>EN－①－B－07－ Basic Study 2026 Edition (ver.9) B Group Relationships with People
(Lesson 7) Testifying about Christ 2025/07/17
Among those of you who have continued with these studies up to this point, some may have already received Jesus Christ into your hearts and been saved. Furthermore, you may have also experienced healing from sickness, release in your heart, and restoration in your life.
[02]
If you were wandering in the desert and suddenly came upon an oasis and drank deeply of its water, it would be natural to want to tell others about the oasis. What Jesus has done for you is not merely to make your life better. He has saved you from eternal destruction.
[03]
In 2 Kings 7, the city of Samaria (an Israelite city) was surrounded by a great enemy army, and their food supply was running out. Through God’s miraculous intervention, the enemy army fled in fear. But the Israelites, not knowing this, continued to remain inside the city walls suffering from famine. Meanwhile, four lepers who went outside the city walls discovered that the enemy had fled in panic, leaving behind abundant food and treasures. At first, they kept this food and treasure to themselves, but then one of them suddenly realized and said:
[04]
(2 Kings 7:9) “What we are doing is not right. This is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent. If we wait until morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”
[05]
When Israel heard their report, they were saved. The lepers had not done anything difficult.
All they did was tell others what they had seen and experienced.
[06]
What the lepers did was to share about hope. And those who believed were saved. In the same way, even if you have not yet experienced healing or deliverance, if you feel hope, you can share it.
[07]
How did the early church grow? They did not call for famous preachers to hold large evangelistic campaigns. Rather, salvation spread as each believer shared with others what they themselves had experienced.
[08]
The church is a place where members can relax. There, they can receive strength and encouragement.
In a sense, it might be like a gas station.
But it is not just a place to end there. It is also a place to equip members to go out and serve.
[09]
In our daily lives, we have contact with people of the world through work, school, shopping, neighborhood relationships, and hobbies. In a sense, each one of us is strategically placed there.
[10]
No matter how great an evangelist is, they cannot go to your workplace and share the gospel with your boss or coworkers.
Only you can do that.
And hearing it from someone they already know?like you?is far more effective.
[11]
When people hear about Jesus Christ, they may think it is about religion. But hearing about your personal life experience (your testimony, your story) is not about religion. Sharing your experience of “how you met Jesus” is important, and in church terms this is called “giving a testimony.”
[12]
What should you share?
1) What was your condition before?
2) What was the turning point that changed your life? In other words, what did God do for you?
3) And how were you changed? What is your present state?
About three minutes is enough to briefly share these points.
[13]
When I came to Sapporo, I started working at an architectural office. During the interview, I explained that I was a Christian, so the interviewer told me, “Please don’t talk about religion in the company.” I strongly agreed.
And just as they said, I never talked about religion. Instead, I told various people about how my life had been changed. Soon after, one person in that company was saved, began attending church, and was saved.
[14]
To share how your life has been changed by Jesus, you don’t need to talk about religion.
You don’t need to make things complicated, nor do you need special knowledge.
[15]
Some people worry, “What if the other person asks me difficult questions that I cannot answer?”
But that’s okay. If you don’t know, you can simply answer, “I don’t know.”
Because we are not trying to persuade others through arguments.
[16]
In short, you just need to share what you have experienced. That’s simple, isn’t it?
[17]
(1 Peter 3:15) But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
[18]
Some may say, “I am quick-tempered, I lack compassion, and I am poor at relating with people.”
But there is no need to worry.
I believe that through salvation in Jesus, and as this basic study teaches, your life is being made new.
[19]
You who have Christ may not realize it yourself, but you are shining.
[20]
(Isaiah 49:6) “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
[21]
■ The place where you are becomes church
Sharing the gospel is not about bringing someone to a church building as the goal. It is about inviting God into your relationship with that person, and that relationship becomes “the place where God works”?that is, “church.”
[22]
For the church was born through the outpouring of God’s Spirit, and the Holy Spirit dwells in you.
[23]
To say that your relationship becomes a place where God works does not mean doing something difficult. You can simply be a good friend, listen as a good neighbor, and show empathy.
[24]
For example, you can do things like:
[25]
[26]
You may find it hard to believe, but many people are surprisingly open to being prayed for.
10) You can also lay hands on them and pray directly for healing of sickness, etc. (Mark 16:18)
[27]
(Mark 16:20) And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
[28]
As this Scripture says, when we share words of hope in Christ with others, God’s Spirit works abundantly, and the promises of Scripture are fulfilled. These include healings and prophetic words as mentioned in the previous verse.
And the greatest miracle is that the person believes in Christ and is saved.