Plan supremo de evangelización - Monte de Sion · Witness " I have seen and have borne witness...

Witness

" I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God." 2

Witness


CONTENT Why Witness?

WHAT IS A WITNESS? ......................................................................... 5 LOVE IS MY ONLY MOTIVATION ......................................................... 6

Courage to Testify

SUCCESS, SUCCESS... SUCCESS! ........................................................... 9 REJECTING THE FALLACIES ................................................................ 13 IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT ETERNITY ........................................................ 17

Focus on the Gospel Message

LEARNING TO WITNESS FROM JESUS - Part 1 .................................... 21 LEARNING TO WITNESS FROM JESUS - Part 2 .................................... 25

Witness


Witness An Introduction to WITNESS

Every believer is ordered by Jesus to go and be faithful witnesses, making disciples. This is the main focus of our Christian labor. This is the work in which we should expend the energies God gives.

Motivation In our first sessions together we will seek Biblical encouragement so that we will be properly motivated to enter the ranks of those involved in the great commission. True motivation comes from knowing and treasuring the truth concerning evangelism.

Message Secondly we will review the message to ensure we are being faithful witnesses of the truth. Herein we will discover how we can proceed step by step as we share Christ with others, ensuring we speak the truth in love.

Method Finally, we will learn practical steps that assist us in sharing the message we are called to proclaim by looking into the examples provided by Jesus. There is a Biblical way to make disciples and this is what we will put into practice in this last section of our study of Witness, learning directly from Jesus. Let's Begin....

Witness


WHAT IS A WITNESS?

John 1:6-8 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He

came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to

bear witness about the light.

wit·ness /witnəs/ noun - a person who sees and gives testimony to what is seen John is perhaps the greatest example of a faithful witness of the Christ. In these verses we are told repeatedly what we, like John, who have believed, are to be. Like John we are sent to be Witnesses who bears witness of the light. 1. We are sent from God (Because we belong to God) 2. We are Witnesses (Because we have seen the light) 3. We Bear Witness (Because we cannot keep quiet about the light) 4. About the Light (This is our only testimony - "He is the light of the world") In these three verses we have a summary of all that we need to know about witnessing. As we begin our study of witnessing let us not forget this important and foundational fact. This is very clear and simple:

We are sent from God to bear witness of the light

Why Witness?


LOVE IS MY ONLY MOTIVATION

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us

THEME: GAINING A DEEP BURDEN FOR THE LOST In this session we will discuss the burden for the lost that we should cultivate in ourselves. Even though we fall short of Paul's incredible words, we should determine to pray and ask God for such a heartfelt desire for the salvation of the lost. So let us allow God to ignite a small spark within us that will grow into a raging fire. It all begins with a growing love for God and to do His will!

A TRUE TRAGEDY What should come to mind when the word “tragedy” is mentioned: an earthquake, car accident, war, senseless death? A tragedy is knowing that someone will be dying and going to hell for eternity, and not caring enough to do anything about it. The death of the lost is a tragedy, the death of the saved is a precious in the sight of the Lord (Psalm 116:15.)

Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 1. WE SHOULD BE BURDENED FOR THE SALVATION OF LOST SOULS BECAUSE THE LOVE OF CHRIST COMPELS US Notice that it is primarily the love for Christ and not for the lost that moved Paul to preach the Gospel. My love for the lost is very important, but the fundamental motivation must first be my love for Christ. This is not new but it is of fundamental importance. We are to testify if Christ because it is what God desires and we love God enough to obey Him. Notice what Jeremiah says... For as often as I speak, I cry out; I cry, Violence and destruction! because the word of Jehovah is made a reproach unto me, and a derision, all the day. And if I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with forbearing, and I cannot contain. Jeremiah 20:8-9

Why Witness?


