Winning Witness Pt 2 Series

Chico Alliance Church

Pastor David Welch

“Winning Witness” Supplementary Notes to previous message Winning Witness Pt 1

An estimated 95% of all church members have never led anyone to Christ.

I. God gives us a Powerful Commission

A. The Great commission

1. The basis of the commission – the authority of Jesus

2. The Scope of the commission – make disciples of all peoples

3. The process of the commission

a) Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

b) Teaching them to obey all Jesus commanded

4. The power of the commission – I am with you always

5. The duration of the commission – to the end of the age

B. God assigns a essential role

1. Powerful witness

There are two promises made in Matthew 28

• “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you”

• “you will be my witnesses”

We don’t “do witnessing” as an activity. We BE witnesses as a lifestyle.

Always witness – sometimes use words!

a) The power for witness– the Holy Spirit

b) The parameters of our witness– Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ends of the earth

People won’t ask unless the see. Sharing Christ is a natural outgrowth of who we are.

• Be transformed

• Be ready to give and account.

2. Fruitful fisherman Matt 4:18-19

• Follow Jesus

• Go to the fish.

• Draw in the nets.

3. Diligent farmer 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 John 4:34-38 Luke 10:1-2

Cultivate soil -- Plant seed -- Reap harvest

Three points!

• Work hard.

• Be persistent and patient.

• The harvest is ready

4. Appointed Ambassador 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

• Speak the word of reconciliation clearly

• Speak passionately.

5. Compassionate Fireman Jude 1:20-23

• Keep pure.

• Show mercy.

• Be courageous.

6. Graceful preacher Romans 10:14-17 Colossians 4:2-6

• God uses people

• Know your message.

• Deliver your message with grace.

7. Salt

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. Matthew 5:13

Jesus clearly reveals that Christ ARE the salt of the earth. This is a statement not a command.

He does not say become the salt. He says by nature Christians ARE the salt of the earth.

In the ancient world salt was highly valued. The Greeks called salt divine. In a phrase, which in Latin is a kind of jingle, the Romans said, "There is nothing more useful than sun and salt." In the time of Jesus salt was connected in people's minds with three special qualities.

Purity -- Preservation -- Flavor

Jesus intended his followers to be as he was on the earth. A purifying agent; a preserver, a flavor enhancer.

But beyond these things salt actually possesses and even greater capability.

It is an essential ingredient for healthy life functions.

It is recorded that thousands of Napoleon's troops died during his retreat from Moscow because their wounds would not heal as a result of a lack of salt. In 1777, the British Lord Howe was jubilant when he succeeded in capturing General Washington's salt supply. And, in the aftermath of war, restoring a war-ravaged nation's salt production is a priority in reconstruction as illustrated in post-W.W. II Japan

All animals, humans included, require both sodium and chloride for life and health. Since the body cannot manufacture either, they are "essential" nutrients. While developed countries dedicate most of their salt to chemical production, developing countries often use most of their salt for human and animal nutrition.

Salt is essential not only to life, but to good health. Human blood contains 0.9% salt (sodium chloride) -- the same concentration commonly used to cleanse wounds. Salt maintains the electrolyte balance inside- and outside of cells. Routine physical examinations measure blood sodium for clues to personal health. Most of our salt comes from foods, some from water. Inadequate salt can be problematic. Doctors often recommend replacing water and salt lost in exercise and when working outside. Wilderness hikers know the importance of salt tablets to combat hyperthermia. Oral rehydration involves replacing both water and salt. Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) has been termed, by the British Medical Journal "the most important medical advance this (20th) century." Expectant mothers are advised to get enough salt. Increased salt intakes have been used successfully to combat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The unique microclimate of salt mines is a popular way to treat asthma, particularly in Eastern Europe. Dramatic deficiencies (e.g. "salt starvation" in India) or "excessive" sodium intakes have been associated with other conditions and diseases, such as hypertension and stomach cancer. Testing the salinity of perspiration is a good test for cystic fibrosis; scientists suspect that cystic fibrosis is caused by a deformed protein that prevents chloride outside cells from attracting needed moisture. (And, of course, we cannot forget that iodized salt is the choice of public health professionals to combat iodine deficiency, has been fortified to battle other diseases like lymphatic filarisis and is considered "the first antibiotic").