WITNESSING FOR CHRIST

Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

What do we mean by "witnessing"?  Spouting a lot of Bible verses to a non-Christian?  Not quite.  Witnessing involves all that we are and therefore do; it goes far beyond what we say at certain inspired moments.  So the question is not will we witness (speak), but how will we witness (live)?  Often students will ask, “Which is more important in witness -- the life that I live or the words that I say?” That’s like asking which wing of an airplane is more important, the right or the left?

When we're trusting Jesus Christ as Lord as well as Saviour, He enables us to live and speak as faithful witnesses.

-- Adapted from Paul E. Little 

#6205

WE DO HAVE A PART

“And this gospel of the kingdom swill be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”  (Matthew 24:14)

Some of us may like to think we really don't play a part in the overall scheme of things. That is, we feel as though this ol' world will just continue with or without my help. In fact, we feel rather insignificant in the overall picture. However, the truth is that we do have a part in the world and in fact God entrusts us to deliver His message of salvation to a lost and dying world. The New Testament commands - not suggests - that we share our faith and warn the lost. Could there be any greater job? Is anything more important than sharing the message of Jesus Christ? 

-- Pastor Gary Stone 

#5271

SPEAKING ABOUT CHRIST

“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans came to Him, they urged Him to stay with them, and He stayed two days. And because of His words many more became believers. They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.’” (John 4:39-42 NIV)

We are doing more good than we know, sowing seeds, starting streamlets, giving people true thoughts of Christ, to which they will refer one day as the first things that started them thinking of Him; and of my part, I shall be satisfied if no great mausoleum is raised over my grave, but that simple souls shall gather there when I am gone, and say, "He was a good man; he wrought no miracles, but he spoke words about Christ, which led me to know Him for myself.” 

-- George Matheson, from “Streams in the Desert”

#5142

ALWAYS BE PREPARED

“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 NIV)

The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:15 that all Christians should be prepared to explain why they believe what they believe -- and to do so… with gentleness and respect.

In a world where the media often trumpets claims by skeptics, best-selling books hawk atheism, and many university professors seem bent on destroying the beliefs of young Christians, it’s increasingly important for all of us to be able to articulate the reason why our faith makes sense.  

-- Lee Strobel, in the Foreword to “On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision” by William Lane Craig

#5040

PASS IT ON

The grace of our loving heavenly Father has filled our lives, giving us a solid hope.  Now we have the privilege of sharing that grace to those around us.  As grace-filled men and women relate to each other, they communicate in tangible ways the value placed on each other's lives. We share in the abundance we have been given. And we bear witness that our lives are significant to another person.

We live in a throwaway culture. Sadly many people move through numerous throwaway relationships.  The beauty of someone who prizes and protects relationships is obvious.  Our challenge is to be daily renewed and refreshed in our Lord's grace and His provision, and then pass it on to others.

-- Adapted from Dr. Norm Wakefield & Jody Brolsma in “Men Are from Israel, Women Are from Moab”

#4029

EVANGELISM IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

We could call the entire New Testament an “evangelistic” document. The word gospel means “good news.” John says his Gospel was written so that people would believe that Jesus is the Son of God and find life in Him (John 20:30-31). The book of Acts is the energetic account of the way the good news spread through the witness of the early church. Most of the epistles are the explanation of the gospel or the application of the good news to daily life. The New Testament reaches its climax in the Revelation, which declares the good news that, in spite of all evidence to the contrary, Jesus  Christ is “ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5). The book concludes with the invitation for everyone who is thirsty to come and receive the “water of life as a gift” (Revelation 22:17).

“Witness” to Jesus Christ and “evangelism” in the sense of inviting others to experience new life in Him are woven into the fabric of the New Testament. 

-- James A. Harnish in “A Disciple’s Path: Deepening Your Relationship with Christ and the Church” 

#4935

SHARING THE STORY

“For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ But how are they to call on One in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in One of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim Him? And how are they to proclaim Him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”  (Romans 10:13-15 NRSV)

You may not be called to be a pastor but may simply want to share with others what God has done in your life. God is calling all of us to this kind of ministry. Whether you are a pastor or layperson, God calls you to share your faith with family, friends, neighbors, and any with whom you have influence. Peter speaks of doing this with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV). Our most profound witness is how we live and how we love, but at some point it also includes our words, sharing the story of what God has done in and for us. 

-- Adam Hamilton in “Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It”

#4920

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

Isaiah said, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’" (Isaiah 52:7)

Christians who can't or won't share their faith with others may be in a crisis of faith of their own. The question is whether they believe in the efficacy of the gospel -- the gospel which justified so that we don't need to earn our status before God or vie for position with others; the gospel which gives shape and purpose to live, making us other-directed rather than self-centered; the gospel of peace which reconciles broken relationships and builds community; the gospel of justice which advocates for the poor and the marginalized. This is good news. So how can one keep from sharing it? 

