1. IT IS YOUR DUTY, AS A CHRISTIAN, TO WITNESS:

A. Jesus gave “the Great Commission” to all His disciples:

Mat.4:19 – Follow Me, & I will make you fishers of men
Mk.16:15 – Go ye into all the world, & preach the gospel
Acts 1:8 – Ye shall be witnesses…unto uttermost part of earth
Mat.28:19,20 – Go ye therefore, & teach all nations
Mk.13:10 – The gospel must…be published among all nations
Lk.24:47 – Repentance & remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations
Jn.15:16 – Ordained you, that ye should go & bring forth fruit (See also Mat.24:14)

B. Jesus sends you as His labourer & witness:

Isa.6:8 – Whom shall I send? Here am I; send me
Mat.9:37,38 – Labourers are few… Pray the Lord…that He will send forth labourers into His harvest
Lk.9:2 – (Jesus) sent them to preach…the Kingdom of God
Jn.20:21 – As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you
Rom.10:14,15 – How shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
2Cor.5:20 – We are ambassadors for Christ

2. WHY YOU NEED TO WITNESS:

A. You talk about what you believe in:

Psa.107:2 – Let the redeemed (saved) of the Lord say so
Jn.3:11 – We speak that we do know, & testify that we have seen
Acts 4:20 – We…speak the things which we have seen & heard
2Cor.4:13 – I believed, therefore have I spoken (See Psa.116:10a)

B. To save souls from death:

Pro.14:25 – A true witness delivereth souls
Acts 26:18 – To open their eyes, turn from power of Satan unto God
Jam.5:20 – He which converteth sinner…save a soul from death

C. If you don’t, you & they will suffer:

Ezk.3:17-19 – Nor speakest to warn the wicked…his blood will I require at thine hand (See also Acts 20:26,27)
Mk.8:38 – Of him shall Son of man be ashamed when He cometh
Lk.12:8,9 – He that denieth Me before men shall be denied
1Cor.9:16 – Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel
2Cor.4:3 – If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost
(See also Jer.8:20; Jon.1:1-17.)

3. DON’T BE SHY OR ASHAMED TO WITNESS:

Psa.119:46 – I will speak of Thy testimonies…& not be ashamed
Isa.40:9 – Lift up thy voice with strength; be not afraid
Isa.62:6b – Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence
Mat.5:14-16 – Ye are the light of the world…cannot be hid…let (it) shine before men (See also Mk.4:21; Lk.8:16.)
Mk.8:38 – Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me & of My Words…of him shall the Son of man be ashamed
Acts 18:9b – Be not afraid, but speak, & hold not thy peace
Rom.1:16 – I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ
Eph.6:18-20 – (Pray)…that I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak
1Thes.2:2 – We were bold…to speak the gospel of God
2Tim.1:8a – Be not thou ashamed of the testimony of our Lord
(See also Jer.1:6-9)

4. POINTERS ON HOW TO BE A GOOD WITNESS:

Pro.18:13 – [Ask questions] He that answereth a matter before he
Jam.1:19 – [Listen] Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak
Pro.20:5 – [Get them to speak their heart] Draw it out
Mat.12:34b – Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh
Acts 26:27 – [Ask what they believe] Believest thou the prophets?
Acts 17:23-28 – [Find points of agreement] Your own poets have said
1Cor.9:19-22 – I (became) all things to all men, that I might save
Acts 26:1-20 – [Give your own personal testimony. Example of Paul's]
Mk.4:2 – [Illustrate your point with true stories] (Jesus) taught them many things by parables
Lk.13:1-5 – [Use current events: Pilate; tower of Siloam falling]
Acts 2:40 – [Patiently explain] And with many other words did He
Psa.126:5,6 – [Have a broken heart] Sow in tears… reap in joy
Mat.9:36 – He was moved with compassion on them (lost sheep)
1Cor.13:1 – [Speak in love, or it's just empty words like sound ing brass or a tinkling cymbal]
1Sam.16:23 – [Music has spiritual power: Example of David playing the harp for King Saul]
Lk.14:23 – [Be zealous & determined] Compel them to come in
1Ki.18:21a – [Bring them to a decision] How long halt ye between two opinions? (See Josh.24:15; Heb.3:7,8a; 2Cor.6:2.)

