MU-102: Seven Styles of Faith-sharing

Personal WitnessingNo Person or situation is the same.

Seven Styles of Faith-sharing prepares you for personal witnessing tounique people in diverse settings.

Personal WitnessingRequires:

Reliance on the Holy SpiritFlexibility

7 Styles of Witnessing1. Lifestyle – Prompting questions

by the way you live 2. Relational – Moments within

trusting relationships3. Testimonial – Telling your story4. Situational – Acknowledging a

unique situation

7 Styles of Witnessing5. Servant – Serving the needs

of another6. Invitational – Inviting others into

faith environments7. Witnessing

Tools – Tangible conversation starters

LIFESTYLE WITNESSING

causes others to ask questions.

Lifestyle WitnessingIt’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 WitnessingYour 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 WitnessingRemember 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 WitnessingGenuine conversation occurs within safety. You must gain permission to share.

Show genuine care.Allow time.Actively listen.Think before you speak.Be consistent.

Relational WitnessingProvide 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 WitnessingOpen to Acts 26.

Read Paul’s testimony.

What do you learn from Paul’s testimony?

Your TestimonyApply 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 WitnessingSituational 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 WitnessingSelect a situation from the list.How could we witness in this

given situation?

SERVANT WITNESSING

is serving the needs of another.

Servant WitnessingServe others as Christ did.This can occur

one-on-one.church to community.

We are the hands and feet of Christ.

Servant WitnessingLove 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 WitnessingIf 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 ToolsWeb sitesCardsBookletsCards/tractsApps

Witnessing ToolsCross necklaceWrist braceletsT-shirtsTattoosMusicBooks

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