Core Value #2: Evangelistic Community

Be Part of Something Bigger: Witnesses

Acts 1:8; 4:4-20

     Years ago, I was asked to speak to a gathering of pastors and Christian leaders from all over Japan. When I was asked to do this, I had no idea that I would be speaking 10 times over a period of 2 ½ days. Just before I was to speak at the 10^th session, the head of the conference introduced me in this way: “We have arrived at the ‘last five minutes’ of this conference. We have listened to our speaker bring 9 messages from God’s Word but he is coming now to bring what we call his ‘last five minutes’. When we have little time left and we know it, we do not waste time on trivial things. We use our last moments to pass on the most important things. So, now, let us listen carefully as Dr. Waybright speaks to us in his ‘last five minutes’.”

     I had never before been given such a sobering introduction. And, I sensed that day that the audience listened with great earnestness. As I prepared the message for you throughout this past week, I remembered that day in Japan when I read what Jesus passed onto all his followers in what he knew were his “last five minutes.” Jesus had taught his 12 disciples for three years. Then, after his death and resurrection, Jesus met again with his followers over a 40-day period to teach them (Acts 1:3).

     After all that, we read Jesus’ words in his “last five minutes” before he ascended to heaven and the right hand of God the Father: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).”

     So, it’s very clear that, in his “last 5 minutes” Jesus called all his followers to be his witnesses.

What Jesus calls us to be: Witnesses -- You will be my witnesses…

     This is a word that means almost exactly the same in English as it did in the original language, in our culture as in theirs. The word for witness was commonly used in a courtroom for the person who had experienced something that needs to be made known. As we read the rest of Acts, we see what a “witness” actually does. That’s why I had us read Acts 4 earlier in the service. In that passage, we heard the report about how Peter and John gave witness one day in Jerusalem.

     What happens in that episode is that the best educated and most powerful men in Israel (see Acts 4:5-6) confronted two Christian fishermen (Peter and John) about a miracle that had happened. In contrast to the religious and political leaders, Peter and John were described in 4:13 as “unschooled and ordinary”. Imagine being there. This surely could have been intimidating for Peter and John. It would be like a Cal Tech science professor confronting an LAC middle schooler who had professed to believe in miracles and saying, “Explain how you believe in supernatural occurrences in a world that operates by natural laws?” I think the middle schooler might have felt overwhelmed by the situation, don’t you?

     But the two fishermen were not anxious or afraid! They simply gave witness to what they had experienced with Jesus. It’s not that giving reasonable answers was unimportant. No, Peter, the man who answered the intellectual elites of his world was the same Peter who told us in 1 Pet 3:15 that we should learn to give answers for the hope we have in Jesus. However, in this situation, Peter was faithful simply to do what Jesus calls all of us to do, i.e., to give witness. In fact, Acts 4:20 gives us a clear understanding of what the word witness means: “We must speak about what we have seen and heard!”

     All this begs a very significant question: Have you genuinely experienced anything with Jesus? Have you experienced his forgiveness of your sins? Have you experienced “how wide, high, high and deep the love of Jesus is for you? I have been discovering that many in our church have been having some very personal experiences with God in recent months. If you have experienced anything with Jesus, you are a witness. Now, Jesus says you must give witness to him. Anyone who meets him through can give witness to him: little children, brand new believers, and even full-blown failures who have experienced God’s mercy.

   Jesus calls us all to be witnesses as the blind man in John 9 was a witness. He had been healed on the Sabbath by Jesus and the authorities tried to intimidate the man into repudiating Jesus. The once-blind man simply said, “All I know is this: I was blind and now I see. And Jesus did it.” That’s being a witness.

From where (or Whom) the power comes: The Holy Spirit -- When the Holy Spirit comes on you...

     After the disciples in Acts 1 had been with Jesus, the person that they had personally seen die on a cross and then personally seen as risen from the dead, they were ready to go out and tell the world what they had seen. But Jesus said, “No, not yet. This is God’s work and you will need God’s power.” And we still do.

     So, let me say this to you today: The Holy Spirit does many things in our lives. In John 14, Jesus said the Holy Spirit convicts us when we walk away from God. I’ve experienced this often and am sure many of you have as well.   Jesus also said the Holy Spirit comforts us and supports us in times of trouble and of doubt. Again, I’ve experienced that personally. They Holy Spirit is our advocate and our comforter in times of trouble. And last Fall, we spent several months learning how the Holy Spirit strengthens us to break from sin and to live as God created us to live. The Spirit does these things and much, much more.

     But, in his “last five minutes”, Jesus makes it clear that the Holy Spirit gives us the power to be witnesses. Peter was there in Acts 1 when Jesus said this and Peter reminds us of it in his 1^st letter: If you speak, speak as one who speaks the very words of God (1 Pet 4:11).” That’s quite a powerful statement, isn’t it?

     Let me tell you how I’ve seen this empowering by the Holy Spirit has worked out in my own life. When I was in high school, I somehow sensed that I was to give witness about Jesus to one of our school athletes, one of the most popular guys in school. I confess that I didn’t really want to do it. I was anxious about giving witness. But, I got up the courage to go speak to him one day. I said something like, “Steve, I really believe that God wants me to talk to you about Jesus.” Remember that this was a long time ago! But, I still remember that he looked at me with a strange look – and then just walked away. I felt like a failure.

     Many, many years later, I went to a high school reunion. Steve saw me and, literally, ran through people to get over to speak with me. “Greg,” he said, “I’ve been wanting to talk with you for years. After you talked to me about Jesus our senior year in high school, I left for college and could never get that conversation off my mind. In my freshman year in college, I gave my life to Jesus. He’s changed my life.”

     We are only asked to be faithful to be witnesses. God’s Spirit is the one who uses our words. We often feel like failures when we seek to say something about Jesus to people. But Jesus simply asks us to use whatever words we can to speak of what we’ve learned from and experienced with him. Then, the Holy Spirit will do more than we could ever ask or even imagine. It will be to God’s glory – and not ours.

What kind of witness: Words or Deeds – “We are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed… It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Acts 4:9-10).”

     For many years, churches have been divided over the matter of whether our witness should be through deeds of love or through words that communicate the gospel. But, I’m very, very sure that “word-witness” and “deed-witness” go together. If we lose either, the good news about Jesus will be undermined. If we only use words to try to argue people into the kingdom of God, then we will ignore almost everything that Jesus did when he entered into the lives of people. He cared about people because they were people. He entered into their lives and offered help and hope. Just to use words without caring for the people we’re witnessing to will usually be viewed as no more than an attempt to recruit people to your religion. God uses many things to draw people to himself. However, in my experience, rarely are people argued into being saved!

     But deed-witness without word-witness is equally inadequate. I know that people in our world will be positive about us when we help the poor or care for the sick. However, if we don’t speak about Jesus, we will offer them no eternal hope for their deepest needs, their spiritual needs.

     Good evangelism almost always involves both deed-witness and word-witness. That’s why I had us read the episode in Acts 3-4. That story started in Acts 3 with a lame beggar wanting some financial help. Peter and John did not ignore him but stopped to talk with him. They entered into his life. Their witness started with deed-witness. The man wanted money. Peter said to the man, “I don’t have any money – but I do have something to help you. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And the man did.

     I have found that most evangelism begins when we truly care for people as Jesus cares for people. We enter into their lives and listen. We give witness to the hope we are finding in Jesus. We invite people to find a new life in him as we have. Read through Acts 3-4 and you will see that over and over again, Peter and John both care for the man’s needs and spoke the name of Jesus. This would not have been easy. They lived in as pluralistic a world as we do here in Southern CA. People in their day were as “spiritual” as people here think they are. Most would have been OK with Peter and John if they had only loved people and said that everyone can have their own religion as they like. Let’s learn from them: The love of Jesus that flowed through them reached out both to meet the needs of people and to call them to find salvation in Jesus.

