An Effective Gospel Witness

Introduction

Introduce self

dismiss children

Last week we saw Peter and the traits of a Godly man as he preached powerfully to the multitude. He was bold, he was knowledge of scripture, and he delievered the truths of the gospel with conviction. He was able to do so because he not only believed but lived those truths.

This last week in our church wide life group that meets on Wednesday nights at 630 we started a series on the Beatitudes. The first one Jesus mentions is Blessed are the poor in spirit.

To be poor in spirit is to understand that without God’s love, grace, mercy, and all that He is providing what you need in your life you will starve to death spiritually. That’s where Peter was now. Knowing he is nothing without Christ.

Follownig his remarks from last week He then goes into the closing remarks of his message showing us what an effective Gospel witness looks like.

Character-Christian needing to witness

Part of our Next Steps seminars is teaching how to share the gospel with someone. This is important because we want ever follower of Jesus to understand that evangelism isn’t an option, it’s a command and we want them to be equipped with tools to do so.

Recent statistics show:

73% of Christians believed it was their responsibility to share their faith.

Yet only 52% of them had actually shared their faith at least once with someone in the last year.

Another study showed that more people believe now than they did in 1993 that evangelism is a church issue not a personal issue.

Any follower of Jesus that has heard a message on Matthew 28 knows that we need to share the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection

Problem-Christians don’t know how or choose not to

I can only think of two core reasons people don’t share their faith. Now I know we can give a ton of excuses but what they boil down to falls into two categories.

They don’t know how to. SOme say they don’t knwo how to share their faith. Well, this message is for you. Peter gives a great example of one way to do that.

They choose not to. Now, I’m sure none of oyu that know Jesus are makingg this decision. That would be ludacris to say “Someone was willing to share with me, some pastor, some friend, some family member, but I’m not going to share with others.” You wouldn’t say “I know who Jesus is and what he has done for me but I dont’ want him to do that for somoene esle.

That would be selfish.

However, when we don’t take personal responsibility for the evangelism of our lost friends and family to the point we are willing to lovingly share the gospel with them, that is in fact what we are doing. Being selfish.

Charles spurgeon said “Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.”

Agitated-Lost people go to hell, less fo a gospel impact in community

This leads to people dieing without hearing or understanding the gospel. We take for granted what we know of scripture not realizing there are people in our own families and communities that are being taught flase doctrine about the bible that tells them they have to work for their salvation.

We thnk they aren’t trusting Jesus because of rebellion, and while it may be true for some, it is not true for all. Many don’t even know that there is another option available to them.

And we have to remember it is not just our local community that we are commanded to reach, it is the world.

We are to be apart of the evangelistic efforts locally and worldwide.

Matthew 28:19 “19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

On a global scale, according to our world in data .org, there were 135 million babies born in 2023. That’s over 367k per day.

367k more people daily that need to hear the gospel.

on the flip side of that in the same year there were 61 million people who lost their lives. Tha’ts over 167k who left this world for eternity.

Another study showed that 31% of the world population identify as followers of Jesus.

If that’s true than: 93 million 150 thousand babies are being born annually into non christian homes.

Of the 61 million who died only 18 million 910 thousand were followers of Jesus.

While we are speaking in large numbers remember statistically speaking that leaves 69% of the global population either entering this world or leaving this world without Christ.

Solution- Boldly Share your faith

What are we to do? Force conversions? become guilty every time someone doesn’t trust Jesus when we share?

no.

Our responsibility is not to convert people. Our responsiblity is to share the good news with people.

We have been empowered, Just like Peter, with the Holy spirit of God and must choose to do as Peter has and boldly share our faith in others. To be willing to be equipped to share our faith.

And we must engage the people around us with the truth of the gospel.

how though?

Guide-Peter

Peter gives a great example here in Acts 2 of being an effective gospel witness that I believe we can learn from as we seek to grow in how our own evangelism efforts.

And it’s not difficult.

Sharing the gospel isn’t rocket science.

there are some simple means you can tell poeple about JEsus that don’t require a bible degree or even years of bible study.

Journey-Acts 2:25-41

If your someone who knows Jesus and the importance of sharing your faith with others then take out a note taking device and let’s see how Peter sets that example.

Remember Peter is preaching to a multitude that has witness them speaking in tongues, he has boldly stood and declared the prophecies of the Messiah and told them it was Jesus. He has sought ot convict them with statements about them crucifying the one who came to save them.

