A Guide for Witnessing
Welcome, friend. This guide is for anyone who has tried to share their faith and been met with silence or rejection. So often, I receive letters from people who feel discouraged, despondent, and think that this lack of results is somehow their fault. I have learned how not to be discouraged, because I have more opportunities to witness than most, and I don’t convince very many people either.l
The purpose of this document is to walk you through the key Bible verses from the sermon “How Not to Be Discouraged in Witnessing.” We will look at what the Bible actually says about the true purpose of ministry and how God instructs us to handle rejection. My hope is that by understanding these scriptures, you will feel a great burden lifted from your shoulders—a burden you were never meant to carry.
2.0 Your Place in the Body: Everyone Has a Different Role
The first step in avoiding discouragement is understanding that God gives different roles and gifts to different people. Just like a sports team, not everyone is the quarterback, but every position is vital for the team to function. The Apostle Paul uses the analogy of a human body to explain this.
2.1 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 — The Body of Christ and Its Parts
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Plain English Meaning: This passage explains that the church is like a single body (the “body of Christ”) made up of many different parts (“members”). God is the one who assigns specific jobs and abilities to each person. Some are public speakers like apostles and teachers, while others have less visible but equally important roles, such as providing practical assistance (“helps”) or being good organizers (“governments”). Paul’s series of questions—”Are all apostles? are all prophets?”—is rhetorical, and the obvious answer is “No.” Not everyone is meant to do the same thing.
Sermon Connection:
- The key takeaway is that you shouldn’t be discouraged if you don’t have a seemingly “major” public gift. God has given you a specific and essential role. The sermon particularly highlights the gifts of “helps” and “governments” because they are often ignored, yet they are vital for the body of Christ to function properly.
These diverse roles are not given randomly; they are given for a very specific purpose.
3.0 The True Purpose of Ministry: Building Up Believers
A major source of discouragement comes from a common misunderstanding of what the primary goal of ministry actually is. So many of us have thought that our work was to go out and save all the ungodly, convert the whole nation, or, as some say, convert the whole world. But the Bible defines the main objective very differently, and this understanding brings great relief.
3.1 Ephesians 4:11-15 — Perfecting the Saints
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.
Plain English Meaning: Christ gave spiritual gifts and roles (like pastors and teachers) to the church for a clear reason: to equip, mature, and build up fellow believers. The goal is to help those who already believe (the “saints” or “the body of Christ”) become spiritually strong and unified in their faith so they can grow into spiritual adulthood. This maturity protects them from being easily deceived by false teachings.
Sermon Connection:
- Primary Focus: The sermon emphasizes that the primary job of ministry is to strengthen the church from within, not to convert the entire world. Its purpose is to help believers grow strong so they won’t be “tossed to and fro” and fooled by false doctrines.
- A Goal Not Yet Reached: The sermon argues that no church has fully achieved this goal of perfect unity and spiritual maturity. Therefore, the work of building up the church remains the most urgent and important task.
If the focus is on strengthening the church, what should we do about those outside who actively reject the message?
4.0 Permission to Move On: How to Handle Rejection
The Bible gives clear, practical instructions on how to respond when people persistently reject the message. These instructions are designed to free believers from the burden of trying to convince those who are unwilling to listen.
4.1 A Three-Part Instruction on Rejection
The teachings from Jesus and the apostles provide a consistent model for handling rejection.
Scripture Reference
The Instruction
The Core Principle
Titus 3:10-11
After a first and second warning, reject a person who causes division (“a heretic”).
Don’t waste endless time on someone who stubbornly refuses to believe. The Bible “did not say keep going back and back and back and back until you’ll finally get him converted.” It says they are “condemned of himself.”
Matthew 10:14
If a town or house won’t listen to you, leave and “shake the dust off your feet.”
There are consequences for rejecting the message, but your job is to deliver it and move on, not force its acceptance.
Acts 18:6
When the people opposed and blasphemed, Paul “shook his raiment” and went to preach to others.
This shows the apostles put the principle into practice. When faced with hostile rejection, they moved on to a more receptive audience.
The sermon provides a powerful modern-day example of this principle in action. The preacher spoke of receiving a letter from a man in Omaha, Nebraska. This man had studied the Bible on his own and come to understand certain truths but felt completely alone, believing no one else shared his views. At the very same time, there was an entire church in Omaha full of people who were feeling discouraged because they couldn’t seem to reach anyone with their message. The point is clear: while we spend months or years trying to convince the same unreceptive people, there are others in our own cities who are ready and “just looking for someone to visit with and fellowship with.”
