Witnessing is a common term for spreading the Gospel.  Paul gives us instructions on how and when to witness.  He said to "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort, with longsuffering and teaching." (2 Tim. 4:2)  Let's look at some keys to being a Witness.

Earn the right to witness - First you must get to know the person.  This is not a superficial kind of getting to know them but real compassion for them.  A person will quickly turn away from you if they feel you are just trying to fill a quota and not really interested in them.  If it is right the Holy Spirit will let you know when to move on to speaking about the spiritual.  Listen for Him!

 

Use Tracts - Tracts are a great bridge from talking about everyday things to the spiritual.  For more detail on using tracts please go to our How to use a Tract page.

 

Use God's Ten Commandments - This way you are showing them their sickness (sin) before you give them the cure (Grace). Simply ask if the person has kept the Ten Commandments. They will most likely say yes.   Then go through them:   Have you ever told one lie (even a "white" lie)?  What does that make you?  A liar! Have you ever stolen something (even if it's small)? What does that make you?  A thief! Have you ever lusted?  Then you have committed adultery of the heart.  Let them know that they are a lying, thieving , adulterer at heart and in big trouble.  On Judgment Day they will be found guilty and end up in Hell!! (They will know that they sinned and need a Savior.)  But God sent His Son to die on the Cross for you.  Jesus took your punishment upon Himself and then rose from the grave--defeating death.  This is a very powerful way of witnessing.  We know that God has placed the law on the sinners heart "...the work of the Law written in their hearts..." (Rom 2:15).  Please read our Use of the Law page for more information why the Law is so important in witnessing.  Also we recommend "Hells Best Kept Secret" by Ray Comfort for more detail in using God's Law in witnessing.

You can not mess up bad enough! - What we mean by this is that most of the work is done by the Holy Spirit.  He is certainly powerful to overcome anything that you may do.   This is not to say that you do not need to do your best but, like stated before, you cannot save anyone so you cannot make someone lose salvation.  So relax and talk in love.

 

The scale - We recently received a three tape series on witnessing. A Pastor in Winston-Salem, North Carolina produced the series.  He brought up a very important point to witnessing that we would like to share with you. This Pastor was on an airplane and witnessed to the person next to him.  By the end of the flight he had presented the Gospel but did not have a decision for Christ. The Pastor did not get down on himself for not getting the decision because he knew that he had done what our Lord has commanded him to do. He used an illustration that I thought was very good. He talked about a scale from 0 to 10. A 0 may be someone that has never heard the Gospel. A 10 may be someone ready to commit to Christ. A 5 may be someone with some knowledge. Everyone that does not know Jesus falls somewhere on this scale. When witnessing to someone you may bring that person from a 3 to an 8. You must know that you have not failed just because you did not bring someone to a 10. You may bring someone from a 5 to a 7 and then someone else through the Holy Spirit will bring them the rest of the way. The most important point to remember is that sharing the Gospel is never in vain!

 

Sample prayer - Here is a sample prayer that you can suggest that a non-Christian use to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

"Dear God, I understand that I have broken Your Law and sinned against You.   Please forgive my sins.  Thank you that Jesus suffered on the cross in my place.  I now place my trust in Him as my Savior and Lord.  In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen."

You may be called to disciple someone.  Christians that have started to walk away from the faith or just need help understanding their walk with Christ may be brought to you.  Also if our Lord has given you the opportunity of seeing someone come to Him, then you may be called to disciple this "Babe in Christ." 

Our last key is Discipleship.