And now he gets into the final moments of his speech and shows us a model to share the gospel.

Acts 2:25–28 “25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.”

WE saw last week that godly men know the bible and here is Peter again quoting from the Old TEstament from memory.

This is Psalm 16:8-11.

He shows us that one part of an effective gospel witness is a

1. Biblical testimony

A biblical testimony is important becuase you have to be able to establish where your faith comes from. What is the basis for your choices and the things you do?

Exegete: When we do this we are going to be sharing the truths of the bible with people. Notice what Peter and David who wrote the Psalm are sayingg abotu God here:

He says the Lord is always before His face: This is abotu David’s focus. He has made God the focus of His life and all he does.

The right hand was a place of honor and David has ensured the Lord is in that place in his life.

To not be moved means to not be shaken, to not be stirred, becuase with everything that goes on in life, becuase he is focused on God and placed him in the position of honor in his life, he will be steadfast in follwig Him.

DAvid is glad and feels both spiritualyl and physically secure because of God.

Then there is the messianic prophecies here about Jesus not being left in Sheol or hell. His body wasn’t corrupted by death, becuase death could not hold him.

Peter is pointing back to what he believes in and connecting His audience to that.

illustrate:

Have you ever had someone share an opinion with you? Something you didn’t know, something you may disagree with, and then you ask them…where did you hear that?

And there answer was “ O well, I read it online….” o…you read it online…well then…must be true.

I would only question it becuase I read online that Abaraham Lincoln said 47% of all stats and quotes online are true but who am I to judge.

The source of information is as important as the information itself. When you are sharing your faith with someone, ensure you are sharing what the Bible says and not what someone else says about teh bible.

Plenty of times I’ve heard people say things I’ve had to correct

“GOd doesn’t give you more than you ca handle” Yes he does. That’s not biblical.

“cleanliness is next to godliness” I heard this all the time growing up. Not biblical.

“God works in mysterious ways.” Not in the bible. AN observbation of sorts but they are only mysterious because we don’t understand them.

God helps those who help themselves….nope. Not in the bible.

Application: Some of those sound good right? could be used to motivate people but why should we avoid using them?

Because it is the thread that could be pulled to cause someone to quetion everything that you say about the bible.

A biblically based wtiness is the best witness however with much questioning of the bible nowadays, it cannot be the only thing you use to witness to somoene. It will be great for those who beleive the bible and have false doctrine, however, for someone that doesn’t believe the bible…what do you do?

2. Personal testimony

You give a personal testimony.

Acts 2:29–36 “29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Exegete: Peter exegetes that PSalm in a way they woudl understand in light of Jesus and then in verse 32 he gets personal.

Jesus was raised from the dead, and we saw Him.

Not only did we see him we have been given the power of the Holy SPirit becuase of Him.

Then he tells them you know David isn’t the messiah. HE is dead, we have hsi tomb, we can go see his bones, or well the dust of his bones by that point im sure but we know the seal of his tomb was never broken.

HE then goes back to tbible and quotes from psalm 110.

Illustrate:

I’m going to tell you a story. You tell me if I’m lying or not.

When I was in Afghanistan I was assigned to a forward operating base where a christian was serving in the position I was taking and during out turn over he shared his faith with me often.

Following Afghanistan, I came home and my wife and I went to church for the first time in a long time. The Monday after the first sunday we were there, they were starting a men’s bible study. I went and from that moment forward I have been pursuing Jesus. I know God put that man and that study with the men who were there in my life at that time to bring me back to Him.

Since I started living for Jesus and following Him my marriage has never been better, I’m a better father, my life has turned around for the best, I’ve been able to impact other peoples lives and been apart of theri story.

God did all of that and I’m thankful for Him.

ok..was a lying?

Could you say well that wasn’t God? sure..but then I can respond with…prove it.

Apply:

basic personal testimony is who you were before Christ, wht brought you to Chrsit, and how Jesus has impacted your life since.

Have you ever thought of that or wote it down?

Your story is represenative of His glory and both need to be heard about by the people around you.

Peter has now given them all they need to know to be saved.

