow Him every day, and watch how He will change your life. Personally, I made that decision 24 years ago - in 1973 - and I have never been the same. My life is a miracle of God. The change has been drastic. Pastor Rick Roberts Please be as polite as possible - no matter what. Keep your visit brief, but don't rush. Please make notes of your results and give them to the Pastor. Another Approach (Telephone or Door-to-door) Opening: Hi, We're from New Life Assembly of God. May we visit with you for a few moments. (If they say no, thank them for their time and leave. Always get permission before trying to witness.) Converse: Comment about their home, or ask how long they have lived in the area - ask about their occupation, hobbies, kids, etc. Witness: If you don't mind, may I ask you a couple of questions? Question 1. Are you currently active in a local church? (If yes - We're so happy you have a church home. I appreciate your taking the time to talk with me.) Then hang up, or excuse yourself and leave politely. If no - Question 2. Do you feel that it would be important for you to find a church home? Two more quick questions, if you don't mind: Do you feel that if you died today you would go to heaven? If no - May I tell you what the Bible says about how to get to heaven? The Bible tells us that heaven is a gift from God. "...but the gift of God is eternal life..." Romans 6:23 We cannot earn our way to heaven, and we don't have to try. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8 That is because God is a holy and righteous God and He must judge sin. "For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23) And we are all sinners. (Romans 3:23) But God is also a loving God and does not want you to go to hell. (The Bible tells us that "God is Love" 1 John 4:8. He loves us with and everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3) Because of this, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for your sins. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) (Who is Jesus? He is God come in the flesh to pay the wages of sin for us.) All we have to do is put our faith in Jesus to be saved. We are saved BY GRACE - THROUGH FAITH. Faith is trusting Jesus alone for your salvation. (It's like putting your weight in a chair and trusting it to hold you.) "To as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God." John 1:12 Does that make sense to you? Would you like to ask Jesus to come into your heart and be your Savior and Lord? Follow Up It is vital to follow up new converts. They need to know someone really cares. They may need the nurture in order to hang in there. It is important that the person who led them to Christ follow up on them. Call within 24 hours and ask how they are doing. Be specific about their faith. Ask if they have any questions. If they have some you cannot nswer, promise to get back with them, and be sure to do so. Encourage them to 1) read their Bible, 2) pray, 3) get in church, 4) tell someone about their conversion. Offer to pick them up for church, if necessary. Offer to sit with them Introduce them to other believers. Call again within one week, or after the next church service. Offer to Study the Bible with them at least a couple of times. (You don’t have to commit to an ongoing study, just get the basics covered so they can go on with God. A Study For New Converts
Study Guide For "What The Bible Is All About"
by Henrietta Mears
Chapter 18 - Understanding Isaiah (and the Prophets)
1. The name Isaiah means ____________. 2. The prophets were men God raised up during the ____________ of Israel’s history. 3. What was the message of the prophets? Turn ye _______________ __________________________________________________________ 4. What is the difference between the major and minor prophets? __________________ 5. The prophet’s chief duty was to _____________________________. 6. The prophet was never sent while ____________________________. 7. The Jew is still looking for __________________. 8. God fulfills prophecy __________________. 9. The ____________ is not in the prophets at all. It is the __________. 10. A man’s attitude toward God will affect his whole ____________ life. 11. The prophets exposed what? ________________________________. 12. Prophecy occupies how much of the Bible? __________ 13. What are the three elements of the message of the prophets? __________________,______________________________, and _____________ ______________________. 14. Isaiah is the prophet for ________________. 15. Prophets were sent when the nation was _______________________. 16. __________ is seldom popular with the sinner. 17. God promises to do what for the prophet? (Deut 18:18) ___________ ___________________________________________________________ 18. Through the whole book of Isaiah we find the ultimate triumph of _______________. 19. Isaiah is a miniature ___________ in structure. 20. Jesus is coming twice. Once as a _____________, and then in _________________. 21. Isaiah chief theme was _____________________________. 22. Isaiah speaks four words to Judah - ________________, ________________,_______________, and __________________. 23. He promised _____________ if they would ______________, and a ____________ if _____________________________________. 24. To worship aright in the presence of God we must be ___________ ____________________________. 25. God is more concerned with our _____________ than with our _________________. 26. What sins separated the people from God? ___________, ___________, & ______________. 27. Isaiah’s call taught him of his own ______________ and gave him his ____________. 28. The secret of Isaiah’s power lay in _______________________. 29. God always brings a curse on any nation that _________________. 30. Isaiah spent his life trying to get Judah ______________________. 31. Isaiah 40-66 is called _______________________________. 32. Jesus was the _____________________________________.