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)
Sunday, April 26, 2009
April 25-26: Lost people can be reached through friendships
We know God cares about lost people - 2 Peter 3:9 says "God is patient...not wanting anyone to perish".
God is like a father, looking for lost kids. He wants people to come back to him.
What's your job? 2 Corinthians 5:20 says "We are Christ's ambassadors".
Ambassador = "someone chosen for an official, special mission"
An ambassador does his or her job when they deliver the message faithfully, and represent the ruler (usually a king) well. Do you do that?
The 10/40 Window: In the world, approximately half of the people are Christians. Half are not. Of the half that is not, about 97% live in an area of the world between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude, stretching through Southern Europe and Northern Africa, the Middle East, China and India. (Google "10/40 window" and you'll see a map).
Q: If most of the people in the world who don't know Jesus live in the 10/40 Window, what can I, in Carlsbad, CA, do?
A: Plenty! Even though most live "over there", there are people who don't know Jesus right here in our own country...community...and school.
You can reach out to lost people through friendships.
Luke 19 - Jesus befriended Zacchaeus. "I must stay at your house today." Zacchaeus was a despised man. But God's heart changed him. God doesn't want us to shun or avoid people who don't know him, but to share with them.
God is like a father, looking for lost kids. He wants people to come back to him.
What's your job? 2 Corinthians 5:20 says "We are Christ's ambassadors".
Ambassador = "someone chosen for an official, special mission"
An ambassador does his or her job when they deliver the message faithfully, and represent the ruler (usually a king) well. Do you do that?
The 10/40 Window: In the world, approximately half of the people are Christians. Half are not. Of the half that is not, about 97% live in an area of the world between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude, stretching through Southern Europe and Northern Africa, the Middle East, China and India. (Google "10/40 window" and you'll see a map).
Q: If most of the people in the world who don't know Jesus live in the 10/40 Window, what can I, in Carlsbad, CA, do?
A: Plenty! Even though most live "over there", there are people who don't know Jesus right here in our own country...community...and school.
You can reach out to lost people through friendships.
Luke 19 - Jesus befriended Zacchaeus. "I must stay at your house today." Zacchaeus was a despised man. But God's heart changed him. God doesn't want us to shun or avoid people who don't know him, but to share with them.
Friday, April 17, 2009
April 18-19: Lost People Matter to God
What is it like to be LOST?
Is it more dangerous for someone to be lost and know they're lost, or lost and not know they're lost? Why? Actually can be more dangerous to be lost and not know it; you can be away from safety but think you're just fine.
When we're lost, often the people looking for us are more concerned than we are. We know where we are! And we don't have any idea of the danger we're in.
Today we start series on "The Lost World"
a. "lost" means they don't have a relationship with God; Jesus is not in their life
b. Not a word the church made up; "lost" is the word Jesus used
c. Lost people don't always know they're lost
If we believe that God is necessary to a person's survival...then we have a job to do! Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life...no one comes to the Father but through me."
God uses people to get his message out...because he cares very deeply about people who are lost - whether they know it or not.
Luke 15 - the Parable of the Lost Son - the Father rejoiced when the son came back.
Is it more dangerous for someone to be lost and know they're lost, or lost and not know they're lost? Why? Actually can be more dangerous to be lost and not know it; you can be away from safety but think you're just fine.
When we're lost, often the people looking for us are more concerned than we are. We know where we are! And we don't have any idea of the danger we're in.
Today we start series on "The Lost World"
a. "lost" means they don't have a relationship with God; Jesus is not in their life
b. Not a word the church made up; "lost" is the word Jesus used
c. Lost people don't always know they're lost
If we believe that God is necessary to a person's survival...then we have a job to do! Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life...no one comes to the Father but through me."
God uses people to get his message out...because he cares very deeply about people who are lost - whether they know it or not.
Luke 15 - the Parable of the Lost Son - the Father rejoiced when the son came back.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
April 11-12: The Meaning of the Resurrection of Jesus
John 20 - on the morning of the third day, the women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body and...it was missing! Some disciples thought it had been stolen, while others believed he'd risen from the dead.
But...if Jesus' body had still been in the tomb -
What would this have done to his disciples?
What would it have done to Christianity?
When someone makes a promise, you know they've delivered when they actually act on it.
My 9th grade English teacher forgave some work I didn't do. Without those points, I would have gotten a "C" for the quarter. Instead, by changing my score, I got an "A".
Q: When did I escape the penalty? When she adjusted my grade - kept her promise.
The resurrection matters because without it, we'd still be in our sins. God promised - and then he delivered
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 - some people believed that there was no resurrection. If they died before Jesus came back, there was no hope. Paul says - it's not that way. If we only think Jesus can benefit us while alive, because we don't believe we'll be raised to life, we have no faith at all!
Jesus brought benefits to people during his life -he befriended them, he healed their diseases, he raised the dead
He brings benefits to us while we're alive - he comforts us, he leads us, he teaches us
He will bring benefits to us after we die - we'll be raised back to life, just as he was
Sin caused death/God undid the power of sin by raising Jesus from the grave, the "firstfruits" (1 Cor. 15:20) of those who had died, and others will follow the same pattern.
This is what's called good news!
