Week 7 - SHARE (Part 2)

Jan 25

CONNECT

What are you thankful for?
What challenge are you facing?
Have there been any answers to prayer?
Pray for each other.
How did sharing your 15 Second Testimony go this past week?
How are your plans and invitations coming along for a Matthew Party?
Did anything stand out to you from last week’s follow-up Bible readings?
How did your “I will …” statement from last week go?
How did your sharing goal from last week go?
How’s your memory work coming along?

John 15:5 (NIV)
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

DISCOVER

Let’s start with a review.

Our mission is to Join Jesus in making disciples of those around us by living a Prayer > Care > Share > Dare lifestyle.

JOIN JESUS

Jesus calls us to partner with Him in the mission of making disciples.

JESUS-JOINED

Only as we remain in Jesus can we bear the fruit of making disciples.

WHERE?

Look around you to see your ripe-for-harvest mission field.

PRAYER

Pray for others to encounter Jesus.

CARE

Care for others’ needs.

SHARE

Share each others’ stories and Jesus’ Story.

We divided SHARE into 2 parts. Last week, we looked at how to share each others’ stories. Today, we’ll look at how to share Jesus’ story.

Ask God to speak to you as you read His Word.

1 Timothy 1:12-17 (NIV)
12 I (Paul) thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Have someone retell this passage in their own words.
What stands out to you in this passage?
What does this passage say about God (The Father, His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit)?
What does this passage say about people, including ourselves?
What does this passage say about the life God invites us to live?

Digging Deeper

How does Paul blend his own story with Jesus’ Story?
How does Paul’s story make Jesus’ Story even more amazing?

Share Jesus’ Story

When you have shared Jesus’ Story (or shared the Good News), how have you done it?

Share a Passage

The Bible is full of passages that you could use to share Jesus’ Story. For example, Philip used the Old Testament passage Isaiah 53 because that’s what the Ethiopian Eunuch was reading at the time.

Acts 8:32-35 (NLT)
32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter.
And as a lamb is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
33 He was humiliated and received no justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” 35 So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.

So use Isaiah 53. It’s an amazing prophecy/promise of the coming Lamb of God (Jesus).

Regardless of the passage you use, if at all possible, have the person you are sharing with read the Bible passage for themselves. Then ask them what they think the passage means and how it applies to them. In other words, do a mini Discovery Bible Study with them. You want them to engage with the passage as much as possible.

Let’s try it using 1 Timothy 1:12-17 from above. Share Jesus’ Story blending in Paul’s and your story. Have each person take a turn.

1 TIMOTHY 1:12-17

Ask:

Has anyone ever shared with you the Good News of the Bible?

Say:

Let’s read a Bible passage together. And if you’re okay with it, could you read the passage?

1 Timothy 1:12-17 (NIV)
12 I (Paul) thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Ask:

What do you think this passage is about?
What kind of person was Paul?

Say:

Let me share my story with you. (Use your 15 Second Testimony.)

Ask:

What has Jesus done for sinners like Paul and me and may I add YOU?

More Passages

Here are some other passages you could use.

Share a Presentation

Here's a simple presentation of Jesus’ Story using four common symbols called THE FOUR. It's based on The Four Spiritual Laws of Campus Crusade for Christ, now called CRU. Check out TheFour.com for explanations and videos in all the world languages.

THE FOUR

Has anyone ever shared with you the Good News of the Bible? Here’s a passage on how much God loves you and wants a relationship with you

1 John 4:10
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a saving sacrifice for our sins.

Let me show you what that means with 4 common symbols.

1. God Loves You

God loves you. As His very own creation, God deeply loves you. He knows you by name. He has good things planned for your life. God cares for you!

2. Sin Divides You

Sin divides you. Sin is our rejection of God as God and our rebellion against His will and ways. This sin divides us or separates us from God. It also divides us from each other. So much of life is characterized by division, even among those we love. The bad news is that just as we experience this division from God in this life, we will also experience it in the next. Sin will eternally separate us from God’s presence and goodness.

3. Jesus Saves You

Jesus saves you. The Good News is that God wouldn’t let sin permanently divide us. In love, He sent His Only Son Jesus to die for our sins. This means Jesus paid the penalty for our sins by dying in our place. Therefore, the division caused by our sin can be removed and we can have a relationship of love with God again. And Jesus didn't just die. He also arose from the dead. So Jesus is very much alive today and He is very much in charge of all things.

4. How Will You Respond?

How will you respond? Some people respond in apathy, unbelief or even hostility. But how about you? How will you respond to this Good News?

For example, how will you respond to God’s love for you? Will you receive it and thank Him for it? How will you respond to your sin? Will you acknowledge it and repent of it? And how will you respond to Jesus’ death and resurrection to new life? Will you trust Him as your Savior and follow Him as your Leader?

Here’s a passage on how to respond. Maybe you have seen it at a sporting event.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

You don’t have to perish, that is, be eternally separated from God because of your sin. Instead, you can have eternal life that starts now and lasts forever. It all comes down to how you respond. Will you believe in Jesus?

If you’re ready to respond in faith, here’s a prayer you could pray:

God, thank You so much for Your love for me. And I’m so sorry for my sin against You. I now believe in Jesus and receive Your forgiveness. Help me from now on to follow Jesus and Your way of life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You can get some wristbands with THE FOUR on it. It’s a good reminder to you to share your faith. And it would be a good reminder to the people you share your faith with of God’s love for them. THE FOUR Wristbands.

Take turns practicing THE FOUR.
Begin by asking, “Has anyone ever shared with you the Good News of the Bible?" Then just start. Don’t worry about getting things just right or getting lost in the details. Just break the sound barrier and give it a try.
How did the sharing go?

Share Your Community

Another way to share both your story and Jesus’ Story is by sharing your Christian community. Invite people to join some of your Christian friends for a coffee, meal, games night, campfire, hike or ballgame. Invite them to your discipleship group or church. As they get to know your brothers and sisters in Christ, they’ll get to know Jesus through them. This is community contact for impact. So again, how are your Matthew Party plans and invitations coming along?

Mission Assignment

Continue to pray, care and share with those around you, especially Your 3.
Keep practicing and sharing your 15 Second Testimony and one of the passages or presentations from this session. We’ll practice these again next session.
Keep working on your Matthew Party.

LIVE

What truth have you discovered from today’s Bible passage(s) and conversation?
What would stop you from believing and obeying this truth?
How will you live out this truth this coming week? Finish this statement: “I will ….”
Who else needs to hear this truth? How could you share it with them?
When will we meet again?
Who will facilitate that meeting?
Pray for God’s help as you seek to follow Jesus this coming week.

FOLLOW-UP READINGS

In this week’s follow-up readings you’ll walk through the main points of the 2 Kingdoms presentation. So this week, there will be 4 readings, instead of 3.