Come and See, Go and Tell: Session 2 – Prepare to Tell

Preparing to Be an Effective Witness for Christ Have you ever felt tongue-tied when trying to share your faith? Or maybe you've missed opportunities to tell others about Jesus because you weren't sure how to approach the conversation? As believers, we're called to be witnesses for Christ, but sometimes we struggle with how to do that effectively. Today, I want to share some Biblical wisdom on how we can prepare ourselves to be powerful witnesses for Jesus. The Chain Reaction of Invitation Last week, we saw an amazing example of the "chain of invitation" in action. Damon and Gabby were invited to our church, impacted by the gospel, and then invited their cousin. Austin and Ally came as a result. This week, we saw how Deb and Dave Curtis invited Kevin and Christie, who then invited Ross and Beth. Ross went from not knowing Jesus to accepting Him as Savior! That's the power of invitation at work. This reminds me of how Jesus called His first disciples. In John 1, we see Andrew following Jesus after John the Baptist pointed Him out. Andrew then went and told his brother Peter about Jesus. Philip, after encountering Christ, invited Nathanael with the simple words, "Come and see" (John 1:46). "Come and see" is still our message today. We're inviting people to experience Jesus for themselves. But for that invitation to go out, we need to be prepared to witness. Four Areas of Preparation for Effective Witnessing 1. The Call of Our Witness: Prayer Colossians 4:2 tells us, "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving." Prayer is where it all starts. We need to pray continually and stay alert in prayer, especially when it comes to evangelism. When we pray, we're aligning our hearts with God's heart. We're saying, "God, I want what you want. I want your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven." Prayer opens our eyes to opportunities we might otherwise miss and gives us the boldness to take those opportunities when they come. 2. The Content of Our Witness: The Mystery of Christ Paul talks about speaking "the mystery of Christ" in Colossians 4:3. This mystery is the gospel message - that Jesus, the Messiah, came to die for our sins and rise again, offering salvation to the whole world. We need to be clear on this message. It's not just about Israel becoming a nation again or escaping Roman rule. It's about Jesus winning the whole world to Himself. This is the content of our witness - Christ crucified, risen, and coming again for our sins. 3. The Character of Our Witness: Wisdom, Grace, and Salt Colossians 4:5-6 gives us three key characteristics for our witness: - Wisdom: "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time." We need to be shrewd in how we approach people, making the most of every opportunity. - Grace: "Let your speech be always with grace." Our words should be kind and considerate, showing that we genuinely care about the person we're talking to. - Salt: "Seasoned with salt." Our speech should be pure, preserving, and create a thirst for more. 4. The Customization of Our Witness: Knowing How to Answer Every Person Paul concludes by saying we should know "how ye ought to answer every man" (Colossians 4:6). This means customizing our approach for each individual. While the gospel message remains the same, how we present it might differ based on the person's background, experiences, and current situation. Putting It Into Practice So how can we apply this wisdom to our own witnessing efforts? Here are some practical steps: 1. Pray specifically for opportunities to share your faith and for boldness when those opportunities come. 2. Review the gospel message so you can clearly explain it when the time comes. 3. Practice speaking with grace and "salt" in your everyday conversations. 4. Think about the individuals in your life who need Jesus. How might you customize your approach for each of them? 5. Write down the names of people you want to invite to church or share Christ with. Ask God, "What's the wise thing to do in approaching this person?" Remember, our goal isn't just to fill church buildings. We want people to know Jesus. As we prepare ourselves through prayer, understanding the gospel message, developing the right character, and customizing our approach, God can use us in powerful ways to impact lives for eternity. Let's commit to being prepared witnesses for Christ. Who knows? The next person you invite might start a whole new chain reaction of faith!