Witnessing When You're No Good At It

You mean cold witnessing to strangers? That is hard! It's impossible to know what words to use that might reach their hearts.

Witnessing to people you know, even a little, is easier. Just tell them your story.

Like, most of you know that my dog has been really sick. And we've been praying for him. Well, turns out that he doesn't have cancer, the tumor was benign. My coworker was amazed, since it was 99% that this kind of tumor was cancer. He asked me, "Did you have the people on that Christian website praying for him?" I answered that you all were, and that my neighbor came over to lay hands on him the night before his surgery, too, and that we got assurance that it was not cancer. My coworker has seen my prayers get answered many times in the most impossible circumstances. By telling him about my prayers and the results of them, I am able to witness to him about our God. He has gone from being a total atheist, to an agnostic, to someone who believes there might be something real to this God thing.

Speak from your own life. Your testimony is you best witnessing tool.

First, how do you know you are no good at it? Remember the story of Moses? Talk about stumbling and bumbling, and stuttering and stammerring!!!

Witnessing is the easiest thing we have to do, because the Holy Spirit has already prepared the heart before we got there. We don't have to hard sell them, or beg and plead with them or push them in any way. We are not even responsible for them accepting or rejecting Jesus. All we are told to do is TELL them the Gospel.

So thing is, either the Holy Spirit is working there or He is not. If He is not we may as well move on because no matter what we do, it won't work. If the Holy Spirit has been working there you will know in short order, and then it doesn't matter how much you stumble. God willl use your words to reach that heart.

Just remember to keep it simple, and don't let them pull you off topic, with diversion questions, like "where did Cain get his wife?" Just politely tell them, you would love to talk about that but at some other time, because what we are talking about now is far more important than that.

Well,

We do some street evangelism and this is waht really helps up "open discussion" This has worked very well for many people on the streets with this format, also you can just use the first two questions if you are like sitting next to someone on a plane or in a store line.

We usually stop the person and say we are doing a survey and ask if they wouldnt mind answering a few questions

Questions (in this order)

Do you have any spiritual beliefs?

To you who is Jesus? (this will let you know where they are at)

Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?

If so, where would you go?

If what your believing is not true, would you want to know?

if they say yes then ask them if you could share a bit of scripture with them, they usually say yes.

Take them down Romans Road and the few other important scriptures (have them read it) this gets it into their spirit. After each scripture they read ask them "what does that mean to you"?

Then ask them if they would like to receive Jesus.

This works incredible on the streets - many times we dont even get to the scriptures and they are ready to receive!

The most important, number 1# thing is - BE PRAYED UP AND WALK IN THE ANOINTING!!!  there are times when we look back and think that we were in a different realm.

Some of the greatest witnesses are those who think they are no good at it. Those are the people who rely on the Holy Spirit to help them and guide them into the right words. THere's lots of good advice here, but don't forget to keep that humility that says you can't do it alone.
It is when we are weak that HE is strong!

If you think you're terrible at evangelism, it's fully possible that you're just bad at the way you THINK you should be doing it..... we often get all the church-sanctioned tactics shown to us as THE way to witness....... maybe that's not you. Or maybe the Holy Spirit's trying to do something that doesn't fit that model....

For some alternate ideas, check out http://www.off-the-map.org .... it's a site/resource based on the idea that Evangelism should be personal, relational and a natural thing. They have some good resources and testimonies regarding how to related to "missing" people, IMO some good ideas overall.....

-Elias

Your witness is more than what you say! It's also

how you act

What you drink

What's your entertainment

Who you hang with

How you treat others - esp. if they are considered a lower social class.

Your respect for school/church/parents/geeky friends/etc.

Your witness is in fact your way of life.......................

One very effective tool in witnessing is to have answers to questions people ask about Christianity, even if the questions seem "blasphemous" or something.

You can't just expect to throw a few Bible verses their way, threaten them with hell, and then walk away and wash your hands of the matter. That will rarely convert someone.

-Chris

Hi,

I just thought I'd share a few thoughts:

Check out this book or this book.

Both books will give you a more 'fun' perspective on evangelism...more specifically : servant evangelism. Don't have money? Then read some of these awesome stories:

http://www.servantevangelism.com/articles/articles.htm
http://www.servantevangelism.com/stories/stories.htm

I particularly was challenged at the thought: What if you're deaf, and can't talk? How would you verbally preach the gospel (Romans 10:14) to someone if you yourself can't speak or even listen??