5. USE THE WORD IN YOUR WITNESSING:

A. The Word is powerful & convinces people:

2Chr.17:9 – They had the book of the law of the Lord with them… & went about…& taught the people
Lk.8:5,11 – Sower sowed seed…the seed is the Word of God
Jn.4:41,42 – Many more believed because of His Own Word…Now we believe, not because of (the woman’s) saying
Jn.5:39 – Search the Scriptures…they testify of Me (Jesus)
Jn.20:31 – These written that ye might believe Jesus is Christ
Acts 17:2,3 – Paul…reasoned with them out of the Scriptures
Acts 18:28 – He mightily convinced…showing by the Scriptures
Tit.1:9 – The Word, sound doctrine…convince the gainsayers

B. Scripture memorisation is important to witnessing:

Psa.119:42 – Wherewith to answer him…for I trust in Thy Word
Pro.22:17-21 – Answer words of truth to them that send unto thee
Mal.2:6 – The law of truth was in his mouth…he did turn many away from iniquity
Mat.12:34b,35a – A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things
Acts 13:32-35 – [Quote the Word:] As it is written in the second Psalm
2Tim.4:2 – Preach the Word…exhort with all…doctrine
1Pet.3:15 – Be ready always to give an answer to every man

6. KEEPING YOUR WITNESS SIMPLE:

Jn.12:32 – And I, (Jesus) if I be lifted up…will draw all men unto Me
1Cor.1:17 – Preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words
1Cor.2:1,2 – I came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom
1Cor.2:4 – My preaching not with enticing words of man’s wisdom
1Cor.14:9 – Except ye utter words easy to be understood…how shall it be known what is spoken?
2Cor.1:12 – In simplicity & sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom
2Cor.3:12 – We use great plainness of speech

7. WHAT YOU SHOULD PREACH (WITNESS ABOUT):

A. Preach the gospel; preach Jesus:

Isa.58:1 – Show My people their transgression &…sins
Mat.28:19,20 – Teach… all things whatsoever I have commanded you
Mk.16:15 – Preach the gospel [good news of salvation in Jesus]
Lk.9:2 – (Jesus) sent them to preach the Kingdom of God
Jn.3:16 – [That they can have eternal life by believing in Jesus]
Acts 4:2b – They taught…the resurrection from the dead
Acts 5:42 – They ceased not to teach & preach Jesus Christ
Acts 13:32-35 – [Jesus fulfilled Old Testament Messianic prophecies]
Acts 13:38 – Through (Jesus) is preached forgiveness of sins
Acts 20:21 – Testifying…repentance toward God, faith toward Jesus
Rom.5:8 – God commendeth His love toward us…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us
1Cor.1:23 – We preach Christ crucified
1Cor.15:3 – I delivered unto you, that Christ died for our sins
1Cor.15:4 – And that He was buried & rose again (from the dead)
2Cor.4:5 – We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord
2Cor.5:20 – We pray you…Be ye reconciled to God
1Tim.1:15 – That Jesus came into the world to save sinners
1Jn.4:14 – We testify…the Father sent the Son to be the saviour (See also Acts 10:42; 24:25a; Eph.3:8.)

B. What not to talk about:

1Cor.3:2 – Not with meat (strong doctrines)…ye were not able to bear it
1Thes.2:3-6 – Our exhortation was not of deceit, nor in guile. Neither at any time used we flattering words
2Tim.2:23 – Foolish & unlearned questions avoid
Tit.3:9 – Avoid foolish questions…& contentions & strivings
Heb.5:14 – Strong meat (doctrine) belongeth to (the mature)

8. WHO TO WITNESS TO:

A. Jesus commanded us to witness to the whole world:

Mk.16:15 – Preach the gospel to every creature (person)
Mat.28:19 – Go ye therefore, & teach all nations
Lk.8:39 – Return to thine own house…show how great things
Mk.5:19 – Go home to thy friends, & tell them
Mat.11:5b – The poor have the gospel preached to them
Isa.61:1 – Preach good tidings unto the meek
Acts 26:22a – Witnessing both to small & great
Rom.15:20,21 – I strived to preach…to they that have not heard
Acts 22:21 – Unto the Gentiles [people of faraway nations]
Acts 28:28 – Salvation sent unto Gentiles [receptive heathen]
Acts 17:18-21 – [To curious philosophers & intellectuals]
Ezk.2:7 – [Give everyone a chance, even the rebellious]
Ezk.3:17,18 – Warn the wicked to turn from his wicked way

B. Who not to witness to:

Mat.9:13b – I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners
Pro.23:9 – Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise
Acts 13:45,46 – [Don't continue witnessing to unreceptive rejectors]
Mat.7:6 – Give not that which is holy unto dogs [unreceptive people], neither cast your pearls before swine
Acts 18:6 – When they opposed & blasphemed…he said, I will go
Mat.10:14 – Whosoever shall…not hear your words… depart
Tit.3:10,11 – Heretic after the first & second admonition reject
Pro.14:7 – Go from the presence of a foolish man

