Personal and Corporate Witnessing

Discipleship

Baptism

Discipline New Members

Fishers of Men

The Dangers of the Pastor

Perhaps nothing has had a more crippling effect upon the mission of the church than the idea that sharing Bible truth with others is the job of the paid clergy, or of only a few “gifted” lay people.

Paid Professionals

Evangelism

Witness

Soul Winning

“We have not settled our ministers over churches as pastors to any large extent. In some of the very large churches we have elected pastors, but as a rule we have held ourselves ready for field service, evangelistic work and our brethren and sisters have held themselves ready to maintain their church services and carry forward their church work without settled pastors. And I hope this will never cease to be the order of affiars in this denomination; for when we cease our forward movement work and begin to settle over our churches, to stay by them, and do their thinking and their praying and their work that is to be done, then our churches will begin to weaken, and to lose their life and spirit, and become paralyzed and fossilized and our work will be on a retreat.” A.G. Daniells in an address to a ministerial institute in Los Angeles, California, in March, 1912.

Witnessing is not a spiritual gift.

Every Christian

should be witnessing.

When calling first disciples,

Jesus made promise:

Mark 1:17 ESV

And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

If we have chosen

to become His disciples

then we have chosen

to become fishers of men

Key Passage

Jesus talking to

woman at the well.

John 4:10 ESV

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

The gospel is transformational

Woman debates

John 4:11–12 ESV

The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.”

Fighting conviction with debate

Jesus answers:

John 4:13–14 (ESV)

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again...

This water

that Jesus has

will change your life

forever!

nothing else compares.

Jesus continues:

John 4:14 (ESV)

… The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

What happens?

the person who

takes Jesus water...

becomes a water fountain for others!

One minute

you are receiving

drinking at fountain

Next minute,

you are a fountain

other drinking from you.

No sooner is one converted than there is born within him a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus.

— Desire of Ages, p. 141

Greatest gift to give

to new convert (or old)

teach them

calling of mission.

David said same

Psalm of forgiveness

Psalm 51:12–13 ESV

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

If you

forgive

restore

transform

me.

I’ll be

greatest witness

of transformation.

for others.

Jesus said about his disciples:

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

What is a witness?

comes from court

to testify about case.

The key to witnessing

you must talk!!!

People say:

I witness by smiling to people and holding the door open.

Being polite and loving

is important...

But by itself

misses the mark.

Witnesses testify about

their experience

the truth

Acts 22:15 ESV

for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.

If you only smile

and are kind

but never say anything...

You are not a witness..

Jesus,

speaking to disciples:

Mark 16:15 ESV

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

To “preach the gospel”

refers not merely to

preaching pulpit,

but, proclaiming God’s Word

whether publicly

or personally.

In Acts all church members

Acts 8:4 (ESV)

… went about preaching the word.

Not just pastors

not just elders

not those with that gift

All believers

proclaimed the word!

The Hindrances:

Lack of experience,

Poor memory,

Introverted personality

Fear of failure

We may forget

it wasn’t easy for

original disciples.

They were fishermen

not seminary graduates!

They were also scared

But what did they do?

they prayed for boldness!

Acts 4:29 ESV

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,

We have objection

Mostly Fear

Fear of rejection.

We need motivation:

Two great motivators

Fear

Love

Jesus chose love:

Matthew 9:36 ESV

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Motivated by love

compassion

heart roused

Jesus continues

Matthew 9:37–38 ESV

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

People are there

they want truth

Problem

not enough workers.

not enough compassion

for the lost

Speaking to Pastors

instructed to:

Christian Service Chapter 7—Co-operation of Ministers and Laymen

Help all to see that as receivers of the grace of Christ they are under obligation to work for Him. And let all be taught how to work. Especially should those who are newly come to the faith be educated to become laborers together with God.—Testimonies for the Church 9:82.

Gospel work not

just a good idea

just a privilege

But

obligation.

Romans 1:14 ESV

I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

Paul said:

“obligation”

not optional

Why

because we are

Christians

Like-Christ

When filled with Jesus

we do like Jesus

Jesus changed my life

I have to share that!

Prophet Jeremiah

told to be quite

stop speaking truth

His response:

Jeremiah 20:9 ESV

If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.

Jeremiah can’t keep silent

Those fill with Jesus love

Can’t Keep Silent!!!

After Jesus death

disciple preaching

threatened...

stop preaching

or else...

Their response:

Acts 4:18–20 ESV

So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Breaks my heart

to think.

All 12 apostles

faced martyrdom

gave their life to preach

Yet we,

struggle to find time...

Something is wrong...

Fringe Benefits

Witnessing is not

all hardship

no joys.

There are many

“Fringe Benefits”

to this job.

Joy of Seeing Souls Saved

Development of Spirituality and Devotion

Increased Knowledge of the Truth

Strength to Resist Evil

Development of Christ-like Character

Fitness for Heaven

Growth in Spirituality

Joy of Seeing Souls Saved

True reward of this life

Development of Spirituality and Devotion

We grow personally

Increased Knowledge of the Truth

Learning by Teaching

Orienteering

Strength to Resist Evil

“Strength to resist evil is best gained by aggressive service” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 105).

Development of Christ-like Character

Question:

Do you want to be like Jesus?

“In order for us to develop a character like Christ’s, we must share in His work” — The Desire of Ages, p. 142

Fitness for Heaven

In helping other

to be ready for Christ

we are made ready.

“Those who reject the privilege of fellowship with Christ in service, reject the only training that imparts a fitness for participation with Him in glory” Education, p. 264

Growth in Spirituality

“Let ministers teach church members that in order to grow in spirituality, they must carry the burden that the Lord has laid upon them—the burden of leading souls into the truth” Christian Service, p. 69

Conclusion

There is no greater work.

No more fulfilling work.

No more urgent work.

No more eternal work.

Than the work of soul saving.

God commanded that we focus our efforts on this work.

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you...

But He left us with a great promise:

last sentence:

Matthew 28:20 (ESV)

... And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

God will bless this work!

Appeal

Share your testimony of what God has done for you.

Distribute truth-filled tracts and literature.

Distribute DVDs on Bible prophecy.

Study a weekly series of Bible lessons with someone.

Host a weekly small group Bible study or DVD viewing in your home.