I'm At a Loss for Words

Wednesday Night Recap
Modified from Vital Truth (Lifeway)
January 18, 2006

Last week we looked at the need to see people as Spiritually dead or Spiritually Alive. The challenge was to look at people with spiritual eyes and see if they give evidence of having a relationship with Christ. Continue to look at people through spiritual eyes this week and not just physical eyes.

But now, we need to know what to do with them when we see that they are spiritually dead. A lot of times, though, we are at a loss for words. So, let's rescue some truth from the trash can of confusion to give you words, not yours, but God's, that you can use when speaking to your friends about their spiritual deadness.

People Are Confused

The comments people make about faith, God, and slavation show that they are confused. Here are a few examples.

1. "There is no God"
2. "I'm not that bad of a person...compared to most people"
3. "I've been in church all my life, gone on missions trips, and more retreats than I can count."
4. "I believe that Jesus was a good man, a prophet and a teacher."
5. "I believe in God...isn't that enough?"
6. "I think there are many ways to heaven, people just need to find the one that's right for them."
7. "Eternity? I don't need to worry about that right now. I've got plenty of time to get that straight later."

What would be your response if you were faced with this confusion? Where is the best response found? (Everybody together now..."The Bible") Yes, a "sunday school answer" is actually appropriate in this instance.

So, here is some scripture that can help you answer the confusion. Write them in the cover of your bible, and then have your bible with you so that you can Be Prepared to answer the confusion. (Your going to have to do a little work and look these up on your own...I'm not going to type them out here)

1. Psalm 14:1; Romans 1:20
2. Romans 3:23; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:8-9; Proverbs 14:12
3. Matthew 7:22-23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Proberbs 14:12
4. John 14:6; 1 John 5:12; Romans 6:23; Acts 4:12
5. James 2:19; John 14:6; 1 John 5:12;
6. John 14:6; 1 John 5:12; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; Acts 4:12
7. 2 Peter 3:10; Luke 12:40

Adding to the Confusion

Sometimes we add to the confusion by the words that we use when we are talking to people about our faith. Imagine being a foreigner, just learning english, and being required to read the following sentences:

1. The bandage was wound around the wound.
2. The farm was used to produce produce.
3. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
4. There is not time like the present to present the present.

How confusing is that? Many people that we will witness to are foreigners to the language of Christianity. The words we use can add to the confusion they are already living in. For example:

1. Have you been washed in the blood? (possible response: If I had been I would have taken a shower by now!)
2. Have you been born again? (Dude, that's sick! I'm not going there again!)
3. I walked the aisle when I was 16 and got baptized. (The last time I walked an aisle was at the movie Rent and somebody baptized me with their Coke.)
4. Have you been saved? (From what?)

We have to have a method of presenting the message of Christ that is relevant to our culture. The people around you have to understand what you are talking about. One of the best ways to do this is to make it personal, and that starts with your personal testimony.

My Testimony

You may think you have a really boring testimony. Just he fact that you have a testimony makes it exciting!!! If you don't think it's exciting, then you don't really understand what it means...You were dead!!! and now you're ALIVE!!! So, make it exciting (not in a James Frey Million Little Pieces embellishment way). It is how you found life. If you are excited about the rescuing you received at the cross of Christ, other people will be too!

Check out Acts 22:3-21 for an example of a testimony. This is the basic outline:

• Paul Tells people who he is/was. He relates it to where they are in their life now.
• Paul tells specifically what happened when he met christ; who was there, vivid description.
• Paul tells what God is doing with him now...why his life has meaning...and why they need that meaning.

That's all there is to it...so get to it and start writing!!!

The challenge this week is for you to see a spiritually dead person and then share your personal testimony with them. You can do it! Use the Words of God if nothing else! You can never go wrong with that.

Don't forget to start memorizing 2 Corinthians 4:1-2!!!