Witnessing: 3 Ways to Witness

Up to this point I have been somewhat vague in witnessing. There is a reason for that. It has been my intent to express the importance of witnessing in our daily lives. The time has come to begin dialing in on how to witness specifically to others. But before I can do that I need to take at least one more step and explain the ways to witness to others. It is this understanding that will unlock the opportunities to witness and help you to recognize those opportunities when they present themselves.

First, there is personal evangelism or a one to one witness. This method of witnessing if often referred to as “hook and line fishing” and is perhaps the most efficient method of witnessing. In this method you simply share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with someone on a one to one basis. You become a “fisher of men” so to speak. To do so effectively you must be faithful in prayer and Bible Study as well as having been discipled in ways and methods to do so. “Door to door” witnessing is advocated and practiced but seldom done. This is when you get out in your neighborhood and knock on doors to witness to others. One of the most successful “door to door” witnesses was the late Dr. Jerry Falwell when he was establishing Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. He made it a practice to knock on one hundred doors each day to witness to people and invite them, personally, to attend church. “Opportunity witnessing” is witnessing to others during our daily activities of life as opportunities present themselves. Of course, to perform this type of witnessing you must be able to discern those opportunities when they are presented. How do you do that? You pray for discernment of opportunity and for opportunities to be brought to you. You must know your Bible that you can give proper instruction during these opportunities present themselves. So, you see, witnessing is closely tied to prayer and Bible Study.

Secondly, there is mass evangelism. This is a one to many experience. This is often times referred to as “net fishing” as opposed to “hook and line” fishing. The problem herein is that many “bad fish” are netted with many “good fish”. However, it at this time that the “bad fish” can benefit from the one on one witness described above and be converted with time, love, and careful attention. Remember, they have been caught in a “cast net” and have not been “hooked” as described earlier. It should be noted that not all these people will “bite” or receive the Gospel, or perhaps not yet. Again, prayer is a key function on behalf of these people. If they do not accept I continue praying for them. Perhaps they will someday fall under conviction and give their lives to Christ.

Lastly, there is “industrial evangelism” where people that we teach to use personal evangelism or mass evangelism to reach others so that they may come to their salvation. As you can see, discipleship plays a major portion in witnessing as well.

All the elements of “Daily Living” are tightly intertwined. There is hardly anyway that one element can escape the need for and use of the other three elements. Prayer, witnessing, Bible Study, and discipleship are all interrelated. It is most difficult, if not impossible, to merely dabble in one without exploring all the elements in depth during our daily Christian walk.

Next time I will discuss the opportunities for witnessing to clarify that issue for you. Until then, God Bless!

In His Grip,

Lonnie Richardson

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