Brief overview of Witness Part 1: Last time, we explored what it means to make Jesus known through both our words and our actions. Evangelism, or witnessing is not simply about getting people to become Christians, but about inviting them to encounter Jesus, respond to his love and grow as his followers. We are called to proclaim the good news, demonstrate God’s love through practical service and radically ordinary hospitality, invite people to follow Jesus and make disciples, all while relying on the power of Holy Spirit, rather than our own efforts. Salvation is a gift of grace, not a tick-box exercise, and we cannot control how people respond, but God invites us to partner with him in making his love known.
As a Spirit-filled church, we are called to expect God to be at work in people’s lives and to consider how we can join in.
See www.oakscc.org.uk/witnesspart1 for more
When engaging with people, we can sometimes fall into the trap of approaching evangelism with a predefined picture of what someone needs, how they should come to faith, or what ought to change in their life as a result. This session invites us to step back from any potential rigid ideas and ultimately, human control. Instead, we will explore what happens when we align our hearts with what Holy Spirit is already doing in the lives of those around us.
Core Principles for Witnessing
To cultivate a natural, Spirit-led approach to sharing our faith, consider these three things:
- Never assume: What is actually happening in this person’s life, rather than what I assume is happening?
- Listen to God: What might God be doing, and how can I listen to Holy Spirit and the person in front of me?
- Trust God: How can I faithfully play my part without trying to control the outcome?
Case Study: ‘Tigger is Unbounced’ – a Winnie-the-Pooh story
Rabbit’s Plan: Irritated by Tigger’s exuberant bouncing, Rabbit decides that something must be done to ‘fix him’. He formulates a plan to lead Tigger deep into the Forest, drop him somewhere unfamiliar, and leave him behind – hoping Tigger will become lost, frightened, and humbled enough to stop bouncing!
Lack of Consultation: Rabbit recruits Pooh and Piglet, assuming his strategy is obviously right. Crucially, he fails to consult Christopher Robin, who occupies a position of particular authority and trust in the Hundred Acre Wood.
Misinterpreting the ‘Signs’: When the weather turns cold and misty, Rabbit misinterprets the fog as a confirming sign that his plan is a good one and blessed by the circumstances.
The Honey Guidance: When Tigger is abandoned, Rabbit, Pooh and Piglet end up getting lost (oh the irony!). Rabbit cannot find his way home but stubbornly keeps trying, eventually getting separated from Pooh and Piglet. Left alone, Pooh remembers his twelve pots of honey waiting at home and begins to ‘listen for them’. The honey draws him home and he is greeted in the mist by Christopher Robin who has come to find him.
The Significance of the Honey
In the story, Pooh is drawn home by the irresistible thought of his honey. This serves as a striking picture of how God draws people to him, and instead of doing a ‘Rabbit’ and getting in the way, we should join in with what God is already doing!
Lessons from Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1–19 (NIV)
Naaman Healed of Leprosy
Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife.
She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy. Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”
So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”
As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”
When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”
But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.
“If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord. But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.”
“Go in peace,” Elisha said.
A. The Servant Girl (verses 1–4)
The young Israelite captive simply shared knowledge of the prophet in Samaria who could heal Naaman. She communicated with clarity and care, without carrying the heavy burden of orchestrating the entire process or controlling what happened next.
What can we learn from her about witnessing?
B. Naaman (verses 9–15)
God does not follow our script. Naaman arrived expecting a grand, dramatic encounter. Instead, Elisha sent a simple message instructing him to wash seven times in the Jordan river. Furious, Naaman nearly missed his healing because God’s method did not match his initial expectations.
How might our expectations about how someone should come to faith prevent us from recognising what God is doing?
C. Elisha (verses 17–19)
After experiencing healing, Naaman commits his allegiance to the Lord, but expresses a complex ongoing dilemma: bowing down to another god, when accompanying his master into the temple of Rimmon. Rather than scolding Naaman or imposing immediate perfection, Elisha grants him pastoral grace, responding simply: “Go in peace.” Elisha leaves room for God to work in Naaman’s life over time, rather than demanding instant conformity.
What might Elisha’s response teach us about walking alongside people whose understanding and circumstances are still complicated? What might have happened if Elisha had scolded Naaman?
Other Scriptures to Consider
| Scripture | Spiritual Principle & Reality |
| John 6:44 & John 3:16 | The Father draws people to Jesus; spiritual awakenings are initiated by God, not forced by human pressure. He invites us to partner with him in the process. God’s heart is for everyone to come back to him. |
| John 16:13 | Holy Spirit guides into truth; we rely on Spirit-led direction rather than trying to manipulate outcomes. |
| 1 Corinthians 3:6–7 | We can plant seeds and water them, but it is God who makes them grow; ultimate fruit and transformation belong to God alone. |
Key Takeaway
We can take people’s spiritual growth seriously without assuming responsibility for controlling it. This is not about ignoring truth or saying that nothing needs to change. It is about recognising that we may not understand the whole picture, and that we need Holy Spirit’s wisdom to discern what to say, when to say it and when to leave room for God to work.
Core Question for Reflection
“Can we be trusted with the Naamans and the Tiggers?”
Go Deeper
Think of one person in your life who you would love to see encounter Jesus. Take a minute or two of silence to prayerfully consider the following:
- Have I already decided what this person needs?
- Am I listening to them, or mainly waiting for an opportunity to tell them what I think?
- What might a faithful next step look like?
- Is there anything I need to surrender to God rather than trying to control it?
