Witnessing for the Lord is presenting the Gospel to an unbeliever. This is to be our goal. However, before you begin, be sure you know the Gospel message clearly enough to explain it. Be sure your conduct is honourable physically, socially, and spiritually. Then be sure you are prepared with God’s power, with Scriptures in your heart, and a plan in your mind. God wants each of us to be in this state of readiness all day long every day so we are ready to witness in a moment.

One day as Jesus travelled from Judea to Galilee, he stopped in Samaria at Jacob’s well for a rest. While waiting for his disciples to buy food, Jesus witnessed to a woman and led her to salvation.

Transition

This evening I want us to gain witnessing insights from the conversation Jesus had with that woman.

Pray Before and as You Go

  1. Pray daily
    1. Ask God to examine your heart and keep it clean.
    2. Ask God to give you opportunities to witness. Jesus chose to go through Samaria (v.4).
    3. Pray for courage and wisdom
  2. Pray in your heart as you begin
    1. Depend fully on the Lord.
    2. Again ask God for boldness
    3. Ask God for wisdom
    4. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the person’s heart
      ² Prayer from a clean heart is the handle that opens the faucet to God’s power.

Make an Opening for the Gospel

  1. Begin conversations with friendliness
    1. Jesus began by asking the woman for a drink (v.7). Through this question, a conversation developed.
      1. Be friendly with people you meet. They are more likely to relax and open up if you talk to them like a friend.
      2. If you tend to keep to yourself, ask God to help you open up.
    2. Jesus quickly turned the conversation to spiritual subjects (v.10).
      1. Turn the conversation to spiritual things can be a challenge. Be creative.
      2. You might ask them if they go to church. You could hand them a tract and say, “This little paper that tells you that God loves you and wants you to go to heaven. Would you like to have a read of it? It is from the Northside Baptist Church.”
      3. You could excitedly tell them about something you read that day in your Bible reading.
      4. If they show a bit of interest, you can share your testimony of salvation and be sure to emphasize the Gospel as you do.
      5. If the person is a family member or friend, you may need to say “I have wanted to ask you if you are 100% positive you are going to heaven.”
  2. When door-knocking, seek a friendly opening
    1. Tell them where you are from – “Hi, I am from the Northside Baptist Church”.
    2. Offer them a Gospel tract – “I am passing out a little paper that tells you that God loves you and wants you to go to heaven.”
    3. If they reject it, thank them for their time and cheerfully wish them a good day. [Remember that they are not rejecting YOU they are rejecting GOD. Stay encouraged.]
    4. If they accept the tract, try to ask a question.
      1. “Are you sure you are going to heaven?”
        1. “I hope so.” or “Yes, I am going to heaven.” – “On what do you base your hope?” It is usually good works of some sort. “The Bible tells us that we can know for positive we are going to heaven.” … If they claim to know the Lord, but something indicates that they may not truly be saved, proceed as if they are not saved.
        2. “No one can be positive of heaven.” Did you know that Jesus said we can? Quote John 5:24. …
        3. “No” – “Could I show you how you can know for sure?”…
        4. On rare occasions you will meet a person who gives a clear testimony of knowing Christ. Thank them for their time and invite them to visit our services.
      2. “Have you thought much about where you will go when you die?”
      3. “Do you go to church?” or “Have you ever gone to church?” This sometimes will open the conversation to spiritual things.
      4. Occasionally questions like “Do you believe in God?” or “Have you read the Bible?” will open a door for a witness.

Keep on the Gospel Subject

  1. Proceed through the Gospel with God’s help
    1. Begin to explain the points of the Gospel: God’s love and holiness, our sinfulness, sin’s punishment, our helplessness, Christ’s payment for our sin.
    2. Jesus helped the woman see her sinfulness by asking her to go call her husband. Jesus knew she was an adulteress sinfully living with a man outside of marriage. We are not God and do not know people’s hearts as Jesus did, but we must help the person see his sin.
    3. I have found it useful to say, “Though I do not know you, I know we have one thing in common. We are both sinners.” Generally they will agree. Then explain that our sin keeps us from heaven, must be punished, and is humanly unfixable.
  2. Sinners do not like to talk about their sin.
    1. As the Spirit begins to work in their heart, they will often try to change the subject.
    2. The woman at the well tried to get Jesus off the subject of sin (v.19-20). Jesus did not let this distract Him.
    3. We must do our best to politely keep the conversation on the Gospel.

Attempt to Explain the Gospel to the End

  1. Emphasize the good news of the Gospel
    1. Jesus told the woman that he was the Messiah (v.25-26).
    2. Christ died and rose again to pay for our sins.
    3. We must repent and be converted.
    4. We must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and call on Him for salvation.
    5. Note if the Lord is working in their heart. It will usually show by earnestness, humbleness, questions asked, tears, sincere interest, or soberness.
  2. Invite them to respond to the Gospel
    1. Review the points of the Gospel again. Be sure they understand their sinfulness, God’s judgment, their helplessness, and that Christ’s payment is their ONLY hope. If they are not ready to repent and turn to Christ, it is better to leave them to think on it and set up a time you can return for another talk.
    2. If they fully understand and are ready to repent and turn to Christ alone to save their wicked soul, then explain how they must call on the Lord to save them. They may call on Him audibly or silently. (Romans 10:13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. If they cannot express their guilt, repentance, and faith in Christ to God themselves, it is likely that they are not ready.

Conclusion

Though the Gospel message never changes, you can present the Gospel in many different ways. There is no one way that is best. Every situation is different. At first you will not always present the Gospel smoothly, but as you keep doing it, you will improve. God can use even weak efforts for His glory. The one thing that God cannot use is silence. (2 Corinthians 4:3) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: With God’s help boldly share the Gospel this week.

Song: Rescue the Perishing – 432
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Witnessing: The Presentation
14 June 2015 PM – John 4:3-30 –Witnessing2015 – Scott Childs