By Larry Rosenbaum
In this chapter, I want to give some suggestions for witnessing to children, young people, elderly people, Catholics and Jews. Most of this information is borrowed from other sources.
1. Witnessing to children
Children are generally very receptive to God`s Word. Many have never heard the gospel before. Children are trusting, sensitive, and teachable. Also, children are hungry for love. Generally, they will first come to love their Bible teacher. Next, they will love their teacher’s Bible. Finally, they will get to know and love their teacher’s Lord.
I recommend that anyone seriously interested in witnessing to children contact Child Evangelism Fellowship or some similar ministry. They can give you valuable training and ideas for reaching children.
Visual aids are very useful in reaching children. Explain God`s Word simply and clearly. It helps to stress family relationships. When we are born of God, we become His child and He is our father. If the child does not have a good father, we need to explain that God loves him very much and wants to be a good father to him. He will never leave him or mistreat him. Never force a child to receive Christ. Make sure the child understands what he is doing before he prays for salvation. If he does pray, encourage him to tell someone else what he did as soon as possible. Also, give him some verses about how he can have assurance of his salvation.
Some things we need to explain to children (and adults as well):
1. God is both holy and loving.
2. All of us have sinned (Isa. 53:6; Romans 3:23).
3. The wages of sin is death. Sin must be punished. We can’t get rid of our own sin (Romans 6:23).
4. Jesus took the punishment for our sin. He died in our place, for the sins of the whole world (Isa.53:6b; John 3:16).
5. We must by our choice believe this and receive Him as our Savior. We can say yes or no to Him.
6. When we receive Him, He gives us the gift of eternal life. God becomes our heavenly Father. We receive this life in our spirit. You can’t see your spirit, but it is like a little pocket inside you.
7. We can know from God’s Word that we have been born again, that our sins have been forgiven (l John 5:12).
8. After that, when we do something wrong, we must ask Him to forgive us right away. We do not lose His life, but are naughty children.
9. He wants us to grow to be like Him‑‑kind, loving, helpful, ready to tell others about Him.
10. We grow by reading God’s Word, praying, going to Bible classes, and telling others about Jesus.
If you pray with a group of children, have them close their eyes so they aren’t looking at one another. Stress that they are making an individual choice. You can have them raise their hand to let you know what they have done. Afterwards, talk to them individually to make sure they understand what they are doing. Explain to them how they can know they are God’s children.
If a child has truly received Christ, you should see a change in his life. He should show a desire to turn from sin and be right with God, a love for the Bible, a desire to witness to others, and an interest in church and Bible class. If he doesn’t show these changes, pray that the Holy Spirit will do this work in his life, and talk with him about how Jesus expects him to grow and become more like Him. It he still does not show change, explain the plan of salvation to him again, and urge him to make a new commitment to Christ.
2. Witnessing to youth
Young people are looking for love and their own identity. Their conscience can still be touched. Usually, they desire reality with God and are aware of their sin. Many have been influenced by the unbelief of teachers and the media. They may want to analyze everything and put God in a test tube. However, they have not yet had time to develop a permanent philosophy and tend to change their views from time to time. “What is your opinion of Christ?” is a good opener.
Be yourself. Don’t put on a front. Be straightforward in talking with young people, while being sensitive to develop a healthy relationship with them. Avoid putting down other religions. Share what Jesus has done for you.
If possible, talk to a person alone. Peer pressure is a powerful influence. Get the person involved. Let him ask questions. Give direct, simple answers. Keep an attitude of loving concern, even if the person is hard. Avoid lecturing him.
3. Witnessing to the elderly
Do not let statistics influence you against witnessing to the elderly. God is able to save people of all ages. Show an interest and listen to him. Often, older people feel (and are) forgotten.
1. Speak slowly and clearly in a normal tone of voice. If the person is hard of hearing, draw close and speak into the ear turned toward you. Repeat yourself if he doesn’t seem to hear clearly what you are saying. Speak in a cheerful tone of voice.
2. Don’t talk as if they are nearing death. You can share the gift of eternal life, but don’t plan to bury them, plan to relate to them. Avoid depressing subjects. Dwell on the bright future in heaven offered to them.
3. Be a good listener. Older people like to talk about their past. You may be the first person who has listened to them in a long time. Look for an opportunity to relate to them about their past Christian influence in church or Sunday School. Their childhood memories of early touches of faith can help them relate to God again. Also, resentment and guilt often keep them from receiving Christ.
4. While our purpose is to build a relationship, remember that you could be one of the last persons to share Christ with this person, especially if he is ill. This should not be seen as “operation desperation,” but do be aware of God’s timing with this person.
4. Witnessing to Catholics
Because of many doctrinal similarities, such as heaven, hell, repentance, the Trinity, etc., Roman Catholics are among the easiest people to bring to a “living relationship” with Jesus. Many Catholics have rejected the traditions of their church, yet still have a fear of God and a desire to know Him. Below are some common Catholic excuses with Biblical answers:
l. “It’s not necessary that I read the Bible.” Answer: 2 Tim. 2:l5.
2. “I must suffer for my sins.” Answer: Is it fair that two people suffer for your sins? l Peter 3:l8.
