Page 78 - Discipleship Ministries Student E-Book

John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children
of God,

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should

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not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but
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in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but
whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son
of God.

Romans 10-9-11 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is
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justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who
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believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Some do’s and don’ts about witnessing

This is a difficult part of “witnessing” to write about. Why? Because there
is almost no way for there to be a right way and a wrong way to tell
people about Jesus. As soon as someone does something the wrong
way, the Holy Spirit convicts the person’s heart and that person falls to
his/her knees and asks Christ to save them. Conversely, as soon as
someone does everything “right” the person’s heart turns hard and Satan
sweeps away the seed that has been sown. The person walks away more
determined than ever to go his own way without Christ. Nevertheless, there are a few very general
common sense principles to become aware of…

Some Don’ts
1. Don’t assume a negative response. We are dealing with the message of forgiveness, sin-cleansing,
peace, joy, eternal life and heaven. If a negative response happens there is not much, we can do about
it. But a positive witness needs to be just that.

2. Do not try to force a decision from a person. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. The new birth is a
miracle, and we cannot produce it.

3. Don’t start an argument. As soon as we do the person stops listening while trying to formulate
his/her reply.

4. Don’t tell people that you go to such and such church and that you are not open to opposing views.
If you do this, you have immediately shut down your opportunity to share the Gospel further. DO NOT
tell them you are a “Baptist” or whatever denomination you are affiliated with. Do not tell them you are
a student of the Bible. Do not tell them you know Greek or Hebrew and are a Bible scholar. Tell them
only that you are a seeker of TRUTH. You don’t need to impress them with your spiritual knowledge; if
anything, that will turn them off.

5. Don’t use Revelations 3:20 and tell someone to “ask Jesus to come into their heart” to be saved.

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