Living as Witnesses: Sharing Christ's Love and Hope

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound call to be witnesses of Jesus Christ, both locally and globally. Jesus' life was a testament to the kingdom of God, not just through His words but through His actions—His compassion, miracles, and the way He lived. As followers of Christ, we are called to bear witness to this kingdom, sharing the good news of Jesus with those around us. This call to witness is not just about speaking but living a life that reflects the love and truth of Jesus.

We delved into the concept of witnessing, drawing parallels to how one might testify about an event they witnessed. In the same way, we are to testify about what we have seen and experienced in our relationship with Jesus. This involves both global and local witnessing. While some are called to go to the ends of the earth, all of us are called to support and send through prayer and financial support. Locally, we are to influence those around us by living out our faith authentically and intentionally.

The Apostle Paul provides a strategy for witnessing in his letter to the Colossians, emphasizing the importance of prayer, wisdom, and grace in our interactions with others. We are encouraged to be devoted to prayer, to be real friends and good neighbors, and to be intentional in our efforts to share the gospel. Authenticity is key, as people are often turned away from Christianity not because of Jesus, but because of negative experiences with Christians. Our conversations should be full of grace, seasoned with salt, creating a thirst in others for the hope we have in Christ.

We also discussed the importance of being prepared to give an answer for the hope that we have, sharing our personal stories of transformation and the hope we find in Jesus. This hope is not just for this life but extends into eternity, offering peace and joy even amidst difficulties. As we live out our faith, we are called to invite others into this journey, sharing the love and truth of Jesus with those around us.

Key Takeaways:

1. Witnessing as a Lifestyle: Witnessing is not just about speaking but living a life that reflects Jesus' love and truth. Our actions and compassion should testify to the kingdom of God, just as Jesus' life did. [05:34]

2. The Power of Prayer: Prayer is foundational in witnessing. It prepares us for influence, aligns us with God's perspective, and opens doors for divine appointments. Our prayers can impact others even when our words cannot. [17:33]

3. Authenticity in Faith: Being authentic in our faith means sharing our struggles and doubts, meeting people where they are, and speaking truth in a way that is understandable and relatable. This authenticity can break down barriers and create opportunities for genuine connection. [28:20]

4. Intentional Relationships: Building intentional relationships with those around us is crucial for witnessing. By being good neighbors and friends, we create opportunities to share the gospel naturally and meaningfully. [21:57]

5. Preparedness to Share Hope: We must be prepared to share the reason for our hope in Christ, not just through knowledge but through personal stories of transformation. This hope is a powerful testimony in a world longing for meaning and purpose. [30:37]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Witnessing
- [02:15] - Jesus' Life as a Witness
- [05:34] - The Call to Global and Local Witness
- [07:45] - The Power of the Holy Spirit
- [10:51] - Sharing the Good News
- [14:51] - The Role of Prayer in Witnessing
- [17:33] - Personal Testimony and Prayer
- [21:57] - Building Intentional Relationships
- [25:29] - Considering the Claims of Jesus
- [28:20] - Authenticity in Faith
- [30:37] - Being Prepared to Share Hope
- [34:59] - Communion and Reflection
- [37:00] - Closing Blessing and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
2. Colossians 4:2-6 - "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Acts 1:8 suggest about the source of power for witnessing, and how does it relate to the geographical areas mentioned? [05:34]
2. According to Colossians 4:2-6, what are the key elements Paul emphasizes for effective witnessing? [21:57]
3. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of witnessing through personal stories and experiences? [10:51]
4. What role does prayer play in preparing for witnessing, as discussed in the sermon? [17:33]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the power of the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in Acts 1:8, influence a believer's confidence in witnessing both locally and globally? [05:34]
2. In what ways does being "wise in the way you act toward outsiders" (Colossians 4:5) impact the effectiveness of sharing the gospel? [21:57]
3. How can authenticity in faith, as discussed in the sermon, break down barriers and create opportunities for genuine connection? [28:20]
4. What does it mean to have conversations "full of grace, seasoned with salt," and how can this approach create a thirst for the hope we have in Christ? [28:20]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current lifestyle. In what ways does it reflect the love and truth of Jesus, and where might there be room for growth in being a witness? [05:34]
2. Identify a specific person or group you feel called to pray for. How can you commit to praying for them regularly, and what impact do you hope this will have? [17:33]
3. Consider your relationships with friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors. How can you be more intentional in building these relationships to naturally share the gospel? [21:57]
4. Think about a recent conversation where you shared your faith. How did you ensure it was full of grace and seasoned with salt? What could you do differently next time? [28:20]
5. Are there personal stories of transformation in your life that you can share with others to illustrate the hope you have in Jesus? How can you prepare to share these stories effectively? [30:37]
6. What specific steps can you take to be more authentic in your faith, sharing your struggles and doubts with others to create genuine connections? [28:20]
7. How can you be more prepared to give an answer for the hope that you have, especially in situations where you might not have all the answers? [30:37]

