Jesus came to seek and to save the lost...Luke 19:10

MY PRIORITY:

By God's grace and His mercy, as a former atheist, 
sharing Jesus has been my priority for nearly 50 years...again, only by His grace and mercy!!!



WHAT IS MISSING: 
in your life?

-You have claimed Jesus as your Savior

-You have grown in your faith through study of the Word, fellowship and prayer...growing in making Him Lord of your life

-You and your church are active in helping the needy in various forms

-You give faithfully to support the church



HOWEVER...
there is something missing! 


IS JESUS'  PRIORITY .....YOUR PRIORITY?

Jesus' Priority:
"...I came to seek and to save the lost..." Luke 19:10

BUT-
You know you should share your faith in Christ 
with people ...but you may try to justify not doing so because:

...it is not your giftedness

...it is the church leader's responsibility

...you don't know the Bible well enough to answer possible questions

...you don't feel worthy

...what if people turn you down and reject you saying- "no thanks"

...you don't have time

..."What will other people think of me?" dominates your thought process

...Even though you take classes on evangelism and apologetics, hear sermons that encourage witnessing and read books on how to share your faith...
YOU ARE DEFEATED!!!

THE GOOD NEWS...THERE IS DEFINITELY HOPE!!!


HERE'S MY ADVICE

The following advice is based upon 50 years
of active witnessing, 45 years of active GOSPEL speaking, leadership in Christian Business Men's Committee of America, serving on CBMC's National and International Boards, active participation in churches and other Christian organizations- including 14 years as founder/president of Witness Breakthrough, an organization dedicated to helping believers become  John 3:16 witnesses...

By His grace having proclaimed the Gospel in more than 220 cities and 44 states plus various foreign countries (including Red Square in Moscow)

I DISCOVERED....


MY BIGGEST WITNESSING MISTAKE

23 years ago driving from Augusta to Atlanta....I had the yearning to tell someone about faith in Jesus Christ...
IMMEDIATELY, RIGHT THEN!
I was consulting and successfully raising funds in the golf business but found myself sick and tired of talking about golf versus God (it was the case of way too much of a good thing). I thought of when the next outreach dinner was and in frustration said
"I CAN'T WAIT!"

WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY I drove to the busiest public golf course in Atlanta and I asked God to use me to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, using my love of golf as the springboard. 

HE DID!    BIG TIME!!!
ONGOING...For the past 
23 years....What a great discovery that has mushroomed into many areas of my daily walk




 A MOST IMPORTANT DISCOVERY

My life's verse for more than 45 years: 
Acts 17:28
"In Him we live, move and have our being..." 

This became my eye opener to daily
look for
His open doors to
spread the Good News...
wherever I
walk ...
because
we are a witness every minute of every day whether we like it or not...
so why not be a good witness?!


WITNESS BREAKTHROUGH happened 
when I stopped waiting for meal time outreaches, events and programs
(they are very good and I still participate in them!)
...but my priority instead:  I started looking for daily opportunities to share my faith where I live, move and have my being...
Acts  17:28

It's not just golfing! 
It's:
Working
Shopping
Walking

and at the...
Dr.'s office
Restaurants
Car repair
Sporting events
Etc.

...EVERYWHERE I WALK, EVERY DAY are possible opportunities to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ!




walking
working or volunteering
at the car repair shop






Tudi's unique opportunities to share are at activities like 
water therapy, neighborhood associations, ladies golf outings, scrap booking classes and painting

Usually once a month Tudi hosts a 
small group (8 people) for dinner at our house for a combo of "in reach" and/or "out reach"

Tudi and I are so different in our witness approach to people 
but we have learned to combine our uniqueness...
what a joy and privilege it has been to witness as man and wife...

GOD'S WORD IS OUR GUIDE

NOTE...
the following verses in Colossians contain these key witnessing insights:

*Prayer, 
*His open doors,
*Proclaim clearly,
*Be wise in your actions when with unbelievers,
*Words full of grace and seasoned with salt so you know how to answer everyone

Colossians 4:2-6 
says it perfectly and 
contains the main points and words 
above...these verses if applied can transform your personal witness dramatically

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace,seasoned with salt,
 so that you may know how to answer everyone."


HOW TO GET STARTED and make Jesus' priority your priority, Luke 19:10 ...before it is too late...
Ecclesiastes 12:1

1- REPENT of your indifference...Revelation 3:14-22...being lukewarm is disgusting to our Lord...essential repentance will set you free to do the following...

2- Learn to listen...Proverbs 18:13...ask meaningful questions, listen intently

3- Fall in love with their soul (man's whole being and life) not just their present personality...Mark 10:19-21

4- Be compelled by love not duty to share Jesus Christ...John 3:16...trying to witness without the emphasis of Jesus...is weak ...be gracious, clear and bold as you proclaim the Name above all names as your personal Savior and Lord...have your small group read and apply the WB book
IF WE ARE THE LIGHT, WHY IS AMERICA SO DARK?

5- Use geographic maps to show small group activity....a) where did you listen, b) where did you share the Gospel, c) someone came to Christ...Acts 4:13, 23, 31


map

map

Challenge:
 
Are you ready to begin to be an Acts 4:13,23 & 31 witness? 

Ordinary people amazing the world with the GOOD NEWS OF JESUS, praying for each other to be bold, then reporting back what happened when they went out...Gather together and pray for even more boldness...then go out again!

This scripture based prayer is found 3 times in 
IF WE ARE THE LIGHT,  WHY IS AMERICA SO DARK?


Honestly and with conviction pray this Witness Repentance meditation to have the mind of Christ...and encourage others to do the same

Solemn Prayer of Witness Repentence 2

Ted Sprague
1Cor 2:16...But we have the mind of Christ...thank God for His Word and how the Holy Spirit illuminates our thinking

www.witnessbreakthrough.org

To order the book for you or your small group...please go to the WB website above