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Objective

In this lesson, we’ll discover how we are called to be witnesses for Christ through our holy living, faithful endurance, and loving service so that others will want to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Key Verse

1 Peter 3:15: But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

Introduction

As we saw in our previous lesson, the Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses for Christ throughout the world. Jesus told His disciples in Acts 1:8 that they would receive power and become His witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This same calling rests on every believer today.

But we must understand an important difference between “being” a witness and “witnessing.” Being a witness is about who we are—how our lives consistently point others to Christ. Witnessing, which we’ll explore in our next lesson, is about what we do—the specific opportunities we have to share the gospel with words. Both are essential, but in this lesson we’ll focus on the foundation: being a witness through the way we live.

Jesus gives us two powerful images in Matthew 5 to help us understand how our lives should impact the world around us. First, He calls us salt. Salt preserves food from spoiling, but it also makes food taste better. Our lives should make people hungry for God—they should want to “taste and see that the Lord is good” because of what they observe in us. Second, Jesus calls us light. Light shows people the way when they’re lost in darkness, and this is exactly what our lives should do for those who don’t know Christ yet.

Philippians 2:14-16: Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.

Notice that Paul doesn’t tell us to try to shine like stars—he says we will shine when we live as God’s pure children in this dark world. But he also shows us that our witness can be destroyed by grumbling and arguing. People are watching how we respond to daily frustrations and disagreements. When we consistently respond with grace instead of complaints, we become lights that point others to Christ.

Here are the three main ways we’ll explore together:

• Witnessing through holiness—living in a way that attracts others to Christ
• Witnessing through suffering and persecution—showing Christ’s strength in our trials
• Witnessing through love and service—demonstrating God’s heart through our actions

We’ll see each of these forms of witness demonstrated through the lives of three faithful believers: Daniel, who showed us witnessing through holiness; Stephen, who witnessed through suffering and persecution; and Dorcas, who witnessed through love and service.

Witnessing Through Holiness

The most powerful witness we can have in this world is a life that clearly shows the difference Christ makes. When people see genuine holiness in us—not perfect behavior, but hearts that truly belong to God—they begin to ask questions about what makes us different.

God calls every believer to this kind of holy living that becomes a witness to the world:

1 Peter 1:15-16: But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Notice that this call to holiness isn’t just for our personal spiritual growth—it’s “in all you do,” which includes how we live before those who don’t know Christ. Our holiness should be visible in every area of our lives.

Paul gives us practical guidance about how our holy living affects those who don’t know Christ:

Colossians 4:5-6: Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

The word “outsiders” here refers to those who haven’t yet come to faith in Christ. Paul tells us to be wise in how we act around them. This doesn’t mean we should be fake or pretend to be perfect. Instead, it means we should be thoughtful about how our behavior either draws people toward Christ or pushes them away.

When Paul says our conversation should be “seasoned with salt,” he’s using the same image Jesus used. Our words should make people thirsty for the living water that only Christ can provide. This happens when we speak with grace—showing kindness instead of harshness, hope instead of complaints, and love instead of judgment.

This kind of holy living that attracts others to Christ must also include how we treat everyone around us:

Hebrews 12:14: Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

This verse connects our holiness directly to our relationships with other people, including those who don’t share our faith. When we make every effort to live peacefully with everyone, our holiness becomes visible and helps others see the Lord through our lives.

The prophet Daniel gives us a perfect example of how holiness creates a powerful witness. When he was taken captive to Babylon as a young man, Daniel could have been bitter and angry. Instead, he chose to honor God through his daily choices, even in small matters like the food he ate.

Daniel 1:8: But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

Daniel’s commitment to live according to God’s standards, even when it was difficult, caught the attention of the Babylonian officials. His life became so obviously blessed by God that even pagan kings recognized God’s hand upon him. By the end of Daniel’s life, he had served faithfully under multiple kings and had countless opportunities to share his faith because his holy living had earned him respect and influence.

