Consider someone the Bible calls "Lost".
What are some things that person has to do to become a Christian?
1. admit they're a sinner
2. admit their sin keeps them from God
3. want to be with God
4. believe that Jesus died for their sins
5. choose to trust the cross for forgiveness
People will try lots of other things to be forgiven - good works, going to church, praying and reading the Bible; or, they'll "get around" sin by just saying it isn't real and God doesn't exist
Q: Would you share the message about Jesus with someone you didn't know first? Why or why not?
Advantages of knowing who you were sharing with: You might be able to anticipate their questions, they would know you really cared
Advantages of not knowing someone before sharing: It can be less nerve-wracking; what if they think I'm weird??
Jesus commanded: Matt. 28:19-20. How are Christians supposed to spread the gospel message through the whole world? Especially when there are areas of the world with very few Christians living there?
To "Proclaim Christ" - share the story of salvation with someone
To "Practice Christ" - be Christlike to someone
Both are ways of influencing someone toward salvation
But, when is the right time to "proclaim" and the right time to just "be Christ"? Is it ok if I just "Practice Christ" but never speak his name, never tell the other person about him? Is that the same thing??
If I want to influence someone to believe in Jesus…practicing Christ is more likely to do that than proclaiming Christ. Agree or disagree, and why?
You should always practice Christ before proclaiming Christ to someone. Agree or disagree, and why?
Even if you never proclaimed Christ to someone, it's just as good to practice Christ. Agree or disagree, and why?
It's wrong to make friends with someone just so you can proclaim Christ to them. Agree or disagree, and why?
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
May 9-10: No one can tame the tongue
Guest Speaker: Brian Day, Pastor of Junior High
James 3:1-12
“That flapping piece of meat”
Boating and flying illustration.
Such small adjustments affect so much (controls and instruments).
James seeks to show us how such a small body part can blow it for us too.
1. Do not use the tongue to do BAD
• Vs. 2 – It’s not if we make a mistake with our tongues, but when we do.
• Vs. 3-5 – Are you going to be like these examples…ruled completely by such a small part of your body?
• Vs. 6 – Just one small thing can contaminate your whole witness.
• Vs. 7,8 – You cannot tame the tongue completely. It will bite you again. Are you trying to stop it and what are you going to do when it does?
2. Do not use the tongue to mix BAD and GOOD
• Vs. 9-12 – How can we use our tongues for such good and such evil at the same time?
• Our tongue shows us what’s really inside. If you have Christ inside, Christ like things will come out.
• This is one reason swearing is not healthy or good.
3. Do not use the tongue to do GOOD
• 2:15,16 - Use your tongue to say good things but not to do good things. We must be people of action, not just words.
Action steps:
• Identify what needs to change in your language.
• Identify where it comes from.
• Ask God to take it away and help you to not be ruled by your tongue.
Boating and flying illustration. Let God be the one steering you, not yourself.
He will steer you right to eternal life.
We will always steer ourselves to destruction.
James 3:1-12
“That flapping piece of meat”
Boating and flying illustration.
Such small adjustments affect so much (controls and instruments).
James seeks to show us how such a small body part can blow it for us too.
1. Do not use the tongue to do BAD
• Vs. 2 – It’s not if we make a mistake with our tongues, but when we do.
• Vs. 3-5 – Are you going to be like these examples…ruled completely by such a small part of your body?
• Vs. 6 – Just one small thing can contaminate your whole witness.
• Vs. 7,8 – You cannot tame the tongue completely. It will bite you again. Are you trying to stop it and what are you going to do when it does?
2. Do not use the tongue to mix BAD and GOOD
• Vs. 9-12 – How can we use our tongues for such good and such evil at the same time?
• Our tongue shows us what’s really inside. If you have Christ inside, Christ like things will come out.
• This is one reason swearing is not healthy or good.
3. Do not use the tongue to do GOOD
• 2:15,16 - Use your tongue to say good things but not to do good things. We must be people of action, not just words.