2. COMPASSION IS THE RESULT OF LOVE (NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND) Jesus had compassion for the lost (Matthew 9:36) but his main motivation for coming to give his life was to do the will of the father... All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. John 6:37-39 Doing the will of God is only possible when we obey motivated by love. If you love me, you will keep my commandments John 14:15 There is no other motivation that is sufficient. We must be careful. When our motivation is more focused on the lost than on the Savior we can begin to change our methods. 3. WE ARE ONLY CALLED TO WITNESS Here is where we must be careful. Some Christians see soul winning as largely due to the efforts of evangelism. But this is not true. A witness is one who simply tells what they have seen, heard, and experienced.

When Convincing, a person is engaged in an effort to change the mind of another person to a particular point of view. We must persuade (2 Cor 5:11), but very carefully, lest we fail and try to make the message more attractive than the truth. When trying to convince, the individual's response to the message can become the most important thing, when the truth of the message should be most important.

In Witnessing, the focus is on the truth alone. We are faithful witnesses of Christ when we give a true account of what we have both see, heard and experienced. That is what true witnessing is about. 4. THE WITNESS IS A RECONCILER The message is reconciliation to God.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5: 20 We were reconciled and now we are called to this great work of reconciling others to God as good ambassadors. Christ is the true reconciler. The message of reconciliation is that He took our place.

This is the message: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor. 5:21

Why Witness?


5. THE POWER TO SAVE IS OF GOD AND IS FOUND IN THE GOSPEL MESSAGE If we believe that God is truly sovereign, even over salvation, then..

it is God who is the soul winner

It is the Holy Spirit who brings new birth

It is Jesus Christ who died to save the world As believers, we are called to be witnesses to the world by proclaiming this gospel of salvation. The proclamation of the gospel is the means through which the Holy Spirit brings repentance and faith in the lives of individuals. What can be more motivating for soul winning than to know that, through our faithful proclamation of the gospel, God is saving many people. 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. Acts 1:8 The power referred to in this passage is a power to witness, not a power to save. God does the great work of salvation. We are called to be good and faithful witnesses of Christ. For this we need the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

CONCLUSION We are called to be witnesses and nothing more. We witness because the love of God moves us, compels us, controls us. We witness because we desire to do the will of God. We witness because it is God's desire that none should perish, but that all should come to then knowledge of the truth (2 Peter 3:9.) It is because of our love for God that we became faithful witnesses. PRAY FOR THIS DAILY: Ask God everyday to grant you more and more love for Him, increasing a desire in you to do His will. Ask for the power that comes by the Holy Spirit to be faithful witnesses. Witnessing for Christ is a great privilege that is only available to the sons of God.

The Courage to Witness


Witness



SUCCESS, SUCCESS... SUCCESS!

2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season...

THEME: THE RESULTS OF WITNESSING 100 million years from now we will no longer be able to witness to the lost. We will no longer be able to lead the sinner to Christ the Savior. In fact, the only time we can do so is now. We each have a very limited time frame to witness to the lost. Therefore, we all need encouragement (1Thess 5:11) to be the best that we can be for Jesus Christ. Our intent is not to make you feel guilty because you have not been sharing your faith like you should. Instead, I hope through these pages to encourage you to be bold for the Lord. This study will encourage you, challenge you and equip you to share your faith in Christ with others. In this study we will encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, trusting the Lord in what He can do through you. Always remember that, every time you step out in faith, trusting God, you step right into God’s hands. Be encouraged, because you can make a difference that will still be in effect 100 million plus years from now! The Opportunity According to modern birth and death rates, there are about 360,000 births each day (15k/hour). There are also about 6000 deaths each hour (that about 144,000 per day.) How many of those 6000 per hour are headed to heaven? How many are headed to hell? Your witnessing could make all the difference in any single one of those souls. So, before we look at the what and the how of witnessing, we want to briefly jump to the end, just for one moment, to look at the results of witnessing. In his book, On thing you can't do in heaven, author Mark Cahill asks the question...

"What are the only three possible things that can happen when we share our faith?”

In asking this question ourselves we want to consider the true outcome of Witnessing.



