witnessing-in-the-marketplace-dan-ausburger · pdf file11/4/2010 · some initial...

Witnessing in the Marketplace

by Dan Augsburger4/11/2010

IntroductionDan’s Background


Our Purpose


Our Purpose

Some Initial Discussion


Our Purpose


An Overview

• More than Sabbath afternoon activity!

• Meant to be lifestyle.

IntroductionInitial Contact (Where?)

Initial Conversation (What about?)

Tract Left (What will they read?)

Second Conversation

Invite to Activity (Next step)

Invite to Meetings


Our Purpose


An Overview

Learning Together

Learning Together

• Our Special Calling

• The Witnessing Lifestyle

• The Soul-Winner’s Essential Tools

• The Witnessing Funnel

• Redemptive Conversations

• Friendship Activities

• Resources & Emerging Witness Frontiers

Learning Together

• Redemptive Conversations

1. Confronting Our Fears

2. Principle of Honest Commendation

3. Common Ground

4. Continuing Contact

5. Specific Examples

Learning Together

• Friendship Activities

1. Seeker-Friendly Activities

2. Background Activities

3. Continuing Contact

4. Prayer and Unity

5. Specific Examples

A Special Calling

• “Follow Me, I will make you fishers of men.” Matt. 4:18-21

• “The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow Me.’” John 1:43

• “After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, ... And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’” Luke 5:27

A Special Calling

• “... and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” Matt. 4:22

• “Philip found Nathanael.... And Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” John 1:45,46

• “So (Matthew) left all, rose up, and followed Him.” Luke 5:28

For A Special Work

• “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.” Matt. 10:1

• “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Matt. 10:8,9

To A Particular People

• “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matt. 10: 5,6

An Expanded Special Calling for Our Day

• “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” Matt. 28:19,20

With Equipping For An Expanding Witness

• “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts. 1:8

Soul-Winning Our Great Joy

“I care not where I go, nor what hardships I endure, if I can only see souls saved. All I think of by day and dream of by night is the conversion of men.” David Brainard (1718-1747) - Missionary to the American Indians


“The longing of my heart would be to go around the world once before I die and preach one gospel invitation in the ear of every creature.” William Chalmers Burns (1815-1868) - Scottish Revivalist


“Never did I know perfect, overflowing, unutterable happiness of the purest and most ennobling order, till I first heard of one who had sought and found a Savior through my means. I recollect the thrill of joy which went through me! No young mother ever rejoiced so much over her firstborn child.” Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) - English Preacher

A Variety of Ways of Witnessing

1. Redemptive Conversations.

2. Sharing Literature, MP3s, DVDs.

3. Facilitating Prayer or Other Groups

4. Invites to Home

5. Invites to Church Meetings/Evangelism.

Mostly Individual Work to Individuals!

“Individual soul-winning is the greatest work that God calls men to do.... You cannot reach a thousand unless you can reach one.... Leading a single soul to Christ is rarely accomplished by a general or a pulpit appeal. ... General preaching has its place; but ... the harvest must be hand-picked.” Clay Trumbull (1830-1903), Taking Men Alive, pp. 31-33.


1. It was Christ’s preferred method.

2. It was usually the disciples’ method.

“Winning one soul at a time usually results in the winning of (many) souls in the process of time. but addressing a multitude of souls, and urging them all to trust and serve Christ, may not be the means of winning even one soul to Christ, now or at any time.” Ibid., p. 38


It is the hardest thing God asks us to do.

“It requires more faith and courage to say two words face to face with one sinner, than from the pulpit to rebuke two or three thousand persons, ready to listen to everything , on condition of forgetting all.” Bossuet

“A man who is eloquent before a large gathering can be dumb before an individual.”

Satan’s Favorite Argument

“Just now isn’t a good time to speak on the subject. You will harm the cause you love if you introduce the theme of themes right now!” Trumbull, p. 45

Does It Get Easy?“... I find it as difficult to speak about it at the end of these years as at the beginning. Never to this present day can I speak to a single soul...without being reminded by Satan that I am in danger of harming the cause by introducing the subject now.” Trumbull, pp. 44,45.

Develop an Intentional Witnessing Lifestyle1. Be convicted of God’s call to witness.

2. Prepare to be effective witness.

3. Agree to be God’s agent EVERY day.

4. Think through how to reach people for Christ, drawing them into a saving relationship with Christ and other believers and eventually into the church.

