SEARCH Lesson 122 – Getting Along with Others

Key Verse

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
— Daniel 12:3

The Responsibility of Witnessing

Acts 16:13-32; Mark 16:15; Luke 15:1; 24:47

In the first chapter of Acts we are told that Jesus, shortly before leaving this earth to go back to Heaven, commanded His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem until they were baptized with the Holy Ghost who would give them power to witness. Christ’s purpose for His followers today is that they witness to the unsaved and endeavor to win them for Him. All of us cannot be missionaries in foreign lands, but we can help to spread the Gospel. The man across the street needs to hear the story of Jesus just as much as the man on the other side of the ocean.

QUESTIONS

  1. Define witness as pertaining to the Gospel. Why cannot a sinner be an effective witness for Christ?
  2. Verbal communication is one way of witnessing. It can be used as an objective approach (one which points to Christ), or a subjective approach (one which points to one’s own experience). Which approach is used in Mark 5:18-19? in Acts 8:35? Which of the two approaches can be used by all Christians? Why?
  3. In our text, Paul is the chief speaker. As pertaining to objective and subjective witnessing, to which was he ordained? Along with the text, refer to Acts 26:9-19 for your answer.
  4. Prior to the earthquake, we have no record of a verbal witness to the jailer by Paul and Silas. Yet there must have been something which prompted him to ask the question, “What must I do to be saved?” What might this have been?
  5. Name some opportunities for nonverbal witnessing other than in times of persecution.
  6. What kind of testimony might the former demoniac of Gadara have given to his friends at home? (Mark 5:1-20) Contrast this to the testimony given by the little maid to Naaman’s wife. (2 Kings 5:1-3) What would be the main point of difference?
  7. In our text, we are given the admonition to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” How might this apply to those who do not have the privilege of standing in the pulpit to preach?
  8. Witnessing! Is it a spiritual gift given to some or a commandment to all Christians? See 1 Peter 3:15.

THEME THOUGHTS

Underlying all the basic teachings of Christ, are significant principles essential to the Christian in establishing successful relationships with those around him. When one of these principles is violated or ignored, there is a breakdown in the relationship. On the one hand, the Scriptures attach significant benefits and rewards to the one who accepts the guidelines given by God and makes them the foundation of his dealings with others. In this quarter, we focus on these guidelines, establishing through Scripture the Christian’s responsibilities to those with whom he comes into contact. We begin the series of lessons by examining the Christian’s relationship with Jesus Christ, pointing out that if one is wholly following the Lord, he will be enlightened as to how his relationships with others can be in conformity with Christ’s teachings. Subsequent lessons consider the relationships between the Christian and the ministry, between brothers and sisters in Christ, between the Christian and the spiritually weak, his neighbor, etc. the Christmas lesson concerns the relationship of God to man—how God’s love was shown when He sent Jesus to earth. One lesson deals with the Christian versus Satan, showing that with God’s help the Christian can build a defense against the devil and resist his attempts to overthrow him. It is essential to measure our lives by Scripture, for “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17). When our relationships with others are established entirely on the precepts of God’s Word, our lives will be valuable instruments in God’s plan to reveal to the world the power of His love to mankind.
  • James 5:20

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