During week 14 of the project, the congregation (those who participated in week 2) were given the Be My Witness survey after the project. This goal was successful as 100 percent of the five-member oversight team approved the seminar guide. The Holman Bible Dictionary defines the word "witness" as "the testimony of a person or something that bears witness to a person or event."2 Based on the context of Isaiah 44:8, Luke 24:48, and Acts 1:8, the definition can is extended to include testimony of things seen, heard, done or experienced.
Next, Luke's use of the term "witnesses" (in both Luke and Acts) is in an active, evangelistic sense.
Illustrates God’s Call to Be a Witness Call to Be a Witness
These were not magic coals (nor are people baptized in magic water), rather they figuratively represent the miraculous completion of God's gracious cleansing and forgiveness. Isaiah's conversion experience (vv. 5-7) makes him immediately aware of God's desire for someone to be a witness for him. To witness is to respond to God's desire to make his glory known to people all over the earth.
Those who need to be forced may be too little aware of how great God's grace is toward them.
Included in the salvation of God's people is God's desire and expectation that his people serve him by being his witnesses. One of the ways God's people serve him is by witnessing to him – a witness is a servant. Israel had no excuse for being God's witnesses and their testimony to the nations, as Oswalt comments.
Smith summed up Israel's case before the nations in being Jehovah's witnesses and their proof of God's divine distinction:.
Provides the Content of the Gospel Message for Witnessing Gospel Message for Witnessing
The gospel is the good news that God has provided salvation and the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection. The gospel consists of Jesus' teaching regarding his death and resurrection, which find their basis in the fulfillment of the Scriptures. Furthermore, in the New Testament the historical reliability of Jesus' life, death and resurrection is intrinsic to the preaching of the gospel.
Two central elements are involved in the proclamation of the gospel: repentance and the forgiveness of sins in Jesus' name.
Provides a Witnessing Strategy for Believers and Local Churches Believers and Local Churches
There are several specific examples of the Holy Spirit empowering the first Christians to perform miracles while preaching the gospel. The ability to be God's witnesses is linked to the strengthening and transformation of the Holy Spirit. Erickson's comments on “The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus”: “When we.
As a result of the power of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the disciples (and believers), the people of Jesus are enabled to be His witnesses. The ability to preach the gospel is based on the ministry of the Holy Spirit. They are all the same elements: the testimony, the call to the nations, the power of the Spirit.55.
It is essential that every believer has a good understanding of the gospel message and is able to explain it clearly. The problem is that people are still drifting away from the truth of the gospel. Most evangelism training involves helping people learn how to say the words of the gospel.
To the unbeliever, the confirmation of the gospel will be evident in the believer's life, as the saying goes, "the proof of the pudding is in the Eating." Servant evangelism validates the oral presentation of the message by incarnating the gospel through action. In a post-Christian culture, service evangelism provides a demonstration of the gospel coupled with an explanation.
The Great Commission" is not the work of a professional, but the work of every believer.
Believe in the Call and Power of God” (Acts 1:8)
It is crucial to instill in CrossWay believers what it means to show Christ in witness. The main goal of this series of sermons was to help believers understand and exercise their responsibility to God as His witnesses. Also in week 2, before the first message, I asked believers to participate in a pre-project survey for the "Be My Witness" sermon series.
Another purpose was to determine the effect and impact (if any) that exposure to biblical messages (in this case, only on Sunday mornings) would result in attitude and life transformation. Completing the sermon series in week 13 provided the opportunity to transition from the sermon series to the personal evangelism workshop without a break, which provided a steady momentum and train of thought regarding evangelism. In addition, starting the sermon series in the second week allowed me to have a week ahead (in this case week 1) for sermon preparations.
In the following short paragraphs I give the title of the sermon, the text of the scriptures, the purpose of the message, and the challenge of obedience to believers in response to the Word of God. There is no more important and satisfying calling than to witness the transforming love of Jesus Christ. On the last day of His earthly ministry, Jesus made a specific commission and promise to His disciples about the role they would play in His continuing work in the world.
These passages of Scripture helped believers to understand God's compelling command and promise that He gives to His people. Seeing what God has done in the past and promised for the future keeps believers from becoming discouraged when the work of witnessing becomes a challenge.
Examine the News”
This gospel is God's wonderful invitation that through it we are saved from sin for a beautiful new life.
Mourn the Changed Conditions” (Isa 40:8)
Yearn for People as God Does” (Luke 19:10)
In each parable the concern was not for the items that were safe, but for the items that were lost. Believers must build an environment that shows they care about people as they are. Believers sometimes get so caught up in being a holy cluster that they lose focus on lost people.
The purpose of this message was to help believers develop a heart for the lost, like Jesus who came to seek and save the lost.
Walk with People” (Luke 10:2)
Investigate and Invest in the Soil” (1 Cor 3:6)
Testify to the Truth You Know” (1 Pet 3:15)
The work of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life at conversion creates their own personal testimony. As no two snowflakes are alike, the testimony of a believer is unique and different from the testimony of others. Witnessing is effective in all cultures, especially in the postmodern culture facing the church in America.
The life story of a believer is often of interest to others, even those who are usually unwilling to discuss religious matters. The challenge for believers today is to share their personal testimony in a kind, respectful, and influential way.
Nail the Sins That Slay You” (Luke 6:42)
Express Grace under Pressure” (2 Cor 1:12)
Serve Needs”
Share the Invitation to Salvation” (Rev 3:20)
A Writ to be a Watchman Witness” (Ezek 3:16-21)
One of the benefits of this endeavor was that I was able to use information for the guide to help me with sermon preparation. The implementation of the personal evangelism seminar took place over a weekend period (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon). On Friday evening after a time of music and prayer (each future session was opened with music and prayer), I began with an overview of the seminar.
One of the purposes of this project was to make CrossWay members aware of their responsibility to witness. The primary tool for the seminar was the production of a Personal Evangelism Seminar Guide (hereinafter referred to as "the Guide"). For example, one team member communicated that the guide has a statement of the seminar's goal, which was to focus on relational, intentional, lifestyle, and servant evangelism.
Another team member pointed out that a clear strength of the guide was that he was biblically rich. In principle, the guide turned out to be sufficient to facilitate the third goal of the project, the implementation of the seminar. The implementation of the personal evangelism seminar for attendees made a statistical difference, resulting in an increase in knowledge related to evangelism (t p<.02).
One of the team members felt the guide provided an excellent introduction to why a new approach to personal evangelism was needed in the 21st century. Eighty percent of the five-person monitoring team revealed that the guide contained too much material to cover in six hours.
Would Do Differently
One of the byproducts of developing healthy believers is that healthy Christians share their experience and faith in Christ enthusiastically, not out of compulsion. By doing "the good things" a person can become out of touch and lose focus and perspective, thus not being in alignment with the Lord. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, acceptable and perfect will" (Rom 12:2).
Instead of focusing on results, I have learned that I must spend my energies on the health of the church (members). I have to remember that one of God's will for CrossWay members is to be active in sharing their faith and testimony and not be concerned about results or numerical growth. Being an ambassador for Christ is only the role and responsibility of the pastor and church leaders.
Regardless of whether CrossWay has servant evangelism projects, CrossWay's growth is entirely dependent on God's actions and not anything we do as a church. I believe that the preaching of the Bible plays an important role in what I believe and how I behave as a Christian. I believe that the preaching of the Bible plays an important role in the direction and life of the church.
Evangelism in the Twenty-First Century—The Critical Issues: Twenty-One Contributors Writing in Honor of Lewis A. The Scriptures are clear that God's witnesses have a prominent place in the lives of believers.
