Month: September 2019

Life Shared Series – Week 3

Here’s the third and final session in our Life Shared discussion series. Watch the video and take some time to consider the discussion questions below. If you have any comments or questions of you own please leave them in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Discussion Questions

Question 1: What comes to mind when
you think about practical steps to sharing your faith?

Question 2: What stood out to you from what Jay shared? What inspired and challenged you?

Going Deeper: Read Luke 10:25-37

How does the story of the Good Samaritan connect with what Jay shared in the session?

Do we define neighbour in our culture differently than Jesus defines neighbour?

Praying for people by name, getting to know your neighbours, extending an invitation etc. These are all things that you can do. What would it look like to take the next step in any one of these areas as a group or individually?

Jay made the statement that, “Evangelism moving forward will be mostly worked out and lived out through hospitality.” What do think about that statement?

Why do you think meals were such a significant part of Jesus’ ministry?

Given your own context, what are some practical ways you can get to know your neighbours?

Are there needs in your group that you can start to meet in a practical way, together?

Application: Commit yourself to take a step towards sharing your faith. You might find it helpful to write it down.

Examples:
• Invite a friend to Alpha
• Learn the name of a neighbour
• Host a meal at your house with your neighbourhood
• Take a co-worker to lunch
• Write a note of encouragement to a friend who doesn’t know Jesus

Spend some time praying for  courage and boldness to share your life and your faith with others.

 

Life Shared Series – Week 2

Life Shared Series – Week 2

Here’s the second of the three session in our Life Shared discussion series. Watch the video and take some time to consider the discussion questions below. If you have any comments or questions of you own please leave them in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Discussion Questions

Question 1: How do you feel about the idea that God wants to partner with you?

Question 2: What stood out to you from what Danielle shared? What inspired and challenged you?

Going Deeper: Read Acts 1:8

What fears come up when you think about God wanting to use you to reach others?

In what way(s) does the Holy Spirit empower us to
share our faith?

What do you think about the idea that God can use unlikely people?

Have there been times when you have viewed people as projects? What do you think Danielle meant by that statement? Have you seen evangelism practiced like this?

When it comes to the idea of God using us to reach others, what kind of unnecessary pressure do we put on ourselves?

Think back to the person that God used in your life to invite you into a relationship with Him. What made their witness so compelling and attractive to you?

What would it look like for you to change your posture
by asking the questions that Danielle suggested like, “How can I serve? How can I love? How can I connect?” in your local context?

Application: Spend some time praying that the Holy Spirit would give you:

Love (Romans 5:5)
Boldness (Acts 4:29)
Fearlessness (Romans 8:15-17)
Power (Ephesians 3:14-21)
Wisdom and Opportunity (Colossians 4:2-6)

 

Life Shared Discussion

Life Shared Discussion

In the lead up to our Fall Alpha Course I’ll be running a couple of small group sessions on how Christians can make invitation and hospitality a part of our faith.

The idea of sharing faith or evangelism can be extremely overwhelming to many people – it’s often been that way for me as well. The Life Shared small group series offers a place to talk through some of the issues around sharing our faith in a natural, humble and authentic way.

I’m offering the first session here as an introduction to the series. Below I’ve also posted the discussion questions from the session. If you want to offer any comments on the video or discussion questions please do so in the comments section.

Then on this coming Sunday (September 8) anyone who wants to take part can join me for the second session in the church library (Hyslop Room).

I’ll also be posting the second and third sessions here on the blog after people have met on Sunday. So whether you take part in person or here online, I hope you take some time to think about how you can share you faith and invite someone share the life we have in Jesus.

Session 1: Join His Heart

Discussion Questions

Question 1: What feelings or thoughts come up for you around this idea of sharing your faith?

Question 2:  What stood out to you from what Jon shared? What inspired and challenged you?

Going Deeper: Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

What do these verses tell us about evangelism?

Have you ever had a moment in conversation where you felt like you stepped into what God was already up to?

What prevents you from slowing down and noticing
God and people more?

Why do you think our culture has such a negative perception of the word “evangelism?”

What excites you about sharing your faith?

What makes you nervous about sharing your faith?
Can you share a time when you were inspired
by radical hospitality?

How can we practice the art of hospitality more
frequently and effectively in our context?

Application: Take a moment to write down the names of three people in your life who don’t yet know Jesus and spend some time praying for them.