Study Material

SCL2 Chapter 4 - Witnessing for Christ

"Witnessing is taking a good look at the Lord Jesus Christ and then telling others what you've seen." — Lorne Sanny

THE CHALLENGE

What was the first thing Andrew did after he met Jesus? (John 1:40-42)

In Mark 5:19 after Jesus had healed a man
1. Where did He tell him to go?
1. What did He tell him to do?

What did Peter say about speaking of Jesus Christ? (Acts 4:20) (Underline correct answer.)
He didn’t speak unless asked.
He was compelled to speak.
He found it difficult to speak of such a personal matter.

What was Paul to tell people? (Acts 22:15)

A witness in the courtroom is expected to tell what he knows about a given situation. The Christian witness is to tell others what he knows about Jesus Christ and what it means to have personally trusted Him.

Of what did Paul say he was not ashamed?
1. And why?
  (Romans 1:16)

In Luke 24:46-48
1. What prophecies had just been fulfilled? (Luke 24:46)
1. What messages were the disciples to proclaim?
1. Whom were they to tell?

WITNESS BY LIFE

Some people you know never read the Bible and seldom attend church. If you want them to know what Christ can do for them, let them see what Christ has done for you.

Since we are God’s children living in a warped and wicked age (Phil. 2:15)
1. What kind of lives should we live?
1. How should we appear to the world?

In Matthew 5:16
1. What do people notice that makes a Christian’s life shine?
1. What can be the result?

You are writing a Gospel, a chapter each day,

By the deeds that you do and the words that you say.

Men read what you write – distorted or true;

– What is the Gospel according to you?

WITNESS BY WORD

Who are the ones who should openly speak of their salvation? (Psalm 107:2)

The blind man whom Jesus healed had little or no theological training, but he could give a simple and effective testimony. What two facts did he relate? (John 9:25)

For what should we always be prepared? (1 Peter 3:15)

“God hasn’t engaged many of us as lawyers, But He has summoned all of us as witnesses.”

PAUL'S WITNESS

Though frequently imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, the Apostle Paul continued to give his testimony boldly whenever he had a chance. Read the account of his witness to King Agrippa and his royal party in Acts 26:1-29; then answer the following questions:

He began his testimony (Acts 26:2-3). (Underline correct answer)
By "telling off" his listeners.
By apologizing for speaking of Christ to them.
With a polite approach.

In spite of an exceptionally religious background (Acts 26:4-5), what has been his attitude toward Christians? (Acts 26:9-11)

What reversed the direction of Paul's life? (Acts 26:12-15)

He explained the Gospel, that Christ must
1. and then (Acts 26:23)

What is the Gospel? Simply "... that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3,4).

He asked King Agrippa if he
God's Word ("the prophets"). (Acts 26:27)

Paul said he wanted everyone who heard him to become as he was (a believer in Christ) except for the prisoner's chains he wore. (Acts 26:29)
True
False

Look over Acts 26:1-23 again and observe the natural outline of Paul's testimony. List the verses that apply to each part.
1. His approach
1. His personal background
1. His meeting with Christ and the results
1. The Gospel

YOUR TESTIMONY

Now that you've seen how Paul gave his testimony, how would you give yours? Giving your testimony is one of the best ways of witnessing. It's particularly helpful in presenting Jesus Christ to relatives and close friends - usually the most difficult to witness to.

In Sharing Your Testimony:

Make it personal - don't preach. Tell what Christ has done for you. Use "I", "me", "my" - not "you"

Make it short - Three or four minutes should be enough time to cover the essential facts.

Keep Christ central - A good testimony always highlights what He has done.

Use the Word of God - A verse or two of Scripture will add power to your testimony. Remember - the Word of God has a keen cutting edge (Eph. 6:17).

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR TESTIMONY

Try writing it down just the way you'd tell it to an unbeliever. Make the story of your conversion so clear that another person hearing it would know how to receive Christ.

Write your testimony on scratch paper, then copy it on notebook paper and insert it in the back of this book. Tell a little about your life before you trusted Jesus Christ; then about your conversion - how you came to trust Him; and something of what it has meant since then to know Him... the blessing of sins forgiven, assurance of eternal life and other ways your life or outlook has changed.

As you prepare your testimony, ask the Lord to give you opportunities to share it. Pray for two or three in your neighbourhood, at work or at school whom you would particularly like to tell about Jesus Christ, and take the first opportunity to share it with them.

... more on how to witness effectively in Book 6.

"I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give them and that is faith in Jesus Christ. If they had that and I had not given them one shilling, they would have been rich: and if they had not that, and I had given them all the world, they would be poor indeed."

From Patrick Henry's will

SOME FINAL SUGGESTIONS

What should you avoid and why? (II Tim 2:23)

In II Timothy 2:24
1. What should the Lord's servant not do?
1. What should he be?

What should we ask for as we pray for witnessing opportunities? (Acts 4:29)

"Boldness is unembarrassed freedom of speech." It doesn't mean being impolite or loud, but means making opportunities and speaking confidently of Christ in your daily contact with others.

Review pages 19, and 20 of Book 1 for a practical way to help a person receive Jesus Christ.

The Wheel

In Books 1 and 2 you have studied some of the secrets of the victorious, Spirit-filled life. The key to this kind of life is Jesus Christ as the Center and Lord of all we do. With Christ in control, the life is balanced and effective.

The Wheel illustrates this Christ-centered life.

Just as the driving force in a wheel comes from the hub, so the power to live the Christian life comes from Jesus Christ the Center.
The rim represents the Christian responding to Christ’s Lordship through wholehearted obedience to Him.
The spokes show the means by which Christ’s power becomes operative in our lives.
The vertical spokes concern our relationship to God through the Word and prayer.
The horizontal spokes involve our relationships to people — believers, through Christian fellowship and unbelievers, through witnessing.

Use this illustration to explain to others these essentials of the Christian life.

Definitions

Abide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Remain; continue; live. Abode (noun). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Home; dwelling place. Beseech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appeal to; try to persuade. Closet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Private place. Confess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To acknowledge guilt for specific sin. Consist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hold together and in place (in Col. 1:17). Conversation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conduct; behaviour. Day of Jesus Christ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The time of Christ's return to the earth. Dominions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lordships; positions of ownership and control; supreme authorities. Expound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To explain the meaning. Fellowship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intimate association; comradeship; sharing; communion. Gender (verb) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To cause; to produce. God of this world . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Satan, the devil. Gospel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Good News – the good news of Christ's death, burial, resurrection and forgiveness of sins through faith. Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Master; ruler; one with power and authority. Lust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unlawful desire; uncontrolled passion. Parable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A story illustrating a truth by comparison. Pharisees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A large group of very strict Jews who insisted on detailed obedience to God's law plus their own traditions, but who failed to demonstrate faith and love. Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Authorities (in Col. 1:16) Pre-eminence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The supreme first place; the highest superiority. Pricks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Goads (pointed rods used to urge along a beast). Prince of the power of the air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Satan, the devil. Principalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulers. Publican . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tax collector for the Roman governments. Reconcile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To restore to fellowship. Redeemed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Purchased, rescued and set free from the penalty and bondage of sin. Repent, repentance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To turn (to God from sin). Straightway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Immediately. Temple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A sanctuary; a dwelling place for deity. Thrones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kingdoms; kingly authorities; supreme powers. Witness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . One who tells what he knows.

Your Next Step in Bible Study

Now that you have completed Book 2, you will want to go on to Book 3, Walking With Christ, to learn about:

The Church
What is the Bible?
God's Word in Your Life
Principles of Prayer