MU-102: Seven Styles of Faith-sharing

Personal Witnessing No Person or situation is the same. Seven Styles of Faith-sharing prepares you for personal witnessing to unique people in diverse settings.

Personal Witnessing Requires: Reliance on the Holy Spirit Flexibility

7 Styles of Witnessing 1. Lifestyle – Prompting questions by the way you live 2. Relational – Moments within trusting relationships 3. Testimonial – Telling your story 4. Situational – Acknowledging a unique situation

7 Styles of Witnessing 5. Servant – Serving the needs of another 6. Invitational – Inviting others into faith environments 7. Witnessing Tools – Tangible conversation starters

LIFESTYLE WITNESSING causes others to ask questions.

Lifestyle Witnessing It’s more than words: “Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3

Lifestyle Witnessing Your life impacts those around you. It may cause or eliminate connection. trust. curiosity. questions. How do you want to impact them?

Lifestyle Witnessing When have you seen Christ reflected through the life of another?

RELATIONAL WITNESSING takes place in trusting relationships.

Relational Witnessing Remember your ABC’s. People want to feel Accepted. People want to Belong. People want to know you Care. Remember the old adage: “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”

Relational Witnessing Genuine conversation occurs within safety. You must gain permission to share. Show genuine care. Allow time. Actively listen. Think before you speak. Be consistent.

Relational Witnessing Provide an abundance of love. Don’t try to change them; only the Holy Spirit can. Meet them where they’re at… God does! Find points of connection. It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

TESTIMONIAL WITNESSING takes place when you share your story.

Testimonial Witnessing Open to Acts 26. Read Paul’s testimony. What do you learn from Paul’s testimony?

Your Testimony Apply Paul’s strategies. Be bold, yet respectful. Ask them to just consider that God is real. Share who you were before transformation. Give specifics: – When were you transformed? – How did you come to understand that God is real?

SITUATIONAL WITNESSING includes acknowledging a unique situation.

Situational Witnessing Situational Opportunities include pregnancy or birth. engagement or wedding. divorce. retirement. sickness. death. In each unique scenario, how could you build a bridge to faith?

Situational Witnessing Select a situation from the list. How could we witness in this given situation?

SERVANT WITNESSING is serving the needs of another.

Servant Witnessing Serve others as Christ did. This can occur one-on-one. church to community. We are the hands and feet of Christ.

Servant Witnessing Love through action. Read 1 John 3:18 Serve their physical needs first. Read James 2:14-17 and Romans 12:13 Give God the credit. Read Ephesians 2:10

INVITATIONAL WITNESSING is inviting seekers to faith-based events.

Invite Them “What are you doing tomorrow?” “Would you like to come to church with us?” There are three typical responses. All equal success. – “Yes.” – Questions prompted about your church and faith = faith-sharing conversation. – “No” + explanation = you know where they stand. Keep the invitation open.

Invitational Witnessing If they say “Yes,” pick them up. show them around. introduce them. sit together – not in the front. include fellowship. debrief – ask them what they thought.

WITNESSING TOOLS are tangible faith-conversation starters.

Witnessing Tools Web sites Cards Booklets Cards/tracts Apps

Witnessing Tools Cross necklace Wrist bracelets T-shirts Tattoos Music Books

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