How I Witness (The message I use) for what it's worth

[AVBunyan]

Since I asked some folks how they witnessed and what they said I thought it would only be fair to show you what I attempt to do. Here is one method I use.

This method uses just one verse Rom. 6:23 and is based upon the “One Verse Evangelism†developed by Bill Hybels of Willowcreek Church outside Chicago. One can take the general form and mold it to fit your personality. Below is basically how I use it – every witness is different.

I take a piece of paper or napkin or write out the verse at the top of the page and point to the words and underline them as I go along.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Wages
“You know what a wage is don’t you? It is some you earn for something you’ve done. You work 40 hrs and then you get a paycheck for the work done. Let’s carry this over to the spiritual.â€Â

Sin
“I’m sure you know what sin is. Sin is what basically violating or disobeying God’s laws. We all have sinned – Rom. 3:23 – Would you agree that you are a sinner? Good, we are all sinners. How does this fit in with the word wages? Our sins that we do have earn us a wage. We earned this wage by sinning against a holy God. What did our sins earn?â€Â

Death
“Your sins and mine earned death. What you get for your sins is death. When God created Adam he was created in God’s image. Adam was prefect and without sin but as we all know Adam disobeyed God and lost his image – he became a doomed sinner. Because of sin Adam died. Adam died spiritually and later died physically. And because Adam sinned and died spiritually then everyone born after Adam would die also. Because of Adam death was passed upon all men – Rom. 5:12, 14.
But most people are concerned about the physical death but it doesn’t stop here – the real concern is the spiritual death which leads to the second death. Not only will one die physically but after he dies there is judgment – Heb 9:27. The sinner will be judged and then cast into a lake of fire – Rev. 20:15. God is holy and will not let sin enter into his presence. But…and we thank the Lord for the ‘but’ – for God does not leave you without a way out. God demands a payment for your sin and sins but you cannot pay it. You cannot work or earn your way out of the punishment you earned because of sin – Rom. 4:5; Tit. 3:5; Eph. 2:8. What did God do for you? Let’s look at the next wonderful word…gift

Gift
“God provided a way fro your sins to be paid for. God provided his only son, the Lord Jesus Christ to come and take your place at Calvary and die for your sins. Christ paid the penalty (that you could not pay) for your sins at Calvary – Christ became sin for you – II Cor. 5:21. God poured out his wrath upon Christ who bore your sins. Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose again from the dead for you I Cor. 15:1-5. God provided this as a free gift to you at no charge for you but it cost him his son’s life John 3:16. Now – what actually was this gift? This is answered by looking at our next wonderful words – eternal life.â€Â

Eternal life
“What you deserved was eternal death in a lake of fire forever but instead God provided you eternal life in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ - John 3:15; John 10:28; Rom. 5:1; Rom 5:21. This life is a life of eternal holiness and bliss in heaven for all eternity. It is yours and you can never lose it – Phil 1:6; 2 Tim 1:12. Once you become God’s adopted son you are God’s forever. And who actually did this for you? The answer is found in our next precious words, Jesus Christ our Lord.â€Â

Jesus Christ our Lord
“Salvation is in a person not a system of things you do – John 14:6. Christ took God’s wrath for your sin at Calvary and God was pleased with the sacrifice.â€Â

Does this make sense to you? Would you like to call upon the Lord right now to be saved? The bible says in Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Would you like to do that now?â€Â

If they trust Christ then I show them their duty as a Christin which involves church attendance for growth and fellowship, prayer, good works, scripture reading, witnessing, etc.

Now there are many variations of this but this is basically how I use the “One Verse Evangelismâ€Â
The method also includes drawing a picture with the sinner on side of a gulf and God on the other side with the cross bridging the way to God.

God bless

 

[Novum]

As an atheist, I might perhaps be able to provide some constructive criticism.

As I currently see this argument, it relies upon three assumptions that you're making:

1] The Christian bible is true or inspired by God,
2] God exists, and
3] God is as described in the bible.

If you were to give this speech to me, I would stop you the first time you said the word "bible" and ask why the bible should be accepted as true. I would say something similar the first time you mention "God" - how do you know he exists, and even if he does, how are you certain that he is as described in the bible?

In terms of logic, your entire argument rests upon the above three premises. If they cannot be shown to be true, then I would be logically required to reject the rest of the argument.

 

[AVBunyan]

If you were to give this speech to me, I would stop you the first time you said the word "bible" and ask why the bible should be accepted as true.

