What is “Witnessing?”
In the broadest sense of the word, we are “witnesses” simply because we are Christians. We may be a good witness or a bad witness, but we ARE witnesses whether we want to be or not. We witness by the life we live, by the way we talk, by our spirit or attitude, by our habits, by the places we go, and by the values we embrace.
In the strictest sense of the word, witnessing means verbalizing your faith, explaining the plan of salvation, helping someone pray and invite Christ into his/her heart, and then helping the new believer to become part of a church family. This is what you will be called upon to do as a team member.
As a minister of Christ, you need to be prepared to witness and to win the lost to Christ in the place God sends you. You will probably have opportunity to witness in several different ways. Let’s explore the most common ones.
Deliver a short sermon or message. As a minister or layperson, you may be asked to preach. You should be prepared. You should have four or five simple outlines in your Bible and be ready in case you are called on. Each message should be no more than twenty to thirty minutes long and it should be delivered in simple terms. In most instances there will be lost persons in the audience. Make sure you share the plan of salvation in your message. When appropriate, give an invitation. Do not get bogged down in extending the invitation. Do not make it complicated. If you know far enough in advance and music is available, then arrange for an invitation hymn. If no music is available, or if it is an informal gathering, simply say as you conclude your message:
“I have just shared with you what it means to become a Christian. If any of you want to accept Christ as Savior and Lord and want to become a Christian, just get up and come forward and the pastor (or a church member) will help you.”
There are several passages in the Bible that you can use for a short sermon (or Bible study).
- Acts 8:26-39 – Philip explains salvation to an Ethiopian eunuch (treasurer).
- Acts 1 6:25-34 – the conversion of a Philippine jailer.
- John3:16
- Use a tract such as the Billy Graham tract, “Steps to Peace with God’, other appropriate evangelistic tract.
- Luke 15:11-24- The Prodigal Son
If you will pray and ask God to help you, you can develop a salvation message from each of these texts that the Holy Spirit will use to bring others to Christ.
Lead a Bible Study. Home Bible studies are a very common way of sharing the Gospel. These may be in the homes of church members, but the people who attend will be neighbors. Most of them will be lost. If you are called on to lead a Bible study, we suggest you briefly share your personal testimony (how you became a Christian) and “teach” one of your outlines.
Sometimes you may be called on to lead a Bible study just for church members. In a situation like that, we suggest you share a study on witnessing and praying for the lost. You do not usually give an invitation at a Bible study, but always explain that you are available following the meeting and will be happy to share with those who want to know more about becoming a Christian.
House-to-house visitation. In most Partnerships, the host church will plan house-to- house visitation. This means one-on-one witnessing, or sharing Christ with a family. Begin by sharing your personal testimony. Then share the plan of salvation by using a Gospel tract or a marked New Testament. After you have shared the “Good News”, always give them the opportunity to pray and invite Jesus into their hearts.
Other Witnessing Opportunities. Your host church may want to involve you in other witnessing opportunities. Some have had street services, tract distribution, programs in schools, programs in hospitals, programs in factories, visiting city officials, and many more. You need to be prepared and ready for each and every opportunity. Even more important than your ability is your availability.