THREE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES OF WITNESSING POSSIBLE OUTCOME 1: Acceptance

Due to faithful witnessing, a person can turn from their sin to Christ. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God John 1:12

Believe + Receive = Become sons of God We can all agree that this is the best situation. They have come to faith in Christ and we can rejoice in God's faithfulness.

POSSIBLE OUTCOME 2: The Planting of a seed When and if a person does not turn to Christ, our work of witnessing can plant a seed of truth that can grow and perhaps one day yield its fruit; everlasting life. In this case, having taken advantage of the opportunity to witness of Christ is also a very good situation. We can rejoice in that Christ has been well represented and His message has been communicated faithfully.

POSSIBLE OUTCOME 3: Rejection Rejection is normally the least desired result when witnessing. This is perhaps the main reason most people avoid witnessing. The fear of rejection is a strong negative motivator. So, of all possible outcomes, we have two good results and one seemingly bad result. But is it really a bad result? Should it be a negative motivator? Not according to the Bible. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 1 Peter 4:14

Just think about that for a moment. If we ever get rejected because of witnessing of Jesus, we will be blessed and the Spirit of glory, God Himself will rest upon us. If you could have the glory of God shine in your life and be reflected onto others, would you want that? We all would want that as much as possible! One way that will happen is if we are rejected because of Jesus. If that is not enough, consider Jesus words... Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. Luke 6:22-23 Always remember, the Christian rejoices, yes and even leaps for joy, when he/she is hated/excluded and even reviled on account of Christ. This is not a loss, but a win-win situation because we have been faithful witnesses of Christ.



BUT WHAT WILL I SAY TO THEM? The second common objection to witnessing is knowing what to say. However, the Lord has already addressed this issue faithfully for all of us. for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. Luke 12:12 The real question is not "what will I say?". The real issue is "what if I don't say anything?" If I am obedient and simply seek to share my faith with others, I will find out that the Holy Spirit is always ready and willing to TEACH ME in that same hour, exactly what I need to say. I only need to be a faithful listener and repeater of what I have heard from the Holy Spirit. Therefore, every time we share our faith it is a winning situation. Simply stated, the Word of God says that we can’t lose doing it. It is a winning situation every single time! It is perhaps the one and only time you can be absolutely certain that you are doing what God desires... remember.... preach the word; be ready in season and out of season. (2 Tim. 4:2)

CONCLUSION We have not yet even considered how to witness (more to come on this ) but we can already see that it is always a blessed situation to witness of Christ. In every case, when we faithfully share Christ with someone, we will either see them accept Christ, plant a seed of God's word in their hearts, or see them reject Christ. In all cases we are most blessed. Every time we share our faith in Christ it is a winning situation. And, Every time we step out to share Christ, we will be given the words to speak directly from the Holy Spirit. He knows exactly what we will need to say in that moment and will tell us exactly what to say. So, If every time we share our faith it is a winning situation, what is the only time we lose when it comes to witnessing? The only time we lose is when we don’t share our faith. Every other time it is a winning situation. Now that we know that, let’s boldly stand for our God suffered horribly at the cross just for you and me to receive eternal life!



REJECTING THE FALLACIES

Ephesians 4:14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the

waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human

cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

THEME: THE ERROR BEHIND THE FALLACIES

In this session we will discuss some common fallacies that discourage witnessing. We want to discuss each of these fallacies openly and reject them outright in order to prevent them from discouraging us from witnessing as Christ desires. I Fear being rejected For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant

[a] of Christ.

