Week 7 - SHARE (Part 2)
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?
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?
PRACTICE
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.
Have each person share their 15 Second Testimony.
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.
Acts 11:19-21 (NIV)
19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
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
What was this persecution about?
Why was it a big deal that some of them told the good news about Jesus to the Greeks?
What does the expression The Lord’s hand was with them mean?
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 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 to engage them with the passage as much as possible.
Here are some passages you could use.
Has anyone ever shared with you the Good News of the Bible? Here are the essentials.
1 Corinthians 15:1-9 (NLT)
1 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.
3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. 9 For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.
Has anyone ever shared with you the Good News of the Bible? This short passage shows us just how big salvation really is.
Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 For [God the Father] has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Colossians 1:13-14 is developed further in the 2 Kingdoms presentation below.
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
(NIV)
21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.
(NLT)
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
(CSB)
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.
(NIV)
This is a good passage to use if you want to share more of your personal testimony of coming to Jesus.
The point is a Christian is a bad person who has been rescued by a good God. After all, He saved YOU!
In what circumstances could each one these passages be used?
Which passage speaks to you the most right now? Why?
How about bookmarking it in your Bible or on your Bible App?
Share a Presentation
Here are some presentations of Jesus’ Story. You can use a pen and a napkin with all of them.
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 Rescues You
Jesus rescues 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.
3 Circles
Watch this video …
There’s a 3 Circles decal you can put on your water bottle, phone, tablet or laptop. It creates curiosity and it’s great for sharing the Good News—DECAL.
2 Kingdoms
This presentation looks at the big picture of our salvation. The Four is great introduction to the Good News. 2 Kingdoms would make a really good follow-up to it.
Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 For [God the Father] has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
From what does God rescue?
To what does God transfer?
How has Jesus purchased our freedom and forgiven our sins AND how do these relate to our rescue and transfer?
What happens when we tell people they only need God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ, but don’t tell them they need God’s rescue from Satan’s kingdom through Jesus Christ?
2 Kingdoms combines the New Testament emphasis on two essential parts of the Good News.
Acts 8:12 (NIV)
But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 28:30-31 (NIV)
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
When Philip and Paul shared the Good News, what did they include in that Good News?
Here’s the presentation …
Has anyone ever shared with you the Good News of the Bible?
The Apostle Paul writes ...
Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)
13 For [God the Father] has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
There’s more to life than what meets the eye. That’s because, behind the scenes, there are two very different kingdoms. The first is the kingdom of darkness which is characterized by darkness and sin. Satan is the king of this kingdom. The second is the eternal Kingdom of God’s dear Son Jesus. This Kingdom is characterized by forgiveness and freedom. Through Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection to new life, Jesus has purchased our freedom, forgiven our sins and demonstrated that He is the True King. You don’t have to be a captive any longer. You can find true freedom and full forgiveness by turning from your sin and trusting in Jesus. As Jesus said …
Mark 1:15
The time has come. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the good news!
What would stop you from turning from your sin and trusting Jesus right now?"
Here’s the 2 Kingdoms presentation as a video.
There’s a 2 Kingdoms outreach card with both the graphic and Colossians 1:13-14. It leads people to a website the introduces them to the Good News of Jesus and the Kingdom of God - 2Kingdoms.org. There’s also a wristband with 2Kingdoms.org that can be used on prayer outreaches.
Outreach cards and wristbands are available. Reach out to Hello@TheWayMicroChurches.org.
In what circumstances could each one these presentations be used?
Which presentation speaks to you the most right now? Why?
Keep in mind, this isn’t about nailing a presentation but having a conversation. It’s certainly not about winning an argument but sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 3:15:
In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
Practice Makes Progress
Take a passage or a presentation and practice it on each other.
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?
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.
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.
BUDDY SYSTEM
Connect with your buddy this week and ask each other these questions:
How are your readings going?
How’s your “I will …” statement coming along?
How’s your sharing goal coming along?
How can I pray for you?