Transmission (Part 2)

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Acts 20:24

Intro

Last week, we talked about how we serve God on mission together in community!

Today, we are going to look at the question, How do we share the message of Jesus?

You know what!? We are going to share our faith stories today. Go ahead and look at the people sitting around you, find 2-3 people. I’ll give you a moment to think...on the count of 3, we are all going to take turns and tell our story!

Ready….Set…..I’m just kidding!!

Sharing your faith with others can be scary right?!

Scripture

Acts 20:24

24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Pray

Help us to have open hearts and ears to Your word

Story

Here, share a story of a time you were faced with an uncomfortable situation.

One of my favorite things to do is go surfing. I go periodically when I can now. When I was in high school, I remember being pretty far out and all of a sudden a mass of fish started jumping. They started jumping towards us and before we knew it, they were jumping over our boards, one fish tried to jump into my shorts! We were all on top of our boards trying to keep any part of our body out of the water! We knew that bigger fish were chasing the smaller fish!

Application 1

1. God has given us the privilege to share the gospel with others.

Our mission is a continuation of Jesus’ mission earth. He came with a mission to seek and save the lost.

It might be difficult, but it is what Jesus has called us to do…

Sharing the good news is not only a great idea…

It is not an option for someone who claims to follow Jesus to not be concerned or not to care for the people who are far from God. God has called us not to only keep the message inside these four walls, but to take it out to the world.

Typically, people care about the things their friends care about. If Jesus cares and loves people that don’t know Him yet, then we should care about them too. As I grow in my faith it will lead to caring more for people who are far from Jesus.

We can spend a lifetime waiting on the “perfect moment” to tell others about Jesus, but that moment usually never happens. God made you and me to tell others about Him, not just wait until everything is perfect!

Story 2

Have you ever tasted a nice, cool, refreshing Coke?

Congratulations! So have hundreds of millions of other people all around the world. And it’s all Robert Woodruff’s fault.

Well, not all his fault. But he’s largely to blame. You see, Woodruff, while president of Coca-Cola, had the audacity to state during World War II that “We will see that every man in uniform gets a bottle of Coca-Cola for five cents, wherever he is and whatever it costs.” When the war ended, he went on to say that in his lifetime he wanted everyone in the world to have a taste of Coca-Cola. Talk about vision! They eventually reached their generation around the globe with Coke.

We have the greatest news in their world! It’s even better than Coke! Jesus called His disciples to gain a vision of impacting the world for His name.

Supporting Scripture

Romans 10:13-15

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Application 2

Transition: Evangelism is helping people discover how God is working in their lives. This is why we need to evangelize…

2. How to tell your story:

1) Talk about life before you became a Christ-follower.

Key question: What was my life like before I met Christ?

Keep in mind that you do not have to share all of the details of your life. How were you finding hope and purpose? What were you living for before Christ?

Remember: Spend the least time on this part.

2) Talk about how you began a relationship with Jesus.

Key question: When did I realize I needed Christ?

Talk about what led up to you beginning a relationship with Christ. Explain the important moment of when you surrendered to Christ. Where were you? Paint the picture…

Remember: Spend more time on how you became a Christ-follower than you did on part one.

3) Talk about life since you began a relationship with Jesus.

Key question: How is He changing me?

Explain how different your life is now in comparison before you met Jesus. Share a few specific areas of your life where you are different now because of Jesus.

Remember: Spend most of your time on this one! How has God changed you?!

The early church received the message and it not only changed their lives, but it changed people in Jerusalem and eventually, the message has spread to the ends of the earth!

3. What we do with the message of Jesus matters while we are on the earth.

Look at people through the eyes of Christ.

Jesus was moved with a vision…to seek and save the lost…

Who in your life are you reaching out to with the love of Jesus? Who are you bringing to church with you?

You have the opportunity to tell someone that their life matters to God and that Jesus died for them. You have the opportunity to invite someone to church and to help lead him or her to Jesus. Will you be a part of the great mission to which Jesus has called us?

Some of you just realized you don’t have a faith story yet.

That can begin today! Let’s Pray…

Conclusion

Will you share the gospel with others?