Devotional

Day 1: Witnessing Through Actions and Compassion
Living a life that reflects Jesus' love and truth is essential for witnessing. This involves not just speaking about Jesus but embodying His compassion and truth in our daily actions. Just as Jesus' life was a testament to the kingdom of God through His actions, we are called to let our lives testify to His love and truth. Our actions should naturally lead others to see the kingdom of God in us, creating opportunities to share the good news of Jesus. [05:34]

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a specific action you can take today to demonstrate Jesus' love to someone in your life. How can this action open a door for sharing the gospel?


Day 2: The Foundation of Prayer in Witnessing
Prayer is a powerful tool in witnessing, preparing us for influence and aligning us with God's perspective. It opens doors for divine appointments and impacts others even when our words cannot. Being devoted to prayer helps us to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading and to recognize opportunities to share the gospel. Through prayer, we can support those who are called to witness globally and locally, and it strengthens our own witness as we rely on God's power rather than our own. [17:33]

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific person or situation in your life that needs prayer. How can you commit to praying for them consistently this week, and what impact do you hope to see?


Day 3: Authenticity in Sharing Faith
Being authentic in our faith involves sharing our struggles and doubts, meeting people where they are, and speaking truth in a relatable way. Authenticity can break down barriers and create opportunities for genuine connection. People are often turned away from Christianity not because of Jesus, but because of negative experiences with Christians. By being real and transparent, we can show others the true nature of Jesus and invite them into a relationship with Him. [28:20]

"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another." (Ephesians 4:25, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent conversation where you could have been more authentic about your faith. How can you approach future conversations with more transparency and honesty?


Day 4: Building Intentional Relationships
Intentional relationships are crucial for witnessing. By being good neighbors and friends, we create opportunities to share the gospel naturally and meaningfully. These relationships are built on genuine care and interest in others, allowing us to share the hope we have in Christ in a way that is relevant to their lives. As we invest in these relationships, we can influence those around us and invite them to experience the love and truth of Jesus. [21:57]

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life that needs more intentionality. What specific steps can you take this week to invest in that relationship and create opportunities to share your faith?


Day 5: Preparedness to Share the Hope in Christ
Being prepared to share the reason for our hope in Christ involves not just knowledge but personal stories of transformation. This hope is a powerful testimony in a world longing for meaning and purpose. We are called to be ready to give an answer for the hope we have, sharing how Jesus has transformed our lives and offering others the peace and joy that comes from knowing Him. [30:37]

"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your personal story of transformation through Christ. How can you share this story with someone this week in a way that is gentle and respectful?