Then I would say - "That is a good question. Let's set it aside for now and when I finish we might be able to discuss it better."

I do not trust my words or "techniqe" to get a man saved. A lost man's intellect is darkend and he cannot understnd spiritual things anyway - they are natually foolishness unto him. I'm sure you see this.

I trust the power of the word of Ood coupled with the power of the Holy Spirit to do the work.

I don't debate those issues in the field. My duty is to present the gospel and leave the results to God.

God bless

 

[Novum]

Then I wouild say - "That is a good questioni. Let's set it aside for now and when I finish we might be able to discuss it better."

Well, suppose you've now finished. What would you say?

I trust the power of the word of Ood coupled with the power of the Holy Spirit to do the work.

The word of what now? ;)

I don't debate those issues in the field. My duty is to present the gospel and leave the results to God.

I understand that. But for people with "logical" minds like mine, it's really a stumbling block and a speech-ender if there is no internal logic for what you say.

 

[AVBunyan]

I understand that. But for people with "logical" minds like mine, it's really a stumbling block and a speech-ender if there is no internal logic for what you say.

So, you are saying I am not logical?

You may believe you to be logical but it is a darkened logical - God works on the spritual level and your mind is darkened spiritualy.

God is not impressed by your logic or mine.

Psa 39:5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Later

 

[Novum]

You may believe you to be logical but it is a darkened logical - God works on the spritual level and your mind is darkened spritualy.

You got that right. I am, as they say, "spiritually dead". I have no reason to believe there is a spiritual world and this lack of belief has had no noticeable effect on my life for years and years.

God is not impressed by your logic or mine.

Logic is the core of our reasoning ability in this world. Without logic, the keyboard you're typing on, the computer that your keyboard is connected to, the wires connecting your computer to other devices, and the network of worldwide computers would not exist. Nor would such things as medicine, engineering, ethics, or, heck, society.

We would be literally nowhere without logic. It is irrelevant whether God is impressed.

 

[Novum]

So, you are saying I am not logical?

Not you, your argument. Without showing those three premises to be true, we cannot logically accept the rest of your argument. Why? Because the rest of your argument depends upon those three premises being true.

 

[AVBunyan]

Not you, your argument. Without showing those three premises to be true, we cannot logically accept the rest of your argument. Why? Because the rest of your argument depends upon those three premises being true.

I understnd you were not picking on me personally - that is fine - All I can say is...

Prov 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

2 Cor 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight

God bless

 

[Novum]

I understnd you were not picking on me personally - that is fine - All I can say is...

Prov 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

2 Cor 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight

But why should I accept these statements as true?

- Because they're in the bible.

But why should I accept the bible as true?

...and around we go. But you already knew that. ;)

 

[AVBunyan]

Not you, your argument. Without showing those three premises to be true, we cannot logically accept the rest of your argument. Why? Because the rest of your argument depends upon those three premises being true.

Hey Novum - I believe this verse better fits your situation.

1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

You are not going to figiure God out with your human logic - won't work.

Also....

1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1 Cor 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
1 Cor 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1 Cor 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

God bless

 

[Novum]

Hey Novum - I believe this verse better fits your situation.

1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

You are not going to figiure God out with your human logic - won't work.

I firmly believe that logic is not only our best, but our only way to fully understand the world around us. Logic is the primary tool of science, and science is the means through which we advance as communities, societies, and a species.

That's where I'm having a fundamental disconnect with what you're saying. I understand that I will need to forego logic in favor of faith in order to "figure God out", and that's something that many people, myself included, have great difficulty doing.

Outside of religion, there are no situations in this world in which you would be better off using faith instead of reason. Why should religion be the only exception?

 

[mutzrein]

A question for you Novum.

When your mother was pregnant with you, how much logic did you apply to the dad+mum=me equation?

 

[Novum]

A question for you Novum.

When your mother was pregnant with you, how much logic did you apply to the dad+mum=me equation?

:roll:

 

[belovedwolfofgod]

I firmly believe that logic is not only our best, but our only way to fully understand the world around us. Logic is the primary tool of science, and science is the means through which we advance as communities, societies, and a species.

That's where I'm having a fundamental disconnect with what you're saying. I understand that I will need to forego logic in favor of faith in order to "figure God out", and that's something that many people, myself included, have great difficulty doing.

Outside of religion, there are no situations in this world in which you would be better off using faith instead of reason. Why should religion be the only exception?