Notebook Moment: What daily choices in your life could become opportunities to show others the difference that knowing Christ makes? How might your commitment to honor God in small things create opportunities for bigger conversations about faith?

However, we must remember that holiness without love can actually drive people away from Christ. Sometimes Christians become so focused on avoiding sin that they forget to show grace to those who are still trapped in sin. The Pharisees had this problem—they were very religious, but their pride and judgment made people want to avoid God rather than seek Him.

Matthew 9:10-13: While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus lived a perfectly holy life, yet sinners felt comfortable coming to Him because they sensed His love and compassion. Our holiness should create the same effect—people should feel drawn to us because they sense God’s love flowing through our lives.

It’s important to remember that this kind of holy living isn’t something we achieve through our own effort. God calls us to holiness, but He also provides the power to live it:

2 Timothy 1:9: He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

Our witness through holiness flows from God’s grace working in us, not from trying harder to be good. When people see the difference Christ makes in our lives, they’re seeing the power of God’s grace, and that’s what draws them to want what we have.

Witnessing Through Suffering and Persecution

One of the most powerful ways believers witness to the world is through how we respond to suffering and persecution. When people see us maintain faith, hope, and even joy during difficult times, they begin to realize that we have access to something they don’t understand—something they desperately need.

Jesus Himself taught us that persecution would come to those who follow Him, but He also promised a blessing for those who endure it faithfully:

Matthew 5:10-12: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t promise to remove persecution from our lives—instead, He promises to bless us through it. When we respond to persecution with the joy and hope that Jesus describes, we become powerful witnesses to a watching world.

The apostle Peter, who knew firsthand what it meant to suffer for his faith, gives us important guidance about this kind of witness:

1 Peter 2:15: For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Notice that Peter doesn’t tell us to argue with people who oppose our faith or to try to prove them wrong through debate. Instead, he says our good deeds during difficult times will “silence” their criticisms. When people see us responding to persecution with grace and love, they run out of arguments against our faith.

Peter continues with even more specific instruction:

1 Peter 3:13-16: Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

This passage shows us the beautiful progression of witnessing through suffering. First, we continue doing good even when it brings persecution. Second, we refuse to be controlled by fear because Christ is our Lord. Third, we maintain hope in the midst of our trials. Fourth, people notice our hope and begin asking questions about it. Finally, we’re ready to explain the source of our hope with gentleness and respect.

Stephen provides one of the most powerful examples of this kind of witness in all of Scripture. When he was being stoned to death for preaching about Christ, his response was so Christ-like that it left a lasting impact on everyone who witnessed it, including a young man named Saul who would later become the apostle Paul.

Acts 7:59-60: While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen’s prayer for his enemies echoed the very words Jesus had spoken from the cross. Years later, when Saul became Paul, he undoubtedly remembered Stephen’s incredible response to persecution. The seeds of Paul’s eventual conversion may have been planted as he watched Stephen die with such grace and forgiveness.

We may never face martyrdom for our faith, but we will all face smaller forms of suffering and opposition because we belong to Christ. How we respond to criticism at work, unfair treatment from neighbors, or mockery from family members can become powerful opportunities to show others that our faith is real and that Christ gives us strength they don’t understand.

Witnessing Through Love and Service

Perhaps the most accessible way for every believer to be a witness is through acts of love and service. When we consistently demonstrate God’s heart by caring for others’ needs, we create natural opportunities for people to ask about the source of our compassion.

Jesus taught us that our good deeds should be visible to others specifically so they would be drawn to God:

Matthew 5:16: In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Notice that the purpose of letting our light shine through good deeds isn’t to bring glory to ourselves, but to point people toward our Father in heaven. When people see us consistently serving others, they should be led to praise God, not us.

Every believer has been given gifts and abilities that can be used to serve others as a witness:

1 Peter 4:10: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Peter reminds us that when we serve others using our gifts, we’re actually showing them God’s grace. Whether our gift is teaching, helping, encouraging, or providing practical assistance, we can use it to demonstrate God’s love to those around us.

