Tag Archive for: witness

The Rewards of Witnessing

There is a quiet joy that comes from telling someone about Christ and scripture reveals it runs deeper than we might expect. Most Christians understand that sharing the gospel is a command. Jesus made it clear in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” But what we sometimes overlook is that evangelism isn’t just an obligation we carry but a gift God gives us.

Paul prayed that Philemon’s sharing of his faith would deepen his own understanding of every good thing found in Christ (Philemon 1:6). It’s a remarkable dynamic that sharing our faith actually grows it. When we sit across from someone and explain who Jesus is and what He has done, we are forced to know what we believe and why. We can’t lean on vague feelings or secondhand convictions when someone is pressing into us with hard questions and a deep desire for truth. Sharing Jesus sharpens our theology, deepens our convictions, and drives our roots deeper into God’s word. Regularly sharing our faith makes it grow stronger.

Sharing the gospel is also an act of worship that brings glory to God and stirs deep joy in our own hearts. Luke 15:10 tells us that when one sinner repents, rejoicing breaks out among the angels of heaven. The moment someone says yes to Jesus, all of heaven erupts. And when we plant the seed, water it in prayer, or witness the harvest, we are swept into that celebration too. There is simply nothing in the Christian life quite like watching someone walk out of darkness and into light for the first time. Christ is inviting us to participate in that celebration.

Jesus didn’t wait for the lost to find Him. He went looking for them as Luke 19:10 reminds us that He came specifically “to seek and to save the lost”. That seeking heart is at the very core of His mission. When we share the gospel, we are doing more than passing on information. We are joining Jesus in the thing He loves most. And in doing so, we are gradually conformed into His image. We cannot consistently pursue the lost without beginning to see them the way Jesus does. Evangelism doesn’t just change the people we reach. It changes us.

That single conversation you’ve been putting off, the testimony you’ve been too afraid to share, the friend you’ve been meaning to invite to church are moments that matter more than you know. God sees every seed planted in His name. Eternity will reveal the full weight of what faithfulness here produced. Don’t let fear of what others think rob you of a reward that lasts forever.

Sharing Jesus rarely comes without a cost. Sometimes it’s comfort, sometimes convenience, and sometimes it’s the risk of changing a relationship we value. That fear is real, and God understands it. But scripture does not leave us there. God’s Word is overwhelmingly clear that the blessings that flow back to the faithful witness far outweigh everything else. The joy, the growth, the eternal reward, the privilege of joining Christ in His mission all outweigh a moment of discomfort. Someone in your life is waiting to hear what you already know. Go and tell them.

Your Witness Is Human. Keep It That Way.

Artificial intelligence is everywhere. It plans our meals, drafts our emails, and can even suggest what to say when we don’t know how to start a difficult conversation. For Christians navigating this rapidly changing landscape, the question isn’t simply can we use AI but we should be asking how should we use AI?

As a ministry, we invite and promise live conversation with a believer. Every person who reaches out deserves a live, Spirit-led conversation with a real believer. That’s not something any algorithm can replicate, and it’s the very heartbeat of our promise and what makes the ministry unique. The person on the other end of your conversation isn’t looking for a curated response. They’re looking for someone who has walked with God through something similar and can speak from that place.

Most believers already sense that AI makes a poor theologian and an even poorer substitute for genuine human connection. Yet in a world where our to-do lists are endless and our energy is finite, the efficiency AI offers is genuinely appealing. Don’t take the easy way but instead use these tools wisely so that when you show up to minister, you’re fully present, fully human, and fully yielded to the Holy Spirit.

I recently read a thoughtful article from Bethany Broderick.  She offered three helpful questions to evaluate our use of AI and make sure we are being responsible in our witness.

Am I using AI to push past my God-given limits?

The speed and convenience of AI can quietly feed a very old temptation. The trap of desiring to know more, control more, and do more than we were designed to. Not all our limits are flaws waiting to be optimized away. They’re actually an invitation to depend on a sovereign God. We can find rest in remembering that only God knows all. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot comprehend it”  (Psalm 139:6). When we rush to AI to fill every gap, we risk crowding out the very dependence on God our limitations are meant to cultivate.

Am I using AI to replace wisdom from real relationships?

There’s a meaningful difference between information and wisdom. AI can synthesize thousands of articles in seconds, but it cannot sit with you in grief, challenge you with hard truth, or model a life of faithfulness over decades. God designed us to need one another. “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). The convenience of asking a chatbot should never quietly replace the sanctifying work of asking a godly mentor, a trusted friend, or a fellow believer who has walked the road ahead of you.

Those facing spiritual crisis, profound personal struggle, and broken relationships are looking for something more. They crave human empathy. They want guidance from someone who has walked a similar road. They want connection from someone who knows and experienced Jesus. They want authentic personal encounters and not just information.

Am I using AI to neglect the work God has entrusted to me?

We were made to participate in God’s ongoing work in the world. Something is lost when we cut corners and use AI to do the work for us.  It is not just the output that suffers but the very process through which God shapes our character and glorifies Himself through our effort. AI should support the work God sets before us, not become an excuse to surrender it.

Used wisely, AI can be a genuine gift. Used carelessly, it can quietly erode the dependence, community, and creativity that make us fully human. We believe that artificially generated responses should never be cut and pasted into a conversation with a seeker. Real people having real conversations about a real relationship with Jesus is more essential than ever. Let your testimony and reliance in the Holy Spirit be the cornerstone of your conversations. And remember that all we do should bring glory to God.

Living Out Your Witness

Evangelism is often difficult. People may have challenging issues, hard stories, and tough questions.  We may need many conversations and seasons of encouragement before the message takes root.  On top of those challenges, it is not uncommon for the enemy to spiritually attack those sharing the Good News.

Satan knows that our own spiritual walk will impact the power of our witness. The right response to this warfare is for us to be spiritually disciplined and led by the Holy Spirit. We simply are not able to properly share the things that are important in the life of a Christian if we are not engaged in those activities in a healthy manner.  Said another way, our walk must mirror our talk.

We all know that being saved does not remove us from this war with the enemy. Many factors can pull us away from God including our brokenness as well as the distractions and busyness of a fractured world. Paul offers us the prescription for how to defend ourselves in Ephesians 6:10-18 when he describes the armor of God available to us in this battle.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

As clear as this call is, it is not easy to embrace these spiritual disciplines. These things take time, effort, and consistency. They simply do not work as intended when God is secondary in our lives, or we give Him the leftovers of our time and attention.

Four spiritual disciplines not only strengthen our own walk with Jesus but also allow us to present a more compelling and clearer path for new believers to grow in faith.

  • Bible reading and regular time in God’s Word
  • Time in silence and prayer
  • Worship and community with other believers
  • Repentance and submission to God’s Word

When we are far from living out these things in our own lives, we will not be able to properly stress the importance of these activities in the lives of others. We will take the next few months to dig into each of these spiritual disciplines more deeply and encourage you to live out your witness by growing closer to God in these critical areas of your Christian walk.

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