Philemon 6 says “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith…
The word you here is a very interesting word I the Greek…it means you. It doesn’t mean “evangelist”, doesn’t mean someone else who’s “gifted”…“it’s not my thing” doesn’t work here… it means YOU, it means all...
Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”
Pastor Randy Christensen says, “The Holy Spirit doesn’t have a body that’s why He wants to use yours.”
Bill Bright defined a successful witness as “Sharing the claims of Christ under the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.”
I like the way DS Clarence St John describes reaching people for Christ. He says if you pull everyone on a 20 point spectrum-the most godly person imaginable is +10 and the worst sinner imaginable at a -10 wherever you find them…just bump them up a notch.
Don’t worry about going to witness, just witness as you go.
You may be asking “How in the world do you know when a person is open or ready to hear about this stuff?
1 Samuel 16: 7 says … “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
God knows what’s going on in a person’s heart-when we are yielded to Holy Spirit He’ll let you know who’s ready.
Bill Hybels says, “the single highest value in the evangelistic endeavor is to be attuned to and cooperative with the promptings of the Holy Spirit.”… “The Nudge”
1 Peter 3:15 says “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.”
People are more open to hear than we are willing to share.
Remember, God can use your words He can’t use your silence. Bill Fay calls it the sin of silence.
10 out of 10 people die so this is important stuff..
Here are a few approaches you could consider:
If you have lived in this area for some time and you have people you are concerned for spiritually but have never shared your faith with them-what do you do?
To overcome that just go to them in humility and simply say “I have to ask you to forgive me.” They’ll ask “What for?” You can say something like “I’ve known all this time and I’ve never shared the most important thing in my life with you.” Would you forgive me?
Then share your testimony, God’s story and invite them in.
You possess one of the most powerful tools for sharing your faith-nobody else can do this-only you-you can share your testimony. What your life was like before you became a Christian, how it was that you became a Christian and what it is like now that you are a Christian.
Tom Elie has a wonderful little 5 point outline on this: Next week Pastor Keith and I will have a very helpful tool for you to easily prepare your testimony. Honestly, you will love it!
When conversations take a spiritual turn, it’s critical to know how to convey two stories with humility, clarity and brevity: your own faith story and God’s good news story. We’ll help you with both those next week.
I’ll give you a seek preview: he starts out by saying, “I’m working on an assignment can I ask you a question? “Tell me what is the greatest thing that has ever happened to you?” After they tell you their response they will usually ask, “How about you, what’s the greatest thing that has ever happened in your life?” If they don’t ask for his response-he asks them permission to share what’s the greatest thing that’s happened in his life.
Tom told me of a person he was on the phone with-a tech support person with his national phone service. He asked the question, “What’s the greatest thing that’s happened in your life and the guy responded: “The greatest thing that has ever happened in my life was I moved to Arizona and had a sex change operation last summer… What would you do?
Tom said he gulped and prayed and listened. He prayed within his heart that he wouldn’t ruin the opportunity. After the young man finished Tom asked him if the change he experienced was more on the outside of his life or the inside? The young man quietly replied “probably more on the outside.” Tom asked if he could share the most important thing was that had ever happened to him? He did and then closed by saying, “ Jesus is the only One who can change us on the inside.” We don’t know what all happened but I think it was a great witness for Christ-what’d you think?
Colossians 4:5-6 says, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
If you are uncomfortable talking about things of faith you can easily share a gospel tract. Steps to Peace With God is the one Billy Graham’s wrote . He is one of America’s most respected leaders and most people view him as highly creditable. If you can read-you can lead people to Christ. If you would like to share Christ with someone-we have them available at the Info Table after service. Check online websites: American Tract Society; Ray Comfort; Ken Gaub.
Carl Malz, an incredible servant of God, pastor, missionary, Bible College President, Speaker, Author-great guy. As a kid was walking the streets of Cleveland, Ohio. Saw a piece of paper blowing across the sidewalk, picked it up and read it. It was a gospel tract, prayed and gave his heart to Christ. Don’t underestimate the power of a gospel tract.
Here are some ways you can share your faith:
- Of the 5 people God used to help me come to faith-2 of them never said anything about God… they just got me to people where I could hear the gospel. Billy Graham calls this approach “Operation Andrew” from the scripture where Simon went and got his brother Andrew and said, “Come and hear”. All can do this!
A great way to share your faith is by inviting friends to events here at church.
