The Elevator Witness

Standing alone in an elevator and waiting for the doors to close, an angel of the Lord suddenly appears. Startled by his presence, the angel tells you not to be afraid, but be prepared to proclaim a message from God. Tell the next person who steps on to the elevator about what Christ has already done. The angel vanishes the same time a person steps inside the elevator.  

What would you do?

What would you say?

Experts say that a person will only read the first two or three sentences of an article before they determine to continue reading or not.

Politicians know they only are given five to ten second sound bites to define their platform.

Start-up entrepreneurs practice their thirty second “elevator speech” to pitch their product or service to prospective customers.

We live in an era where technology dominates our culture and busyness permeates our decision-making. People today have a short attention span. Christians who have a desire to proclaim the gospel need to prepare themselves with a 30-second “elevator witness” to tell others what Christ has done for us.

Why thirty seconds?

• Most people would rather not be bothered by members of a Christian church.
• Most people struggle to find relevance to what Christ has done.
• Most people feel comfortable that they are right with God.

But people are willing to be engaged and hear a short reason for the hope you have in Christ.

Perhaps Jesus understood short gospel messages when he prepared his disciples to be his witnesses. He only gave them six words to say.

“The kingdom of God is near.”

Matthew 10:7

Jesus spent most of his time giving his disciples instructions, warnings, and promises to prepare them for rejection and persecution.

Messaging is important. It is through a message that the power of the Holy Spirit works faith. And that can be done in very few words.

In six words, Jesus gave his disciples a clear message to a targeted audience who fully understood its meaning.

The promised Messiah has come. Believe in him.

Can the gospel be proclaimed today in six words?

The gospel is Good News.

Since it’s a declaration of victory, it could be a soundbite of grace and redemption.

The delivery of a gospel message does not mean to convince a person to believe but invite them to receive.

Christians have a God-given authority and a commission to deliver a message from the Almighty. The gospel message is his Word. And the Lord works through his Words.

He works through two or three sentences when we proclaim that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son. And whoever believes in him shall not perish but receive eternal life.

He works through ten words.

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

Acts 16:31

And the Lord can work through one word.

Believe.

Sometimes we place too much pressure on ourselves to be God’s messengers. Our human nature would prefer to stay quiet rather than share our faith with others.

Be prepared for opportunities God grants to give a reason for the hope we have in Christ.

Trust that the Holy Spirit works in every message about what Christ has done for the world.

What’s your 30-second elevator witness?