Journey With Jesus – week #8: Taking the Good News of Jesus to Others!

(used by permission from Paul Johnson)

Father’s role:

John 6:44a For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.

Our Role

2Corinthians 9:6 Remember this – a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.

1st Step: Pray for Others

Romans 10:1 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is that the Jewish people might be saved.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your request, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority… This is good an pleases God our Saviour, for He wants everyone to be saved…”

Every believer can pray for others. God listens to his children’s prayers. In many Jesus stories people begged him to help a friend or family member. We can beg Jesus to save them, to let them hear the good news like we did.

Practical – Bible reading handout (below) – Luke 5:16

2nd Step: Presence – Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-14, 16 You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world… let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Your desire to be like Jesus will show others how God has transformed you. Like Jesus, who went about doing good, your acts of kindness will point others to God.

Acts 10:38  And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

3rd Step: Tell Your Story

John 4:28-30  The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

You learn to tell your life story to help others understand how God is working. Your story becomes an open door for friends and family to encounter Jesus.

Practical - My story in 200 words or less – 45 sec – 1 1/2 minutes

4th Step: Answer Tough Questions

1 Peter 3:15-16 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

Others notice that you follow Jesus and ask questions, some of them searching, some of them reacting against you. You learn to overcome fear, answering them with quiet confidence and a life of integrity. You do the research to find answers to the most common questions.

5th Step: Ask Interesting Questions

John 1:38a  Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked them.

You find ways to turn a conversation into a spiritual discussion, by asking questions that are spiritual door openers. You find a process that works best for you.

Questions: Pastor Alan Braun – Has Anyone ever shared with you about how to have a relationship with God?

6th Step: Share the Good News about Jesus

Colossians 4:2-6  Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

You ask God for opportunities to talk to others about Jesus, taking the initiative to speak about Jesus. You use any chance you have to give this GOOD NEWS to others in your network of relationships.

Used by permission from Paul Johnson

7th Step: Be a Missionary and Evangelist

Romans 15:20-211 My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand.”

Final Thoughts:

Each rung requires a deepening love relationship with Jesus, and a growing desire to help others find God and follow Jesus. Each rung requires more training and skill. Each rung takes more courage and confidence.

How to apply:

Find the step you’re comfortable with. Ask God to help you step up to the next rung. Refuse to stop until you’re at least at the 6th rung.

Journey With Jesus – week #7: A Servant’s Heart!

John 13:1-5 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

1. Passover celebration - Celebrating the Faithfulness of God! (Exodus 12 to read more)

1b. His hour had come - The suffering of Jesus was about to go through.

John 13:1c He now showed the disciples the full extent of his love.

What does love really look like? A Servants Heart!

‘Took up the towel’ and washed their dirty feet. SERVED THEM.

What did he show them? What love looks like! What does it look like?

Love - unselfish, outgoing affection or tenderness toward another without necessarily expecting anything in return… Seeks the persons highest good (act of the will a choice) from the heart!

John 13:12-15 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher , have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have tone to you.

What keeps us from serving?

1. Discouragement - to make somebody feel less motivated, confident, or optimistic.

2. Distractions - something that takes our attention away from something else

Serving is Hard Work at times… It’s messy – It’s dirty

A Servants Heart:

1. Looks for ways to show God’s love by serving others!
2. Doesn’t expect anything in return!
3. Requires Humility - Philippians 2:5-7 Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.
4. Trust God to refill what’s poured out!

Picking Up the Towel – To Show God’s Love by Serving Others!

Journey With Jesus – week #6: A Generous Heart!

God’s Generous Heart

1. Filled with a Love that Demonstrates

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

2. Filled with a love that Gives whatever the cost.

John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

What was the cost?

2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

What kind of love does God have? The kind of love that gives even at a great cost

Luke 6:37-38 Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven. 38 If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving – large or small – it will be used to measure what is given back to you.

A Generous Heart – To love like God!

ILLUS> Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea

What keeps us from a Generous Heart? (Keeps us from giving)

1. False Belief – God helps those who help themselves. Judgement

Many falsely believe that God only helps those who pull themselves up, get their act together and put in hard work.

Truth – God’s Grace – God helps those who cannot help themselves!

2 Corinthians 12:9  Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Practices for a Generous Heart

• I will admit my weakness to God and trust Him for the grace to meet my needs.
• I will demonstrate and generously give to others the same grace and love God has given to me.

2. False Belief – Scarcity – If I give it away, I have less

Built on the idea that whatever I give away is now lost, whatever I share is gone and whatever I provide for another contributes to my own lack.

Truth – God’s Love – If we share, we will have enough. We will never out give God’s love.

Jeremiah 31:3  Long ago the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”

Omar principle - there is enough for everyone – take only what you need.

Practices for a Generous Heart

• I will give generously to others as God leads, knowing that I cannot out give God! His love is unfailing and everlasting.

3. False Belief – Entitlement – What I have is mine to use for my own pleasure. 

“This teaches us that the things that we possess, whether money, time or abilities, are ours to use as we see fit, which often means using them for our own gain and not the benefit of others.” James Smith

Truth – What I have is God’s, to use for His glory!

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Practices for a Generous Heart

• I am a steward of God’s gifts; everything belongs to Him. I will begin to ask Him how I should use the gifts He has given.

 

Journey With Jesus – week #3: Pray About Everything!

Philippians 4:6 Do not worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.

Reasons Christians give for not praying:

1. I don’t know hot to pray
2. Prayer is for the really spiritual – the pastors… but not for me.
3. I’ll mess it up.
4. God doesn’t answer prayer or God won’t answer my prayer

1. Pray About Everything

Prayer – is me expressing my hear to God’s heart! And then listening to God share his heart with me! A friend talking and listening to another friend…

2 Samuel 5:17-25 So David asked the Lord, Should I go out and fight the Philistines? Will You hand them over to me? The Lord replied, yes, go ahead. I will certainly give you the victory.

A. Prayer is Trust and Dependence on God!

What does it look like to pray about everything?

Work- before you start your work – Before you start that work project… as you start your day

Students- School – as the class starts, before home work, before the test…

2. Tell God what you need

Psalm 61:1-2 O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I will cry to you for help, for my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety.

Voicing my Heart to God!

Releasing this thing to God – This anxiety to God – This fear to God

Psalm 116:1-2 I love the Lord because He hears and answers my prayers. Because He bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath!

3. Thank Him for all he has done

Twofold thank you:

1. Thanking God for all He has done for us!
2. Being Thankful because I trust God to do what is for my best and His glory! Thankfulness communicates trust!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus!

What happens if I do this?

Promise: God gives us HIS PEACE!

Philippians 4:7 if you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard you hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

His Peace guards my heart and mind like military soldiers guarding precious treasure!

Practical Tips for practicing prayer

1. Set a time – make the time to start each day in prayer
2. Find a quiet place to be alone with God
3. Give yourself time to still your thoughts and tell God what you need.
4. Take a few minutes to Thank God.
5. Give God time to speak to you.
6. Talk to God during the day.