4.2 Luke 10:16 — Who They Are Really Rejecting
He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
Plain English Meaning: Jesus is telling his followers that their message is directly connected to Him. When someone listens to them, they are effectively listening to Jesus. Conversely, when someone rejects or despises them, they are ultimately rejecting Jesus and God the Father, who sent Him.
Sermon Connection:
- This verse should be a great comfort because it clarifies that rejection is not a personal failure. The person is not rejecting you; they are rejecting Christ. Therefore, you should not take their response personally or become discouraged by it.
This raises an important question: why are some people so unreceptive to the message in the first place?
5.0 Understanding the Unreceptive Heart
Scripture provides several reasons why some people simply cannot or will not believe, removing the blame from the person delivering the message.
5.1 Some Cannot Understand, Others Choose Not To
The Bible describes different states of the human heart that prevent belief.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
— 1 Corinthians 2:14
Plain English Meaning: A person without a spiritual connection to God (the “natural man”) cannot understand spiritual truths. To them, the message of the gospel sounds like “foolishness” or nonsense because it requires spiritual insight to be understood.
Sermon Connection:
- It is a waste of time to keep witnessing to people for whom the message is simply nonsense. They lack the spiritual ability to comprehend it.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers… lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
— 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Plain English Meaning: In the “last days,” people will be characterized by selfishness, pride, and a love of pleasure more than a love for God. They may have an outward appearance of religion (“a form of godliness”), but they deny its true power. The instruction for believers is direct: “turn away” from them.
Sermon Connection:
- This is a direct order from God not to waste effort on people whose lives are defined by their love of self and pleasure over their love for God.
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God… Be not ye therefore partakers with them… And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness…
— Ephesians 5:5-7, 11
Plain English Meaning: People who live wicked lives will not inherit God’s kingdom. Believers are commanded not to participate (“be partakers”) in their lifestyle or have fellowship with their “unfruitful works of darkness.”
Sermon Connection:
- Believers are told to separate from such people and their destructive lifestyles, not to spend all their time trying to convert them.
5.2 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 — God and the “Strong Delusion”
…because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Plain English Meaning: This is a challenging but crucial concept. For people who actively and persistently refuse to love the truth, God himself sends a “strong delusion” that causes them to believe what is false. They are left to their deception because they found “pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Sermon Connection:
- The sermon highlights the profound implication of this verse with a powerful question: “How in the world are we going to straighten them up with the truth if it is God Almighty himself who actually sends the delusion upon them?” This is the ultimate reason not to become frustrated when some people absolutely will not be convinced.
This shifts the focus away from those who won’t believe and toward what believers should be doing instead.
6.0 The Right Focus: Gratitude, Growth, and God’s Power
Instead of dwelling on failed conversion attempts, believers are called to focus on positive, constructive actions centered on gratitude and God’s sovereignty.
6.1 Give Thanks for Your Own Understanding
But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
Sermon Connection:
- Instead of feeling discouraged, we are given a different instruction. The sermon urges a practical response: every time you’re rejected by someone who doesn’t want the truth, you just turn around and say, “Well, praise the Lord. He let me know about the kingdom.” The proper response to rejection is not despair, but gratitude for your own salvation.
6.2 Remember Who Gives the Growth
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Sermon Connection:
- God is the Source: Human ministers are just laborers doing their part—some “plant” the seed of the message, and others “water” it. But only God can make that seed grow into faith. As the sermon illustrates, people at conferences often remember a powerful truth they learned but forget which specific preacher said it. This is a good thing! “All they remember is the truth, not the glorification of some man.” All power and credit belong to God alone.
- Christ is the Foundation: The sermon offers a vital correction: we sometimes tend to exalt our particular understanding of the truth (e.g., “We are God’s Israel people”) as the foundation. But the Bible is clear that this is not the foundation of the gospel. The one and only foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
7.0 Conclusion: Your True Calling
The Bible verses explored in the sermon “How Not to Be Discouraged in Witnessing” reveal a perspective that is truly liberating. The primary purpose of ministry is not to convert the world, but to build up, strengthen, and edify the body of Christ—your fellow believers. When you encounter rejection, it is not a personal failure; it is a reflection of their rejection of Christ, not you. The Bible gives you permission to deliver the message and then move on.
Your correct response is to turn away from fruitless arguments and instead turn to God with a heart of gratitude for the truth He has revealed to you. By focusing on your true calling, you can find joy and purpose. As the sermon suggests, if you want to talk to someone about the kingdom, why not spend your time talking to someone who already knows about it? You’ll have a wonderful time, and you won’t get discouraged.