1 Credibility – Part 2 John 1:35-51 What the narrative teaches about witnessing A.Be part of the community you want to serve B.Be personally available

11

Credibility – Part 2Credibility – Part 2John 1:35-51John 1:35-51

What the narrative teaches What the narrative teaches about witnessingabout witnessing

A.A. Be part of the community you want to Be part of the community you want to serveserve

B.B. Be personally availableBe personally availableC.C. Be interactive and really get to know Be interactive and really get to know

themthemD.D. Spend time with them on your turfSpend time with them on your turfE.E. Share with families first, then friends, Share with families first, then friends,

etc.etc.F.F. Give them something they can Give them something they can

duplicateduplicateG.G. Answer questionsAnswer questions

22


8 Truths of a Credible Witness8 Truths of a Credible Witness1.1. Assurance of your own salvationAssurance of your own salvation2.2. You must know that you continue to be a You must know that you continue to be a

sinnersinner3.3. You must be surrendered to GodYou must be surrendered to God4.4. You must spend time with JesusYou must spend time with Jesus5.5. You must be grounded in the Truth of You must be grounded in the Truth of

ScriptureScripture6.6. You must be planted if you are to bear You must be planted if you are to bear

fruitfruit7.7. You must be willing to do hard workYou must be willing to do hard work8.8. All you do must be characterized by loveAll you do must be characterized by love

33

5.5. Grounded in Truth of ScriptureGrounded in Truth of Scripture DoesDoes notnot mean mean you must be a theologian you must be a theologian Does meanDoes mean that you understand the that you understand the

basic content of the Gospel as found in basic content of the Gospel as found in ScriptureScripture

Does meanDoes mean that you must speak the that you must speak the “good news”“good news”

Matthew 28:19,20 – “make disciples”Matthew 28:19,20 – “make disciples”

Credibility – Part 2Credibility – Part 2 John 1:35-51John 1:35-51

44

6.6. You must be planted to bear You must be planted to bear fruitfruit

What is necessary for a seed to What is necessary for a seed to sprout?sprout?

a.a. It must be aliveIt must be alive

b.b. It must be in good soil – It must be in good soil – unbelieversunbelievers

c.c. It must be watered, fertilized, and It must be watered, fertilized, and nourished nourished

People need to know you are planted!People need to know you are planted!


55

7.7. You must be willing to do hard You must be willing to do hard workwork

We must do all to the best of our We must do all to the best of our abilityability

We must do what God wants us to do We must do what God wants us to do not necessarily what is to our liking or not necessarily what is to our liking or easyeasy

Serving others can never be a burdenServing others can never be a burden Matthew 25:24-27Matthew 25:24-27


66

8.8. All you do must be marked All you do must be marked by loveby love Our relationship is measured by our Our relationship is measured by our

lovelove John 13:34,35John 13:34,35 Ghandi: Four things Christians must Ghandi: Four things Christians must

do to win the lost in Indiado to win the lost in India1.1. Let Christians live like Jesus ChristLet Christians live like Jesus Christ2.2. Do not compromise your faithDo not compromise your faith3.3. Learn all you can about non-Christian Learn all you can about non-Christian

religionsreligions4.4. Let everything you do be characterized Let everything you do be characterized

by loveby love


77

2 Corinthians 5 2 Corinthians 5 For we know that if our earthly house, For we know that if our earthly house, thisthis tent, is destroyed, we have a building tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who we shall not be found naked. For we who are in are in thisthis tent groan, being burdened, not tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. swallowed up by life.

88

Now He who has prepared us for this Now He who has prepared us for this very thing very thing isis God, who also has given us God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So the Spirit as a guarantee. So we arewe are always confident, knowing that while we always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. body and to be present with the Lord.

99

Therefore we make it our aim, whether Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. Him. For we must all appear before the judgment For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things the things donedone in the body, according to in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.consciences.

1010

For we do not commend ourselves again to For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have our behalf, that you may have an answeran answer for for those who boast in appearance and not in those who boast in appearance and not in heart. heart. For if we are beside ourselves, For if we are beside ourselves, it isit is for God; for God; or if we are of sound mind, or if we are of sound mind, it isit is for you. for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.for Him who died for them and rose again.

1111

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know we know Him thusHim thus no longer. Therefore, if no longer. Therefore, if anyone anyone isis in Christ, in Christ, he ishe is a new creation; old a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things have become new. Now all things areare of God, of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.committed to us the word of reconciliation.

1212

Now then, we are ambassadors for Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore through us: we implore youyou on Christ’s on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin made Him who knew no sin to beto be sin for sin for us, that we might become the us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.righteousness of God in Him.

1313

ApplicationApplication

What is your credibility level?What is your credibility level?

Are you out of your mind for Are you out of your mind for Christ and the sake of the Gospel?Christ and the sake of the Gospel?

Are you in your right mind for the Are you in your right mind for the sake of the lost?sake of the lost?


Documents

1 Credibility – Part 2 John 1:35-51 What the narrative teaches about witnessing A.Be part of the community you want to serve B.Be personally available