They are sinners in need of a savior, Jesus is that savior, then…they ask the question

Acts 2:37 “37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

Peter gives the last piece of a solid gospel witness

3. Direct Call-to-Action

Acts 2:38–40 “38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”

Exegete: Now here is a fun verse. Let’s not misunderstand this and believe that we must be baptized to be saved. The king james and many other versions translate this passage this way.

First let’s talk about repentence. This is simply put as turning from. Turn from your belief that Jesus isn’t the messiah who god reased from teh dead and believe that.

Then we have this part about being baptized.

As we read this in our english language it would seem easy to make the argument for baptism as a prerequsit of salvation.

however, we have to understand what is being said here in greek.

ANd we need not focus so much on the part that says be baptized, it is in the middle of the verse were it says “for the remission of sins”

The word fro is translated from the greek word ice spelled eis, basically.

it can mean “becuase of, on the basis of, or on account of”

That means they were baptized becuase of, on the basis of their repentance. Remember, we talked about this a couple messages ago. People received the Holy Spirit without being baptized ANd John the baptist baptized people based on their reptenace not as an act of repentance

Matthew 3:11 “11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”

That word unto…is the same word as for in Acts 2:36, ice.

THey were baptized and did not recieve the Holy Spirit.

Then in Hebrews 11 we have people that were not baptized, but received the Holy spirit.

There fore baptism is not required for repentence but is an act demonstrating the repentence you have in your heart and the Holy Spirit is received upon repentence or the moment of salvation.

The question is always, what will you be doing with the Holy Spirit of God that you have?

He closed his message with repent, save yourselves from this wayword ggeneration of people.

He was direct in what they needed to do. He didn’t beat around the bush.

Illustrate:

There are some words and phrases used in christianity that I believe are well meaning but cause confusion.

Have you ever had someone say to you :You just need Jesus in your heart and your saved.”

“Make him your lord and savior”

“Dedicate your life to Him”

When we speak with children I’m afraid we can often dumb it down not realzing that they are smart enough to figure it out.

When I speak to people about salvation and baptism I’m always clear on what it means to be saved and what baptism is. No matter their aeg. God forbid a child gets saved and baptized here and no one takes the time to clearly explain that baptism isn’t salvation.

GOd forbid anyone should.

If you are unclear in what a person is supposed to do to be a follower of Jesus they will be unclear on what being a follower of Jesus means.

It doesn’t mean good works and religious acts. It means faith. Faith in Jesus and when you have repented of whatever else you believed, you will live a life based on that faith.

But if the faith in Jesus is shaky ebcuase you don’tknwo if he is in your heart today…then the life will be shaky as you live from a foundation of sand rather than a firm foundation in Jesus.

Apply:

When you share the gospel with someone, you can use bible verses, personal testiomony, a colorless book, an app, and whatever you want but dont’ end your time with a person talking about JEsus without a direct call to action.

You can say something like this “Would you like to trust Jesus and experience something like I have?”

Lead them in a prayer, get them baptized, and then disciple them.

Don’t share your testiony and let it come to a place of “cool story bro”

Ask the question “Are you a follower of Jesus? DO you want ot be?”

Resolution: Do what is needed to be ready to share your faith

You can’t do this if your not ready to share your faith. Peter is also the one who wrote

1 Peter 3:15 “15 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:”

Always be ready to give an answer for your faith. Are you ready to be an effective gospel witness? Could you share a biblical testimony? MAybe not. Could you share a practical testimony?

Why not?

Would you decide today to do what it takes to be ready to share?

Then, don’t wait for opportunities…create opportunities

How easy to say something like “What did you do this weekend?” Then listen….”that sounds amazing.” They should ask you but if they don’t “Can I share something from my weekend with you?”

“I heard about being a man that is bold, knowledgeable, and living a life serving others. it had an impact on me and I realzed I need to…”

You don’t have to call me pastor, you don’t have to tell themy ou heard it at church. There will be some natural curiosity. We hear and see things all the time on social media. We often share reels, posts, and everything else. Why not share the gospel the same way?

IF they are more comfortable with Christianity “My pastor preached and talked about evangelism. I realized I never told you why I was a christian or how that happened. Could I share that with you?”

Whatever it takes…becuase there is 69% of the world who need to hear the gospel. There is 69% of your friend group who need Jesus. There is 69% or more of our community in Bristol that needs to know Jesus.

Impact: Neg: Disobedient, selfish, and loss of life. Positive: healing, salvation, gospel impact