Action steps:
• Identify what needs to change in your language.
• Identify where it comes from.
• Ask God to take it away and help you to not be ruled by your tongue.
Boating and flying illustration. Let God be the one steering you, not yourself.
He will steer you right to eternal life.
We will always steer ourselves to destruction.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
May 2-3: Lost People Need to Hear God's story
2 Corinthians 5:20 - We are Christ's Ambassadors, or official messengers.
So...what's the message? And how do we share it?
Are the following true, false, or absolutely false?
As the phrase is used in the Bible, a lost person is someone who goes on a hike in the mountains and gets lost for ten days without food or water…absolutely false. "Lost" means they are separated from God.
God doesn't start loving people until they become Christians…absolutely false. If God didn't love sinners, there'd be no way for anyone to be saved.
The best thing to do to Lost People is avoid them, because their beliefs might rub off on you…absolutely false. We are Christ's Ambassadors - God wants us to interact and share the message.
When talking to a lost person, the best thing to do is start arguing with them. Give them the top five reasons you're right and they're wrong, and wait for them to hit back…Absolutely False. They will stop listening if you do that. Be gentle, but be firm.
Most of the lost people in the world can be found in Texas and Hollywood...absolutely false. 97% of the world that is not Christian lives in the 10/40 window, between 10 degrees north latitude and 40 degrees north.
God will almost always appear in a dream to people who don't believe in him...false. While it's true Jesus does appear in dreams to some people, most people need to hear the gospel from someone else.
The Bridge Illustration - a way of sharing what we believe
Start by asking what someone believes. If you listen politely, chances are they'll listen when it's your turn.
Show them a person, separated from God by a canyon.
Explain that the Bible says because of sin, we cannot be with God. In fact, sin leads to death.
We need a way across. That way is Jesus.
When Jesus died, his cross made a way for us to avoid death and be with God.
Sending Jesus was God's choice; our choice is whether or not to accept God's gift and trust the cross for our salvation.
Q: What are some reasons we don't share this with people?
A: KNOWLEDGE LEVEL (I can't explain it clearly)
COMFORT LEVEL (I am not comfortable bringing it up with this person)
FEAR LEVEL (I'm afraid of what they might say to me)
So...what's the message? And how do we share it?
Are the following true, false, or absolutely false?
As the phrase is used in the Bible, a lost person is someone who goes on a hike in the mountains and gets lost for ten days without food or water…absolutely false. "Lost" means they are separated from God.
God doesn't start loving people until they become Christians…absolutely false. If God didn't love sinners, there'd be no way for anyone to be saved.
The best thing to do to Lost People is avoid them, because their beliefs might rub off on you…absolutely false. We are Christ's Ambassadors - God wants us to interact and share the message.
When talking to a lost person, the best thing to do is start arguing with them. Give them the top five reasons you're right and they're wrong, and wait for them to hit back…Absolutely False. They will stop listening if you do that. Be gentle, but be firm.
Most of the lost people in the world can be found in Texas and Hollywood...absolutely false. 97% of the world that is not Christian lives in the 10/40 window, between 10 degrees north latitude and 40 degrees north.
God will almost always appear in a dream to people who don't believe in him...false. While it's true Jesus does appear in dreams to some people, most people need to hear the gospel from someone else.
The Bridge Illustration - a way of sharing what we believe
Start by asking what someone believes. If you listen politely, chances are they'll listen when it's your turn.
Show them a person, separated from God by a canyon.
Explain that the Bible says because of sin, we cannot be with God. In fact, sin leads to death.
We need a way across. That way is Jesus.
When Jesus died, his cross made a way for us to avoid death and be with God.
Sending Jesus was God's choice; our choice is whether or not to accept God's gift and trust the cross for our salvation.
Q: What are some reasons we don't share this with people?
A: KNOWLEDGE LEVEL (I can't explain it clearly)
COMFORT LEVEL (I am not comfortable bringing it up with this person)
FEAR LEVEL (I'm afraid of what they might say to me)
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