What the Bible says
Before He ascended, Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18), and on that ground He sent His disciples to “teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19). He added, “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). Sharing our faith begins with His authority and His presence, not our skill. He also promised, “ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8).
The message is not ourselves but Christ. Paul says that “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3), was buried, and rose again the third day. Peter told the rulers, “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). People come to faith as they hear this word: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). That is why we must open our mouths.
A witness simply tells what he has seen. Jesus told the man He had set free, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee” (Mark 5:19). The man born blind said, “one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). Andrew “first findeth his own brother Simon” (John 1:41) and brought him to Jesus. You do not need every answer to tell others what Christ has done for you.
Our words should be gentle, and our lives should agree with them. Peter says to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We speak as “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20), pleading with others to be reconciled to God.
14 verses, King James Version
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men
16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4
The gospel: Christ died and rose again
3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Romans 10:17
Faith cometh by hearing the word of God
17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Acts 4:20
We cannot but speak what we have seen
20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Matthew 28:18–20
The Great Commission
18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Acts 1:8
Power to be His witnesses
8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
1 Peter 3:15
Ready with a reason, gently
15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Romans 1:16
The gospel is God’s saving power
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Mark 5:19
Tell what the Lord did for you
19Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
2 Corinthians 5:18–20
Christ’s messengers of peace
18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Romans 10:14–15
How will they hear?
14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Colossians 4:5–6
Gracious words
5Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Acts 4:12
Salvation in no one else
12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
John 1:40–42
Andrew brought his brother
40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain). Read aloud by Anthony.