Personal Witnessing

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Personal Witnessing

• Victorious Living Series

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Witnessing Defined

• Witnessing is NOT
• Saying God bless you or I will pray for you
• Being a loving friend (This is required)
• Witnessing is TELLING
• Acts 1113 And he told us how he had seen the
  angel stand in his house and say, Send to Joppa
  and bring Simon who is called Peter 14 he will
  declare to you a message by which you will be
  saved, you and all your household.

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Witnessing Defined

• TELLING what?
• 1 Cor 151 Now I would remind you, brothers, of
  the gospel I preached to you, which you received,
  in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being
  saved 3 that Christ died for our sins in
  accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was
  buried, that he was raised on the third day in
  accordance with the Scriptures 11 so we preach
  and so you believed.
• Why?
• Rom 1017 So then faith cometh by hearing, and
  hearing by the word of God.

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Motives for Witnessing

• Obedience
• Mr 1615 Go ye into all the world, and preach
  the gospel to every creature.
• 2 of American Christians actively share their
  faith Bill Bright
• Compassion for humanity
• Blind man heading for a burning building
• Hell, a reality (140K die/day)
• "If sinners be dammed, at least let them leap to
  Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let
  them perish with our arms about their knees. Let
  no one GO there UNWARNED and UNPRAYED for.
  Charles Spurgeon
• Eternal Reward
• Dan 122 And many of those who sleep in the dust
  of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting
  life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
  3 And those who are wise shall shine like the
  brightness of the sky above and those who turn
  many to righteousness, like the stars forever and
  ever.

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Fear of Witnessing

• Fear of embarrassment and/or persecution
• Mat 510 Blessed are they which are persecuted
  for righteousness sake for theirs is the
  kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men
  shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall
  say all manner of evil against you falsely, for
  my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad for
  great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted
  they the prophets which were before you.
• Ac 541 And they departed from the presence of
  the council, rejoicing that they were counted
  worthy to suffer shame for his name.
• Fear of not knowing what to say
• The college student that didnt study for finals
  
• 1Pe 315 But sanctify the Lord God in your
  hearts and be ready always to give an answer to
  every man that asketh you a reason of the hope
  that is in you with meekness and fear
• Fear of failure
• Was Jesus a failure? How people got saved under
  His ministry?
• 1Co 36 I planted, Apollos watered but God
  gave the increase.
• Obedience Success!

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Overcoming Fear with Power

• The Spirit Empowers You
• Acts 18 But ye shall receive power, after that
  the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be
  witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
  Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost
  part of the earth.
• 2 Tim 17 For God hath not given us the spirit
  of fear but of power, and of love, and of a
  sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of
  the testimony of our Lord
• Rom 116 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
  Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation
  
• Pray for Boldness, not for opportunities
• Ac 429 And now, Lord, grant unto thy
  servants, that with all boldness they may speak
  thy word

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Share Jesus Without FearA less confrontational
approach

• The Share Jesus Questions (Response - hmmm)
• Do you have any kind of spiritual belief?
• To you, who is Jesus?
• Do you think there is a heaven and a hell?
• If you died now, where would you go? Why?
• If your beliefs werent true, would you want to
  know?
• Have Them Read Verses (What does that say to
  you?)
• Mans Condition (Rom 323, 310, 512)
• The Penalty (Rom 623)
• Gods Provision (Rom 58)
• The Required Response (Rom 109, 1013)

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Share Jesus Without FearA less confrontational
approach

• The Commitment Questions (Response if no
  Why not?)
• Are you a sinner?
• Do you want forgiveness for your sins?
• Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you
  and rose again?
• Are you willing to surrender yourself to
  Christs Lordship?
• Are you ready to invite Jesus into your heart
  and into your life?
• Have them Pray
• Follow-Ups
• Get them plugged into a church
• Give them a Bible and tell them to read John
  (Call them)
• Tell them they should see apparent change in
  their life.

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A more confrontational approach

• Do you consider yourself a good person?
• Have you heard of the 10 commandments? Have you
  kept them?
• Have you ever lied? What does that make you?
  (A liar)
• The Bible says that All Liars will have their
  place in the lake of fire (Rev 218)
• Have you ever stolen anything? What does that
  make you? (A thief)
• Have you ever coveted (were jealous of) the
  possessions of others?
• Neither thieves, nor covetous shall inherit
  the kingdom of God (1 Cor 69)
• Have you every committed adultery?
• Jesus said if you look with lust you commit
  adultery in your heart (Mat 528).
• The Bible also says adulterers shall not inherit
  the kingdom of God (1 Cor 69)
• Have you ever murdered anyone?
• Jesus said if youve ever hated someone, it is
  murder in your heart (Mat 522)
• The Bible also says that no murderer has eternal
  life abiding in Him (1 Jn 315)
• Have you ever taken the name of the Lord in
  vain?
• You know what God considers that? Blasphemy
• The LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes
  his name in vain (Ex 207)

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A more confrontational approach

• On judgment day, If God judges you by His
  commandments, will you be innocent or guilty?
• Will God have to send you to Heaven or Hell?
• Hell - Does that concern you?
• Courtroom example
• Jesus is the one who freely paid your fine
• You need to accept that free gift by faith, and
  turn your back on sin
• Heaven - Why?
• I havent broken all of them James 210 For
  whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one
  point has become accountable for all of it
• God is forgiving Stress the Holiness and
  justice of God. Should He let all murderers and
  rapists into Heaven?
• http//wayofthemaster.com/watchwitnessing.shtml

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Some Opportunities

• Place a Bible on your desk
• Whenever someone is wearing a cross
• When someone asks how your weekend was
• Whenever people say how bad the world is
• Political discussions
• People sitting next to you on planes, buses,
  etc.
• When someone takes the Lords name in vain
• When ever youre asked to tell about yourself
• Always give a tract to waitresses, etc.
• Courtesy callers

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Small Group Witnessing Encounters

• Group 1
• Youre working out at the gym with an unsaved
  friend and you both see a report of a gruesome
  murder on the news. Your friend cant believe
  someone could be that demented.
• Group 2
• Youre on a bus commute just getting to know the
  person next to you. She happens to be an avid
  reader. She asks you what you read.
• Group 3
• A coworker seems to be really upset about
  something. You ask her if everything is okay.
  She begins to cry and reveal the fact that her
  mother was diagnosed with cancer.
• Group 4
• You and your family are waiting for seats at a
  restaurant. A nice couple is sitting next to you
  and a friendly conversation begins. You notice
  the husband has a gothic cross tattoo on his hand
  and decide to ask about it.