Sharing My Story and God's Story
Today we wrap up our look at our story and God's story by communicating both in our small group. Students and leaders will be encouraged to tell their stories and relationships to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Come join us!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Sunday, June 22
Sharing Your Story and God's Story
Accepting Christ as my Savior; its about three stories colliding into my life and having the light go on. The three stories are from the person who shared Christ with me, God's story, and my reflection on my own story.
Today we will be encouraged to share our story as fearlessly and honestly as we can, not from a position of moral or spiritual superiority but as someone in need of a Savior. Your story may be dramatic, but it doesn't have to be. God can use your story no matter what. A clean, moral life shows the power of God for living, which draws some people. A dramatic turnaround displays the power of God to transform, which draws others.
Scripture references are from Colossians 4: 2-6, Philippians 1: 27-30, 2: 14-18, 1 Peter 2: 11-25.
Accepting Christ as my Savior; its about three stories colliding into my life and having the light go on. The three stories are from the person who shared Christ with me, God's story, and my reflection on my own story.
Today we will be encouraged to share our story as fearlessly and honestly as we can, not from a position of moral or spiritual superiority but as someone in need of a Savior. Your story may be dramatic, but it doesn't have to be. God can use your story no matter what. A clean, moral life shows the power of God for living, which draws some people. A dramatic turnaround displays the power of God to transform, which draws others.
Scripture references are from Colossians 4: 2-6, Philippians 1: 27-30, 2: 14-18, 1 Peter 2: 11-25.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Sunday, June 15
Sharing Your Story and God's Story
What you see isn't always what you get. You have probably heard that phrase before. As God prepares our hearts to be evangelistic and we learn the importance of friendships, listening, sharing our story, and sharing God's story, we benefit from getting a grasp of this truth. We don't see anything until we get behind a person's mask.
Jesus was a master at seeing past masks and into people's hearts. Read John 4:4-29. This is the account of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at a well. Jesus introduces her to "living water".
Another aspect of evangelism we can consider is establishing friendships. Friendships and spending time hanging together will make the difference in creating opportunities for talking about Jesus. By taking steps to build friendships, we will have opprotunities for spiritual conversations. We will identify friendship qualities and how friends tell friends their stories. Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
What you see isn't always what you get. You have probably heard that phrase before. As God prepares our hearts to be evangelistic and we learn the importance of friendships, listening, sharing our story, and sharing God's story, we benefit from getting a grasp of this truth. We don't see anything until we get behind a person's mask.
Jesus was a master at seeing past masks and into people's hearts. Read John 4:4-29. This is the account of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at a well. Jesus introduces her to "living water".
Another aspect of evangelism we can consider is establishing friendships. Friendships and spending time hanging together will make the difference in creating opportunities for talking about Jesus. By taking steps to build friendships, we will have opprotunities for spiritual conversations. We will identify friendship qualities and how friends tell friends their stories. Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Sunday, June 1
That's right. We will be starting a series this Sunday talking about the big "E" word, Evangelism. A healthy discussion of evangelism begins with the "why" question. Why evangelism? The Bible provides answers, and as we pursue them we're going to start with developing a biblical understanding of God's awesome love for people. God's love is so different from human love that it can change a life. Human love can influence a life, but God's love can transform a heart, which will redirect a life. And the wild thing about God's transforming love is that He can do it with any life, no matter how bad it might be. You might consider someone out of God's reach. God doesn't and he might choose you to reach them. You never know! Let the journey begin!
This week please read Matthew 9: 35-38.
This week please read Matthew 9: 35-38.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Sunday, May 25
There will be no Epic Cafe this Sunday due to the Memorial Day weekend observance.
Join us June 1st as we begin a new study by Sharing Your Story and God's Story.
Join us June 1st as we begin a new study by Sharing Your Story and God's Story.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Sunday, May 18
Today we wrap up our study by reviewing our S.H.A.P.E. and look at the important ingredient of passion that can be useful in Serving Others In Love. The Biblical example is from the life of Paul which is found in the following passage:
I want you to know how glad I am that it's me sitting here in this jail and not you. There's a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world- the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church's part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God's way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.
This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it's out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That's what I'm working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generouly gives me.
I want you to realize that I continue to work as hard as I know how for you, and also for the Christians over at Laodicea. Colossians 1:24-2:1 The Message
What do you love to do? (think of school, church friends, family, recreation, etc.)
If you knew you could do any type of ministry and it would be successful, what would you like to try?
In this scripture passage Paul seems crazy to consider suffering as a "sheer gift". Why was he able to have this attitude? What enabled Paul to endure in jail?
After reading this passage what do you think Paul was passionate about?
Are you as passionate about something as much as Paul was? Or does Paul's kind of passion seem like something you might never have?
Paul says that he's trying to do his best with the energy that God gave him. How are energy and passion alike? Different?
The apostle Paul was passionate about preaching and starting churches even when it meant being thrown in jail or killed. (He experienced both) While most of us do not experience this level of passion, we do deeply care about specific issues and we enjoy helping in areas where we feel a sense of passion.
Remember looking at your S.H.A.P.E.? What ministry might you want to get involved because of your particular spiritual gifts, heart, abilities and passion?
I want you to know how glad I am that it's me sitting here in this jail and not you. There's a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world- the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church's part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God's way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.
This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it's out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That's what I'm working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generouly gives me.
I want you to realize that I continue to work as hard as I know how for you, and also for the Christians over at Laodicea. Colossians 1:24-2:1 The Message
What do you love to do? (think of school, church friends, family, recreation, etc.)
If you knew you could do any type of ministry and it would be successful, what would you like to try?
In this scripture passage Paul seems crazy to consider suffering as a "sheer gift". Why was he able to have this attitude? What enabled Paul to endure in jail?
After reading this passage what do you think Paul was passionate about?
Are you as passionate about something as much as Paul was? Or does Paul's kind of passion seem like something you might never have?
Paul says that he's trying to do his best with the energy that God gave him. How are energy and passion alike? Different?
The apostle Paul was passionate about preaching and starting churches even when it meant being thrown in jail or killed. (He experienced both) While most of us do not experience this level of passion, we do deeply care about specific issues and we enjoy helping in areas where we feel a sense of passion.
Remember looking at your S.H.A.P.E.? What ministry might you want to get involved because of your particular spiritual gifts, heart, abilities and passion?
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