Basic Truths: Witnessing #6
- we're studying how to please the Lord in the use of our
tongue
- we've talked about all the things that have to be put off
- now we're studying what has to be put on
- surely one of the things that the Lord would want us to do
with our tongues is tell others about His Son
- this is our sixth week on this subject so if you're just
joining us you might want to consider getting a copy of
the notes from the previous weeks -- we'd be happy to
provide them
- today we're going to continue talking about "Handling
Common Objections"
- last week we tried to "Develop a philosophy of handling
objections"
- how do I respond, not to a specific objection, but
just to the fact that the person has an objection
period
- today I'd like to mention a few more general principles
about objections, and then we'll start talking about some
of the specific common objections
I. Basic Attitudes In Handling Objections
A. Avoid arguments
- when somebody objects, its not time to pull out
your argumentation gun and shoot the person down
(blow smoke from your gun)
- it's possible to win the argument and lose the
opportunity to minister to that person
- it's important to remember, in relation to this,
that we ought not to take objections personally
- we're not there to present ourselves, we're there
to present our Lord
B. Show positive attitude
- let's say that you're giving your testimony and the
person objects by saying--"born again, that's
something Jimmy Carter came up with."
- What positive thing could you say to that?
- thanks for listening
- thanks for thinking this through
- thanks for being Bereanish
- closely aligned to that one:
C. Use sincere compliment
- it's nice to discuss this with someone so willing
to think this through
- its obvious that you're well-read
- so one question we need to ask - do I have the right
attutude?
II. Methods of Handling Objections
A. Postpone
- question to ask ourselves - does this deal with an
essential part of the gospel?
- often the quesion won't - (cf. Why so many
denominations?)
- INPUT - how can you "postpone" that objection?
- "that's an interesting question and I'd like to
talk to you about it as soon as we've finished
talking about how a person goes to heaven."
- might not be a bad idea in some settings to
actually write the question down on a legal pad so
the person knows you are serious about getting back
to it
B. Answer quickly
- if objection does deal with an essential part of
the gospel, you of course will need to answer it
- cf. our Lord with Thomas - John 14
C. Research and return
- person may ask a question that you can't answer
- that is possible
- I get paid to study the Scripture and there are
plenty of questions I can't answer
- (many of you have asked me questions where I've
told you I'd need to get back to you)
- there's a lot of difficult questions that could be
asked
1) Could a person effectively be baptized in a
heap of shredded paper?
2) Is God ethical in declaring me righteous when
I'm really not?
3) Can God make a rock bogger than he can pick
up?
- now let's talk about some common objections
-(if time, break into groups and have them brainstorm the
different objections they've heard or been confronted with)
- in the time we have left, let's talk about some of these
common objections.
- our "method" will be this--I'll mention the specific
objection and then we'll brainstorm some possible answers
- then we'll study some things together
III. Handling Some of the Common Objections
A. I don't believe the Bible
- INPUT?
- "What do you understand the main message of the
Bible to be?"
- "I don't believe it"
- I'm not asking if you believe it - I'm asking what
you understand God's Word to say about how a person
gets to heaven?
- they will probably answer something about works
- you've rejected the most important book in
human history without understanding it's
message
- Can I share that message with you?
B. Religion is a crutch
- there are many things appealing about God - His
love, compassion, mercy
- there are also aspects about God that make terror
here on earth pale by comparison
- His justice and judgement to come- His
anger against sin and His wrath which He
will pour out on it
- we know it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands
of the living God - Heb. 10:31
- truth is - instaed of believers creating an
imaginary God to who we can flee, unbelievers have
created an imaginary world where God doesn't exist
to flee from a God whom deep down they know exists
C. There are hypocrites in the church
INPUT?
1. That's bad. Believers will never be perfect but
must be growing.
2. There wa s ahypocrite among the twelve.
Christ was longsuffering with Judas but he was
eventually judged.
Our Lord never allowed anyone to use Judas as an
excuse for being irresponsible.
3. Every person stands alone before God.
Rom. 14:12
4. there's only one place free of hypocrites.
5. Not all believers are as bad as some folks make
them out to be.
D. I've already done that.
INPUT?
- use two diagnostic questions:
1) Have you come to the place in your spiritual life
where you know for sure that you have eternal
life? -- that is; do you know for sure that if
you died today you would be on your way to
heaven?
2) If you were to die today and stand before God and
He said to you, why should I let you into heaven,
what would you say?
- other answers - II Cor. 5:17 (has there been
a change?)
E. Life will be a drag if I accept Christ.
F. My friends won't understand.
G. All roads lead to heaven.
H. I can't live up to that.
I. I need more time.
