FIND A WAY To Witness

1 Corinthians 9:22 (KJV)

To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

The Apostle Paul is an intriguing person in a lot of ways.

He probably would not be a very popular preacher if he were around today.

Of course, he wasn’t too popular in his own day either. They eventually killed him!

Paul is an interesting person:

He was highly educated and demonstrated that education is books like Romans.

On the other hand he could be very simple and displayed that simplicity in books like Philippians.

Paul was a Jew, and never lost his desire to see his kindred saved

On the other hand, he was the Apostle to the Gentiles, and spared no resources to plant churches in “the regions beyond.”

Paul could be confrontational, and tell the church in Corinth to deliver a sinning member to Satan for the destruction of the flesh

On the other hand he could be very gentle as he reminded the church in Thessalonica how he nursed them and cherished them as a mother would her children.

Paul took some strong stands, as he did with Peter when he left a dinner with some Gentiles because of group of Jews saw him.

On the other hand he could be understanding, as he was when he counseled Timothy to be circumcised not because he had to be but to avoid a stumblingblock to the Jews in the region

Paul knew that idols were nothing and taught people that it was perfectly acceptable to eat meat that had been sacrificed to those idols.

On the other hand he challenged them that if the person serving the meal said that the meat was eaten in honor of the idol, you should turn it away.

Paul said that all things were lawful for him. The fact is that we Christians can do a lot of things that religious people think are wrong to do.

On the other hand Paul said that all things were not expedient. So that, even though he could do them, he would not do them for testimony’s sake

I want to ask you to consider with me Paul’s statement, “I am made all things to all men, that I might be all means save some.”

Let’s just get it out of the way from the get go:

• Paul did not do anything that was unethical
• Paul did not do anything that was ungodly
• Paul did not do anything that was illegitimate
• Paul did not do anything that was profane
• Paul did not do anything that was questionable
• Paul did not do anything that was worldly

in order to win people.

The lesson is that Paul found a way, some way, any way that was 

• Godly
• Ethical and
• Legitimate

To win somebody to Jesus Christ.

I got to thinking about and he wasn’t the only one.

I found all sorts of ways all sorts of people found to witness to all sorts of others in the Bible.

I. PHILIP FOUND SOMEONE TO HELP HIM BRING THEM TO JESUS

John 12:20-22 (KJV)

And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:

The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

Most people believe these Greeks were Jews who had come to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple, and are here called Greeks because they came from Greek countries.

Paul was a Jew, but Paul was also a Roman.

Anita is a German by blood, but she is from American so she is an American.

These were most likely Jews by blood but they were from one of the Greek nations of the day.

The Bible says they came to Philip.

That’s probably because the name Philip is Greek – they had some common ground.

When you are witnessing, look for common ground. 

• Capitalize on it.
• Let those things that you have in common bring them to come to you about the gospel.

I heard the story about a guy who had been particularly effective in bringing people to church.

There were all these people who grew up in church but had gotten away from it, and now they were coming to church again.

Someone asked the pastor what his strategy was.

He pointed to a man in blue jeans and a cowboy hat sitting in the back of the room. The pastor said, “That’s our secret. He’s the reason they are all in church.”

So this visitor asked the cowboy, “How do you do it?”

He said, “I have a truck. All these guys have trucks too. We all wash out trucks at the same place. I talk trucks to them every time I see them. I watch for them to have a problem, and we all have a problem sooner or later. That’s when I tell them how the Lord can help their problem.”

It’s just a matter of using what you have in common to build a bond that you can then use to bring them to the Lord.

Philip told Andrew

Some people say that’s because Philip was a good soul winner so he found someone who was.

That might be true

But it might be that there were more of them than Philip could manage on his own.

There is no shame in getting some help to get some people to Jesus.

Andrew and Philip told Jesus about them together.

II. PETER PREACHED TO A CROWD ON PENTECOST

Acts 2:14 (KJV)

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

I confess that not everyone is going to feel like jumping in on doing this.

But it’s not this was planned by Peter either.

There he was, praying with the other Christians.

• They had all been assembled
• They has all been in one place and
• They had all been with one accord

When God did the miraculous. People started talking and asking questions and Peter saw an opportunity.

• Not everyone is called to do it
• Not everyone is gifted to do it

But don’t look at it like that.

See this as Peter, recognizing an opportunity and taking it.

Maybe the door that God opens for you is not with thousands of people.

