Weekly Lesson 33

REACHING OTHERS

Witnessing is spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ intending to convert the listener.

When witnessing, there are usually three situations that occur: we will pursue the non-believers, non-believers will seek us, or the unsaved will see how you live.

We are to pursue non-believers:

The Great Commission

A. In Matthew 28:19-20, we were given what is now known as the “Great Commission.” (19)Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” This was given to the disciples after the crucifixion.

B. It was repeated to the disciples just before Jesus went back to Heaven:
Acts 1:8-9, “(8), but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (9) And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” This was, of course, commanded to them after his death and resurrection also.

How many of us are actively going out and spreading the word? How many have you added to the kingdom this week, month, year, decade, ever? Jesus seems to be correct about us when he made the statement in Matthew 9:37 that “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Then again, only a few in make it into the kingdom; are you going to be obedient and do what we were told to do?

Romans 9:3 Paul states that he’d go to hell to make sure others go to Heaven. We should have the heart to save the lost like this.

C. There are many ways to go about taking your message to the world.
For example: In Acts 2:22, 23, 36-41, Peter preaches to turn the hearts of his listeners.

In Acts 17:2-4, Paul uses logic to “persuade” the listeners into becoming followers of Christ. This was in stark contrast to Peter’s method.

Remember that Paul tells us to do whatever is necessary to reach the unsaved. Some, he says, will be reached by fire, some by logic, and some by other methods. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.

Others may take the form of sowing seed only to leave the harvest to be reaped by others later. We see this all the time in the forms of billboard, Christian music, plays, movies, books, pamphlets, tracts, bathroom stalls, etc. They seem to grab onto the Luke 8:5-8 passage and sow as much as they can “Get saved! The end is near.”

II. Sometimes they seek you out
A. In Acts 13:7, someone came to Paul and Barnabas and “sought to hear the word of God.” What if this happened to you? Would you be prepared to share it with him? Could you lead him to the Lord?

2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not o be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Be prepared by knowing the word.

a. You are the workmen: work! Don’t just pray for your neighbors or relatives to get salvation, go witness to them! James 2:20, “Faith without works is dead.” You are God’s workmen! Don’t take them to the Pastor, do it yourself!

1 Peter 3:15 says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to answer every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” When you have that person ask you, “Hey, why are you so different from everybody else?”, you need to have an answer. This is the best opportunity.

a. This is an opportunity for you not to be ashamed of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16). Remember that if you are ashamed of Him before men, he will be ashamed of you in Heaven (Mark 8:38).

III. You witness by the way you live your life.

A. Paul and Silas in prison were visual witnesses to the guard.
Acts 16:25-36. He ended up being saved totally on just what he saw. This will work for you also.

B. Matthew 5:13-16, “You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his taste, how shall it be salted? it is then good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be walked under the foot of men.”

If you sin in front of unbelievers, you are making it nearly impossible to win them over. You are then good for nothing concerning the Great Commission.

a. How does salt get its saltiness back? How can you get your good name again once you’ve blown it in front of everyone? It is tough to do.

C. You are the light of the world, and everyone looks at the light upon a hill. The world looks at you and makes judgments continuously.
Luke 8:16. Do not hide your light under a basket. If we hide our Christianity and act like the world, we lose our witnessing ability. Your witness isn’t cannot be just going to church on Wednesdays and Sundays; we all must live our Christian Life daily. It is more important what you do every day than what you do on Sundays. After all, it’s the people you see every day that will need Jesus.

Are you a witness for Jesus? Do you care if others go to Heaven?

Go to Romans Road to Salvation and/or Prayer of Rededication




Christ Centered Champions

Christ Centered Champions

We are more than champions through him who loved us. Romans 8:37