     The story that began with a healing then culminates with Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else than Jesus, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Some Pastoral Advice for New Witnesses

     All week, I’ve asked myself how I might help those at LAC who are new to the faith actually begin to live your life as a witness. Saying this, I must also say that newer believers are often the most effective witnesses because their experience of the love of God is so fresh and real!!). Here’s what I want you to consider doing:

1. Name Drop – Find ways to identify with Jesus. In the course of talking with people, simply let them know that you are a Christian. I try to make sure I use the name of Jesus in the course of a conversation. I find people will sometimes come back to it on their own. Find ways to use the name of Jesus in your FB post or on Instagram. You don’t have to say everything you know about the Bible each time you speak to a person. Start by for opportunities to use Jesus’ name.
2. Care About People as People – Peter and John cared about the lame man. They knew Jesus could do more in and through this man’s life than anyone had yet seen. So, they didn’t ignore the man simply because he was a beggar. They stopped. They entered into his life. They addressed the whole of his life – beginning with his physical need. You’ll find that when you do the same, i.e., caring about what a person is going through, that is often the beginning of effective witness both to the love and the truth of Jesus. Meet people with respect – even people very different from yourself. Sit down and share with them about Jesus. God often does more than you ever could imagine.
3. Be Open About Your Experience with God – Remember that “witnesses” simply reports what they have personally experienced. Don’t pretend to be more perfect than you are. Don’t act like you know more than you know. Simply share the story of your faith. Share what’s happening in your life and how your faith in Jesus is changing things and giving you hope. The, don’t be afraid to ask about the religious views of those you are talking to – and genuinely listen. I’ll tell you this: If you’re faith in real and vibrant, people will sense it. I’m convinced you will lead others to trust him too.
4. Keep Growing in Your Life as a Witness – Here, I remind you again of what Peter, the man who was witnessing in Acts 3-4, said to later Christians: In your heart revere Christ as Lord. 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 (1 Peter 3:15).

     So, do this: Keeping learning what’s in the Bible. Learn what the Bible says about the questions people ask – so that you can give answer. In just a moment, I’ll ask Pastor Jeff Liou to come to tell you about some training we will soon be providing here at LAC so that you might become a more effective witness. I also recommend going to “ALPHA” course here at LAC yourself. ALPHA is series of courses that deals with the big questions of life, the questions people always ask. Go – and invite others to go with you. If you do, you’ll find it will open the door to many unforgettable conversations. And, sometimes a person will say, “I’m ready to follow Jesus right now!” Grow as a witness. Learn how to lead people to confess their sins, ask for the forgiveness of Christ and to trust in Jesus as Savior.

     All this is why we specifically have in our LAC Guiding Statement, “We are a community that individually and corporately calls people to follow Jesus.” I’ll stop there and ask Pastor Jeff Liou, our Pastor of Missional Outreach to come now to discuss some very practical steps you can take to be a more effective witness today. As he comes, remember the important of this message. There is no human being who is not loved by God. There is no human being who is beyond the saving reach of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In his “last five minutes”, Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).”

大使命的一部分：見證

使徒行者1：8；4:4-20

            幾年前，我曾經受邀為來自日本全地的牧師和教會領袖演講。當我被邀請的時候，我並不知道自己要在兩天半的時間內做十次的演講。在我第十次演講之前，會議的主持人這樣介紹我：今天的聚會是我們這次會議的“最後五分鐘”。我們已經聆聽了講員帶給我們九篇從神話語而來的信息，現在，他要為我們帶來“最後五分鐘”的信息。當我們知道所剩時間不多的時候，我們就不會在瑣事上浪費時間。我們會用最後的時間來傳遞最重要的信息。所以現在，讓我們認真聆聽Waybright博士為我們帶來的“最後五分鐘”的信息。

            我從來沒有被人這樣慎重地介紹過。那一天，我感覺到聽眾都充滿渴望地聆聽信息。在過去的一周裏，當我為大家準備這篇信息的時候，我記起來在日本的那一天我所讀到的經文，就是在耶穌知道那是祂“最後的五分鐘”的信息時，對門徒所說的話。耶穌教導了祂的十二個門徒三年的時間。然後，在祂受死與復活之後，耶穌又有四十天的時間與門徒同在、教導他們（徒1:3）。接下來我們又讀到在耶穌升天至父神的右邊之前，祂的“最後五分鐘”的信息：“聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力。並要在耶路撒冷，猶太全地，和撒瑪利亞，直到地極，作我的見證（徒1:8）。”

