SHARE JESUS WITHOUT FEAR STUDENTS REACHING STUDENTS William Fay & David Bennett LifeWay Press Nashville, Tennessee
1998 LifeWay Press Reprinted 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, May 2014 No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing by the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to LifeWay Press, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0174. ISBN 978-0-7673-3820-2 Item Number 001052535 Dewey Decimal Classification Number: 269.2 Subject Heading: EVANGELISTIC WORK\WITNESSING This book has been adapted from the adult edition of Share Jesus Without Fear by William Fay and Ralph Hodge. Printed in the United States of America Student Ministry Publishing LifeWay Church Resources One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN 37234-0174 We believe that the Bible has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline. Unless indicated otherwise, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
Contents C o n t e n t s The Writers... 4 A Word From William Fay... 5 Session 1: The Sin of Silence... 6 Session 2: Turning Lost Hearts to Jesus... 19 Session 3: Counting on God s Word... 31 Session 4: Closing the Deal of a Lifetime... 44 Session 5: Moving Beyond Fear... 54 Three Scenarios... 62 My Personal Commitment to Share Jesus... 66 A Final Word from William Fay... 67 Group Learning Activities... 68
The Writers The Writers William Fay, writer of the student material, is a graduate of Denver Seminary. He is the host of an internationally syndicated radio show called Let s Go. Bill is author of the booklet How to Share Your Faith Without an Argument. There are over three million copies in print. He serves as chaplain in cooperation with the Professional Golfers of America (P.G.A.). He is the author of Share Jesus Without Fear, as well as a speaker and seminar leader. Bill lives in Englewood, Colorado with his wife, Peg. David Bennett, writer of the personal and group learning activities, is associate pastor of preschool and children at Judson Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He and his wife, Kimberly, are the parents of Mary Claire, Caroline, and Sarah Kate.
Wor d F r om William Fay A Word From William Fay A Dear Friend, I am glad you have chosen to study Share Jesus Without Fear: Students Reaching Students. You are going to realize that you absolutely cannot fail when you share your faith! The three-step process will seem so simple you may wonder why you have not been taught this before. Most faithful Christians want to share their faith. Many try, get a negative reaction, feel rejected, and think they failed. As a result, they don t witness anymore and now feel guilty. Other Christians simply do not know how to share their faith. For 40 years, I was one of the most antagonistic men to the gospel you could find. Many Christians tried to share their faith with me; and when they did I insulted, persecuted, or antagonized them. However, if they walked away from me believing they had failed, they believed a lie. I never forgot any of the words, the faces, or the persons who came into my life in obedience to Jesus Christ. The Great Commission says Go! It is not an option to consider, but a command that God says must be obeyed. The Bible tells us that if we do not do what is good, it is sin (Jas. 4:17). If you have not been active in sharing your faith, the sin of silence is a part of your life. Can you imagine the joy of knowing that you cannot fail when you choose obedience to Jesus Christ by sharing your faith? You will experience the power of God working through your life as you see Him change lives through your witness. You will observe the power of the Word of God firsthand as you turn the pages of Scripture and see the Holy Spirit transform people s lives before your eyes. If you apply what you learn in this study, the lives of many individuals who cross your path daily will be changed; and your life will be changed forever. In His grip and grace, William Fay
1 Session 1 Session The Sin of Silence T h e S in o f S il e n c e Have you ever had an opportunity to share your faith, but didn t? List below some of the reasons why you didn t. Place a check mark by those reasons which seem to be valid. Circle those which, in God s power, you could change. It is possible to lead others to faith in Christ without being out of character or offensive. God has called every Christian to be a witness by the way you, by your toward others, by the you make, and by your to live for at any cost. 6
1 The Sin of SilenceSession 1 Session Success is Witnessing as a Christian is The Bible does not present witnessing as an extra activity done only by a few special people. It is to be a part of each Christian s daily life. God is at work creating opportunities. Be obedient and act on these moments that God is creating. Read 1 Peter 3:15. The first step to becoming a witnessing Christian is to experience a change in your own heart. Always be ready to share Christ gently, and with respect. 7
1 Session 1The Sin of Silence Session The Sin of Silence Many times your witness is sabotaged not by what you do but by what you don t do. Debate has flourished about which of the wounds inflicted on Jesus actually caused His death. Among the many wounds He received were lacerations, punctures, abrasions, and contusions. There is a sense in which we can say that none of these killed Jesus. The wound that killed Him was silence. No one spoke up for Him. One of the most painful incidents in the life of Jesus was Peter s denial of Him the night before His crucifixion. Three times Peter was asked if he was one who followed Jesus and three times he said, No. Think of times when you could have witnessed but didn t. Maybe you didn t want to risk being rejected, embarrassed, or persecuted. So you chose to be silent. Another form of the sin of silence is 8
1 The Sin of SilenceSession 1 Session You may tell people that you love the Lord, and that you ll pray for them. You may even drive around in a car with a Christian bumper sticker on it. But if you don t share enough information with your lost friends to allow the Holy Spirit to change their hearts (see 1 Pet. 2:9), they will never understand the gospel. Many people who know what the Bible teaches about eternal life try to find a kind of middle ground. No one is almost there. Those who choose to reject Christ are condemned. God doesn t look the other way when your family and friends who have no relationship with Christ stand before Him. If your voice trembles, your hands shake, or you stumble over words, God can use your witness. God cannot, however, use your silence. Love for the Lost God wants every Christian to have a heart for lost people. Sometimes a simple question or statement about your own faith in Jesus can mend a broken heart, offer hope to the hopeless, and bring salvation to the lost. The average Christian heard the gospel times before surrendering to Christ after the seventh time. Jesus had a passion driving Him in spite of rejection, suffering, and even death. He wants you to love lost people the way He loves them. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you (John 20:21). Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. In these verses Paul described his passion for reaching lost people. Paul was willing to make personal sacrifices and 9
1 Session 1The Sin of Silence Session become a slave to everyone in order to share his love for Christ without compromise. Because the, there has always been a desire to share Jesus with others. Think about the persons God used to bring you to trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Where would you be without them? What would your life be like without Jesus? Write the names of those persons below: There is a difference between A person who loves only the activity of witnessing will sooner or later lose interest and move on to another activity if he or she has not come to love people as Jesus did. Read Matthew 28:18-20. 10
1 The Sin of SilenceSession 1 Session True or False? Witnessing is an option for a Christian who wants to be obedient and faithful to all that God asks. True or False? The Great Commission is an option to be considered not a command to be obeyed. Both answers are false. Read Philemon 6. Paul knew that Philemon would grow in his relationship with Christ as he shared his faith with non-believers. Witnessing deepens your personal faith. God reaches lost persons through your obedience. He transforms your life in the process. List below the names of persons who really need to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Preparing Your Heart Consistent prayer prepares your heart for any encounter. The relationship a person has with God through prayer is the key to developing a heart of compassion. Prayer deepens your relationship with Jesus. Christians who witness to non-believers will find themselves in a spiritual struggle if they do not pray regularly. 11