The story of Dorcas (also called Tabitha) in the book of Acts shows us how powerful this kind of witness can be. Though she’s only mentioned briefly in Scripture, her impact on her community was so significant that when she died, the believers sent urgently for Peter to come and pray for her.

Acts 9:36: In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.

Notice that Dorcas wasn’t known for her preaching or her theological knowledge. She was known for “always doing good and helping the poor.” The Greek word used here suggests that acts of service and generosity were the defining characteristics of her life. She had made love and service her regular practice, not just something she did occasionally.

When Dorcas became sick and died, the response of the community reveals the impact her life had made:

Acts 9:39: Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

The widows didn’t just tell Peter about Dorcas—they showed him the tangible evidence of her love. She had clothed them with her own hands, meeting their practical needs and showing them God’s care in the most personal way possible. Through her faithful service, Dorcas had become a living demonstration of God’s love to her entire community.

Our motivation for serving others should always flow from love, not from duty or obligation:

Galatians 5:13: You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

When we serve others out of genuine love rather than religious duty, people can sense the difference. Love-motivated service becomes a powerful witness because it reflects the heart of God toward people.

Notebook Moment: What practical needs do you see around you that could become opportunities to show God’s love through service? How might meeting these needs open doors for deeper conversations about your faith?

Jesus Himself emphasized that our love for one another would be the primary way the world would recognize us as His followers:

John 13:34-35: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

This love isn’t just for our fellow believers—it extends to everyone around us. When we consistently demonstrate genuine care for others’ welfare, whether they share our faith or not, we create a powerful witness that speaks louder than many words.

Jesus taught us that when we serve others, especially those who are vulnerable or in need, we are actually serving Him:

Matthew 25:40: The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

This gives eternal significance to every act of service, no matter how small it might seem. When we help someone in need, we’re not just being kind—we’re serving Christ Himself and showing others what God’s love looks like in action.

The early church understood this principle and put it into practice so effectively that their love became famous throughout their communities:

Acts 2:46-47: Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Notice that the believers enjoyed “the favor of all the people”—even those who didn’t share their faith respected and appreciated them because of their love and generosity. This created an environment where people were naturally drawn to hear more about their message, and “the Lord added to their number daily.”

Notebook Moment: Think about your reputation in your workplace, neighborhood, or school. What would people say about the way you treat others? How could you more intentionally demonstrate Christ’s love through your daily interactions?

Conclusion

Being a witness for Christ isn’t about having all the right answers or being able to win every argument about faith. It’s about living in such a way that people want to know more about the source of what they see in us. When our lives consistently display holiness, hope in suffering, and genuine love for others, we create countless opportunities for people to ask us about our faith.

The beauty of this approach is that it works in every culture and every situation. Whether you work in an office, study at a university, raise children at home, or serve in any other capacity, you have daily opportunities to be salt and light through the way you live. You don’t need special training or unusual circumstances—you simply need a heart that belongs to God and a commitment to let that reality show through your daily choices.

Remember Peter’s words from our key verse: we should always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks about the hope we have. But notice that Peter assumes people will ask. They’ll ask because they see something different in us—something attractive, something they want for themselves.

This is God’s beautiful plan for reaching the world with His love. He doesn’t depend only on professional missionaries or specially gifted evangelists, though they play an important role. He also depends on ordinary believers like you and me who live extraordinary lives because we’ve been transformed by His grace.

When people see Christ reflected in our character, demonstrated through our trials, and expressed through our service, they begin to hunger for what we have. And that hunger creates the perfect opportunity for us to share the bread of life that satisfies every soul. This is how we become effective witnesses—not by forcing conversations about faith, but by living in such a way that people naturally want to know more about the God who has changed our lives.

As you go forward from this lesson, ask God to help you see every day as an opportunity to be His witness. Look for ways to let your light shine through acts of love and service. Respond to difficulties with the hope that comes from knowing Christ. Live with the kind of holiness that makes people thirsty for God. And always be ready to explain, with gentleness and respect, the reason for the hope that you have.

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