Speak Series: I'm Supposed to Do What?

Up until now, we've been talking a lot in this series about how God calls us to live as Disciples.  This week, we focused on God's calling on our lives to go and MAKE disciples!  We took a good look at evangelism...what it means, how God calls us to share the good news with others, and what kinds of styles we should probably stay away from when we evangelize.  We took time traveling around the room writing our answers and thoughts to several questions:

• What reasons do Christians have for evangelizing?
• What are some of the common fears Christians have about sharing their faith?
• In your opinion, how should a Christian evangelize?  What methods or styles are most appropriate?
• What are the most important ideas to share--or questions to ask--when you're talking to someone about your faith?

After talking through our responses, we watched this video: The Skinny on Evangelism by the Skit Guys which is a great funny movie that displays a lot of the not so great ways to go about evangelizing, as well as a true story from their lives of a great example of evangelism.

Then we got into pairs and looked at two stories in the Bible of evangelism: John 4:27-42 and Acts 17:22-34.  Both of these stories have similarities and differences...can you name some?

God calls us to share the Good News using both our words and our actions!  How we live as disciples can be an important witness to others, and we are also called to talk with others about our faith.  What's important is that we do these things in love.  Pressuring someone into being a Christian or coming to church is not how God calls us to act.  We are to love others, encourage them and share in conversation with them.  Before closing in prayer, we came up with our "Most Wanted" list.  We prayerfully considered someone in our lives that we need to commit ourselves to sharing the Good News with.  We then wrote that person's initials on a specific side of the chalkboard.  We will continue to check back with one another to see what ways we have loved this person and shared the Good News with them.  Who would be on your "Most Wanted" list?  Prayerfully consider who that person might be, and comment on this post with their initials.  I will add your responses to our most wanted list as we continue to pray for those on the list and each other.

This Friday, I will be venturing to Eagle Eyrie in Lynchburg with 7 of our fantastic middle schoolers for the Virginia Conference Middle School Retreat!  Then I will see everyone else on Sunday night for FUSION Gathering at 6pm!  I hope everyone has a great week!