HOW CAN WE HELP EACH OTHER BE MORE EFFECTIVE WITNESSES OF JESUS CHRIST?
(Praying, Talking, Reminding each other about eight important questions)
Made in Elements
(Praying, Talking, Reminding each other about eight important questions)
1. WHO ARE WE?
Are we: Witnesses? / Sinners? / Saints?
Why did Paul, describe himself as one who is: "of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. Romans 7:14-25
Have you ever wondered why Paul didn't begin his letters with something like:
"Paul, the chief of sinners, called by the will of God yet a hypocritical apostle of Christ Jesus, and our fellow sinner Sosthenes, to the sinful church of God that is in Corinth, to those needing to be sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to hopefully somehow become saints together with all those who in every place who likewise try to call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Perhaps God's Grace and Peace will come to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Paul actually began each of his New Testament letters with words like: "To the saints and faithful brethren.
Children of God / Servants / Slaves / Faithful / Brother / Called to be Saints / Loved by God / Reconciled / Set free from sin / Alive to God / fellow workers / Kinsmen / Sanctified / Delivered from the present evil age / Blessed with every spiritual blessing / Chosen / blameless / predestined for adoption / Redeemed / lavished with God’s Grace / heirs / sealed with Holy Spirit / made alive / saved / raised up, seated with Christ / God’s workmanship / brought near to God / Holy Temple - dwelling place for God / Body of Christ / new self / Indwelt by Holy Spirit / lights in the world / Transferred to the Kingdom of God / God’s Elect / spiritual house / holy priesthood / overcomers / protected / kept for Jesus Christ /
So are we Sinners or Saints and what does either label have to do with the effectiveness of our witness? "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.” Acts 1:8
Read Romans 12
??? How does our view of ourselves affect our witness?
Back to the Top
2. WHAT IS OUR MISSION?
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
1 Chronicles 16:24 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.”
Psalm 96:2-3 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.”
Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.'”
Isaiah 12:4 And in that day you will say: ‘Praise the Lord, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted.'”
Jonah 3:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.”
Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Matthew 10:7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Luke 24:47 And that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
Acts 1:8 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.”
Acts 18:9-10 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.'”
Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Romans 10:13-15For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”
1Corinthians 9:22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”
2Corinthians 4:5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
2Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
Philippians 2:15 That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
Colossians 1:28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 4:3 Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains.”
2Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”
Jude 22,23 And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
??? What are some of the many ways we can witness?
3. WHAT ARE OUR HINDRANCES?
Why are we not better witnesses?
> Ourselves: Belief and Doubt ?
Matthew 28:17 And when they saw Him they worshipped Him, but some doubted.”
. - What did they believe? What did they doubt?
- What do we “believe” and what do we “doubt?”
Matt 14:31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Matt 28:17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
Luke 24:38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Jude 22 And have mercy on those who doubt;
> Our environment of counterfeits and feelings of futility? fear?
2Corinthians 11:12-15 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds."
??? How do these things affect the effectiveness of our witness?
4. WHAT ARE OUR RESOURCES?
> Weaknesses? (what we usually focus on intelligence / personality / comfort)
1Corinthians 1:26-31 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
When in weakness we are dependent on God our weaknesses become strengths
2 Corinthians 12:10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
> But we have Strengths?
God /Jesus:
- Deut 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
- Matt 28:18…And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
- Heb 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Holy Spirit:
- John 14:15-17 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
WORD:
- Isa 55:11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
- Ps 1:1,2 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
- John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
- Heb 4:11-13 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may all by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Prayer:
- Col 4:3 Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains.”
-1Cor 16:9 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
God’s will / fellowship;
- 1Cor 16:12... Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity
- Romans 16 “welcome… help… greet”
??? What really makes our witness Effective?
5. WHO IS OUR MISSION FIELD?
> religious … non-believers … agnostics … family … neighbors ...
> What are they like?
Eph 2:1-3 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
1Cor 6: 9-11 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
??? Why is our attitude toward the people in our mission field important?
6. HOW SHOULD WE WITNESS AND EVANGELIZE?
(How did Jesus and the Apostles witness?)
- Regarding themselves? How do we think about ourselves?
Attitudes? Heart? #1…2...3...4..5...
Behaviors? Techniques? Independent or Dependent (on what/who)
- Regarding others? How do we think about others?
Attitudes? Heart? What is my heart for others?
Behaviors? Techniques?
- Jesus asked 170 questions in Gospels
Matthew 07:03-04 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 04 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?
Matt 9:28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”
Matthew 14:31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
Matthew 16:26 what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Mark 05:09 (Lk 08:30) And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
Mark 06:38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
Mark 08:27–29 (Lk 09:18-20) And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “43 John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”
Mark 08:36–37 (Lk 09:25) For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?
Mark 10:51 (Lk 18:40,41) And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.”
Luke 06:46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
John 3:9–10 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?
John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”
John 11:26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 18:34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”
??? How does my “testimony” (a brief statement of my relationship with GOD/JESUS) declare and demonstrate my heart and my techniques?
??? In what ways can we help each other with our attitudes and techniques?
7. HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?
- Prayerfully and Biblically working on our hearts (attitudes) and techniques.
- Dear LORD, please change and grow our attitudes and techniques!
- Dear LORD, please help us see and accept opportunities to witness and evangelize.
- Dear LORD, please help us to depend on YOU, as “YOU add to our number day by day those who are being saved.”
8. HOW SHOULD WE PLAN?
.. . pray … listen … encourage … participate … develop?
- To what is God drawing my interests, heart, resources and talents?
- To what witness plans is God drawing my friends? With whom am I drawn to partner?
- Who around me needs my help with their witness?
~~~~~~~
I will start:
- Please Help me…
with my “HaveLIFE” ministries:
Website / T Bucket
- go with me to parades, parks, etc. visit with people about LIFE
share: HavelIFE Cards / questions booklets
How can I help you?
Pray for people you are concerned about? / picnic / movie night / neighborhood party / outing / project / letters / gifts / etc. etc. ???
PROMPTING GOSPEL CONVERSATIONS?
Most people have probably heard (and believed) various "Good News" answers to the challenges, heartaches, and questions of life.
Many of the "Good News" answers people hear are either distortions or outright contradictions of the "Good News" of the Bible "Gospel." Non-Bible Gospels are all some sort of self-help formula that is basically human "religion" clothed in science, philosophy, politics, economics, do- and-be-the-right-things ideas. Sadly, too many people hear and perceive the Bible Gospel from these perspectives.
How can people be prompted and helped to hear and think about the Bible Gospel as truly, and radically, different from what they hear from the world?
How can questions be provoking and helpful?
REMEMBER: These are not “gotcha questions.” We ask questions because we truly care about people.
??? Caring questions to ask:
?- What do the words "Have Life" mean to you?
?- What do you think about the story of Adam and ‘Eve in the Garden of Eden?
?- How important is it to ask and answer questions about our life?
?- What part do you think the Ten Commandments has in our life?
?- Can you think of some important realities of life that Adam and Eve demonstrate?
?- How do you describe the Bible Gospel?
?- Can you think of some Life questions we all answer every day?
?- Would you like to hear how I answer these questions?
??? If we discern a person is a LDS.
?- How do you describe the LDS Gospel?
?- Where do you learn about the LDS Gospel?
?- When do you believe you will know for sure that you have Eternal Life?
?- How do you define “sin?”
?- What does God’s “Grace” mean to you?
?- What does it take to be true to the LDS faith?
?- What are some covenants that you have made with God that you have kept perfectly?
?- In what ways do you plan to be “like God?”
Content by J Neil Evans
Using RapidWeaver Elements
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