3. “I can’t get to heaven until I first go to purgatory.” Answer: Are the flames of purgatory stronger than the blood of Jesus? l John 1:7.
4. “I hope to make heaven with my good works.” Answer: Then Jesus’ death was a horrible mistake. Eph. 2:8‑9.
5. “No one can know he is going to heaven.” Answer: If Jesus said you could know, would you believe him? l John 5:13.
6. “Well, don’t you ever sin?” Answer: I no longer make a practice of it. l John 3:9.
7. “Do you believe in the saints?” Answer: Yes, I even read their writings daily‑‑St. Matthew, St. Peter, St. Paul, etc.
8. “Do you believe in Mary?” Answer: Yes, Mary was honored by God, but she did not die on the cross for our sins. Acts 4:12.
9. “We pray to Mary so she can ask Jesus.” Answer: If you needed an operation, would you go to the doctor or the doctor’s mother? l Tim. 2:5.
l0. “Do you believe in confession?” Answer: Yes, and the Bible is very clear as to whom I am to confess. l John l:9; James 5:l6.
11. “We Catholics belong to the true church.” Answer: Surely you don’t believe that every non‑Catholic will go to hell. John 5:24.
5. Witnessing to Jews
In Romans l0 and 11, Paul speaks of God’s plan to provoke the Jews to anger and jealousy through the Gentiles. The Gentiles have certainly provoked the Jews to anger over the years, but seldom to jealousy. If Jews can see the relationship that Gentiles have with their God, the joy and peace they have through knowing Him and reading His Word, and the love they have for the Jewish people, they will be provoked to jealousy.
Many Jews today are not religious and most have little knowledge of the Bible. If you win their confidence by your genuine love and concern for them, they will listen to what you say. Avoid arguing. It is easy to win the argument but lose the contact.
Some misconceptions Jews have of Christians:
l. Every Gentile is a Christian.
2. Christians killed six million Jews in Europe.
3. To be Christian is to cease being Jewish.
4. Christians worship three gods.
5. The Messiah didn’t come to die; hence, he hasn’t come yet.
Show your love and appreciation for the Jewish people. “I want to thank you and your nation for the Bible. Every writer was Jewish except possibly Luke. Without your Jewish Bible I’d be lost. I want to thank you for giving me your Messiah. I found atonement for my sins when I asked the Jewish Messiah into my life.”
If he expresses doubt about Jesus being the Messiah, ask him, “How would you recognize the Messiah if He were to appear right now?” Then open your Bible and read Isaiah 53:3‑6. Ask him who he thinks this is talking about. Don’t let him know you are reading from the Old Testament until after you have read the passage. Point out that Isaiah was an Old Testament prophet who wrote 700 years before Christ. Then read Isaiah 9:6 which speaks of a Son being born who is to be called “mighty God.” Since Jews firmly believe that there is only one God, they stumble over the idea of God having a Son. Reading Proverbs 30:4 may help.
Old Testament prophecies with New Testament fulfillments are powerful witnesses to the Jew, even if he is not religious. Use a few that are clear rather than ones that are debatable. Only share as he is ready to listen. Don’t “cram scriptures down his throat.”
1. Born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2; Matt. 2:1.
2. Miracle of a virgin birth. Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18.
3. Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. Zech. 11:12; Matt. 26:15.
4. Side to be pierced. Zech. 12:10; John 19:34.
5. Pierced his hands and feet. Psalm 22:l6 (read vv.1‑18).
6. Blood cleansing for our sins. Isa. 53:5,6; John 1:29.
You can also explain how the Old Testament required blood sacrifices for sin, and how Christ is our atonement. Also, share about the Jewish Passover, how the angel of death passed over the Jewish houses when the blood of the lamb was on their door. Jesus was called the Lamb of God.
Be patient in witnessing to Jews. They may argue and seem not to respond, but God may be working deeply in their lives. Also, remember that for a Jew to openly confess Jesus as Messiah probably means rejection by family and friends. Encourage them to count the cost, but let them know that the rewards of coming to Jesus are worth far more than the price we must pay.
Witnessing to Cultists
There are thousands of cults, occult groups, and new age groups involving millions of people. There are also hundreds of “aberrant Christian groups” that practice extreme psychological manipulation on their members or have serious doctrinal errors. I cannot discuss all these groups in this book. There are many good books on this subject in Christian bookstores. For more information, I suggest you contact two ministries that specialize in this area: Christian Research Institute, Box 500, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693 and Spiritual Counterfeits Project, Box 4308, Berkeley, CA 94704. Each will send you a catalog of literature and answer specific questions.
One thing to realize when you talk with cultists is that often they use the same language we do, but it means something totally different to them. Often, they redefine terms like “resurrection” and “born again.” In witnessing to cultists, you should get some basic information about their beliefs and how they differ from our beliefs. Otherwise, you could talk to someone in Christian Science, Mormonism, or the Unification Church (Rev. Moon) and think he believes what we do. To witness to a cultist, we need to know what we believe (especially such concepts as the Trinity) and why. At the same time, we should remember that our witness to cultists involves both reasoning with them from the scriptures and showing them the reality of our relationship with Jesus Christ.
