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A Five Minute
Crash Course
PHOTO
Quick Tips and Techniques
For Witnessing To Your Jewish Friends
1. Terminology - Certain words that are used while witnessing can be
unnecessarily offensive and cause walls to go up. Using the right words can
make a big difference.
A. Say "Believer" instead of "Christian." To the average Jewish person, all
Gentiles are "Christians". So they believe that much of their persecution has
come from believers. They need to know that true believers are unique.
B. Say "Messiah" instead of "Christ." They mean the same thing, but "Messiah"
is much less offensive. For centuries, Jewish people have been persecuted in
the name of Christ.
C. Say "Return" instead of "Convert." Conversion is one of the things most
feared by Jewish people. The word “conversion” gives the impression that a
Jewish person would no longer be Jewish if they were to become a believer. The
word "return" expresses the reality of what really happens to a Jewish person
who comes to faith in the God of Abraham as fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah.
2. Stumbling Blocks - There are several difficulties that Jewish people face
when they are challenged to become a follower of Jesus as the Messiah.
Fear - One of the most common hindrances is that of fear. There's a real
concern of how others will react if it becomes known that they believe in
Jesus. There is even a fear if people find out they are interested in Jesus as
Messiah. This was also true during the earthly ministry of Jesus, John 19:38,
John 9:21-22, John. 7:12-13. If they don't tell you this themselves, you can be
sure they are thinking about what others will think.
Misunderstandings - One major area of confusion revolves around remaining
Jewish, after one becomes a believer. Most Jewish people believe they would no
longer be Jewish if they would believe in Jesus as Messiah. This is what
they've been told, and they believe it, even though the Bible teaches the exact
opposite. See Rom. 9:3-4, Rom. 11:1, II Cor. 11:22. These verses speak of Paul
after he became a believer. It's very important to show them that one can be
Jewish and believe in Jesus.
Another major misconception is, they believe that all Gentiles are Christians.
Hitler and all the others who still persecute the Jewish people are not
Christians, but Gentiles. The Bible talks of three groups of people; Jews,
Gentiles and Christians (true believers).
3. Messianic Prophecy
Micah 5:2 ------ Matt. 2:1-6
Isa. 7:14 -------- Matt. 1:18-25
Zech. 9:9 ------- Matt. 21:1-11
Ps. 34:20 ------ John 19:31-36
Isa. 50:6 ------- Matt. 26:67
Ps. 41:9 -------- John 13:18-19
Isa. 53:7 ------- Matt. 27:12-14
Zech. 11:12 --- Matt. 26:14-15
Ps. 69:21 ------ Matt. 27:34
Ps. 22:16 ------ Matt. 27:35
Ps. 22:18 ------ Matt. 27:35
Ps. 16:10 ------ Acts 2:31
4. The Romans Road As Found In The Old Testament
Many Jewish people will not listen to anything in the New Testament. We need to
be prepared and know how to proclaim the Gospel by using only the Old Testament.
All Have Sinned Rom. 3:23 - O.T. Eccl. 7:20, Ps. 14:3, Isa. 53:6, Isa 64:6
Sins Consequences Rom. 6:23 - O.T. Isa. 59:2, Ezek. 18:20
God Sent His Son Rom. 5:10 - O.T. Ps. 2:7, Ps. 2:12, Isa. 9:6,
(Does God have a Son? See Prov. 30:4)
Necessity Of The Blood - Rom. 5:9 - O.T. Lev. 17:11
Saved By Faith - Rom. 10:8-10 - O.T. Joel 2:32
Using Isa. 53 is very helpful. One way it can be used is as follows. Read
several (6 or 7) verses and stop. Ask them if they know where you're reading
from. Usually they say the N.T. Then ask them who the verses are referring
to. Every answer has been Jesus. Then show them Isa. 53, written over 700
years before Messiah Jesus was even born.
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