Surely the words in themselves don't mean anything without the spirit of God. There's some food for thought

-Jason

Another encouraging thought:

One time I sent my friend a package through snail mail. He was a Christian but unfortunately he turned away months ago, so he's become agnostic. And one thing I love doing is sending people packages in the mail. it's always surprising to get something in the mail isn't it? Well this is one of the ways I 'reach out' to people and the funny thing is I didn't even think of it as a possibility until I recently got an email from the friend I sent the package to and here's what he said to me:

Got your package today... oh wow. Thanks so much... it was a really
pleasant surprise. =D You know, sometimes... for the first time in a while,
I feel like there's perhaps a clear difference between my Christian
friends and my non-Christian friends... you've made me think a little. 

A lot of the time I don't feel like I do as much for you as you do
for me - thanks for all the stuff you've sent me and all the kindness
you've shown. It's really made a difference in my life many times.

Click to expand...

Now here's the funny part:  I sent him something simply out of my desire to give him something, and that was it!!  I didn't even think God had anything to do with it, yet God was clearly in on this!!  It's always the little stuff that seems to be easily overlooked

I always had a desire to surprise people by sending things in the mail on completely random days when no one would expect anything.  And that makes the surprise that much more exciting for me!  God seems to be like that too:  completely surprising at times

So I just wanted to follow his example and my friend was encouraged. 

God bless!

-Jason

Originally posted by rapturefish
The Great Commission can feel like a great burden to those who do not feel equipped to share the gospel. Some are shy, some are fearful, some feel totally out of their league when even trying to start sharing the good news.

Some give up, others feel it is the job of the pastor or those with the gift, still others feel they are witnessing if they only use actions and not words, etc. But that doesn't negate the mandate of Mt 28, does it?

What do we do when we bumble through our attempts to witness or even failing to start because we actually aren't any good at doing it?

blessings,

Click to expand...

You ought to talk to Moses, you two have a lot in common

Stop doubting. God knows.

If you know the good you ought to do.........

Do not merely listen to the word ..........

Witnessing is something that we all suck at. At heart, we all suck at anything that is of the LORD. Satan, the people around us, and our flesh want us to rebell against living godly lives and doing the great commission.

As a result, we really cannot witness except through the Holy Spirit. We must have first (and this is true of any outreaching, etc) develop our relationship with the LORD through the ministry of the Holy Spirit by daily personal time alone with the LORD and we cannot grow in the LORD if we are in sin (John 14:21, I John 2:3-4, and many more). What someone said is right. We should focus often, more on living in a way that is different than everyone else, in just the way we act. Not just some "Preacher boys".

A thing with sharing the gospel that we must remember, is that we are not the one doing anything. It's Christ manifesting himself in us that does anything. And, we are really just presenters of the truth. In the parable of the sower, the sower is sowing the Word. Notice that its not the sower thats doing the growing. It's the Holy Spirit.

I "am not good at witnessing" as well. I am VERY shy in any kind of social contact. But, this is simply because I, me, me, me, am getting in the way of the LORD. We need to just surrender to Him and let Him work.

I have often used the F.I.R.M. aprroach:

F - Talk to them about thier family, let them do the talking, you listen
I - Ask them about thier interests. What excites them?
R - Ask about thier relationship with God. NOT religion. Get a feel for where
they think they're at with God
M- Message.Give them the message of the Gospel. I often use the Roman
Road approach.

And remember, your worst witnessing experience could be the experience that plants the seed of faith in someones life.

Your Brother In Christ

Ken

I'm new here. I've found that actions speak louder than words. (Not that words aren't important) They start a relationship. I work in a retail environment and some days the best witness I can give is a smile. People seem to be drawn to a happy face. I have been asked what makes me so "happy" and there's an oportunity for a message. Meeting people where they are at and giving what you can is the best start. The Holy Spirit takes it from there. Just be available.

&nbsp;And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.<SUP> </SUP>For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.<SUP> </SUP>I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.<SUP> </SUP>And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,<SUP> </SUP>that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Cor.2:1-5

Perhaps we should not be confident when we talk to another. If we evangelise even though we&nbsp;feel we can't, when I person is saved we know it was GOd through us instead.

lambslove said:

You mean cold witnessing to strangers? That is hard! It's impossible to know what words to use that might reach their hearts.

Click to expand...

I would say you're on the right track but that it's not impossible to know another person's heart.

This is very true and Christ's example in one on one instances. He knew what a person needed to hear. A book called Release of the Spirit eluded to this years ago when I read it. I need to read it again; it was over my head then.

Why is this forum so slow I wonder . . . hmmmm. Be my fault as much as anys.

Well this is a brand new forum so I think it will take a while for things to get heated up. But did you just realize that you replied to a post made half a year ago?? hehe I just thought that was funny.

Some people are led by the Holy Spirit and are able to talk to complete strangers about Christ which I think is cool. I dont think everyone has to do it though in order to be an effective witness. Ive noticed that those who have converted from another religion to Christians are sometimes the most straight forward witnesses I have seen.