You should be Catholic. You'd do very well, I think, there if you ever become a Christian. Catholics definately have the logic and reason. Heck, we got something called fides et ratio (faith and reason)... essentially, its our synthesis. God is not a God of chaos, but of order. Essentially, its the bare boned reason Im Catholic.

 

[Hyfrydol]

For evangelism, you've got to "meet people where they're at," a phrase I'm sure everyone's heard. And for people who don't believe in God... that means you can't treat them like they believe in God. Or you won't get anywhere. If a Muslim wanted to convert me, they couldn't do it by saying, "Yeah, but the Koran says..." because I wouldn't care. They'd have to convince me that the Koran said something worth listening to, first.

Since the goal of evangelism is winning souls or however you want to phrase it, we have to use all our options to get all the different sort of people out there. God gave us reason, so we can build a bridge of logic until we're within a few feet of the cliff, and then try and convince 'em to jump the rest by faith... So I understand what Novum is saying.

By the way, nice plug, wolf.

"Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth." opening lines of Fides et Ratio, JP the Great

 

[thessalonian]

Hey Novum - I believe this verse better fits your situation.

1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

You are not going to figiure God out with your human logic - won't work.

I firmly believe that logic is not only our best, but our only way to fully understand the world around us. Logic is the primary tool of science, and science is the means through which we advance as communities, societies, and a species.

That's where I'm having a fundamental disconnect with what you're saying. I understand that I will need to forego logic in favor of faith in order to "figure God out", and that's something that many people, myself included, have great difficulty doing.

Outside of religion, there are no situations in this world in which you would be better off using faith instead of reason. Why should religion be the only exception?

God is beyond logic but he is not illogical. He is beyond reason but is not unreasonable. I do not agree that we have to throw logic and reason out the window with regard to God. However we do have to accept some things on faith. This does not mean they are illogical or unreasonable, but that they are beyond our reasoning power and logical abilities.

 

[thessalonian]

Hey Novum - I believe this verse better fits your situation.

1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

You are not going to figiure God out with your human logic - won't work.

I firmly believe that logic is not only our best, but our only way to fully understand the world around us. Logic is the primary tool of science, and science is the means through which we advance as communities, societies, and a species. If they were not then either we would be infinite and thus God's or God would be finite and thus not a God.

That's where I'm having a fundamental disconnect with what you're saying. I understand that I will need to forego logic in favor of faith in order to "figure God out", and that's something that many people, myself included, have great difficulty doing.

Outside of religion, there are no situations in this world in which you would be better off using faith instead of reason. Why should religion be the only exception?

God is beyond logic but he is not illogical. He is beyond reason but is not unreasonable. I do not agree that we have to throw logic and reason out the window with regard to God. However we do have to accept some things on faith. This does not mean they are illogical or unreasonable, but that they are beyond our reasoning power and logical abilities.

 

[newvalor]

Novum... I'd like to approach this issue, with logic. Lets look at the 2 point.

Does God exist?

Take a look at the world around you. Logically would the World around exist by random coincidences or is it more likely that something would have created things to work as they do?


Oh in AV's defence his way does work, for certain types of people. AV can connect to people in the approach that he took. Will he reach everybody...no. This is why God makes us different, AV can reach certain people a lot easier than I can, and I can reach people he can not this is why we all must go out and be doers of the word.

 

[Novum]

God is beyond logic but he is not illogical. He is beyond reason but is not unreasonable.

These appear to me to be oxymorons. Is he beyond color, but not uncolorful? Beyond sound, yet not unhearable? You'll need to explain a little better what you mean for me.

This does not mean they are illogical or unreasonable, but that they are beyond our reasoning power and logical abilities.

That makes more sense, but I still have that fundamental disconnect I mentioned earlier.

 

[AVBunyan]

Oh in AV's defence his way does work, for certain types of people.

Thanks newvalor for your response - I understand what you are saying - Please allow me to elaborate...

The method I use will work on anybody that God is working on and calling out by his Spirit. I could use the greatest approach and delivery and if God is not working in the person then it would make no difference.

I could stumble through a poor plan but if the word of God is in it and the Spirit is working He can make sense out of my junk and the sinner willl be saved.

I use several "plans" depending on time, place and person. I pray and ask God to take his word and gospel and do the work.

Again - our duty is to deliver the message and leave the results to God. I believe the elect are out there and it is our duty to preach the gospel and let God do the work.

God bless 8-)