Week 7 - SHARE (Part 2)
REVIEW
How did sharing your 15 Second Testimony go this past week?
How are your plans coming along for a Matthew Party?
Did anything stand out to you from last week’s follow-up Bible readings?
Have each person share their 15 Second Testimony.
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.
DISCOVER
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.
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.
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?
LIVE
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.
Next Meeting
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.
