Home Group Notes on Witness

THE GREAT COMMISSION

WELCOME – when was the last time you told somebody about Jesus? Any lessons learned?

WORSHIP – make a point of asking the Holy Spirit to come and fill the group.

WITNESS – pray that the Holy Spirit would give you power to preach and then discuss strategies of reaching out to the estate or street where you meet as a home group. Think about how you can preach the gospel to new people. (Remember that social action or BBQs on their own are not enough. We need to confirm the “Jesus story” to be a witness.) Whatever you decide, make sure you follow it through.

WORD – see below
Acts 1:1-8. Philip concentrated on V.8 and especially the meaning of the word “witness” within that verse. What is a witness in everyday language?
BIBLICAL USAGE
In the Bible the word “witness” is, first and foremost, a legal term. So we learn that:
1. More than one witness was required in criminal cases (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15).
2. Witnesses were the first to execute the sentence on the condemned (Deuteronomy 13:9; 17:7; 1 Kings 21:13; Matthew 27:1; Acts 7:57,58).
3. False witnesses were liable to punishment (Deuteronomy 19:16-21).
4. It was an offence to refuse to bear witness (Leviticus 5:1).
5. In the New Testament the Greek word for “witness” is “martus”, which sounds very much like the English word “martyr”. At times those two words are used interchangeably in the Bible as in Rev. 17:6.
Discuss what all of this might mean for our own Christian witness.
THE GREAT COMMISSION
V.6 The Restoration of Israel
Amongst other things, the disciples thought that the restoration of Israel would mean that:
the Romans would be overthrown
the nations would bring their riches to Jerusalem
Israel’s spiritual exile would be over; and
the Messiah would rule forever and ever.
After all, that’s what had been prophesied in passages such as Psalms 2 & 79, Isaiah 60, Daniel 2 & 7, Ezekiel 36 & 37 and Jeremiah 31.
V.7/ 8 Rebuke & Commission
The so-called “Great Commission” turns out to be more of a “great prophecy” or a “great rebuke”?! Discuss what this could mean.

APPLICATION
Philip emphasized that we need to pray & preach. We need to pray for power to “get out there” and preach the gospel to new people. Start in Jerusalem, i.e. your street or estate. Think of creative ways of winning people for Jesus. (Philip suggested it might be a good idea to offer to pray for non-Christians whenever you can.) Remember there is no easy way. People will only get saved through the gospel. So we need to tell them! Lets beat the Jehovah Witnesses at their own game. Discuss.

Philip Parnham, 27/01/2009