• Maybe it is with a family member or a friend
• Maybe it is someone who has a need that you can meet
• Maybe it is someone who has a question you have the answer to

And you use that opportunity to be a witness for Christ.

III. PETER AND JOHN HELPED A GUY WHO WAS CRIPPLED 

Acts 3:1-7 (KJV)

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 

And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

The key to this account was that they didn’t have to give the guy anything they didn’t have.

They just gave him Jesus.

If you are saved you can give that very same thing.

It might be that the person thinks he or she needs something completely different than what you have to give.

This guy thought he needed money.

He got something so much different and way better!

III. PHILIP FOUND A GUY READING THE BIBLE

Acts 8:26-35 (KJV)

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

Striking up conversations with a person who is reading the Bible can be a pretty intense thing.

• If he turns out to be in a cult
• If he turns out to be really outspoken
• If he turns out to be wrong and “proud of it”

That can be an interesting ride.

But he might just be a guy looking for some answers.

What if all you needed to do it tell him where to read the plan of salvation?

IV. BARNABAS AND SAUL TRAVELLED THE WORLD

Acts 13:2-4 (KJV)

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

• They went together
• They went with teams
• They went back to the same places more than once

They witnessed

• At riversides
• In Synagogues
• At the marketplaces
• At local schools
• Onboard ships
• From jail cells

They witnessed to

• Demon possessed girls
• People who were sick and lame
• Nobility and city leaders
• Rulers of synagogues
• Business people
• Philosophers

• They witnessed in the day time
• They witnessed at night time

• They witnessed to groups of people
• They witnessed in homes

They found someone everywhere that they went and spoke to them about the Lord.

• They witnessed by speaking
• They witnessed by writing
• They witnessed by teaching
• They witnessed while working

The thing is that these first century Christians found a way to be a witness so that they could see some be saved.

That leads me to say this

V. EACH OF US NEEDS TO FIND A WAY

To be a witness and to see some saved.

The good news is that there are so many more ways to do that today than we could have ever thought of even twenty years ago.

• You can do that by passing out tracts
• You can do that by making phone calls
• You can do that by bringing them to church with you in your car
• You can do that by writing a blog
• You can do that through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Youtube, instagram, 

• You can do that by teaching a Sunday school class
• You can do that by helping on a bus route

Honestly, for someone it could be just as simple as sharing a good message on whatever your favorite social media is.

I know a lot of people still think social media is a bad thing

I think everyone complains that people have their faces stuck in their cell phones instead of talking face to face now.

But it’s a fact that almost everybody is on one form of social media or another.

What’s the difference between sharing the gospel on Facebook or going to a nearby apartment complex?

In both cases: 

• You are going to see things you wish you hadn’t seen and
• You are going to hear things you wish you hadn’t heard

But in both cases you are going to find people to witness to you wouldn’t have otherwise.

I am in complete agreement that Christians have no business going on some social network and spilling all their problems.

I see no value in joining in to an Internet gossip session or contributing to a complaint post.

But to purposefully, methodically and conscientiously go where people are to say what people need to hear – that’s what Christians are supposed to be all about!

All you would have to do to begin with is

• Watch for my posts of Bible devotions and short sermon clips
• Watch them or read them
• Make an appropriate comment so that it is obvious you really did read or watch it and then
• Click Share 

• You don’t have to read someone else’s drama post
• You don’t have to comment on someone else’s gossip post

All you have to do is 

• Focus on something positive, 
• Say something positive about it and 
• Share it

If you don’t want to do that, that’s fine. Just find some way to be a witness.

Frankly, too many people who complain about social media wouldn’t go witness at the nearby apartment complex either.

And let me say something about teaching a Sunday school class.

That’s an excellent way to be a witness for the Lord, but 

• Not if you show up to teach the class ten minutes after the class was supposed to start and
• Not if you think that teaching the class means just teaching the lesson

A good Sunday school teacher ought to be looking for people the age of their Sunday school class to invite to come to church and be in their class.

Remember the common ground thing we spoke about a few minutes ago.

If you are teaching a 10 year old boys class and you see a family with a 10 year old boy – that’s an excellent opportunity to introduce yourself, invite them to church and tell them that you teach a class for their son’s age.

Go places where families with 10 year old boys go and get to know them. Be their friend and trust God to open a door for you to talk to them.

What I am telling you tonight is that no one gets saved without someone saying with Paul, “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

• Find a way to be a witness.
• Find a way to get the message of Christ out

Find a way.

You won’t see everyone saved, but you will see some saved.

And you will surely see more saved than if you don’t try to find a way.