This article was inspired and influenced by the writing of Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron. Their Web address: www.wayofthemaster.com
For a long time the favourite method of Christians witnessing has been to focus on the positives of the gospel. We’ve been saying: “Ask Jesus into your heart and you will have a better life, blessings, peace, joy.” Or "God has a wonderful plan for your life." True, but the focus has been mainly on the love of God.
This has been done in witnessing – and from church platforms also - to the extent few people today are aware of God’s justice as well as love. They have no fear of God, do not regard themselves as sinners, and they don’t think a God of love would condemn them. The Bible says God will.
Many think they are good enough to get to heaven by their good works, good deeds etc.
The Bible says in Galatians 3:24 that the law is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. So the approach is to make the person aware that until they have Jesus’ salvation they are under the law, and God will deal with them accordingly. They will realize by their own admission they are guilty before God and in need of a Saviour.
HOW TO DO IT
You must do this without a “holier-than-thou” attitude. Start by asking a person if they think they are good. Most will say indeed they are. Then you say “OK, can I ask you a few questions to see if that is true?” They’ll usually agree.
You softly ask if they ever told a lie, and to answer according to their conscience. If yes, ask what that makes them. After some beating around the bush they’ll finally admit it makes them a liar. Similarly did they ever steal anything, no matter how small. If they answer yes, ask what do we call someone who steals? The answer is of course a thief, and they will eventually admit it. Next, did they ever look at a man/woman with lust? Most will have to agree they did, so you point out what Jesus said – to look with lust is to commit adultery in the heart.
Then you gently show that by their own admission they are a lying, thieving, adulterous person at heart. It means they’ve broken at least three of the Ten Commandments. Ask if, on Judgment Day, God will find them innocent or guilty.
If they will admit guilt, you calmly say they are condemned to a lake of fire, but there is a way out. Then you tell them about Jesus, what He did on the cross, and that they can only be forgiven and saved by coming to Him in repentance, trust and faith.
You ask them to seriously think about what you said, and if the Holy Spirit shows you they are ready, lead them in a prayer.
This is only a brief outline. For much more detail on this approach, go to the Way of the Master website: www.wayofthemaster.com
Dvd’s, books, and witnessing tools regarding this topic are available to you there.
I am not in Private Messenger
Read more articles by Rod Smith or search for articles on the same topic or others.
Thank you for the comments. I'll simply say that no-one leads anyone to the Lord - the Holy Spirit does. That is, after we take the message in many and varied ways as you say.
I understand the direction, as the piece was well written, (I would suggest putting "Yes"/"No" answers in quotation marks, it makes it a dialogue).
As far as content, well, it's so easy, too easy to tell others the "how to" of any thing under the sun. My question, which is a fair one, is; When was the last time you led any one to Him?
Even in our good, gospel intentions we have learned to "open another can of good news" and we unwittingly fall into a most subtle form of legalism. Jesus said "I say ONLY THOSE THINGS I HEAR MY FATHER SAYING"....Rather than rehearse our witnessing technique, we see in His words that the most effective witness is hearing Him. Should He speak of His justice, then well; should He speak of His love, then well; should He speak of them as they relate to one another (and they do), then well. We get so rehearsed we deafen ourselves to what He is saying.
To the woman at the well: "You are a lying adulterous" is not what was said. Why?
Hi Rod,
I'm in Melbourne....nice to meet an Aussie...where are you?
You sound just like a man of great faithfulness to the Lord I met on Poets.com. He too was only about the Kingdom. Do you post your work under the free articles reprint section? They could be a blessing to others if you haven't. Have you started a blog yet? Its another great way to witness if you haven't..keep inspiring - the harvest is huge and you are the labourer. God bless