Galatians 1:10 Worrying about what people think is often disastrous. We should only concern ourselves with what the righteous think. When we are witnessing to people, what is the worst they can do to us? Kill us? Paul said clearly in Phil 1:21 "To live is Christ, to die gain." The bottom line is that if we fear people, we do not fear God. Like Paul, we must reject the fear of men, and fear God alone who calls us to faithfully witness of Christ. We must not be ashamed of the Gospel (Rom 1:16.) I Don't Know How to Witness As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him Col. 2:6 If you know Christ then you already know how to witness. Someone lead you to Christ so you already have an example to follow, having already been show how to do so. You can tell others about Christ. Although we will later discuss the message of the Gospel and ensure we are accurate and faithful to the message, you have all you need already. Be a witness. Share Christ with others. I Don't wish to lose them as a friend A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. proverbs 18:24 young people are more apt to think this way, but none of us are immune. Ask yourself, what kind of friendship do you really have if you would go to heaven when you die, but your friend will not. It is better to lose a friend now than to lose them for all eternity. True friends love is such a way that they are ready to risk the relationship for what matters.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gal+1%3A10&version=ESV#fen-ESV-29051a



I am almost sure they have already Heard the message Hearing the message is not the goal. Responding to the message is. We must never assume that they have already heard and rejected the message. Many people have never truly experienced being loved and cared for to the point of truly listening, being open and paying attention to the message that we have for them. There are moments in their lives when they will be willing to hear. pay attention to the opportunities God will provide for you to witness of Him. I Don't have the time how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? Heb 2:3a Charles Spurgeon said " “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you're not saved yourself, be sure of that!” He speaks with strong words to challenge us. To have no concerned for the lost is to show little or no concern for your own salvation. Being lukewarm is the worst place to be when it comes to faith. We use our time in what we believe to be important. Jesus spent his time concerned, praying, serving and giving His life for the lost. if we feel we don't have the time it is because our priorities are not right. We must repent asking the Lord to give us the zeal we need to be faithful witnesses. Once we are saved, there is only one reason God given us more time on earth. It is to be faithful witness of Christ. I don't know enough If knowing everything were a prerequisite for us to share our faith, none of us could ever witness. However, witnessing is one of the best ways that you will learn more about your faith. When you talk with lost people and can’t answer their questions, it drives you to the Bible and other books to find answers. Also, your prayer life changes, pray more for others and not just for yourself. As a believer, you have the Holy Spirit living within you to help you understand God’s Word. You can comprehend spiritual truths that a lost person cannot. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:12. Why can't I just be a good example The bible is clear that for them to believe we must do more than model Christianity, we must lead them to Christ by communicating the gospel in deeds and words. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14



They won't want to talk to me And the gospel must first be published among all nations. Mark 13:10 You would be surprised how many people are thirsty for the truth. We must learn to removed all religious trapping. Don't use religious language. Be authentic in your care for the lost. People generally respond well to kindness and genuineness. No one want to speak to someone who is judging them. Most people are willing to talk with someone who is honest, and open about what really matters. The main reason people believe this fallacy is because they have not tried to witness. Important: We will learn how to address people properly in a future lesson and discover how hungry people are for discussing true matters of life and death and what really matters. I Can't answer their questions Many believers stumble at this fallacy. When it comes to sharing your faith with the unbeliever, you will discover that because of your faith, you already have much more knowledge about true spiritual things than they do. Unbelievers are foolish, not knowing the truth. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God". Psalm 14:1 Therefore , as a believer in the truth, you already have sufficient knowledge, to witness. Remember, Witnessing is not convincing. Witnessing is testifying that Jesus is true and trustworthy, alive and well, and ready to save all those who call upon Him. You are a witness of His salvation of your life, personally. But, when you really don't know the answer to a question, admit you don't know by saying “That is a good question, and I don’t know the answer. Would you like to know the answer?” People usually say yes because that’s why they asked the question in the first place. So then ask, “What is your e-mail, phone number so when I find the answer, I can get it to you?” This allows you to follow up with people. It really means a lot to people when believers actually follow up. It shows that we truly care.



CONCLUSION: THE VALUE OF A HUMAN SOUL For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:26 The Value Of A Soul Is What Matters This great message of Salvation has to be preached. The great value of each soul is at stake. The message has to reach every soul. This is our main responsibility. We must reject all fallacy and commit ourselves to the lost. In this session we have seen that these fallacies are to be rejected. Sharing Christ with the lost is a joy and an unspeakable privilege. Give yourself to Christ and His mission and you will become a great "fisher of men."



IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT ETERNITY

Ecclesiastes 3:11 ...he has put eternity into man's heart...

THEME: THE QUESTIONS TO GET THE CONVERSATION STARTED If there is one thing that is hard to avoid it is a good question. You can get someone's attention and focus them on what really matters by just asking the right question. So let's use this session to learn some the right questions to ask when we witness. These questions are designed only to point a conversation in the right direction. Do not get overly involved in the answer. The point is the start a conversation about what really matter: Eternal life. Jesus did this consistently when he taught. He used natural things to point to spiritual things (eternal things).

In John 3, With Nicodemus, Jesus used natural birth and the new birth.

in John 4, (Which we will look at next week) Jesus used natural water to speak about living water

In John 6, Jesus fed the 5,000 and then spoke of Himself as the bread of life.

In John 8, Jesus claimed to be the light of the world

In John 10, He portrayed Himself as both the good shepherd and the door of the sheepfold

In John 15, He used the vine and the branches to explain our need to abide in Him.

The main point is the value of God's free offer of Eternal life which is only available by believing in Jesus. [Let Us Consider the Rich Fool - Luke 12:13-21]

FOCUS THE CONVERSION ON ETERNITY And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Matthew 25:46 Direct the conversation to what matter, to eternal things and you will succeed. Here are some sample questions to keep in mind. 1. What will matter to you most 150 years from now? As will all of these questions, personalize them. Make them fit the moment, the person, the situation. You could say, What will matter to you most 150 years from now, $1million, A college education, a beautiful girlfriend? From the moment you ask this questions, you are focusing the person on Eternity. It is important to get the person to realize that it is the eternal things,



not the temporary things, that matter. Make the questions specific to the person. Get them discussing this matter with you. 2. What are the chances that you will die? (100%) And a follow-up question: Do you realize that you will be dead a whole lot longer that you will ever be alive? Ten out of ten people die. Reminding people of this important fact can point them to think about the end of this life and the eternity that will soon follow. 3. Can you guarantee that you will wake up tomorrow morning? The obvious answer leads to the conversation of where you will be if you don't wake up: heaven or hell. Help your listener(s) realize that this is not a hypothetical but a real life question that we will all face one day.

KEEP THE CONVERSION ON ETERNITY And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Juan 14:6 When they respond with what they believe and it is clearly false and unsupported use the following questions to get the conversation back on eternity.

1. What do you mean by that? With this question you can prompt people to define words they are using. The more information you have about an individual’s views, the better you can direct the conversation. Many times a person will tell you that he/she is a Christian. Ask them, “What do you mean by ‘Christian’?” Numerous people answer the question by stating that they go to church. By the way, does going to church make you a Christian? Of course it doesn’t.

2. How do you know that to be true? When an individual is explaining his views, one of the most beneficial questions you can ask is how he knows that a statement he made is true. What evidence does he have to back up his position? When they are unable to provide supporting evidence, give them evidence that what you believe is based in truth. In this way you gain their respect, and they will listen.

3. Where do you get your information? This question identifies the information source for what the person believes. Many times, you’ll find that there isn’t one. The person is basing his eternal



future on something he hasn’t fully investigated. Perhaps they are just repeating what they have previously heard without studying it.

RESPOND THE RIGHT WAY But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear 1 Peter 3:15 I care about where you spend Eternity. There are few people who will ask such questions, much less, be interested in where you will end up after this life. When you are genuinely interested in what truly matters in a person's life, they will notice that your motivation is genuine. Jesus was interested in the people and he taught them about what mattered And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:35-36 He had Compassion for them Genuine compassion is a Christ like characteristic. To be concerned about the condition of others is Godlike. To genuinely care about the well being of others now and forever is a true test of love. Every breathing person you will ever meet needs Jesus. Those who are believers already realize this. Those who are nonbelievers most definitely need Him, for the rest of this life and for the eternal life to come. Will you have compassion on them, and proclaim the Gospel to them?