            在接下來的第九節中，聖經告訴我們說：“耶穌說了這話，他們正看的時候，他就被取上升……”因此很顯然，在祂的“最後五分鐘”的信息裏，耶穌呼召所有跟隨祂的人作祂的見證。

耶穌對我們的呼召：見證–你要作我的見證……

            “見證”這個字的英文意思幾乎和原文的意思完全一樣，在我們的文化與他們的文化中的含義也完全相同。通常來說，在法庭上，當一個人的經歷需要讓他人知道的時候，人們會用到見證這個詞。讀了使徒行傳的其他章節，我們就會知道“見證人”的使命是什麽。因此，我們剛剛讀了使徒行傳第四章。在那章經文中，我們讀到了彼得和約翰在耶路撒冷如何為主作見證的事跡。

那章經文中講到在以色列受到最好教育、最有權柄的人們（徒4:5-6），如何質問兩個基督徒漁夫（彼得和約翰）所發生的神跡，這兩個人在4:13被稱為“沒有學問的小民”。想象一下，這對於彼得和約翰來說，確實有點嚇人。這就好像一個加州理工學院的科學教授對我們教會相信神跡的中學生提出這樣的問題：“你怎樣才能解釋自己在這個遵循自然規律的世界中相信超自然的事情呢？我想，那位中學生一定會在這種狀況之下倍感壓力，對嗎？

            然而這兩個漁夫卻毫無焦慮或懼怕。他們只把與耶穌同在時的經歷見證出來。這並不是說，給出理智的答案不重要。不是的。彼得，這位回答那些知識分子精英的人，正是在彼得前書3:15中告訴我們‘要以溫柔敬畏的心回答各人’的那位彼得。在這種狀況下，彼得是信實的，他做了耶穌呼召我們所有人去做的事，就是作祂的見證。其實，使徒行傳4:20清楚地解釋了“見證”這個詞的意思：“我們必須要說出我們所看見和所聽見的！”

            所有這一切都引出了一個非常重要的問題：你有沒有與耶穌一同經歷過任何事情？你有沒有經歷過祂赦免你的罪？你有沒有經歷過耶穌對你“長闊高深”的愛？我發現最近幾個月中，我們教會中的許多人都親身經歷了神。如果你在任何事上經歷了耶穌，你就是一個見證人。現在，耶穌說，你一定要為祂作見證。任何與祂相遇的人都可以為祂作見證，包括小孩子，新信徒，甚至包括全然失敗、卻經歷了神恩典的人。

        耶穌呼召我們要像約翰福音第九章中提到的瞎子那樣。他在安息日被耶穌醫治，那些執政者恐嚇他，讓他和耶穌斷絕關系。那曾瞎眼的人說，“我所知道的就是，我曾經瞎眼，如今能看到，是耶穌醫治了我。”這就是見證。

能力來自哪裏：聖靈 ---- 當聖靈降臨在你們身上……

在使徒行傳第一章中，當門徒們親眼看見曾經與他們在一起的耶穌，死在十字架上，然後又親眼看見祂從死裏復活後，他們準備走出去，告訴世人他們所看到的。但是耶穌說，“不，還沒有到時候。這是神的工作，你需要從神而來的力量。”其實直到今天，我們仍需要從神而來的力量。

所以，我今天想要告訴大家：聖靈在我們的生命中做了許多的工。在約翰福音14，耶穌說，當我們離棄神的時候，聖靈會定我們的罪。我常會有這樣的經歷，我相信你們很多人也一樣。耶穌也說，當我們煩惱和疑惑的時候，聖靈會安慰和扶持我們。我也同樣親身經歷過這樣的事。聖靈是我們患難時的支持和安慰。在去年秋天，我們花了幾個月的時間，學習了當我們脫離罪的捆綁時，聖靈如何使我們更加剛強，使我們像神最初造的我們的那樣去生活。聖靈做了很多，很多這樣的工作。