-- from the Leadership Network, first published in "Christian Century", 11/20/02

#4874

THE WITNESS OF MOTHERS

“These are the sayings that King Lemuel of Massa was taught by his mother. My son Lemuel, you were born in answer to my prayers, so listen carefully… Charm can be deceiving, and beauty fades away, but a woman who honors the LORD deserves to be praised. Show her respect -- praise her in public for what she has done."  (Proverbs 31:1-2, 29-30 CEV)

The Bible is filled with the accomplishments and witness of mothers who honored the Lord by devoting themselves to God, as they sacrificed, took risks, experienced heartache and loss, as well as the joy that comes from putting trust and hope in the Lord God.

Sarah and Elizabeth became mothers at an advanced age; Hagar served as a surrogate mother; Naomi became a grandmother following a time of hardship and family distress; Hannah promised that she would dedicate her child to the Lord; the events surrounding the birth and ministry of Jesus show His mother, Mary, at His side; unnamed mothers made bold requests on behalf of their children...

Two women who are great examples of passing on the gift of faith are Lois and Eunice, the grandmother and mother of Timothy, who then spread the faith throughout his life as a companion of Paul. It was these two women who instilled in Timothy the power of God by who they were and how they lived. Timothy's upbringing was grounded in the Holy Scriptures.

Therefore, on this Mother's Day, let us praise remarkable women of faith -- those from Scripture and those we have known face-to-face. It is because of them that we have been brought to a knowledge of life well-lived in the Lord.

-- The American Bible Society

#4839

INVITING OTHERS TO RECEIVE GOD’S GRACE

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God -- not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8-9 NRSV)

We lament that many of our churches are no longer growing. Part of it is demographics, since many of our churches are located in rural areas where populations are in decline. Part of it is a lack of vitality in our music, preaching, and small groups. But I’m convinced that a big part of it is that we’ve lost our passion to do whatever it takes to reach those who don’t yet know Christ. That passion drove [John] Wesley and our forbearers to preach on the hilltops, at market crosses, in the cemeteries, and wherever they could get a hearing, in order to share the good news of God’s grace and love for all people.

Wesley preached in city squares, on hills beside coal mines, in jails and fields. He sought out those who were nonreligious and nominally religious, and he invited them to receive God’s grace and salvation through Jesus Christ, free to all.

-- Adam Hamilton in “Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It”


#4716

YOU HAVE A WITNESS TO MAKE

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  (Acts 1:8 NIV)

When the word missionary is mentioned, most American Christians think of persons who serve in foreign lands.  Images come to mind of faithful servants of God who go to faraway places with the prayer and with the financial support of Christians back home.  Missionaries go to faraway places to witness for Christ to persons who have not yet embraced Jesus as Savior and Lord.  However we must expand our images of missionaries… What is a missionary?  She or he is a person who has entered into a relationship of love and commitment with Christ.  That relationship compels devoted service and witness to [unchurched] persons wherever they are.  For most American Christians, that mission field is right in their own communities.

If you are a Christian, you are a missionary.  You have a witness to make to the many persons in your realm of influence who have not yet said "yes" to Christ.

-- Harold K. Bates in “Witness for Christ”

#4694

‘APOLOGETICS’ MEANS A DEFENSE

One fine Southern lady, upon hearing that I teach Christian apologetics, remarked indignantly, “I’ll never apologize for my faith!”

The reason for her misunderstanding is obvious: ‘Apologetics’ sounds like ‘apologize.’ But apologetics is not the art of telling somebody you’re sorry that you’re a Christian! Rather ‘apologetics’ comes from the Greek word ‘apologia,’ which means a defense, as in a court of law. Christian apologetics involves making a case for the truth of the Christian faith.

The Bible actually commands us to have such a case ready to give any unbeliever who wants to know why we believe what we do. Just as the contestants in a fencing match have learned both to parry each attack as well as to go on the offensive themselves, so we must always be ‘on guard.’ First Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to make a defense [apologia] to anyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” (Author’s translation)

-- William Lane Craig in “On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision” 


#4666

FRIENDS WHO INVITE FRIENDS

“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, but do it with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15-16a GNT)

"Do you, as the way opens, share Christ with people who do not know Christ?  Do you witness to your faith by letting your life speak?"  These questions, adapted from a Quaker covenant, remind us of the gentleness, simplicity, and persistence that underlies effective invitation.  Many people with no church home are respectful, curious, and open to spirituality in general.  Others are hostile, resentful, or suspicious of religion, perceiving church people to be offensive and hurtful.

Even people who are not particularly open to church are nevertheless open to their friends, and to the experiences that their friends value.  The most concrete and personal way God reaches out to invite people into faith is through friends who invite friends.

Most people who have no church have at least one friend who practices the faith, and that person provides the most likely pathway to the spiritual journey.  Are you that person?