CONCLUSION: JESUS IS THE ETERNAL ONE Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. John 8:58 When we keep the conversation on this focus, even without them knowing it, we are keeping the conversation focused on the Eternal one, on the one who has always been, on Jesus Christ. This main focus allows our conversation not to be derailed and have meaning and purpose. He is the beginning and the end of everything and when we focus our conversation on eternity, we are allowing the conversation to be about Him.

Important: READ JOHN CHAPTER 4:1-42 BEFORE

OUR NEXT TWO SESSIONS



LEARNING TO WITNESS FROM JESUS - Part 1

John 4:10 If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you,

‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would

have given you living water.

THEME: THE CONVERSATION THAT LEAD TO THE GOSPEL

The Gospel Message is the ultimate message we need to communicate. It must be applied to the person in a direct and personal way. In this session we will look as how we transition the conversation from the general to the specific as Jesus Himself employed in witnessing. No one was a better master at winning souls for God than Jesus Christ. He came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). If we want to learn how to share the Gospel with people, we can find no better teacher than Jesus. As you read in the gospels of His encounters with lost people, take note of how He did it. He never used the same approach twice. He always tailored it to the individual. In this session we will look at how Jesus lays a solid foundation for the Gospel.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE GOSPEL 1. ESTABLISH A CONNECTION Jesus had never met this woman but immediately established a connection of commonality by simply requesting a favor "Give me a Drink." Any common interest can be an entry point that eventually leads to the gospel. We should watch for common situations that present us with an opportunity for the gospel. 2. CROSS CULTURAL BARRIERS (4:9, 27) Jesus was not afraid of being “contaminated” by drinking out of a Samaritan woman’s cup. He was not concerned with cultural differences or even sinful lifestyles. He was there to witness. Maybe it’s a discussion about the world’s problems—war, natural disasters, the economy, or some current news. Jesus used such things to talk about eternal issues (Luke 13:1-5). However, be careful not to turn the discussion towards politics or moral issues, rather than the person’s need for Christ. 3. AROUSE INTEREST AND TRANSITION TO SPIRITUAL THINGS (4:7-10) Jesus used both His actions and His words to gain the woman’s interest. The mere fact that He, a Jewish man, would talk to her, a Samaritan woman, asking



her for a drink, grabbed her attention. When she commented on that (v. 9), Jesus further aroused her curiosity by His reply (v. 10) In any conversation we go from the general to the specific if the conversation is to go deeper. Here we see Jesus employ this in his conversation with the Samaritan woman.

Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

The Master, Jesus, in just his first two statements moves from the natural to the spiritual: From natural water to Spiritual, living water. Once the conversation has begin, we can transition at any moment. His words were intentional and designed to open the door of discussion. 4. USE THE NATURAL TO EXPLAIN THE SUPERNATURAL (4:9-15) As we stated in our previous session, Jesus used this principle repeatedly. Here, He spoke first of water and then of living water.

With Nicodemus, Jesus used natural birth and the new birth. In John 6, Jesus fed the 5,000 and then spoke of Himself as the bread of life.

In John 8, Jesus claimed to be the light of the world.

In John 10, He portrayed Himself as both the good shepherd and the door of the sheepfold.

In John 15, He used the vine and the branches to explain our need to abide in Him.

The woman at the well was probably more concerned about her physical needs than her spiritual need. She may have been skeptical when she asked Jesus to give her this living water, not yet focused on her spiritual need, But Jesus used her interest in natural water to lead her to see her need for the living water. 5. DON’T EXPECT A COMPLETELY MATURE RESPONSE (4:15) The woman’s response was somewhat unclear. But maybe she was beginning to see that He was talking of something much more lasting and substantial. Jesus was wise to steer the conversation back to the heart of the matter. 6. POINT OUT THE NEED, BUT BE GRACIOUS (4:16-18) When the woman asked Jesus for this living water, He rather abruptly said (4:16), “Go, call your husband and come here.” Suddenly, the conversation moved from friendly to very personal. She tried to divert Jesus from the truth (4:17), “I have no husband.” She was technically correct, so Jesus touched a nerve (4:17-18): “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you



