Agenda Overcoming “Lack of Communication” Calling to Leadership

What’s Your Story We are all sinners and are in need of Christ In the end, God called his son home Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst (1 Tim 1:15) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Rom 3: 23-24)

Scripture References - Reaching Out “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you have sent me and loved them even as you have loved me.” (bold added - John 17:23) “Whoever finds his life will loose it and whoever looses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39) “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.” (bold added - Luke 11:33)

Motivation- God’s Celebration Luke 15: A celebration in heaven every time a person trusts Christ as Leader It’s overwhelming to know that God was celebrating when I accepted Him It’s honoring to know God asked me to help him celebrate God Appointed You to Tell of this Celebration Lost Sheep Lost Coin Lost Son

Opportunities 6 billion people in the world 2 billion Christians 68% of Christians are considered latent: 1.35 billion Christians 32% or 65 million Christians are considered active Who can take the leadership role – Exciting impact – On the 4 billion non-Christians* – On the 15 million non-evangelized who die annually* *Cf. World Christian Encyclopedia, Global Summary of World Evangelism – 2005, 2004

Hurdles to Jump Over It’s not politically correct – I don’t want to offend anyone I don’t know the Bible well enough and cannot defend it My friends won’t want to hang around me anymore Ah, they probably already have a church I don’t want to create an uncomfortable situation I don’t want to probe into their personal life It’s none of my business I’m not brave enough to start the discussion

Methods  I don’t know the Bible well enough and cannot defend it  Study – spend time in the Word  Know your own unique testimony  Apologetic Resources Letters of a Skeptic, Case for Christ, Case for Faith, Case for a Creator Tracts on evidence Resources in Tools for Christ Center I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season (2 Tim 4:2)

Methods My friends won’t want to hang around me anymore – Friendship is built upon a mutual trust & a relationship – Take advantage of the love you have for them and communicate gently – They have 2 options of response 1. Listen and continue to be your friend 2. Listen, stop hanging out with you In the end, they have heard the gift of salvation and someday may come back to you Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of truth (2 Tim 2:25)

Methods I don’t want to create an uncomfortable situation – No one has told me they didn’t want to talk about it – Be sensitive to their body language and read the situation – Proceed with love, humility and caution – Use previous technique: an exploratory innocuous conversation about their church background  I don’t want to probe into their personal life  Do you really know their needs?  They may want you to probe – take the initiative  Find something in common with the person before you ask Keep your head in all situations, endure hardships, do the work of an evangelist (2 Tim 4:5)

Methods It’s none of my business – Yes, it is - In John 15:16, Jesus appointed you to go and bear fruit – Fruit – the Gospel that God sent his son to bridge the gap of sin to God If you believe, you are saved – Listen to their business – Strangers Simple prayer offering Be nice Listen For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self discipline. (2 Tim 1:7)

Methods  I’m not brave enough to start the discussion  Fight through it by seeking the Holy Spirit to empower you  Use the previous defined techniques  Start by being friendly For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self discipline. (2 Tim 1:7)

Conclusion Live life now What do you have to lose What is there to gain Use your own testimony – it is uniquely irrefutable In the beginning and the end, it’s not about us, but God – The Holy Spirit will tug at the person’s heart – The person will accept the tugging or deny it Fulfill your mission God calls us to be – Leaders – Go & make disciples (Matthew 28:18) – Disciples SCM – Sarah’s Testimony

Next Steps So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, but join with me in the suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. (2 Timothy 1:8-9)  God Work  Write your story  Practice on your friends  Attend Discipleship Now & Missions Training  Go Tell the World