The Work of Witnessing
The Work of Witnessing: Putting On Your Work Boots for the Kingdom
There's a powerful truth that often gets buried beneath the comfort of our Sunday routines: the church isn't meant to be a fortress where we wait for people to find us. It's meant to be a launching pad from which we actively pursue those who are lost.
Think about that for a moment. When was the last time you intentionally reached out to someone far from God?
The Harvest Is Plentiful, But the Workers Are Few
Jesus painted a vivid picture in Matthew 9:37-38 when He looked at the crowds with compassion and said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Notice what Jesus didn't say. He didn't tell us to pray for the harvest—the lost people are already there, ready and waiting. Instead, He told us to pray for workers. The problem isn't the availability of people who need Jesus; it's the shortage of Christians willing to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work of reaching them.
Imagine a farmer standing in a field of ripe corn, ready to be picked, but his combine is broken. That's the modern church when believers aren't actively witnessing. The harvest is there. The need is urgent. But the machinery—us—isn't functioning as it should.
Scripture Commands Us to Speak
Throughout Scripture, we see a consistent call to action:
Psalm 96:2-3 declares: "Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples."
Day after day. Not once a week. Not when it's convenient. Not when we feel particularly spiritual. Every single day, we're called to proclaim His salvation.
Psalm 107:2 puts it even more directly: "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." If you've been saved, transformed, and redeemed by the blood of Jesus, then say so! Tell people what God has done in your life.
1 Peter 3:15 reminds us: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
The key word here is "prepared." Preparation takes work. It requires intentionality. You can't just wing it and expect to effectively communicate the life-changing message of the gospel.
The Power of Invitation
One of the simplest yet most effective forms of witnessing is invitation. When you invite someone to a church where the gospel is preached and people are given the opportunity to be saved, you're participating in the work of witnessing.
Think about the ripple effect: someone invites a friend to church. That friend hears the gospel, accepts Christ, and begins inviting others. Before you know it, lives are being transformed because someone had the courage to say, "Would you like to come to church with me this Sunday?"
Don't underestimate this simple act. Some of the most faithful church members today started their journey because someone cared enough to invite them.
The Story of Zacchaeus: Jesus Actively Pursued
In Luke 19:1-10, we encounter Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector who climbed a tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. When Jesus reached that spot, He looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."
Notice Jesus didn't wait for Zacchaeus to come to Him. He actively pursued this man whom society had rejected. And the result? Zacchaeus's life was completely transformed. He declared, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
That's what happens when Jesus saves someone—they change. Their actions change. Their priorities shift.
Jesus concluded this encounter by saying, "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." That's His mission statement. He came to actively pursue lost people. If we're to be Christ-like, shouldn't we do the same?
Friendship Evangelism: Meeting People Where They Are
One of the most natural ways to witness is through friendship evangelism—building genuine relationships with people, listening to their stories, and then sharing your own story of what Jesus has done in your life.
This isn't about cold-calling strangers with a rehearsed gospel presentation (though God can use that too). It's about being authentically present in people's lives, showing them the love of Christ through your actions, and being ready to explain the hope within you when they ask.
When you live differently—when you have peace in the midst of chaos, joy despite circumstances, and love for people who are hard to love—people notice. They start asking questions. And that's your opportunity to say, "Let me tell you about Jesus."
What If You're Wrong?
There's a powerful conversation worth considering. Imagine someone challenges your faith by asking, "What if you're wrong about all this Jesus stuff?"
Here's a thoughtful response: "Let's say I am wrong. I'm still happy. I have joy. I have peace. I've been good to my family. I genuinely enjoy my life and the community I'm part of."
Then turn the question back: "But what if you're wrong? Do you have peace? Do you have joy? Are your relationships thriving?"
The reality is that even from a purely pragmatic standpoint, following Jesus leads to a better life. But we know it's so much more than that—it's about eternal destiny, about being reconciled with our Creator, about experiencing abundant life now and forever.
Overcoming Our Excuses
We're good at making excuses:
As 2 Timothy 4:2 instructs: "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."
In season and out of season. When you feel like it and when you don't. When it's convenient and when it's costly.
The Joy of Seeing Lives Transformed
There's no greater feeling than being part of someone's salvation story. You didn't save them—only Jesus does that—but He used you. He used your invitation, your testimony, your friendship to draw that person to Himself.
When someone says, "You led me to Jesus," what they really mean is, "God used you to point me to the Savior." That's the privilege and responsibility of every believer.
Put On Your Work Boots
Our culture has a problem with work. Too many people want results without effort, harvest without labor, growth without sacrifice. But the kingdom of God doesn't work that way.
Witnessing is work. It requires preparation, intentionality, courage, and perseverance. It means putting on your work boots, rolling up your sleeves, and getting your hands dirty in the messiness of people's lives.
It means showing up consistently, loving people who might not love you back, sharing truth that might be rejected, and trusting God with the results.
The Harvest Is Waiting
Here's the encouraging truth: the harvest is plentiful. There are more people outside the church than inside it. There's no shortage of people who need Jesus. The question is whether we'll be the workers who go into the field.
Will you be someone who actively pursues lost people? Will you invite that coworker, that neighbor, that family member who doesn't know Jesus? Will you be prepared to give an answer for the hope within you?
The world is harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. They need what you have. They need the peace, the joy, the hope, the salvation that only Jesus provides.
Don't wait for them to come to you. Go to them. That's the work of witnessing, and it's the calling of every believer.
The harvest is plentiful. The workers are few. Will you answer the call?