have said truly.” Suddenly, her sinful past and present were exposed. She realized that she was not talking with an ordinary man! To truly desire the living water that Jesus offers, a sinner must be convicted of his or her sin. At the same time that He exposed the woman’s sin, Jesus dealt with her kindly and graciously. He didn’t point His finger at her and say, “You’re a wicked woman! Unless you repent, you will perish!” Rather, He gently agreed with her, “You have said truly.” He pointed out her need, but didn’t condemn her. We need the same fine balance that Jesus had here. Use God’s Word to show how we’re all guilty of violating His holy law. But do it graciously, pointing them to the cross. 7. AVOID ARGUMENTS (4:12-14, 21-24) In verse 12, the woman insinuates that Jesus could not be greater than Jacob, who gave them the well. In effect, she was saying, “Who do you think you are?” If Jesus had been proud, He easily could have corrected her, but lost her in the process. Then, she tries to draw Jesus into a centuries-old debate between the Samaritans and the Jews over the proper place to worship. While Jesus tactfully corrects her misperceptions, He still refuses to argue with her. Arguments do not lead sinners to the Savior, even if you win. The reason is that in an argument, your pride gets involved. You may prove that you’re right but you’re missing the real issue. Conversion requires God granting repentance and new life. Paul gives us the right approach (2 Tim. 2:24-26) That’s what Jesus did here. 8. STICK WITH THE MAIN ISSUE (4:20-26) The discussion could have veered off into a debate but Jesus shows her that it is not outward religion that matters, but rather whether we worship God in spirit and truth. Then, when the woman brings up the promise that Messiah will come, who will resolve this debate, Jesus straightforwardly declares (4:26), “I who speak to you am He.” At that point, she has a choice: Is He or isn’t He? Do I believe Him or not? So Jesus brought the discussion back to the main issue, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Jesus asked the same question to his disciples when he testified of Yes to them. The aim in all spiritual discussions should be to bring it back to the person of Christ.



CONCLUSION: BE WISE TO SHARE The wise person has a goal. The wise person is directing the conversation, not to control or win the conversation, but to achieve the objective: That they Know Christ. With each step, Jesus showed us how to handle each challenge of the conversation. Jesus teaches us to be noble, respectful, direct and full of grace. Jesus teaches us to love them and to dedicate time to them. Jesus shows us that every individual is important to God. He shows us that such a conversation is directed by God (vs 4, 34) and that such conversations should be common for believers. Do you see the need around you? Are you willing to share your faith? Are you asking God to open doors for you to share your faith? LET US PRAY together tonight for this.

Important: READ JOHN CHAPTER 4:1-42 AGAIN

BEFORE OUR NEXT SESSION



LEARNING TO WITNESS FROM JESUS - Part 2

John 4:10 If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you,

‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would

have given you living water.

THEME: THE CONVERSATION THAT LEAD TO THE GOSPEL In this session, we proceed from a well laid foundation to the heart of the matter. As we continue discovering from Jesus' example how to communicate the Gospel Message, we will observe the strategy employed by Jesus to get to the center of the gospel. His encounters with lost people was always tailored to the individual, and in each encounter you will find timeless principles to follow.

GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER 1. CONFRONT THEM DIRECTLY WITH THE PERSON OF CHRIST(4:13-14, 26) The main issue that every person must consider is the question that Jesus asked His disciples (Matt. 16:15), “But who do you say that I am?” If Jesus is who He claimed to be then we had better believe Him and submit our lives to Him.

In this story, Jesus first claims (4:13-14) to be able to give the woman living water that will satisfy her thirst and spring up in her to eternal life. That is an astounding claim! If any mere man said this, we would conclude that he is crazy.

Then, at the climax of His encounter with this woman, Jesus claims to be the promised Messiah (4:26): “I who speak to you am He.” it is a clear affirmation to this woman that Jesus is the Messiah.