-- Robert Schnase in “Five Practices of Fruitful Living”

#4641

FULLY AVAILABLE

“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road -- the desert road -- that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch,… This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him… Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.”  (Excerpts from Acts 8:26-35 NIV)

My life is in your hands, Lord.  Like Philip, use me to point someone toward You today -- I promise to cooperate in any way I can.  If you want me to say a word for You today, by Your Spirit’s guidance I will.  If you want me to keep quiet but demonstrate love and servanthood, by Your Spirit's power I will.  I'm fully available to You today, so guide me and empower me by Your Spirit to share the good news of Your great love.

-- Adapted


#4640

GOD’S CALL ON EACH OF US

"Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."  (Matthew 4:19 NRSV)

There was a woman in one of the churches I pastored who, it seemed to me, was always picking on me.  She seemed sure that her young pastor was unable to do anything just the way it should be done.  One day she lectured me about the way I did funerals.  She let me know, in no uncertain terms, that I had better make the gospel exceedingly clear in my funeral sermons, because she had friends and relatives who would be at her funeral who might never hear the gospel if they did not hear it at her funeral.  I didn't mean to be offensive as I blurted out, "Mrs. Jones, don't blame me for that."

We all have responsibilities to carry out God's call to witness and to serve.  And we had better get on with responding to that call right away.  Whether it be death or the sound of the trumpet that heralds His coming, there will be an end to the time that we have available to address those urgent concerns.

-- Tony Campolo in “Following Jesus Without Embarrassing God”


#4636

A LIGHT FOR CHRIST

“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 NIV)

Lord, my prayer is that I might be a light for Christ somewhere today and every day, so that someone might say, “Tell me about Jesus.”


#4633

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’"  (Isaiah 52:7 NIV)

When we are in the trenches of day to day work we can subtly share the good news of Jesus Christ. We share Him by the way we live, the dirty jokes we don't listen to or tell, and by the profanity that is absent from our speech. We practice the principles of Christianity and people begin to see we are a little different from the rest. No, we are not perfect and yes, we do make mistakes. But as we strive toward following Jesus we become Christians at work and in our families -- not just on Sunday morning when the preacher is looking!

Look around your world and you will discovery countless ways to tell of your friend Jesus Christ. Of course, He first has to be your friend and then you will eagerly share Him with others… Let your willingness to testify be evident and God will open the doors.

-- Pastor Gary Stone


#4623

INVITING PEOPLE TO FOLLOW JESUS

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.”  (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)

Paul is a prime example of the radical new ways followers of Jesus would spread God’s truth. He had not been among Jesus’ earliest followers, and in fact he had persecuted the first believers. But after miraculously experiencing the presence and resurrection power of Christ, Paul devoted the rest of his life to proclaiming the dual call to love God and serve Him through a life of disciple making: “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the LORD, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our LORD Jesus Christ.”  (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14)

At great personal cost, Paul traveled throughout the world of his day inviting people to follow Jesus and then encouraging them to go out and invite others to do the same: “So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our LORD or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life -- not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.”  (2 Timothy 1:8-9a) 

-- Steve & Lois Rabey, General Editors, in “Side by Side”


#4460

INVITING PEOPLE TO FOLLOW JESUS

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.”  (1 Corinthians 15:3-5 NIV)

Paul is a prime example of the radical new ways followers of Jesus would spread God’s truth. He had not been among Jesus’ earliest followers, and in fact had persecuted the first believers. But after miraculously experiencing the presence and resurrection power of Christ, Paul devoted the rest of his life to proclaiming the dual call to love God and serve Him through a life of disciple making: “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 NIV)

At great personal cost, Paul traveled throughout the world of his day inviting people to follow Jesus and then encouraging them to go out and invite others to do the same: “So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life -- not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.”  (2 Timothy 1:8-9a NIV) 

-- From “Side by Side: Disciple-Making for a New Century”, Steve & Lois Rabey, General Editors


#4450

OFFERING GOD’S LOVE

Offering God's love to another person and inviting someone else to follow Jesus multiplies both the inner qualities of spiritual fruitfulness and the outward impact of service more than anything else we could possibly do.  Living fruitfully includes passing along the faith and creating spiritual life in others.  Fruitful living involves inviting others to the spiritual life.

Offering God's love so that others may accept God's grace bears fruit beyond what we can fathom.  Imagine if as a consequence of you following Christ and your invitation, a few other people explore the spiritual life who otherwise might not have done so.  Imagine if these people eventually embrace following Jesus themselves, mature in faith, and make a difference in the world through their service, mission and giving.  Imagine how the people you invite to faith intermingle with the lives of countless other people you do not know.  The fruit in your life multiplies in unseen and unknowable ways when we offer God's love.  The grace of God is replicated, repeated, and shared.  Seeds are scattered, some take root and bear fruit in ways beyond what we can comprehend.

-- Robert Schnase in “Five Practices of Fruitful Living”


#4266