There's a powerful truth that often gets buried beneath the comfort of our Sunday routines: the church isn't meant to be a fortress where we wait for people to find us. It's meant to be a launching pad from which we actively pursue those who are lost.
Think about that for a moment. When was the last time you intentionally reached out to someone far from God?
The Harvest Is Plentiful, But the Workers Are Few
Jesus painted a vivid picture in Matthew 9:37-38 when He looked at the crowds with compassion and said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Notice what Jesus didn't say. He didn't tell us to pray for the harvest—the lost people are already there, ready and waiting. Instead, He told us to pray for workers. The problem isn't the availability of people who need Jesus; it's the shortage of Christians willing to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work of reaching them.
Imagine a farmer standing in a field of ripe corn, ready to be picked, but his combine is broken. That's the modern church when believers aren't actively witnessing. The harvest is there. The need is urgent. But the machinery—us—isn't functioning as it should.
Scripture Commands Us to Speak
Throughout Scripture, we see a consistent call to action:
Psalm 96:2-3 declares: "Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples."
Day after day. Not once a week. Not when it's convenient. Not when we feel particularly spiritual. Every single day, we're called to proclaim His salvation.
Psalm 107:2 puts it even more directly: "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." If you've been saved, transformed, and redeemed by the blood of Jesus, then say so! Tell people what God has done in your life.
1 Peter 3:15 reminds us: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
The key word here is "prepared." Preparation takes work. It requires intentionality. You can't just wing it and expect to effectively communicate the life-changing message of the gospel.
The Power of Invitation
One of the simplest yet most effective forms of witnessing is invitation. When you invite someone to a church where the gospel is preached and people are given the opportunity to be saved, you're participating in the work of witnessing.
Think about the ripple effect: someone invites a friend to church. That friend hears the gospel, accepts Christ, and begins inviting others. Before you know it, lives are being transformed because someone had the courage to say, "Would you like to come to church with me this Sunday?"
Don't underestimate this simple act. Some of the most faithful church members today started their journey because someone cared enough to invite them.
The Story of Zacchaeus: Jesus Actively Pursued
In Luke 19:1-10, we encounter Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector who climbed a tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. When Jesus reached that spot, He looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."
Notice Jesus didn't wait for Zacchaeus to come to Him. He actively pursued this man whom society had rejected. And the result? Zacchaeus's life was completely transformed. He declared, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
That's what happens when Jesus saves someone—they change. Their actions change. Their priorities shift.
Jesus concluded this encounter by saying, "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." That's His mission statement. He came to actively pursue lost people. If we're to be Christ-like, shouldn't we do the same?
Friendship Evangelism: Meeting People Where They Are
One of the most natural ways to witness is through friendship evangelism—building genuine relationships with people, listening to their stories, and then sharing your own story of what Jesus has done in your life.
This isn't about cold-calling strangers with a rehearsed gospel presentation (though God can use that too). It's about being authentically present in people's lives, showing them the love of Christ through your actions, and being ready to explain the hope within you when they ask.
When you live differently—when you have peace in the midst of chaos, joy despite circumstances, and love for people who are hard to love—people notice. They start asking questions. And that's your opportunity to say, "Let me tell you about Jesus."
What If You're Wrong?
There's a powerful conversation worth considering. Imagine someone challenges your faith by asking, "What if you're wrong about all this Jesus stuff?"
Here's a thoughtful response: "Let's say I am wrong. I'm still happy. I have joy. I have peace. I've been good to my family. I genuinely enjoy my life and the community I'm part of."
Then turn the question back: "But what if you're wrong? Do you have peace? Do you have joy? Are your relationships thriving?"
The reality is that even from a purely pragmatic standpoint, following Jesus leads to a better life. But we know it's so much more than that—it's about eternal destiny, about being reconciled with our Creator, about experiencing abundant life now and forever.
Overcoming Our Excuses
We're good at making excuses:
- "I don't want to bother anyone."
- "I might come across as offensive."
- "I'm not good with words."
- "I'm too busy."
As 2 Timothy 4:2 instructs: "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."
In season and out of season. When you feel like it and when you don't. When it's convenient and when it's costly.
The Joy of Seeing Lives Transformed
There's no greater feeling than being part of someone's salvation story. You didn't save them—only Jesus does that—but He used you. He used your invitation, your testimony, your friendship to draw that person to Himself.
When someone says, "You led me to Jesus," what they really mean is, "God used you to point me to the Savior." That's the privilege and responsibility of every believer.
Put On Your Work Boots
Our culture has a problem with work. Too many people want results without effort, harvest without labor, growth without sacrifice. But the kingdom of God doesn't work that way.
Witnessing is work. It requires preparation, intentionality, courage, and perseverance. It means putting on your work boots, rolling up your sleeves, and getting your hands dirty in the messiness of people's lives.
It means showing up consistently, loving people who might not love you back, sharing truth that might be rejected, and trusting God with the results.
The Harvest Is Waiting
Here's the encouraging truth: the harvest is plentiful. There are more people outside the church than inside it. There's no shortage of people who need Jesus. The question is whether we'll be the workers who go into the field.
Will you be someone who actively pursues lost people? Will you invite that coworker, that neighbor, that family member who doesn't know Jesus? Will you be prepared to give an answer for the hope within you?
The world is harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. They need what you have. They need the peace, the joy, the hope, the salvation that only Jesus provides.
Don't wait for them to come to you. Go to them. That's the work of witnessing, and it's the calling of every believer.
The harvest is plentiful. The workers are few. Will you answer the call?
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