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GIVING AN ANSWER TO THOSE WITH QUESTIONS
#1 · June 12, 2002, 7:13 am
Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>
GIVING AN ANSWER TO THOSE WITH QUESTIONS
HOW WE OUGHT TO ANSWER
A. GOD'S WAY
1. "There is a way that seems right to man,
but its end is the way of death" (Prov. 14:12). Normally we use
this scripture in different light but I think it also applies to
the way we answer man. We must always answer according to God's
ways and the principles outlined in His word. He methods work;
for they have been tested and proved. If we use our own methods
the end may very well be death to the souls of those we are
instructing.
but its end is the way of death" (Prov. 14:12). Normally we use
this scripture in different light but I think it also applies to
the way we answer man. We must always answer according to God's
ways and the principles outlined in His word. He methods work;
for they have been tested and proved. If we use our own methods
the end may very well be death to the souls of those we are
instructing.
B. WITH MEEKNESS/GENTLENESS/PATIENCE
1. We can go back to I Peter 3:15 and see
that we are to give an answer with meekness and fear. 2 Tim.
2:24 reminded us that we must be gentle to all and have humility.
There are other Proverbs of wisdom that help direct our minds
toward our answers and how they ought to be.
that we are to give an answer with meekness and fear. 2 Tim.
2:24 reminded us that we must be gentle to all and have humility.
There are other Proverbs of wisdom that help direct our minds
toward our answers and how they ought to be.
2. "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a
harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge
rightly..." (Prov. 14:33). Our answer to men must be friendly
and gentle. A soft answer is not a weak answer, nor should it
compromise the truth or righteousness. It is to be firm in
SUBSTANCE but soft in spirit.
3. "He who has knowledge spares his words,
and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit." (Prov. 17:27).
Notice that all these scriptures point back to one thing. You
must have KNOWLEDGE. And with that knowledge, you will not be
lead to strike at anyone in answering them.
harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge
rightly..." (Prov. 14:33). Our answer to men must be friendly
and gentle. A soft answer is not a weak answer, nor should it
compromise the truth or righteousness. It is to be firm in
SUBSTANCE but soft in spirit.
3. "He who has knowledge spares his words,
and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit." (Prov. 17:27).
Notice that all these scriptures point back to one thing. You
must have KNOWLEDGE. And with that knowledge, you will not be
lead to strike at anyone in answering them.
C. WITH SEASONED SPEECH
1. "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life..."
(Prov. 15:4) This idea of wholesome speech is that which
heals because it is filled with goodness, sympathy, humility and
also words whose fruits are healing. Go back to Colossians 4;5,6
and notice that Paul said your speech is to be" seasoned with
salt." Literally meaning words that win with pleasantness.
Words that are wholesome and healing to the soul. Why are they
wholesome? Because they direct the heart to the word of God.
(Prov. 15:4) This idea of wholesome speech is that which
heals because it is filled with goodness, sympathy, humility and
also words whose fruits are healing. Go back to Colossians 4;5,6
and notice that Paul said your speech is to be" seasoned with
salt." Literally meaning words that win with pleasantness.
Words that are wholesome and healing to the soul. Why are they
wholesome? Because they direct the heart to the word of God.
D. WITH REASON AND EXPLANATION
1. Notice Acts 17:2,3. "Then Paul, as his
custom was, went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with
them from the Scriptures explaining and demonstrating that the
Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying,
'This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ."
custom was, went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with
them from the Scriptures explaining and demonstrating that the
Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying,
'This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ."
2. First of all we see that Paul made use of
a good opportunity and went where he knew would be a likely place
for his words to be received. Then he REASONED not argued with
them; and he also EXPLAINED and DEMONSTRATED. This is what we
must do sometimes. We must REASON with people only from God's
word. Then we might have to EXPLAIN it further or even
DEMONSTRATE by some means, the point that we are trying to get
across. (Our Studies in Sunday morning Bible class prepare us to
do this very thing Paul did here).
a good opportunity and went where he knew would be a likely place
for his words to be received. Then he REASONED not argued with
them; and he also EXPLAINED and DEMONSTRATED. This is what we
must do sometimes. We must REASON with people only from God's
word. Then we might have to EXPLAIN it further or even
DEMONSTRATE by some means, the point that we are trying to get
across. (Our Studies in Sunday morning Bible class prepare us to
do this very thing Paul did here).
E. WITH DISCRETION IN DUE SEASON
1. "A man has joy by the answer of his
mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!" (Prov.
15:23). This tells us that not only to we consider the matter of
our answers but also the manner of our answers. If means we
refrain from striking back if someone lashes at us. We must not
view disagreement personally.
mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!" (Prov.
15:23). This tells us that not only to we consider the matter of
our answers but also the manner of our answers. If means we
refrain from striking back if someone lashes at us. We must not
view disagreement personally.
2. Primarily this verse that a word spoken
in season is a word spoken at the right time. We should always
look for the most suitable moments. This includes times of
sorrow when the heart is softened, in leisure time when the mind
is open; after mistakes have been made to correct and save; and
when someone is in doubt, that we may remove all doubt.
in season is a word spoken at the right time. We should always
look for the most suitable moments. This includes times of
sorrow when the heart is softened, in leisure time when the mind
is open; after mistakes have been made to correct and save; and
when someone is in doubt, that we may remove all doubt.
3. We learn from the parable of the sower
that the heart must be in a right condition for the seed to be
accepted. You do not throw seed in the heat of August, nor
during the frost of January.
that the heart must be in a right condition for the seed to be
accepted. You do not throw seed in the heat of August, nor
during the frost of January.