Develop an Intentional Witnessing Lifestyle5. Prepare appropriate resources to use in

reaching out to others EVERY day.

6. Schedule a continuum of events ahead of time to invite contacts to.

7. Take time EVERY day to pray and ask God to use you to reach others.

8. Select a specific territory to pray and work for EVERY day.

Develop an Intentional Witnessing Lifestyle9. Pray for EACH person you meet

through the day, asking God to give you the chance to develop a meaningful conversation and relationship with them.

10.Carve out time to spend time with people EVERY day.

• In your personal time.

• In your work time.

Develop an Intentional Witnessing Lifestyle11. Seek challenging situations to improve

your witnessing skills.

• Door-to door-witnessing.

• Street witnessing.

• Via social networks and web sites.

12. Join other soul-winners to seek God’s blessings on your witnessing efforts.

The Soul-Winner’s Essential Resolve

“The resolve I made was, that whenever I was in such intimacy with a soul as to be justified in choosing my subject of conversation, the theme of themes would have prominence!” Trumbull

The Soul-Winner’s Essential Tools

• An unwavering purpose.

• A personal assurance of salvation.

• An adequate knowledge of the Scriptures.

• A habitual prayerful attitude.

• A loving and tactful approach.

• The power of the Holy Spirit—J. O. Sanders, The Divine Art of Soul-Winning, pp. 20-27

The Witnessing FunnelPoints of Contact

Friends of Children Professional Contacts

Clients Recreational Neighbors

Assigned Contacts Internet

Contacts

Various Friendship Activities



Home Care Group Friendship Invites

Church Event or Outing

Bible Studies



Bible Studies

Evangelistic Meetings

Baptism



Bible Studies

Baptism

Friendship Role

Disciple-Oriented Small Group



Bible Studies

Baptism

Active Witness

Redemptive Conversations

Confronting Our Fears

• Overcoming fear of what people will think?

• Overcoming fear of ridicule.

• Overcoming fear of knowing what to say.

• Overcoming fear of feeling unqualified.

• Overcoming fear of doing the wrong thing.


Antidotes to Our Fears

• Approaching positively.

• Approaching on their terms.

• Approaching with honest commendation.


Seeking Common Ground

• Creative responses.

• Use of the Bible.

• Conviction better than argument.

• Other encouragements.

Redemptive ConversationsComebacks to Hard Questions

• “I’m an evolutionist”:

“I don’t have enough faith!”


• “If you knew my dad...”

“How would you feel if I were to go around saying nasty things about you that were not true? Why do you repeat things about God that are not true?”


• “I don’t believe in God.”

“At least not yet!”


• “I don’t believe God exists!”

“We are talking together and you and I know you exist. Right? What if another person told me you don’t exist? Would they be right? Of course not. I know God exists, so it is true whether you believe it or not.!


• “We need to update the Bible.”

“That’s fine, do you want to write it, or do you want me to write the update? I think you will find the Bible is perfect the way it is written.”


• “Jesus was just a good man!”

“He certainly was a good man, but why would a good man also call himself God? If you can answer that question, perhaps I could agree with you.”


Some Responses to Conversations

"IIt was a real pleasure to meet you in our flight back from Sn. Fco. It is very seldom that you find people of faith willing to listen as much as they are willing to share their own thoughts. I really enjoyed our conversation and it got me to think about many aspects of my beliefs....”



"Dan: That flight from Sn. Fco is one of my most memorable conversations in decades. Talking to somebody intelligent and thoughtful with ideas that are different to mine was delightful. I hope we will have a chance to continue that conversation in the future. Bests for you. P.S. Although not a full time vegetarian (I still eat meat once a week) I am using that book of recipes all the time."



"IIt was really good to meet you and talk about different things than a weather;) I wasn't bored with your stories at all, I think it's great you have this ability of telling people about your own experience... So, I wish you all the best in the future, may God guide on your paths! I hope we will meet again on some plane one day;)”



"It was a great deal of thought and questions and have not yet to rewrite, main topic was: "Is there salvation for someone like me?" If you google my name there will be a story, that story has me questioning myself. It effects, in so many realms within, that at times seems complicated to ask for help for I don’t know what i am trying to ask. Respectfully....



"Be my mentor...”

Friendship ActivitiesHome-based Seeker-Friendly Group

• Purpose is developing relationships.