但是，在耶穌“最後五分鐘”的信息中，祂明確指出，聖靈會加給我們力量，使我們為主作見證。耶穌在使徒行傳第一章中說到這話的時候，彼得就在那裏，所以他在彼得前書中提醒我們：“若有講道的、要按神的聖言講”（彼前4：11）。這是一個相當有力的宣告，不是嗎？”

讓我告訴你，我曾親身經歷了聖靈如何賜下能力。在我上高中的時候，我感覺到我應當向學校裏的一名運動員見證耶穌，他是學校裏最受歡迎的球員之一。我承認我當時真的不想去做這件事。在向人作見證的時候我常常心存憂慮。但是，有一天我鼓起勇氣去與他說話。我是這樣說的，“史蒂夫，我相信神想要我和你談談耶穌。”這已經是很久以前的事了。但我仍然記得他當時用奇怪的眼光看著我，然後走開了。我覺得自己很失敗。

很多很多年以後，我去了一個高中同學聚會。史蒂夫看見我，差不多是跑著穿過人群來到我跟前，與我說話。“Greg，”他說，“這幾年來我一直想和你談話。在我們高中最後那年，你向我講到耶穌之後，我就去上大學了，但那次的談話始終在我的頭腦裏揮之不去。在大學一年級時，我將我的生命交托給耶穌，祂改變了我的生命。”

神只要求我們忠實地為祂作見證。聖靈會使用我們說出的話。當我們對人說起耶穌的時候，我們常常會有失敗的感覺。然而耶穌只是要我們去使用任何我們能夠很容易說出的話，說出我們從祂所學到的，以及我們在祂裏面所經歷的。然後，聖靈所做的，會超過我們所求所想。這是神的榮耀，而不是我們的。

何样的見證：言語和行為的見證 ----“你們眾人和以色列百姓都當知道，站在你們面前的這人得痊愈，是因你們所釘十字架、　神叫他從死裏復活的拿撒勒人耶穌基督的名（使徒行傳4：9-10）。

多年來，教會紛爭的原因之一，就是我們對福音的見證是應該通過愛心的行為，還是通過傳福音的話語來實行。然而我非常肯定，“用言語作見證”和“用行為做見證”應該合在一起。失去其中任何一個，耶穌的福音都將蒙受損害。如果我們只用言語來試圖勸說人們進入神的國度，那麽我們就忽略了耶穌進入世人生命中所做的一切。祂關心世人，因為他們是人。祂進入他們的生命，賜給他們幫助和盼望。如果我們僅僅用言語來作見證，卻沒有關心的行為，就會被誤認為企圖招人入教。神用很多方式來吸引人們歸向祂。然而根據我的經驗，很少人是通過口頭爭論而得救的！

僅有行為見證而沒有話語見證也同樣不足。世人贊同我們幫助窮人或照顧病人。然而如果不傳講耶穌，我們就無法為他們最深切的需要，也就是屬靈的需要，提供永恒的盼望。

成功的布道幾乎總是同時包括行為見證和話語見證。因此，我讓大家讀使徒行傳3-4章中的這段經文。這個故事開始於使徒行傳第三章，一個跛腳的乞丐想得到一些金錢上的幫助。彼得和約翰沒有忽視他，停住腳步和他交談。他們進入了他的生命中。他們的見證開始於行為的見證。這個人想要錢。彼得對那人說：金銀我都沒有，但我可以幫助你。我奉拿撒勒人耶穌基督的名，叫你起來行走！那人果然起來行走了。

            我發現，大部分的布道，都開始於我們像耶穌那樣真正關心他人的時刻。我們進入他們的生命中，傾聽他們；我們見證自己在耶穌裏所得到的盼望；我們邀請人們像我們那樣，在耶穌裏得到新生命。如果讀使徒行者3-4章，你會反復地看到，彼得和約翰奉耶穌的名關心人們的需要。要做到這點並不容易。他們生活在一個多元化的世界，就像今天的南加州一樣。那時候的人們認為他們自己很“屬靈”，就像這裏的人們一樣。如果彼得和約翰僅僅是愛他人，並告訴他們，每個人都可以保持自己的宗教信仰，那些人就都會對他們滿意了。然而我們要從他們學習這一點：耶穌的愛從他們流出，引導他們滿足人們的需要，也呼召人們在耶穌裏得到救恩。

