by John McGlone
I saw a Facebook thread by my friend Cassie Colleen asking everyone the great spiritual question, “What would u say to my friends face to face who either don’t believe or believe what they want about God?”
I replied, “This is a standard way I approach, friends, family, or strangers…on the phone, in the market, on the bus, wherever I go.” Then I gave her the following series of points outlining a basic way I do personal witnessing. I have developed this beginning with Ray Comfort’s, ‘Way of the Master’ using the law but going further personally which is very simple and easy to do as the Holy Ghost guides you.
1. Hi, intro…chit chat nice weather, etc .
2. Can I ask you a very serious personal question? They almost always say yes!
3. God forbid if you died today and stood before Jesus Christ, would you be guilty or innocent?
4. If they say guilty, you agree and ask them what the Judge of the universe Jesus will do with them.
4a. If they say I don’t know…explain what Jesus taught in the Bible.
4b. If they say throw me into hell, say, “Doesn’t that concern you?”
4c. If they say guilty, but Jesus forgives me. Ask them how?
5. If they say innocent, ask them why.
5a. If they say because I do good things, explain that Jesus taught that no one’s good works will get them heaven.
5b. If they say because Jesus died for my sins, AGREE!
6. Encourage them to truly repent of all sin, ask for forgiveness, mercy, and relationship with Him. Tell them to keep doing that until the Holy Ghost has confirmed that they are born again and forgiven. Then they need to love Jesus with obedience, draw near to Him for mercy, and give Him the glory with their lives that He deserves, pray, study, share their faith!
Of course there could be many ways this could go! But, let the Lord lead your answers. But, the first very serious personal question opens things up because:
1. You’re compassionate, you said, “God forbid you died today…”
2. You brought up the issue of death no one wants to speak about.
3. You mentioned the Name of Jesus! It’s powerful! “…stood before Jesus Christ,”
4. You are asking them to judge themselves, “…would you be guilty or innocent.” I’ve had people go silent for 2-3 minutes! I can hear them pondering this question in their mind and heart before their conscience and the Lord! Very exciting!
Once in a while a person will harden their heart from the beginning of the question. But, I would say the success rate is 80-90% Are they converted, mostly not then, but you have done your part.
1 Cor 3:6-9
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
They mostly always want more information…etc. Get their contact information! Putting the major parts of this on flash cards and # them in order will help you to remember. One you start practicing this you will be hooked on fishing for men!
Hope this helps. God bless you as you seek to fish for men and women for Jesus’ glory!
Hi, a demonstrator gave me a card with your website last Saturday at the Memorial Fest in Menomonee Falls, WI. They began by speaking against abortion and carried frightening, very sad but necessary posters and piles of babies’ dead. Aborted bodies. I applauded them for their courage and their message. But shortly thereafter, they began yelling about many other topics and appeared generally angry and foolish looking. They sounded as though they were accusing people of many sins when they didn’t know who may or may not have done what. I am Christian and strongly opposed to abortion. I’ve even questioned school districts in writing about their possible participation in helping minors obtain abortions without their parent’s knowledge or consent. I haven’t gotten straight answers, which seems to be incriminating on the part of the districts. But what is a necessary message that could have been delivered powerfully and credibly was turned into a group the crowd was not only annoyed with, but also appeared to be laughing at. The approach of anger and accusations towards a crowd of people the demonstrating group knew nothing about, I believe, did nothing to help save the lives of unborn children. I would like to offer my thoughts and suggestions to help improve the presentation of this important message. My email is lauralkozicki@yahoo.com
Thanks for your thoughts Laura. I wasn’t personally there but the people you described are part of our fellowship. I will forward you concerns directly to them or maybe they could comment here. In the meantime, I would ask you to review this blog I did on the subject of open air preaching. God bless you.
John
http://www.jesuspreacher.com/openairpreaching/