We often hear that we should witness but often do not get pointers on how to witness...Luckily we can learn from Paul and how he did it.  So - a short lesson that I taught in Queens NY of pointers to make witnessing a little easier!  (straight from the Bible too!)

1 Thessalonians 2:3-8..

We can have pure motives when we share the gospel!

Living is the classroom (Hebrew Thought)

In the thanksgiving Paul defends the ministry of himself and his colleague's after being accused of impure motives. 

Paul tells them:

          1. The visit was fruitful! (2:1)

          2. We were bold! (2:2)

                   a. Boldness showed that they were from God

b. Philippi (Acts 16) and Thessalonica showed great opposition…they had human courage too!

c. Opposition – opposing team…contender (Paul would fight for them)

So you can see that we had pure motives!! (2:3)

We are not trying to please men!

Paul:

1. shared his message (2:4)

          1. approved by God

                   Entrust – test metal

          2. search to please God

                   Examine – same as Entrust                 

Paul preached       

                             a. the whole will of God (Ac 20:27)

                             b. not to please hearers (Gal 5:11)

2. shared his friendship (2:5-7)

          1. Friends don't flatter

we did not come with an agenda (2:5)

                   flattery was used in public speaking often

          2. Friends don't look for anything

we did not come for money (2:5)

we did not come looking praise (2:6)

          3. Friends care

                   they did not make demands but were gentle (2:7)

                   a picture of a nursing mother…most caring time

                   don't demand action…be their friend!

3. shared his soul (2:8)

Paul sustains the metaphor of the previous verse…he share's his own life with the person.

Such a huge commitment!

          Sharing GOD'S good news…big

          Sharing your life to make that news grow…bigger

Hebrew Thought – sharing the innermost being was the closest you could be

Philosophers told their students "I love you like I love my own soul!" 

They are humans...not checkmarks to add to your "saved" list

Great Things will happen when we start looking at people as people instead of classifying them as  "saved" or "not saved."

Great Commission!

Having gone…make disciples – This is an aorist participle NOT a vocative.  

Basically…

GO is NOT the point – the point is…MAKE DISCIPLES. 

Action Points

Share YOUR message

Share YOUR friendship

Share YOUR soul

Be yourself – a Christian…Holy, with deity living inside of you!

Phil 2:15-The gospel is good news for everyone!