Disciples Are Made Not Born

Part 4 of 6

The Witness of the Disciple

Acts 16:25-34

DISCIPLESHIP

“Discipling others is the process by which a Christian with a life worth

emulating commits himself or herself for an extended period of time to a

few individuals who have been won to Christ, the purpose being to aid and guide their growth to maturity and

equip them to reproduce themselves in a third spiritual generation."

Some Definitions of Evangelism

Evangelism is the communication of the

gospel by saved people to lost people – Alvin Reid

Some Definitions of Evangelism

To evangelize is to present Christ Jesus in the power of

the Holy Spirit that men shall come to put their trust in God through Him, to accept Him as their Savior, and serve him as their Lord in the fellowship of

His Church– Anglican Definition

Some Definitions of Evangelism

A concerted effort in the power of the Holy Spirit to confront unbelievers into

repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ

and thus, into the fellowship of His church so they may grow

in the Spirit– Lewis Drummond

Some Definitions of Evangelism

Presenting Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to

God.

– Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ

Some Definitions of Evangelism

One beggar telling another beggar where to get food.

– D.T. Niles

Acts 16:25-34 (ESV)

25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing

hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And

immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds

were unfastened.

Acts 16:25-34 (ESV)

27When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and

was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul cried

with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all

here.”

Acts 16:25-34 (ESV)29And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before

Paul and Silas. 30Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31And they said,

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and

your household.”

Acts 16:25-34 (ESV)

32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he

was baptized at once, he and all his family.

Acts 16:25-34 (ESV)

34Then he brought them up into his house and set food before

them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had

believed in God.

6 Characteristics of a Good Witness

1) PRAYER (vs. 25a)

25About midnight Paul and Silas were

praying...

1) PRAYER (vs. 25a)

→ Prayer helps prepare you and others for the

witnessing event

→ Prayer helps prepare your eyes to see the

ministry God has prepared

2) PRAISE (vs. 25a)

25About midnight Paul and Silas were

praying and singing hymns to God...

2) PRAISE (vs. 25a)

→ Praise reminds us of the great God we

serve

→ Praise relates our belief to others in

understandable ways

3) PATIENCE (vs. 26-30)26and suddenly there was a great

earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were

shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were

unfastened. 27When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the

prisoners had escaped.

3) PATIENCE (vs. 26-30)

28But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29And the jailer called

for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30Then he

brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

3) PATIENCE (vs. 26-30)

→ Patience is an outworking of complete surrender to God's sovereign timing

→ Patience is most possible through

preparedness

4) PROCLAMATION (vs. 31)

31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

4) PROCLAMATION (vs. 31)

→ Could you lead someone to Christ if they asked you

how to be saved?

5) PRESENCE (vs. 32)

32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

5) PRESENCE (vs. 32)

→ if we are not where we need to be we

cannot speak the words God wants us to say

→ a price tag can never be put on presence

6) PERSEVERANCE (33-34)

33And he took them the same hour of the night and washed

their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34Then he brought them up into his house and

set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire

household that he had believed in God.

6) PERSEVERANCE (33-34)

→ Christ called us to make disciples not

encourage others to make decisions

→ Christ never meant the Christian life to be

lived alone

I Will Go

Give me ears to hear Your Spirit

Give me feet to follow through

Give me hands to touch the hurting

And the faith tofollow You

Give me grace to be a servant

Give me mercy for the lost

Give me passion forYour glory

Give me passion for the cross

And I will go where there are no easy roads

Leave the comforts that I know

I will go and let this journey be my home

I will go

I will go

I'll let go of my ambition

Cut the roots that run too deep

I will learn to give away

What I cannot really keep

What I cannotreally keep

Help me see witheyes of faith

Give me strengthto run this race

And I will go where there are no easy roads

Leave the comforts that I know

I will go and let this journey be my home

I will go

I will go

I will go Lord where Your glory is unknown

I will live for You alone

I will go because my life is not my own

I will go...