Principles ofPersonal ChristianWitnessing
CHURCH GROWTH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
•Acts 1:15______
•Acts 2:41,42______
•Acts 4:4______
•Acts 5:14______
•Acts 6:1,7______
•Acts 9:31______
•Acts 16:5______
•Acts 21:20______
THE NEED OF INVOLVEMENT
“The work of God in this earth can never be finished until men and women comprising our church membership rally to the work, and unite their efforts with the ministers and church officers” (Gospel Workers, 351-352).
WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT INVOLVED?
- Lack of confidence
- Problem of unknown potential
- Have never been asked
- No training
“Many would be willing to work if they were taught how to begin” (Christian Service p. 59).
- Limited understanding of role
Mistaken division CLERGY X LAITY
Biblical Meaning of Laity
“Laos” means a special people or God’s own people
•O.T. = Israel
God’s Remnant
•N.T. = Those who believe in Christ and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour
“The idea that the minister must carry all the burdens and do all the work is a great mistake.”Christian Service, p. 68.
THEOLOGY OF INVOLVEMENT
•Gospel Commission – Biblical Command - Matthew 28:19, 20
•Theology of Priesthood of Believers - 1 Peter 2:9
•Theology of the body of Christ - 1 Cor. 12:12
•Theology of Gifts - 1 Cor. 12:4, 5
GREATEST HELP
“The greatest help that can be given our people is to teach them to work for God, and to depend on Him, not on the ministers” (7 Testimonies, 19).
“The people have had too much sermonizing; but have they been taught how to labor for those for whom Christ died?” (6 Testimonies, 431).
THE ROLE OF LAITY
Primarily ministry in the world:
•Proclamation
•Service
•Fellowship
WORKING TOGETHER
“Let ministers and lay members go forth into the ripening fields” (ChS, 67).
“Every soul whom Christ has rescued is called to work in His name for the saving of the lost” (ChS, 10).
“To every one work has been allotted, and no one can be a substitute for another”
(ChS, 10).
“Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary. He who drinks of the living water becomes a fountain of life. The receiver becomes a giver” (ChS,9).
- No motivation
Why witness?
Motivating factors for witnessing:
•Witnessing is a biblical command
- Matthew 28:19, 20
- Acts 1:8
- Isaiah 60:1
- Acts 13:47
- Mark 5:19
•Witnessing brings joy to God’s heart
- The lost coin - Luke 15:8-10
- The prodigal son - Luke 15:11-32
- The lost sheep - Luke 15:4-7
•Witnessing is the heart’s response to love
- 2 Corinthians 5:14
•Witnessing contributes to spiritual life
- In order to enter into His joy, the joy of seeing souls redeemed by His sacrifice, we must participate in His labor for their redemption” DA, 142.
- … strength to resist evil is best gained by aggressive service...”
Acts of the Apostles, 105
- The church: The body of Christ
The body has many parts
•Witnessing is related to His second coming
-Matthew 24:14
-“The essential Latter Rain cannot come until the “largest portion of the church are... laboring together with God” (RH 7/21/1896)
-“Time is short, and our forces must be organized to doa larger work” (9Testimonies, 27)
-God is robbed
In failing to benefit our fellow men, we rob God of the glory that should flow to Him through the conversion of souls” (6 Testimonies, 427).
PROCESS OF WITNESSING
Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people.” (MH, 143)
Christ’s Methods:
•He mingled with men as One who desired their good
•He showed sympathy
•He ministered to their needs
•He won their confidence
•He bade them, “Follow Me.”
THE LAW OF THE HUMAN MIND
- The Law of Human Compassion
Lessons from the life of Jesus:
- To the scribe he said: “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
- To the Canaanite woman: “Great is thy faith.”
- To the Roman centurion: “Forgive them.”
- The Law of Receptivity
Keys to discovering receptivity
-Family dilemma
-Emotional crisis
-Financial crisis
-Health problem
-World trauma
-Personal crisis
- The Law of Divine Providence
John 5:17
FINDING INTERESTS
Oikos Principle:
•Oikos means “house” (Greek)
•Bible: “household” extended family
•Biblical examples: Abraham, Joseph, etc.
“This was the way the Christian Church was established. Christ first selected a few persons and bade them follow Him. They then went in search of their relatives and acquaintances, and brought them to Christ. This is the way we are to labor. A few souls brought out and fully established in the truth will, like the first disciples, be laborers for others.” Welfare Ministry, p. 60
How Do People Join the Christian Church?
FRIEND/RELATIVE75-90%
OIKOS IDENTIFICATION WORKSHEET
•Family ______
•Close Friends ______
•Working Associates ______
•Casual Acquaintances ______
INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS WHO NOW AND THEN VISIT THE CHURCH
•Visitors to SabbathSchool and other programs
•Individuals who have completed any Bible correspondence programs
•Parents of children who attend VocationBibleSchool
•Friends from the Ingathering Program
•Non-SDA students studying in Adventist schools and their parents
•Regular customers of literature evangelists
•Those who have attended evangelistic meetings and who have not made their decisions for Jesus
THE FORTPRINCIPLE
•F – Family
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______
•O – Occupation
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•R – Religion
______
______
•T - Testimony
THREE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A TESTIMONY
•My Life Before Accepting Christ
______
______
______
•How I Became a Christian
______
______
______
•My Life Since I Became a Christian
______
______
______
INTRODUCING THE SIMPLICITY OF SALVATION
•GOD
______
•MAN
______
•JESUS
______
•US
______
“Present the gospel in its simplicity. Follow Christ’s example and you will have the reward of seeing your students won to Him.” (CT 255).
“What you need is a living experience in the things of God and simplicity in presenting the love of Christ to the lost.” (Sons and Daughtersof God, 266)
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Principles of Personal Christian Witnessing