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TEXT: Acts 16:13-32; Mark 16:15; Luke 15:1; 24:47
OBJECTIVE
The students will be able to explain that Christ’s purpose for His followers is that they witness to the unsaved and endeavor to win them for the Lord.
REFERENCE INFORMATION
Members of the Early Church went everywhere preaching the Word, witnessing, bringing others to Christ, leaving an example for all others to follow. But even back in Isaiah’s time God designated His people as witnesses: “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he” (Isaiah 43:10).
A witness is one who knows, one who has personal knowledge of a circumstance or event. Witness in Greek is martus or martur, and signifies one who gives testimony to the truth, even at the expense of his own life, if necessary. It is mainly in this sense that the word is used in the New Testament. Our word martyr has come from this also.
The disciples who had been with Jesus were to be witnesses for Him (Luke 24:48), and when they chose one to replace Judas, they appointed one who had been a witness of the Resurrection along with them (Acts 1:22).
QUESTIONS
In the first chapter of Acts we are told that Jesus, shortly before leaving this earth to go back to Heaven, commanded His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem until they were baptized with the Holy Ghost who would give them power to witness. Christ’s purpose for His followers today is that they witness to the unsaved and endeavor to win them for Him. All of us cannot be missionaries in foreign lands, but we can help to spread the Gospel. The man across the street needs to hear the story of Jesus just as much as the man on the other side of the ocean.
- Define witness as pertaining to the Gospel. Why cannot a sinner be an effective witness for Christ?
Response: A witness as pertaining to the Gospel is one who knows the truth concerning Christ and is able to share this truth with others. A sinner cannot be an effective witness for Christ because God’s Spirit is not a part of his life. Discussion of this question possibly will bring out that God may, at times, use an unsaved person to bring the light of the Gospel to another unsaved person, but the witness must have a degree of knowledge of Christ to start with, theoretical though it may be.
- Verbal communication is one way of witnessing. It can be used as an objective approach (one which points to Christ), or a subjective approach (one which points to one’s own experience). Which approach is used in Mark 5:18-19? in Acts 8:35? Which of the two approaches can be used by all Christians? Why?
Response: The approach used in Mark 5:18-19 is subjective; the approach used in Acts 8:35 is objective. Your students may offer either one or both approaches as the answer to the third question. While all Christians should be able to speak of Christ objectively, the resulting discussion should bring out that when they speak subjectively, telling of their own experience, there can be no debate.
- In our text, Paul is the chief speaker. As pertaining to objective and subjective witnessing, to which was he ordained? Along with the text, refer to Acts 26:9-19 for your answer.
Response: The Apostle Paul was ordained to use both types of witnessing—to carry the Gospel to the Gentiles (objective), and to give his personal testimony before rulers and kings (subjective). Ask your students how they can know which approach to use, leading them to recognize that God must direct in the appropriate approach to be used on each occasion when they are called to witness. Some of your students may be able to cite examples from their own knowledge or experience illustrating these two approaches.
- Prior to the earthquake, we have no record of a verbal witness to the jailer by Paul and Silas. Yet there must have been something which prompted him to ask the question, “What must I do to be saved?” What might this have been?
Response: Your students’ responses should culminate in the thought that there are various methods of witnessing other than verbal communication. Help your students explore the potential of Christian behavior as being a means of witnessing.
- Name some opportunities for nonverbal witnessing other than in times of persecution.
Response: Suggestions offered may include: showing kindness or love, extending mercy, benevolent giving, showing patience, preferring your brother.
- What kind of testimony might the former demoniac of Gadara have given to his friends at home? (Mark 5:1-20) Contrast this to the testimony given by the little maid to Naaman’s wife. (2 Kings 5:1-3) What would be the main point of difference?
Response: No doubt the man from Gadara told of the former life he had lived, giving specific details, but that Jesus had come and set him free from his sins and wayward life. The Bible says that all men did marvel, as well they should have. On the other hand, the little maid did not have a history of outbroken sins to talk about, but she had a knowledge of God’s love and His power to heal. Bring out in discussion that each testimony has merit, if only it is given. Too often those who have been reared in Christian homes feel their testimony is limited in scope and power because they do not have a story of deliverance from great sins. Actually, every child of God has had a wonderful deliverance from sin and his witness can be used of God to win others to the Gospel.
- In our text, we are given the admonition to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” How might this apply to those who do not have the privilege of standing in the pulpit to preach?
Response: The students may bring out various thoughts in answer to this question. One of the first definitions of the word preach is to “proclaim publicly.” This does not limit us to a certain place or a certain form. When the disciples were scattered from Jerusalem under the early persecution, the Bible says, “They . . . went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). Discuss with the class that this no doubt means the Christians fled persecution, but they witnessed of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension to everyone they met. This is the real meaning of witnessing.
- Witnessing! Is it a spiritual gift given to some or a commandment to all Christians? See 1 Peter 3:15.
Response: Witnessing is a command common to all. Help your students realize that because the disciples obeyed the command in Acts 1:8, we have received the light of the Gospel. How important is witnessing? Close your class session with some personal accounts of witnesses who brought the knowledge of salvation to individuals in your class.
CLASS ACTIVITIES
Being a witness for God is like being a witness in court. Make the parallel and discuss the similarities. Then have one of the students be the “witness.” Have the rest of the class direct questions to him concerning salvation. Remember, a witness testifies and gives evidence.
Show your students a small mirror. Talk about how a mirror reflects light. It is not the light or the source of light, but if it is held just right it can reflect the light into dark corners where the light doesn’t shine. Remind your students that, as Christians, they are a reflection of Christ—the Source of Light in this dark world. If they will reflect Christ to others, perhaps those people will come to love Him too.
Light trick birthday candles. (Many grocery stores have them.) Bring out that God’s Light, which Paul and Silas shared with others, continued to shine brightly even though some people tried to “put it out.”
Ask the students to tell of something very important to them that was lost. (Be prepared with an incident of your own.) Some may have stories of things that were eventually found, some that were never found. Maybe someone will have an experience of being lost. Explain to the students that everyone apart from God is lost. Light helps reveal lost things, and we are to be “Lights.” Every soul is valuable and worth seeking for.
Invite someone to your class who can tell about a personal experience of being lost. Perhaps, even his life was in danger. Was he ready to die? Did he know about Jesus? Everyone who dies without knowing Jesus, is lost eternally. How vital it is that we reach everyone we can.
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