- Bill Fay has a very effective video series titled Share Jesus Without Fear. His first question is: “Do you have any spiritual beliefs?” Then listen. If they ask, “What do you mean?” Just ask, “How do you see Jesus Christ…who is He to you.?” After they have shared their opinions the door will open for you to share yours.
- “Do you have 100% assurance that if you died tonight that you would make heaven your home?” Would you like to have 100% assurance? You can know so-you don’t just have to hope so. I ran out of gas east of Olivia about 2 years ago. I rolled to a stop near a farm
- If you think being good will get you to heaven, how good…is good enough? Who decides?
- When the topic of life or death comes up simply ask “when it’s all over, what do you think is out there-what do you think is on the other side?”
- Remember the Evangelism Explosion questions? “If you were to die tonight and stand in front of God, and He asks, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” what would you tell Him?”
- What is the most important thing in the world to you right now? On the day you die, what do you think will be the most important thing to you?
- On the day you die, what do you think will be the most important thing to you?
- If it gets a little tough going I tell a person genuinely “I’m not trying to hassle you here, I want to spend eternity with you!”
Bill Bright asked the question: “What’s the most important thing you have?” My relationship with Jesus Christ, right?. His next question was, “What’s the most important thing you can do for someone else?” Help them establish a relationship with Jesus Christ.
If you want to see your friends in heaven…invite them!
My all time favorite closing question after I’ve shared the gospel is: “Can you think of a better time than right now to ask Christ into your life?”
Two years ago at the Minnesota District Council DS Clarence St John told of feeling responsible for his church when he was pastoring in Hibbing-then his town-then the whole state. That connected with me because ever since 911, I felt responsible for my seatmates on flights and tried to share Christ with them.
After hearing him I wondered if I was responsible not for just my seatmates but for the whole airplane. So the next morning I was boarding a plane going to Colorado Springs. As I greeted the 2 flight attendants I said, “I’m a pastor and if you or any of your passengers would like to visit with a pastor during this flight, I’d be honored to listen.”
The next thing that happened was the younger of the two attendants said, “Really, I need to talk to someone, my life is a mess!” I was able to visit with her for about 20 minutes at the back of the plane and another flight attendant for an additional 20 minutes and prayed with her.
A week ago I asked Pastor Keith if anyone had shared Christ with the crew that’s building the climbing wall in the Epi Center. He said if I was going to I’d better get after it because they were leaving within a couple of days. I went to the Epi Center that afternoon and said hi. Went back Friday morning and asked if I could take them to lunch and just share some stuff. They said sure so I stopped back at noon and we went to Applebee’s.
Show Picture: Jason was the taller of the two, about 35 single had a full arm tattoo on his left arm. He had an incredible amount of life experiences, job skills and travel including serving in the Marine Corp.
Garrett was 30 single, not as tall-darker hair and goatee, also had traveled a lot, also served in Marine Corp, also had a lot of job skills. His parents split when he was 10 being the oldest son he helped feed the family and raise his siblings when they were ok he left home and has been traveling ever since. Jason and Garrett have a small network of friends around the country that is kind of their family. After listening to their stories they asked about my life. Sharing our testimony and Jesus’ story is just the most natural thing when you’ve taken the time to listen to theirs. After sharing the gospel with them-it worked out best to just have them read page by page out loud the Steps to Peace with God booklet and then got into their questions. It was a great time of fellowship and sharing back and forth. After we were done at Applebee’s we went back to the Epi Center, I offered them each a copy of Steps to Peace with God, a Daily Bread Devotional and a New Believers Bible. They seemed appreciative. I asked if I could pray for them and we draw together, I asked God to bless them in their work and travels and in their seeking Him as they go.
The best way to thank God for reaching us…is to tell others about Him.
We don’t do this out of obligation or guilt. We share Christ out of gratefulness and appreciation.
Pastor Keith’s series on Revelation has helped us realize the rapture could occur at any moment. He’s helped us understand it will be much harder to come to faith in Christ during the Tribulation. So if we have unreached loved ones and others we want to see become Christ followers now is the time to equip ourselves so we can do it. Let’s pray.
Heads bowed eyes closed God is looking for those of His children who will step out of their comfort zone and step into His comfort zone. He knows who He’d like to have you share with. Are you willing to be used of God in one the greatest adventures of life?
I am like a lifeless glove but when I make myself available… and God puts His hand in my glove-great things can happen!
If you sense God wanting you to grow in sharing your faith raise your hands. If you will say: “God being my helper I will learn to be more effective at sharing my faith.” Stand with me and I’ll lead us in a prayer of dedication. Repent then Dedicate and then Commission those standing into the Lord’s army.
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