6. At this point, the witness may share his or her own experiences with Christ—how Christ came into his or her life and what His presence means.
7. This sharing should lead into the precise moment for the witness to explain God's plan of salvation (see "Steps to Peace with God," page 11). The facts of the Gospel must be applied in such a way that they converge at the point of the individual's need. Sin will have to be squarely faced, Christ's atoning death for sin accepted as the only way to God, and repentance and faith expressed for a person to be born again.
8. Advise the inquirer always to be aiming for a decision—one that is comprehensive, intelligent, and definite. The witness should invite the person, lovingly but firmly, to make a decision based on the presented facts. The greatest service a Christian may render to another human being is to help the person understand the all-important step of surrendering his or her life to Christ.
9. Encourage the inquirer to seal the decision with prayer. If the prospect is sufficiently knowledgeable, suggest offering his or her own prayer of commitment. If not, the witness could guide him or her in a prayer.
10. Following this, the witness should review with the prospect what has actually transpired in order to confirm the decision (see page 13).
10. Following this, the witness should review with the prospect what has actually transpired in order to confirm the decision (see page 13).
11. The ultimate goal in witnessing and winning people to faith in Christ is that they, themselves, may also become effective, reproducing witnesses. In order for this to develop, it will be necessary to continue to dedicate time to the new believer, instructing on the importance of Bible reading and study, explaining the value and practice of prayer, and introducing him or her to committed Christians for fellowship, challenge, and encouragement.
11. The ultimate goal in witnessing and winning people to faith in Christ is that they, themselves, may also become effective, reproducing witnesses. In order for this to develop, it will be necessary to continue to dedicate time to the new believer, instructing on the importance of Bible reading and study, explaining the value and practice of prayer, and introducing him or her to committed Christians for fellowship, challenge, and encouragement.
Additional Suggestions for Those Desiring to Witness for Christ
1. Identify with a church where the Bible is preached and taught and where emphasis is placed on personal witness and soul winning.
2. Try to cultivate friendships with other witnessing Christians in order to learn from them: Observe, then do. Evangelism Explosion teaches in its seminars that evangelism is better caught than taught.
3. Enroll in any courses on personal evangelism that are available through your own or another church.
4. Read and study books on Scripture memory, personal evangelism, and witnessing. A few that are available are: