Please also read this booklet on a similar topic: How to Share your faith without an Argument
So you want to witness! I did too, but I didn’t have a clue about how to do itwithout stubbing my toe in the process.
First, let’s recognize a basic fact. Every Christian is amissionary. Any person who has been born into the family of God through faith andtrust in Jesus Christ automatically receives the Lord’s commission.
Paul informed the Corinthians, “We are ambassadors forChrist” (2 Corinthians 5:20). God makes His appeal through you and me. Have you ever really considered this – that you are all some people will ever know ofJesus Christ? Tremendous responsibility and infinite privileges are entrusted to usrepresentatives of Christ.
[I believe that every Christian will more easily share the Gospel in a particular way based on howGod has shaped them and that every non-Christian is more receptive to a particular way based on their shape.On this page, I collected a few methods that I have found. I believe that most methods can be used by any Christian, like giving out tracts at appropriate opportunities. If you haven’t found the method that reallyexcites you yet, I encourage you to try them all out.]
From our Lord’s conversation with the Samaritan woman at a wellnear Sychar (John 4:6-26), we discover some practical basic principles to follow as we tryto represent Him in realistic, natural ways:
1. Contact others socially.
“Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down besidethe well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to drawwater.” (John 4:6 and 7).
We must have social contact with non-Christians, When the Lordcalled Simon and Andrew, He said, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers ofmen.” (Mark 1:17). Among other things, He was teaching them that tocatch fish one must go where the fish are.
We need to understand that withdrawal from those who do not knowJesus Christ is out-right disobedience to the will of the Lord. Much of ourdifficulty in this area stems from falsely equating separation with isolation fromnon-Christians.
Ask God to show you one person whom youcan befriend,
pray for, love and bring to the Savior.
We need to discover how we caninitiate and develop friendships with non-Christians. To be a friend may involvelistening to a neighbor’s or co-worker’s troubles or participating with him in activitiesthat are of mutual interest. It means activelyseeking opportunities to show love by running errands, baby-sitting and performing anyother mundane but practical service that will demonstrate the love of Christ.
If you discover an absence of vital contact with non-Christians, ask Godto show you one person whom He wants you to befriend, pray for, love and eventually bringto the Savior. He will show you that one.
2. Establish common interest.
“Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” for his discipleshad gone away into the city to buy food.” (John 4:7 and 8). Jesus began byreferring to something in which she was obviously interested. (She’d come to drawwater.) Gradually He directed the conversation away from the known interest to aspiritual reality which she knew nothing about. As instruments in God’s hands, wemust work patiently to establish mutual interest with others, beginning first where thereinterest lie. Later on we can profitably discuss spiritual matters together.
When we listen long enough we not only begin to know an individual; wealso gain his gratitude and his willingness to listen to the gospel.
3. Arouse interest.
In John 4, it is fascinating to see this woman’s curiositykindled as our Lord draws her out.
Only the Holy Spirit can createspiritual
interest in someone. But God canuse you to
uncover that interest.
First, He came to herwhere she was. Second, He showed an interest in her concerns. Now He is usingHis actions and His words to arouse a positive response to Himself and His message oftruth.
We cannot create spiritual interest in the life of anyone. Onlythe Holy Spirit can do this. However, God can use us to uncover the interest that Hehas put there.
To arouse curiosity, we might begin asking him or her a leadingquestion, as our Lord did. Today’s headlines can be openers for a discussion ofspiritual things.
Be alert for opportunities to share your spiritual experience. Aquestion relating to church can be directed into a conversation on spiritual matters, ifhandled properly. Often a gospel leaflets or a timely book can stimulate furtherconsideration of spiritual matters and reinforce your witness.
4. Know when to stop.
The moment we detect a faint glimmer of interest in a non-Christianmany of us want to rush right in and rattle off the whole gospel without coming up for airor waiting to sense audience response. By relying on the power and presence of theHoly Spirit we can gain poise. The non-Christian needs gentle coaxing when he’s justbeginning to show interest: give a person only as much of the message as he is ready for.
[You can use the following questions to see where they are at.