            這個故事以醫治為開始，到使徒行傳4:12到達頂峰：“除祂以外，別無拯救。因為在天下人間，沒有賜下別的名，我們可以靠著得救。”

為新信主的見證人提供教牧咨詢

        整個一個星期，我都在問自己，我怎樣才能幫助我們教會中剛剛信主、開始為主作見證的人。同時，我也要說，新的信徒往往是最有效的見證人，因為他們所經歷的神的愛是如此的新鮮和真實！！！我希望你們能做以下的事情：

1.         提到耶穌的名字 ---- 找機會提到耶穌的名字。在與人談話的過程中，讓人知道你是基督徒。我在與人談話的時候盡量提到耶穌的名字。我發現，人們有時候會主動回到耶穌的名字。找到適當的方法，在你的臉書或圖片影像分享空間（Instagram）中使用耶穌的名字。你不用每次在跟人談話的時候都說出所有關於聖經的事情。只需找到機會，提到耶穌的名字。

2.         關心和尊重他人 ---- 彼得和約翰關心那個瘸腿的人。他們知道，耶穌可以在這個人的生命中、藉著這個人的生命做更多的事情。因此，他們沒有因為他是一個乞丐而忽略了他。他們停了下來，進入他的生命中。他們從他身體的需要開始，關心他整個的生命，當你這樣做的時候，你也會發現同樣的情況。當你關心一個人所經歷的事情時，通常就是有效見證耶穌的愛和真理的開始。要尊重你所遇到的人，哪怕是與你很不相同的人，坐下來與他們分享耶穌。神的作為總是超過你所能想象的。

3.         敞開心扉談論你在神裏面的經歷 ---- “見證”僅僅是個人的經歷。不要假裝完美，也不要假裝自己知道的更多。分享你信主的經歷就足夠了。分享在你的生命中所發生的，和你在耶穌裏的信心如何改變你，並給你盼望。不要害怕問對方他們的宗教觀點，你只要傾聽就行了。我還要告訴你，如果你的信仰是真實活潑的，對方會感覺得到。我相信，你會帶領他們信靠耶穌。

4.         在作神的見證人的生命中不斷成長 ---- 讓我再次提醒你彼得在使徒行傳3-4中對後世基督徒所說的話：只要心裏常尊主基督為聖。有人問你們心中盼望的緣由，就要常作準備，以溫柔敬畏的心回答各人（彼前3:15）。

因而，要這樣做：不斷學習聖經。留意聖經怎樣解釋人們所提出的問題，所以當人

提問的時候，你可以知道答案。過一下傑夫牧師會告訴大家我們教會提供的一些培訓，可以幫助大家更有效地為主作見證。大家也可以參加我們教會的“ALPHA”的課程。ALPHA課程會解答人們在生活中常會提出的重要問題。你可以自己去上課，也可以邀請別人和你同去。在那裏，你會發現，其中會有許多難忘的對話，有時某個人會說：“我已經準備好跟隨耶穌了！”我們的生命要在見證主的過程中成長。學習帶領人們認罪悔改，祈求基督的赦免，信靠救主耶穌。

            也正因如此，湖边教會的綱領寫道：“在我們教會中，無論是個人還是整體，都負有呼召人們跟隨耶穌的使命。”宣教部的劉傑夫牧師將會帶領大家討論如何更有效地為主作見證。同時我也希望大家能夠記得，沒有一個人是神不愛的。沒有一個人是在耶穌基督的福音能夠拯救的範圍以外的。在耶穌的“最後五分鐘”裏，祂說：“聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力。並要在耶路撒冷，猶太全地，和撒瑪利亞，直到地極，作我的見證（徒1:8）。”

榮耀歸給神，

Greg Waybright 博士

主任牧師

 

祂的荣耀，

格雷格Waybright博士
主任牧師

Greg Waybright • Copyright 2015, Lake Avenue Church