The Challenge To Ministering To The Lost Effectively

By; Pastor Ron Crandall

Text:

Prov 11:30

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

(NIV)

Dan 12:3

3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

(NIV)

As we begin this morning we must understand that communication is the art of sending and receiving a clear message. We are continuously sending and receiving messages to and from one another. Communication experts have shown that only 7% of our message is sent from the words we say. However 35% of our message comes from our “tone of voice,” and the remaining 58 percent of our message is sent out through our body-eye-contact, facial expression, the shrug of the shoulders. It is ok for you and the individual you are witnessing to disagree, it would be unnatural if you did not at some point, however you still have the responsibility to plant the seed.

***Here are six steps I believe help you to make your witnessing more practical:

1. Always aim for a specific action

Acts 13:26

26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

(KJV)

What am I trying to achieve, plant, water or harvest.

1 Cor 3:6-7

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

(KJV)

2. Tell them why they should make this change in their life.

1 Cor 15:2

2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

(NIV)

Remember Paul was writing this to Christians at Corinth, keep that in mind or you may blow someone who really is receptive away and give them an excuse to reject the Lord.

Reading from the Message out of 1 John 3

“ALL WHO INDULGE IN A SINFUL LIFE ARE DANGEROUSLY LAWLESS, FOR SIN IS A MAJOR DISRUPTION OF GOD’S ORDER. SURELY YOU KNOW THAT CHRIST SHOWED UP IN ORDER TO GET RID OF SIN. THERE IS NO SIN IN HIM, AND SIN IS NOT PART OF HIS PROGRAM. NO ONE WHO LIVES DEEPLY IN CHRIST MAKES A PRACTICE OF SIN. NONE OF THOSE WHO DO PRACTICE SIN HAVE TAKEN A GOOD LOOK AT CHRIST. THEY’VE GOT HIM ALL BACKWARDS.”

3. Show them how to make the changes, step by step.

John 8:31-32

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

(KJV)

Be willing to give of yourself, for it is the best gift one can give. People like one on one. It is called discipleship.

Phil 4:9

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

(KJV)

4. What is the positive way I can give my testimony?

Illustration:

A group of people were talking about the testimony service they had just had in service, a lawyer sitting at the next table quietly remarked “To a lawyer there is a vast difference between testimony and evidence.”

Your life is the evidence and the testimony to many who are watching.

So what is your life saying to people?

Phil 4:8-9

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

If you say it offensively it will be received defensively

5. What is the most encouraging way to say it?

Heb 11:5

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

(KJV)

Be uplifting people have enough problems already.

Be transparent we all like truthfulness.

People are more receptive than what we think.

6. What is the simplest way to give it?

1 Tim 4:12

12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

(KJV)

Keep it short and to the point.

In person and eye to eye is the best way.