9. A WINNING PERSONAL EXAMPLE:

A. Your personal example is part of your witness:

Mat.5:16 – Let your light so shine…men may see your works
Phi.2:15,16a – Be blameless & harmless…shine as lights in the world; holding forth the Word of life
1Tim.4:12b – Be thou an example of the believers
2Cor.3:2 – Ye are our epistle (letter)…known and read of all men
Tit.2:7,8 – In all things showing a pattern of good works
1Pet.3:1,2 – [Unbelieving mates to be won by believer's sample] (See also 1Tim.5:14b)
Jn.13:35 – By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another

B. Sample of happiness is appealing:

Psa.51:12,13 – Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation. Then sinners shall be converted unto Thee

C. Lovingly win others, not by arguing:

1Thes.1:7,8 – We were gentle…affectionately desirous of you
2Tim.2:23,24 – The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle
(See also 1Cor.13:1,2,8)

D. Personal example must back up your witness:

Jn.13:15 – I (Jesus) have given an example, ye should do as I
Rom.2:21-24 – Thou which teachest another, teachest thou not thy self? Thou that sayest man should not…dost thou?
(See also 1Cor.11:1; 1Tim.6:1; Tit.2:4,5.)

10. WHEN TO WITNESS:

A. We are to constantly witness:

Eccl.11:6 – In the morning sow thy seed, & in the evening
Jn.4:35 – Look on the fields; they are white already to harvest
Acts 5:42 – Daily in the temple, & in every house, they ceased not
2Tim.4:2 – In season, out of season [even when "not convenient"]
1Pet.3:15 – Be ready always to give an answer to every man
(See also Acts 20:31)

B. Pray for God to “open up” witnessing opportunities:

Col.4:3 – Praying…that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ

C. Wait until it’s God’s time to witness to certain people:

Mat.10:5-7 – Go not into the way of the Gentiles…but go rather… [But later said,] Go into all the world” Mk.16:15
Acts 16:6,7 – (Paul) forbidden…to preach…in Asia [but did with great success a couple years later Acts 19:1,10]

11. WHERE TO WITNESS:

In your own house(Acts 28:30,31); In every house(Acts 5:42); From house to house(Acts 20:20); In schools & lecture halls(Acts 19:9,10); In church(Heb.2:12); In marketplaces(Acts 17:17); In different racial neighbourhoods(Jn.4:1-42); In the streets, lanes, highways, hedges(Lk.14:21b,23); All over the city(Lk.8:39b); In cars [chariots](Acts 8:29-35); On boats(Acts 27:22-25); In prison(Phi.1:12,13); In court(Mat.10:18-20); In the wilderness(Mat.3:1,2); Everywhere(Acts 8:4).

12. THE “FRUIT” CHRISTIANS SHOULD BEAR IS OTHER CHRISTIANS, NEW SAVED SOULS:

Lk.8:5-15 – ["The Parable of the Sower"] (See also Mat.13:3-8, 18-23; Mk.4:2-8,14-20.)
Lk.8:11 – The seed is the Word of God [which we sow in hearts]
Mk.4:14 – The sower (witnesser) soweth the Word
Pro.11:30 – He that winneth souls is wise
Jn.12:24 – But if it die (to self), it bringeth forth much fruit
Jn.15:5 – He that abideth in Me…bringeth forth much fruit
Jn.15:8 – Herein is (God) glorified, that ye bear much fruit
Rom.7:4 – Married to (Jesus)…bring forth fruit unto God

13. THE HOLY SPIRIT & WITNESSING:

A. The Holy Spirit anoints you to witness about Jesus:

Isa.61:1 – Spirit of the Lord upon me…anointed me to preach
Acts 1:8 – Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: & ye shall be witnesses
Acts 4:29-31 – They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake the Word of God with boldness
1Thes.1:5 – Our gospel came…in power, & in the Holy Ghost
(See also Col.1:27-29)

B. Only God & His Holy Spirit can really win people:

Jn.6:44 – No man can come to Me, except the Father…draw him
Zech.4:6b – Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit
Mat.10:20 – It is not ye, but the Spirit…which speaketh in you
Jn.15:5 – Without Me ye can do nothing
1Cor.3:6,7 – I have planted…but God gave the increase

14. WITNESSING, THE GREATEST WORK ON EARTH:

A. Witnessing is a job worth giving all for:

Mat.4:19-22 – Follow Me, & I will make you fishers of men…they left their nets (See also Lk.5:9-11)
Mk.8:35 – Lose his life for My sake & the gospel’s
Mk.10:29 – [Leave house, family, wife, lands for gospel's sake]
Lk.9:59,60 – Let the dead bury the dead: but go thou & preach