Quotes

"Right out of the gate, Jesus said, Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand Change your mind because the kingdom of God is here Change your direction, the kingdom of God is here But he also demonstrated the kingdom of God Through his compassion, his miracles Feeding hungry people, feeding the 5,000 His life was a proclamation of the gospel But a demonstration of the kingdom of God as well So in other words, his life bore witness To the kingdom of God, right?" [00:01:58] (35 seconds)


"Discipleship to Jesus is arranging our lives around the same practices and priorities that mark the life of Jesus. We've looked at reading Scripture, prayer, solitude, fasting, serving, Sabbath, and last week, generosity. And today is witness. Jesus witnessed about the kingdom of God to the world, to His disciples and to the world. So, when you think of missions, or you think of evangelism, or you think of witness, think it in two ways." [00:06:09] (37 seconds)


"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful, and pray for us too that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders. Make the most of the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." [00:09:55] (38 seconds)


"But the word evangelism just means sharing the good news, sharing the good news about what Jesus did for us. An evangelist or practicing evangelism is simply sharing Jesus. It's sharing who He is and what He's done on behalf of humanity and the hope that we can have because of Him. Who doesn't like to share good news? Us newer grandparents. Like, you want me to share pictures of Jolene and Jamie with you? I'll do it right now." [00:10:26] (37 seconds)


"Jesus defeated our enemies of sin, death, and the evil one. He did that. It's done. People need to hear that. And so often, we muddy the gospel with do's and don'ts and this and that, when really we're just called to tell the good news. We Christians did not invent the word evangelism or evangelist. We borrowed that from the ancient world. When the king would go to war and win a battle or win the war, he would send evangelists from village to village to evangelize and tell them the good news that the war had been won." [00:11:19] (42 seconds)


"Be prepared, he says, so that you may know how to answer everyone. There is some preparation to giving answers to people, not just showing off the Bible knowledge that we have, but people have real questions. They have questions sometimes that are difficult to answer. The Apostle Peter said, but in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." [00:30:37] (41 seconds)


"Most people reject Christianity not because of Jesus. It's because of Christians. It's because their experience with Christians. Maybe it was what we'd call Bible thumping or legalism or this or judgments and condemnation. And no one's ever been condemned or judged into the kingdom of Jesus. No one's ever been argued into the kingdom of Jesus. People are loved and wooed into the kingdom of Jesus by His love and by who He is." [00:26:21] (36 seconds)


"Be there for people in adversity. People don't care how much we know till they know how much we care. You can have all the answers, but if they don't feel like you care, then it's going to fall on deaf ears. And sometimes you might show up for somebody in adversity and they have a question that you're able to answer. Sometimes they may have a question that you don't have an answer for. That's okay." [00:29:06] (29 seconds)


"Tony Renfro shared a couple men's breakfasts ago about a divine appointment that he didn't see coming and yet got to share his faith. It was so powerful, so cool. Because there are things around us on a daily basis, people that are waiting to be influenced for Jesus. We just need to be awake and alert. Second thing is this. So be devoted to prayer, but be a real friend and a good neighbor. However, you want to influence people for Jesus, be a real friend and a good neighbor." [00:19:27] (34 seconds)


"You're not trying to close a deal in winning people to Jesus. That's the Holy Spirit's job. If you get to lead somebody to Jesus, know that somebody planted a seed, somebody's watered it, and God gave you the privilege of being there when the harvest actually happens. One simple thing you can do is invite people to church. Easter's coming. Statistics show that people who are unchurched are open to go to church at Easter more than any time of the year, especially if they're invited by a friend." [00:23:26] (36 seconds)


"Tell your story to people. Every one of us has a story. Some of you have been raised in church all your life, and you think, I don't have a story, Scott. I didn't do sex, drugs, and rock and roll like you did. Good for you. I would rather have your testimony than mine and not have the junk that I went through in my life. So, you do have a strong testimony if you've been a follower of Jesus from the time you can remember as a little kid." [00:32:07] (31 seconds)


"Remember the story where Jesus heals the blind man, and the Pharisees take the blind man, and they're questioning him, what happened, and they're trying to, you know, trip up Jesus. And he says, tell us what happened. He says, I don't know. I was blind, and now I see. That's all he had. I don't know. You guys can argue about this man. I was blind, and now I see. We all have one of those kinds of stories where God was faithful to us." [00:32:41] (29 seconds)


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Transcript
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Were there any personal stories shared?