Three things we know because God raised Jesus from the dead:
1. Good and evil are not equally matched. Even death couldn't hold Jesus!
2. God has the power to raise the dead.
3. We have the hope of eternal life - that what God did in Jesus will be repeated in us!
But...if Jesus' body had still been in the tomb -
What would this have done to his disciples?
What would it have done to Christianity?
When someone makes a promise, you know they've delivered when they actually act on it.
My 9th grade English teacher forgave some work I didn't do. Without those points, I would have gotten a "C" for the quarter. Instead, by changing my score, I got an "A".
Q: When did I escape the penalty? When she adjusted my grade - kept her promise.
The resurrection matters because without it, we'd still be in our sins. God promised - and then he delivered
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 - some people believed that there was no resurrection. If they died before Jesus came back, there was no hope. Paul says - it's not that way. If we only think Jesus can benefit us while alive, because we don't believe we'll be raised to life, we have no faith at all!
Jesus brought benefits to people during his life -he befriended them, he healed their diseases, he raised the dead
He brings benefits to us while we're alive - he comforts us, he leads us, he teaches us
He will bring benefits to us after we die - we'll be raised back to life, just as he was
Sin caused death/God undid the power of sin by raising Jesus from the grave, the "firstfruits" (1 Cor. 15:20) of those who had died, and others will follow the same pattern.
This is what's called good news!
Three things we know because God raised Jesus from the dead:
1. Good and evil are not equally matched. Even death couldn't hold Jesus!
2. God has the power to raise the dead.
3. We have the hope of eternal life - that what God did in Jesus will be repeated in us!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
March 28-29: Forgiveness and the Story of Corrie ten Boom
Everyone has been mistreated. Most of us have held a grudge. Some of us have forgiven, but didn't really want to.
Forgiveness: story of Corrie ten Boom
Lived with her family in the Netherlands
Watchmaker
In 1942, family agreed to hide Jews in their home from the Nazis
Discovered in 1944 and sent to concentration camps
Father and sister, whom she was imprisoned with, died in captivity
Corrie released on Christmas Day, 1944. A week later, women prisoners her age in her camp were killed.
Story:
“No Fishing Allowed” from "Hero Tales: Volume II" by Dave & Neta Jackson.
When the former Nazi guard approached Corrie -
+ What should she do?
+ What did she do?
Corrie ten Boom offered her forgiveness to the man, even though it was very hard.
Read Parable of the Unmerciful Servant -- Matthew 18:21-35
+ Explain this story
+ Do you think God expects us to forgive if we’ve been forgiven?
+ Do you think we are obligated to forgive if we’ve been forgiven?
+ What did the first servant do to deserve having his debt cancelled? (Nothing; God’s forgiveness is a free gift, and it is unconditional & total)
- Why is it hard to forgive others? Sometimes we think, “If I forgive him/her, they’ll think they can do it again”. Or, “If I tell them I forgive them, they’ll think they were right”?
It's not the same thing to say "It's ok to mistreat me" and "I forgive you"!
So, we need to be careful with our words -
When asking for forgiveness: always apologize - say, "I know what I did was wrong".
When offering forgiveness: say, "I didn't like what you did/you hurt me, but I accept your apology, and I forgive you." If we say "it's no big deal" or "don't worry about it" we can send the message we don't want to - that it's ok to be mistreated.
+ If we don't forgive, it hurts me worse than the person who wronged me.
Ex: being wronged is like a bruise. It heals in time. But the memory is like a brick I have to hold. Bricks need to be unloaded. Otherwise we stay weighed down.
Forgiveness: story of Corrie ten Boom
Lived with her family in the Netherlands
Watchmaker
In 1942, family agreed to hide Jews in their home from the Nazis
Discovered in 1944 and sent to concentration camps
Father and sister, whom she was imprisoned with, died in captivity
Corrie released on Christmas Day, 1944. A week later, women prisoners her age in her camp were killed.
Story:
“No Fishing Allowed” from "Hero Tales: Volume II" by Dave & Neta Jackson.
When the former Nazi guard approached Corrie -
+ What should she do?
+ What did she do?
Corrie ten Boom offered her forgiveness to the man, even though it was very hard.
Read Parable of the Unmerciful Servant -- Matthew 18:21-35
+ Explain this story
+ Do you think God expects us to forgive if we’ve been forgiven?
+ Do you think we are obligated to forgive if we’ve been forgiven?
+ What did the first servant do to deserve having his debt cancelled? (Nothing; God’s forgiveness is a free gift, and it is unconditional & total)
- Why is it hard to forgive others? Sometimes we think, “If I forgive him/her, they’ll think they can do it again”. Or, “If I tell them I forgive them, they’ll think they were right”?
It's not the same thing to say "It's ok to mistreat me" and "I forgive you"!
So, we need to be careful with our words -
When asking for forgiveness: always apologize - say, "I know what I did was wrong".
When offering forgiveness: say, "I didn't like what you did/you hurt me, but I accept your apology, and I forgive you." If we say "it's no big deal" or "don't worry about it" we can send the message we don't want to - that it's ok to be mistreated.
+ If we don't forgive, it hurts me worse than the person who wronged me.
Ex: being wronged is like a bruise. It heals in time. But the memory is like a brick I have to hold. Bricks need to be unloaded. Otherwise we stay weighed down.
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