1. Do you have any kind of spiritual belief?
2. To you, who is Jesus?
3. Do you think there is a heaven and a hell?
4. If you died right now, where would you go and why?
5. If what you believe was not true, would you want to know it?
If they answer anything other than “Yes” to question 5 they are not yet ready for the full gospel.
If they answer yes, you can share the gospel with them, either through a tract, through a testimony,or other means. Here is a tool you can use: Four Spiritual Laws]
5. Don’t condemn.
In their conversation, our Lord did not condemn the Samaritanwoman. As she answered Him about he husband, her sin itself condemned her.
Most of us are quick to condemn. Criticism is far morenatural to our lips and to the lips of the world than praise. When a non-Christianoffers us a cigarette, invites us to join them for a drink, or suggests some otheractivity we consider out of bounds, our reply may have devastating effects. The keyis to recognize the compliment and generosity implicit in his offer and to decline on apersonal basis so the person doesn’t feel condemned or rejected. One possibility isto suggest an alternate activity.
6. Stick with the main issue.
In his conversation with the Smaritan women, our Lord did notallow any secondary questions to sidetrack Him from the main Issue. In declaring theHe was the Messiah, our Lord reached the crucial point of the gospel. We musteventually cross this bridge and bring the non-Christian into a direct confrontation withthe Lord Jesus.
As you watch for opportunities God gives
you to share your faith, life willbecome a
daily adventure.
The people to whom wewitness will fall into one of two categories initially. The first group includesthose who lack the necessary information about Jesus Christ. Be alert to discoverthe misunderstandings and gaps in their knowledge and seize each opportunity to explainmore of the facts.
Those in the second group are already informed about the gospelby haven’t acted on their information yet. Continued cramming of the same informationdown their throats is more apt to alienate than to win them. Pray earnestly anddaily for them, and love them into the kingdom of God.
Once we begin to grasp these six principles and move out in faith, lifebecomes a daily adventure. Watch with anticipation for the opportunities God willgive you to bear witness as an ambassador of Jesus Christ and to discover how He isworking in the lives of others, through you
See the original out of print booklet online at Good News Publishers / Crossway Books
Source copied from FirstChristian Church
How to Share your faith without an Argument
Get the whole booklet online
Here is a snipet of the booklet from RBC Ministries.
The below information can be best used when you have reached step 3 from the above message. I like to keep a pocket bible with me that contains a small piece of paper with the abbreviated questions andverse references.
Opening questions to ask someone:
1. Do you have any kind of spiritual belief?
2. To you, who is Jesus?
3. Do you think there is a heaven and a hell?
4. If you died right now, where would you go?
5. If what you believe was not true, would you want to know it?
If they answer anything other than “Yes” to question 5 they are not yet ready for the full gospel.
People are more likely to listen to what you have to say after you have listened to them talk. After you get answers to the above questions, ask the person what each of these versesmeans to them:
(Romans 3:23)for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
(Romans 6:23)For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(John 3:3)In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
(John 14:6)Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
(Romans 10:9-11)That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
(Revelation 3:20)Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Closing questions to ask someone:
1. Are you a sinner?
2. Do you want forgiveness of sins?
3. Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again?
4. Are you willing to surrender yourself to Christ?
5. Are you ready to invite Jesus into your heart and into your life?
Other Helpful Booklets:
How Can I Break the Silence? From RBC Ministries and GospelCom.net
How to Use Tracts Effectively from Good News Publishers / Crossway Books
You can also attend classes at a local church. Three programs I have heard are effective include:
Class 401 – Missions from Purpose Driven Ministries and
Evangelism Explosion from Evangelism Explosion International and
Way of the Master Discover an old way of sharing the good news (also available on TV and plenty of self training downloads)
You can tracts and other evangelism tools at Living Waters
Other Resources:
Evangelism and Gifting Survey if you are a Christian, please take this short survey
Outreach Magazine the gathering place for the ideas, insights and stories of today’s outreach-oriented church. Designed exclusively for pastors and church leadership
Evangelism Toolbox, a large and growing database offering multi-lingual, multi-format evangelism resources to share your faith in Christ, provided by many of the top evangelical organizations you trust worldwide.
An online article on Six Evangelism styles from New Man Magazine – A Cringe-Free Plan for Sharing Your Faith (confrontational, intellectual, testimonial, interpersonal, invitational, and serving)
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