TEXT: Mark 16:14-20
AIM: That Christians may learn more about how to witness effectively.
INTRODUCTION:
Lewis Chaffer wrote, "The work of saving men was divinely undertaken and finished on the cross, while the work of seeking men is the unfinished work." Larry Moyer in Moody Magazine of October 1992 wrote, "You are afraid, embarrassed, tongue-tied. Someone next to you in a bus, a plane or your neighbourhood needs Christ. But a million excuses fill your mind and leave your mouth empty. The word just does not come and the opportunity passes."
WHERETO WITNESS
- In the family: In Deuteronomy 6:6-9 God instructed His people Israel o n what to do with His word at home. The same instruction applies to us today. Our home (family) is the first and finest place to evangelize, using practical life experiences. (Give examples of how best this can be done.)
Among school mates: At school, mates discuss many topics, including those that do not edify or increase their academic knowledge. A Christian can use such opportunity to share his faith in Christ. He can tell how God is blessing him through his devotion. He can also share testimonies of happenings in his life. He can speak of the positive changes that have come into his life since he committed his life to Jesus.
At work: The same methods that are used at school (Number 2 above) are applicable in the place of work.
At social and political gatherings: Christians face lots of challenges among their colleagues in political and other social gatherings. Each Christian must understand his position in Christ. "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.... But wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere" (James 3:13, 17).
In commercial vehicles: Sometime ago Christians used to witness in commercial buses. In order to stop them ,owners of such commuters wrote in them inscriptions like "No preaching here." However, preaching in taxis or buses doesn't have to be done loudly. One can give tracts or discuss with the person sitting next to you without drawing the attention of others.
In Church and other religious gatherings: Not all who go to church or other Christian gatherings are born again. Many professing Christians in church are yet to have a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus as their personal Saviour. One can prayerfully be led to witness to such people.
In Internally Displaced People's (IDP) Camps.lt is interesting to know here that God led some Christians to organize schools for the internally displaced children in their camps. By so doing, they are reaching both the children and their parents with the gospel. Some Christians went to Southern Sudan to do similar thing in camps.
Other Institutions in which people are distressed:(E.g. prisons, hospitals, refugee camps).There are prison ministries. The same is true of hospitals and refugee camps. The church should teach and encourage members to identify their spiritual gifts and the ministries where they can put the gifts to use. The field was already ripe for harvest in the days of Jesus. It is even more ripe now that we are experiencing population explosion.
MEANS OF WITNESSING
Through printed materials:
Tracts and other Christian printed materials are powerful tools for evangelism. They can travel faster than those who printed or distributed them. They can be placed anywhere and will not complain but will do their work.E-mail and social media:
These are also powerful channels for evangelism. Unfortunately today, social media is used by Satan to corrupt the world. Christians too can flood social media with the gospel. It is not costly at all to send bulk sms. Yet it can be used to reach hundreds of people with the gospel message at the same time. Using the face book is almost free!House to house witnessing:
This was one of Paul's strategies. "You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house" (Acts 20:20). We should be challenged by Jehovah Witness people who always go from house to house. We believe they do not have the real gospel. Yet they are so committed to the spread of their teaching!Personal Witnessing:
This is the most effective method of evangelism, particularly if one adopts "friendship evangelism." By this, You become a friend with a neighbour or a colleague, with the aim Of winning him/her for Christ. You can do this with your mechanic, barber, hair dresser, laundryman, electrician, plumber,customer, etc. Let evangelism be your lifestyle. (Read James 3:13, 17.)Life style witnessing:
A story was told of a missionary who went to a village and lived there like Jesus lived. He did not preach till he left the village. After he left, another missionary went to the same village and preached about Jesus. The villagers said, "We know the man you are talking about. He lived here with us but relocated to another place." Read Matthew 5:13-16.Every circumstance that offers an opportunity (Acts 16:31-33; Philippians
1:12)
It is the will of God that we witness to unbelievers at any time. We must be sensitive to the voice of God in all circumstances. Many opportunities passed us bye in the past because we were not careful listeners to the Holy Spirit.
BENEFITS OF EFFECTIVE WITNESSING
TO THE CHURCH:
God is glorified (John 15:8). When a sinner repents and comes to God, He is glorified. The singular reason why Jesus came to earth is to bring glory to God by harvesting fruits from among men.Souls are won to Christ. Has it really occurred to us as individual Christians that a primary reason for our continued existence on earth after our conversion is to win souls for God and His kingdom? (John 17:18;15:16).
Heaven rejoices (Luke 15:7). Just one sinner who repents sends heaven rejoicing. Now imagine that a hundred sinners
repent at the same time! On the other hand, imagine that no sinner repents fora whole week!Lives are transformed (Luke 8:1-3). It is the will of God that the people He created in His image bear His image. Unfortunately, that is not the case with the depraved man. When anyone is born again, the Spirit of God begins to live in him. He keeps transforming the man as long as he abides in Christ (John 15:4-7). The Church grows (Acts 2:41,47).The growth of the church can be liken to procreation. A couple cannot bear children if there is a physical impediment. In the same way, a Christian cannot reproduce another Christian through evangelism if there is sin in his life. Through effective evangelism, there Will be increase in the family of God.
Brings divine pruning (John 15:1-2). One of the mysteries of evangelism is that the witness is pruned. Pruning is a painful process applied to make a fruit bearing Christian become a more effective witness!
Brings beauty to life both now and in the hereafter(lsaiah 52:7). Drug addicts, armed robbers, prostitutes, etc have come to the Lord and are saved because some people witnessed to them. Such lives become beautiful and set on their way to the beautiful city - the holy Jerusalem.
-Crown of rejoicing won at the end (1 Thessalonians 2:19). How do you feel when you see someone become born again as a result of your witness to him? You have not seen anything yet. In heaven you will receive the crown of rejoicing(1Thessalonian 2:19).