B. Heavenly reward for witnessing:

Pro.11:30 – He that winneth souls is wise
Dan.12:3 – They that be wise shall shine…and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars (See Mat.13:43)
Lk.12:8 – Him shall the Son of man confess before the angels
1Cor.3:8b – Every man receive…reward according to his labours
1Cor.9:16,17a – If I (preach the gospel) willingly, I have a reward

15. REACTIONS TO THE GOSPEL:

A. The receptive believe the Word:

Jon.3:1-9 – [Jonah preached in Ninevah, & entire city repented]
Jn.4:39-42 – [Samaritans at Sychar received Jesus & believed]
Acts 8:5,6,8,14 – [Philip preached in Samaria]…people with one accord gave heed…Samaria received the Word of God
Acts 16:14 – Lydia…whose heart the Lord opened…she (listened)
Acts 16:32-34 – They spake unto him the Word…he rejoiced, believing

B. The unreceptive reject the Word:

Lk.8:5,12 – Devil taketh away Word, lest they believe
1Cor.1:18 – Preaching…is to them that perish foolishness
2Cor.4:4 – The god of this world blinded minds of (unbelieving)
(See also Jer.36:all)

C. Unpopularity & persecution because of witnessing:

Lk.6:22 – Men shall cast out your name as evil, for (Jesus’) sake
Jn.7:7 – The world…hateth (Me), because I testify it (is) evil
Acts 16:20,21 – These men do exceedingly trouble our city, & teach customs which are not lawful

D. Our witness a testimony against the unrepentant:

Mat.10:18 – Brought before kings…for a testimony against them
Mk.6:11 – Shake off dust…for a testimony against them
Jn.12:48 – The Word that I have spoken…shall judge him

16. WITNESSING BOLDLY DESPITE OPPOSITION:

A. Neither threats, persecution nor martyrdom should stop us:

Lk.21:12-15 – They shall persecute you…I will give you wisdom
Act 4:29,31,33 – Behold their threatenings…spake Word with boldness
Act 14:1-3a – Long time abode they speaking boldly in the Lord
Act 20:24 – None of these things move me, neither count life dear
1Thes.2:2 – Even after we suffered…we were bold to speak
Rev.6:9 – Them that were slain for Word of God & testimony
Rev.12:11 – They overcame him by the Word…loved not their lives
Rev.20:4 – Them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus

B. Witness even if man’s laws forbid it:

Amos 7:12-15 – [Evil priest said:] Prophesy not at Bethel…The Lord said unto me (Amos), Go, prophesy
Mat.10:16 – Be ye wise as serpents, harmless as doves
Lk.10:3 – I send you forth as lambs among wolves: be wise
Acts 4:17-20 – We cannot but speak the things we have seen & heard
Acts 5:27-29 – We ought to obey God rather than men
Acts 5:40-42 – Commanded they should not speak. They ceased not

17. MORE VERSES ABOUT WITNESSING & TESTIFYING:

A. From the Old Testament:

Deut.32:3 – (I will publish the name of the Lord); 1Chr.16:8 – (Make known His deeds among the people); Psa.9:11 – (Declare among the people His doings); Psa.18:49& (I give thanks unto Thee among the heathen); Psa.26:7 – (Publish…tell of all Thy wondrous works); Psa.66:16 – (I will declare what He hath done for my soul); Psa.71:15 – (My mouth shall show forth…Thy salvation all the day); Psa.89:1 – (With my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all); Psa.96:3 – (Declare His…wonders among all people); Psa.96:10 – (Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth); Psa.119:13 – (With my lips have I declared judgments of Thy mouth); Psa.119:27 – (So shall I talk of Thy wondrous works); Psa.145:4-7 – (I will speak of glorious honour of Thy majesty); Psa.145:11,12 – (Make known to the sons of men His mighty acts); Isa.43:10a – (Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord); Isa.52:7 – (How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace).

B. From the New Testament:

Mk.16:20 – (They went forth, & preached everywhere); Lk.8:1 – (Preaching & showing glad tidings of the Kingdom); Jn.4:39 – (Many believed on Him for the saying of the woman); Jn.21:17 – (Lovest thou Me? Feed My sheep); Acts 5:20 – (Go, speak to the people…all the words of this life); Acts 5:32 – (And we are His witnesses of these things); Acts 10:42 – (He commanded us to preach unto the people, & to testify); Acts 13:49 – (Word of the Lord published throughout all the region); Acts 18:25 – (Being fervent in spirit, he spake & taught diligently); Acts 22:15 – (Thou shalt be His witness unto all men); Rom.10:15b – (How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel); 2Tim.2:2 – (The things which thou hast heard…commit to faithful men, who shall…teach others); 2Tim.4:2 – (Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season).

10. Witnessing, Copyright © 1998-2012, The Family International