Disciples Path—How to Be a Witness for Jesus

The following is an excerpt from “The Mission,” Book 6 of Disciples Path, a series of resources published by Lifeway. You can check out other resources in this curriculum series at lifeway.com/disciplespath.

“Here I come to save the day!” Do you remember the old Mighty Mouse cartoons? The main character was an animated, anthropomorphic mouse in a suit and cape. He had a wide range of powers—flight, super strength, x-ray vision, telekinesis, and more—all of which he used to free victim after victim from the clutches of evil foes.

Each time Mighty Mouse achieved victory over his foe, an unseen audience would erupt in loud applause as orchestral music played in the background. Then the narrator would say: “What a mouse. What a mouse!”

Most people enjoy hero stories. Whether real or imagined, we appreciate the thought of someone powerful coming to the rescue of those in need. We’re also grateful for the compassion, or even the sense of duty, that would compel one person to help another. Perhaps what we like best about hero stories, however, is the way rescue always seems to occur just in the nick of time. Can you picture that moment in your mind? The situation is grim. The forces of evil are on the cusp of accomplishing their goals, and the very lives of innocent people are about to be thrown away.

Then, right at the moment when the last of our hope slips away, we hear it: “Here I come to save the day!” Salvation has come.

As followers of Christ, we know salvation has come in the form of Jesus, our Savior. We also know we have a responsibility to serve as witnesses to the reality of that salvation—to share the good news with others.

That being the case, here are a few ideas to begin preparing yourself for life as a witness to God’s plan of salvation.

1. Memorize and meditate on the Scriptures. Apart from knowing the Savior ourselves, there is little else that helps our confidence as witnesses more than knowing God’s Word. Memorize a few verses and passages that explain what salvation is and why we need it. This discipline helps us be ready to share the truth whenever or wherever an opportunity presents itself.

If you’re new to Bible memorization, the following Scripture passages are a great place to start:

2. Move toward unsaved people. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, which means He sought to encounter them. He looked for ways to engage with them. Likewise, we should look for opportunities to develop relationships with unsaved people. Grocery store clerks, neighbors, homeless people, barbers, coworkers, coaches—all who are not yet following Christ—these make up our mission field. Consider ways you can get to know these individuals in your sphere of influence in order to impact their spiritual condition.

As you identify people who need to experience Jesus as their salvation, be proactive in deepening those relationships. Pursue them with love, friendship, and patience. Knowing the lost people in your community will help you understand how to share with them in a way that intersects with their lives.

3. Make prayer for lost people a priority. When we pray for those who need salvation, we stand as intercessors between God and them, seeking to bring God closer to them and them closer to God. As we plead for God’s intervention in the lives of lost people, He begins to work in their hearts. Not only that, He also begins to sensitize our hearts to the point where we share His burden for them.

No one wants the lost to be saved more than God. By seeking Him, He also opens our eyes to opportunities to share with them.

4. Prepare your personal testimony. The story of what Christ has done for you personally is one of the greatest tools you have for leading others to an awareness of the Lord’s calling on their lives. When people see and hear you, they encounter living proof of the power of Christ to save a soul and transform a life.

It’s important that you’re able to share your testimony in a concise, straight-to-the-point manner. Perhaps the simplest way to be sure that what you share is clear and concise is to write it out. Doing

so helps make a long story short. And committing your testimony to memory helps you be able to share it whenever or wherever an opportunity arises.