What’s a Witness?

a.Definition: “give testimony, proof, state in evidence”

b.Flows out of experience with the Lord which impacts our life

i.“Jesus...said, ‘Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’” (Mk 5:19)

2.  What’s a Witness?

a.“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Ac 4:13)

3.  Witnessing Starts at Home

a.“Go home to your family and tell them...” (Mk 5:19)

b.“...you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Ac 1:8)

4.  Powered by the Holy Spirit and Prayer

a.“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses...” (Ac 1:8)

b.“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Ac 4:31)

5.  Witnessing takes a Team Effort

a.“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.” (Lu 10:1; cf Mk 6:7 -Twelve sent in pairs)

b.“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia...” (Ac 13:2-4)

6.  Accompanied by Practical Help & Caring

a.“They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” (Mr 6:12-13)

b.“...our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake...we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well...”

7.  Accompanied by Practical Help & Caring

a.“because you had become so dear to us...you remember...our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.” (1Th 1:5; 2:7-9)

b.“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Ac 20:35)