The point for us is, when you’re telling someone about Jesus, let them know who He claimed to be. The Gospel of John is a great testimony to His claims (especially, see 5:17-47). In 1 Corinthians 15:1-19 Paul asserts that if Jesus is not risen from the dead, our faith is worthless. If the person tries to avoid Jesus, bring him back to the person of Christ. He is everything in our witness! 2. TO BE A WITNESS, BE A WORSHIPER (4:23-24) Jesus tells the woman that the Father is seeking those who worship Him in spirit and truth. You can’t truly worship God in spirit and truth if you are not obedient to Him, with your heart in submission to Him. So the best witnesses



are always those who tell others about Jesus out of a heart that overflows in worship to Him. To worship God in spirit means to worship Him on the heart level, or with the inner person. This strikes at hypocrisy. One of the most common objections that you will hear when you talk to others about Christ is that there are too many hypocrites in the church. The answer is, “Yes, you are correct! There are also a lot of hypocrites outside of the church. But what do you do with Jesus?” But if our witness is an overflow of our worship, then at least we will not be hypocritical witnesses. Jesus was destroying all false and hypocritical ideas. The hypocrite seeks to be seen by men, but not by God. Jesus called the woman to the light to be seen by God in her actions and response to his message. He called her out of her hypocrisy and unto God. Beware of doing your righteousness before men, to be seen of them. Matthew 6: 1 Help them to see that God seeks true worshipers, those who know him, love Him and serve Him authentically. 3. FOCUS ON THE NEED FOR A HEART RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, NOT OUTWARD RELIGION (4:23-24) The woman has just brought up (4:20) the centuries-old debate in which the Samaritans claim that Mount Gerazim is the proper place to worship, but the Jews claim Jerusalem as the proper place. But Jesus asserts that the real issue is not outward religion, but rather that a person worship God in spirit and truth. When you witness, invariably you will encounter people who think, “I’m right with God because I go to Mass or I go to church once in a while.” They confuse the rituals of Christianity for the reality of a heart relationship with God through knowing Jesus Christ personally. Ask the person you’re witnessing to, “How much religious observance will it take to get into heaven?” Does God count how many times you go to church? No, the Bible is clear that our hearts must be right before God through faith in Jesus Christ. God looks on our hearts, not on our religious rituals. 4. ANYONE WHO HAS MET JESUS CAN BE A WITNESS (4:28-30, 39) Here is an immoral woman who hasn’t even had time yet to clean up her living arrangement with a man who is not her husband. She doesn’t know very much, if any, correct theology. In fact, she’s probably still got a lot of incorrect theology from her Samaritan religion. In her excitement, she left her waterpot, ran back to the village, and excitedly told everyone about this extraordinary man whom she had just met.



Your testimony about what Christ has done in saving your soul is one powerful way that the Lord reaches others. This woman’s testimony is an example of how God can use you. You may not know much, but if Jesus has forgiven your sins, you can invite people to “come and see” (4:29). 5. PUT SPIRITUAL OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD OF YOUR PHYSICAL NEEDS (4:31-34) The disciples had gone into town to buy lunch and came back with the food, but Jesus wasn’t interested in eating. He said to them (4:32), “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” As usual, the disciples were focused on the physical, not the spiritual. So they wondered if someone had brought Jesus something to eat (4:33). Jesus replied (4:34), “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”

CONCLUSION: THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT IS TO DO IT So far we have learned a lot in our study:

• Be motivated by the Love of Christ • There is never a failure in witnessing for Christ • We must reject any fallacy that prevents us from witnessing • The main issue is always about eternity, the eternal one, Jesus • We have even seen Jesus himself witnessing faithfully

But when it comes to witnessing, the only way to learn to do it is to put it into practice: Witness! Simply open a conversation with a simple and natural question and the Lord will begin to teach you what to say next.

for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. Luke 12:12

Plan supremo de evangelización - Monte de Sion · Witness " I have seen and have borne witness...

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Transcript of Plan supremo de evangelización - Monte de Sion · Witness " I have seen and have borne witness...