4. It is not always easy to find the word
"in season". But one way to try to secure it is to have
SYMPATHY. Put yourself in their place. Take great THOUGHT AND
CONSIDERATION that you may choose the right word, and when it is
spoken that it may be at the right time. We must also take
COURAGE. Sometimes it is easier to preach to a congregation of
people than to talk to someone directly. Yet personal
conversation if more fruitful. It was Christs method with
Nicodemus and the woman at the well. We must have courage.
"in season". But one way to try to secure it is to have
SYMPATHY. Put yourself in their place. Take great THOUGHT AND
CONSIDERATION that you may choose the right word, and when it is
spoken that it may be at the right time. We must also take
COURAGE. Sometimes it is easier to preach to a congregation of
people than to talk to someone directly. Yet personal
conversation if more fruitful. It was Christs method with
Nicodemus and the woman at the well. We must have courage.
to give an answer we must.
BE FAMILIAR WITH COMMON RESPONSES
BE FAMILIAR WITH COMMON RESPONSES
NOTE: Anyone who shares his faith regularly soon learns
that certain questions about Christianity surface over and over
again. With basic preparation to these we can answer at least
90- 95% of them. But when you talk to someone about the Bible
from the beginning you might get some of these familiar
responses.
that certain questions about Christianity surface over and over
again. With basic preparation to these we can answer at least
90- 95% of them. But when you talk to someone about the Bible
from the beginning you might get some of these familiar
responses.
The following are a list of responses you will
commonly hear when the truth is taught. Beneath each one is a
Bible principle we can use to focus their attention back toward
the scriptures and personal responsibility.
commonly hear when the truth is taught. Beneath each one is a
Bible principle we can use to focus their attention back toward
the scriptures and personal responsibility.
A. "I'm satisfied with my religion"
1. "I am sure you are, but isn't the real
question whether or not Jesus is satisfied with it? There is only
one way to know." "By this we know that we know him if we keep
His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep
His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (I
John 2:3,4)
1. "I am sure you are, but isn't the real
question whether or not Jesus is satisfied with it? There is only
one way to know." "By this we know that we know him if we keep
His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep
His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (I
John 2:3,4)
B. "You're too narrow in your religion"
1. "Truth is narrow and I don't want to be
any narrower or broader than truth. Do you? "Enter by the
narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads
to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because
narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,
and there are few who find it." (Matthew 1:13,14)
any narrower or broader than truth. Do you? "Enter by the
narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads
to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because
narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,
and there are few who find it." (Matthew 1:13,14)
C. "That's just your interpretation"
1. "Your statement implies that there can be
many interpretation, but how many does God allow? "Now I plead
with you , brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions
among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same
mind and in the same judgement." (I Cor. 1:10) How do you know
your interpretation is right? "There is only one way to know."
"Be diligent to present yourself a approved by God, a worker that
does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
(2 Tim. 2:15)
many interpretation, but how many does God allow? "Now I plead
with you , brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions
among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same
mind and in the same judgement." (I Cor. 1:10) How do you know
your interpretation is right? "There is only one way to know."
"Be diligent to present yourself a approved by God, a worker that
does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
(2 Tim. 2:15)
D. "I just feel I am right."
1. "Are you sure feelings are a safe guide?"
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way
of death." (Prov. 12:14) Ask them, "How tall am I?" Different
answers reveal the fallacy of trusting feelings. The measure of
standard reveals the correct answer.
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way
of death." (Prov. 12:14) Ask them, "How tall am I?" Different
answers reveal the fallacy of trusting feelings. The measure of
standard reveals the correct answer.
E. "Are you saying I'm lost?"
1. "What difference does it make what I
think or say. If I say you're lost, does that make you lost? If
I say you are saved, does that make you saved? What does reveal
the answer--the Bible. "He who rejects Me, and does not receive
My words, and that which judges him--the word that I have spoken
will judge him in the last day" (John 12:48)
think or say. If I say you're lost, does that make you lost? If
I say you are saved, does that make you saved? What does reveal
the answer--the Bible. "He who rejects Me, and does not receive
My words, and that which judges him--the word that I have spoken
will judge him in the last day" (John 12:48)
F. "I believe God is a God of love and wouldn't
condemn me."
condemn me."
1. "Yes, He is a God of love and He lovingly
reminds us, if we love Him we will keep His commandments. "If
you love Me keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
reminds us, if we love Him we will keep His commandments. "If
you love Me keep my commandments" (John 14:15).
G. "I believe I am a good moral man."
1. "Do you believe you can be saved apart
from Jesus' precious blood?" "I am the way, the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John
14:6). "And having been perfected, He became the author of
eternal salvation to all who obey Him," (Heb. 5:9)
from Jesus' precious blood?" "I am the way, the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John
14:6). "And having been perfected, He became the author of
eternal salvation to all who obey Him," (Heb. 5:9)
CONCLUSION
A. We must be aware that we are obligated to give
an answer, we must be able to give an answer, and we must
always be ready to give an answer.
an answer, we must be able to give an answer, and we must
always be ready to give an answer.
B. Hopefully we will prepare ourselves more thoroughly to
have a heart of righteousness, study the Bible and study
the people we have a chance to give an answer to.
have a heart of righteousness, study the Bible and study
the people we have a chance to give an answer to.
And remember the proper way to go about giving an answer that you might save a soul.
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