I frimly believe that God DOES NOT require us to be Bible scholars to witness to others. In fact, in Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus gives us our mission -- the Great Commission:

Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." NLT

This is not the Great "Wait Until I am More Spiritually Mature" Commission. As Warren says in the Purpose Driven Life it is not the Great Suggestion either.

The Bible is full of "misfits" who didn't think that they were good enough, but God used them to spread his Kingdom. Joseph was a smelly shepherd, who became a ruler of Egypt. Esther was an orphan, who became a queen. Rahab was a prostitute who God entered into the lineage of Christ. Peter was a hot-head. Saul persecuted Jews who followed Jesus. God used each of these, and He will use you.

We know what God has done for us, so tell that story. Continue to pray and study the Bible. Make your witnessing conversational, and if you are telling what God has done in your life, it will be.

I recommend visiting the Living Waters website, livingwaters.com. There are many great free evangelism aids there. Additionally, the book Becoming a Contagious Christian by Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg is a good resource for witnessing.

Be blessed! <><
Mark

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

I posted this in the "Thou shall not take the name of the Lord in vain" thread.

When you study it, it's surprising to see the link between the two.


Misusing God's name is FAR larger than just saying "- -".

Let's look at some Scriptures that tell us something about God's Name, or in the Hebrew Ha Shem.

Exodus 20:7 “You shall not misuse the Name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.”

3 central ideas and words in this command:

1st word, nasah – to carry or to take. Misuse, you shall not nasah, not carry or take the Name of God in misuse or vain.

2nd word, shawv – in vain, nothingness or emptiness in the original language, or more detailed definition anything that disappoints the hope which rests upon it.

3rd word, shem – name. God is referred to many times in the OT as “Ha Shem” or “the Name”. There was a sense in ancient times that there was some kind of energy associated with “Ha Shem”.


What is a Name, and what does God’s Name do?

Ex 23:20-21 “Behold, I am about to send an Angel before you, to guard you in the way, and to bring you to the place which I have prepared. Be on guard before Him, and listen to His voice. Do not be rebellious against Him, for He will not forgive your transgressions; for My Name is in Him.”

God speaking of this angle messenger is saying that His Holy Name can be placed in another being.

Deut. 12:11 “And it shall be the place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause His Name to dwell there…”

God’s Name is going to live somewhere.

Ps 20:1 “May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble. May the Name of the God of Ya`akov set you up on high…..”

Notice here that God’s Name has power to protect, His Name is doing things.

Isa 30:27 “Behold, the Name of the LORD comes from far away, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke.”

This Name is capable of moving around on its own, and you can see coming from afar, in this case judgment. God’s Name does stuff. God’s Name has this presence about it that in some way God’s Name is present in some way God is there in His fullness as well.

Micah 4:5 “Indeed all the nations may walk in the name of their gods; but we will walk in the Name of the LORD our God forever and ever.”

Check out this concept of God’s Name. God’s Name here is not something you say to get God’s attention, or something that gets placed in people, dwells in a particular location or something that comes from afar. Micah refers to it as something you can walk or live in the Name. God’s Name here is a realm or dimension you can live in. You’re either living in the Name or outside of it living in some other name.

1 Peter 4:14 “If you are reviled in the Name of Christ, you are blessed, because "the Spirit of God and of glory rests on you."

Peter here makes the connection between the Name and something else, that something else is God and God’s Spirit. God’s Name here is synonymous with the actual presence of God and therefore God’s Spirit.

3 John 6-7 “They have testified about your love before the assembly. You will do well to send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, because for the sake of Ha Shem they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles.”

The Name of God gets placed on people, and these people go around and carry the Name of God wherever they go. So a Christian is someone who carries the Name of God on them. If you are a follower of Jesus then the Holy untouchable Name of Ha Shem has been placed upon you.

If this is true then God for some mind-blowing reason entrusts His reputation to people. One of the primary ways God makes Himself known is through people who He places His Name on. If you’re a follower of Jesus, then you carry the Name, the Name of God rests on you. Wherever you go and whatever you do you are carrying the Name of God into that situation, and what you do God is present in your actions.

God set it up that a world of people that do not know God would see these people who carry God’s Name around and would see from these people what God is like. This is one of the central ways God teaches the world what He is like.

I have heard people say “I want to be a witness for God.” Technically according to the Scriptures EVERY Christian is a witnesses to God. The question is, are you doing it well? What are you a witness to, a God of grace and mercy? Or a God that is judgmental and harsh waiting to “zap” you. Are you a witness to a God who identifies with the marginalized and the oppressed, minority and brokenhearted, or are you a witness to a God that is only interested in getting more “stuff”? To carry the Name is to witness to what God is like.

The most important thing you can do with your life is witness!

Look at thewayofthemaster.com, livingwaters.com , & markcahill.com

This explains the way Jesus witnessed, and we can pattern ourselves after him.

Love-n-Blessings
dee