• Requires sufficient time to bond.

• Includes food, seeker-Bible study, prayer.

• Background activity and unity.

• Remain in contact through the week.

Friendship ActivitiesOther Friendship Activities

• Find ways to spend significant time with contacts.

• Include other church members to forge additional relationships.

• Pray for God’s blessings.

• Seek to awaken interest in Bible and Jesus.

Friendship ActivitiesNext Step Activities

• Bible Studies in the home.

• Ongoing invites to church (seminars/social).

• Sharing evangelistic videos; 3ABN $ HOPE.

• Invite to evangelistic meetings.

• Ongoing interest in them; willingness to pray.

Friendship ActivitiesPrayer Activities

• Pray for people.

• Pray with a prayer partner.

• Start a prayer group at work.

• Invite to prayer group in your home.

• Pray with people in homes down the street.

Resources & Emerging Witnessing Frontiers

Literature for Sharing

• Short and Seeker-friendly.

• Relevant and meets present need.

• Obtain contact information for other resources.

• Your personal contact information.

• Get their contact information!!!!!


Other Redemptive Resources

1. Free literature.

2. Indications of God’s presence in business place.

• On cash register tape.

• In signs.

• On stationary.


Other Redemptive Resources

3. Company web site.

• Optimize for traffic.

• Include seeker-friendly thoughts.

• Links to spiritual resources.


Other Activities

• Plan company events for clients that include spiritual component.

• Help plan, fund and promote church events to invite clients and contacts to.

• Invite clients to join you at spiritual events away.

• Provide subscriptions.


Supporting God’s Work Financially

• “The power to earn... is a marvelous trust. Gold has a strange power of transmutation. By the golden finger a man can reach around the whole world.”

• Support the work of missionaries in other places.

Bible Study Tips

• Talk to the person alone if possible.

• Use texts and illustrations sparingly.

• Remain on the topic.

• Don’t be drawn into arguments.

• Be patient; listen to person.

• Press for immediate decision if appropriate.

SuccessOne Method!

“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidance. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.” Ellen White, Ministry of Healing, p. 143

SuccessMuch Prayer

“Only the work accomplished with much prayer, and sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove to have been efficient for good.” Ellen White, Desire of Ages, p. 362.

SuccessIntercession

“The harvest of souls is to be secured only by deep, heart-felt intercession with the Lord of the harvest.” Ellen White, Review and Herald, June 6, 1888.

SuccessSurrender

“No one can be a successful soul winner till he himself has settled the question of surrender to God. We are individually to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. To each one of us He must become wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. ...

SuccessSurrender

... When our faith lays hold upon Christ as our personal Saviour, we shall place Him before others in a new light. And when the people behold Christ as He is, they will not wrangle over doctrines; they will flee to Him for pardon, purity, and eternal life.” Ellen White, Counsels to Ministers, p. 49.

SuccessOur Personal Testimony

“As witnesses for Christ, we are to tell what we know, what we ourselves have seen and heard and felt. If we have been following Jesus step by step, we shall have something right to the point to tell concerning the way in which He has led us. We can tell how we have known of the grace of Christ. This is the witness for which our Lord calls, and for want of which the world is perishing.” Desire of Ages, p. 340

SuccessTactfully Sharing Distinctive Truths

“We are now living in the last days, when the truth must be spoken, when in reproof and warning it must be given to the world, irrespective of consequences. If there are some who will become offended and turn from the truth, we must bear in mind that there were those who did the same in Christ's day.” Ellen White, Manuscript Releases, Vol. 7, p. 180.

SuccessChrist Living in Us

• “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13

• “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:20

• “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Eph. 6:10


“Very lovingly the Lord seemed to make it plain to me that night, through my tears of bitterness: 'You see, for seven years, with utmost sincerity, you have been trying to live for Me, on My behalf, the life that I have been waiting for seven years to live through you. I have been there the whole time.”


“Now supposing I am your life, and you begin to accept it as a fact, then I am your strength! … I am the One to whom it is perfectly natural to go out and win souls; and I know precisely where to go to find them. Why don't you begin to reckon upon Me and say 'Thank you.’” Ian Thomas, from They Found the Secret.

More Information

• rightlytrained.org• path2prayer.com

witnessing-in-the-marketplace-dan-ausburger · pdf file11/4/2010 · some initial...

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