1. “We have this moment…” “I have something I need to say…”
TODAY I want to tell you about a most amazing love story
It is not a story that culminates in a sexual experience, like world says is ultimate
Can take between a man and woman, woman and woman, man and man
It centers around the most loving thing that a person can do.
It goes against the cultural mores, and norms.
Some deem it an innappropriate relationship, even taboo
It happens less and less in this day in age, some finding it quaint, outdated, square, hokey
Yet people are crying out for it more and more
While it centers around the most loving thing a person can do, to not do it is the most cruel thing that could ever happen to a person
It doesn’t require a deep knowledge of one another
But this loves story can in fact find it’s expression in the briefest of moments
It can happen in a chance encounter
The encounter can change the course of a person’s life forever…never again to be the same
This expression of love can and often does, save a person’s life; keep from suicide
But in some cases it can also cost a person his or her life

2. One shot at it
It involves the sharing of your most intimate love relationship, in a seemingly chance encounter that you may have with another person, even a total stranger!

3. Phil 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. NIV

4. 1. Sometimes you get one chance to impact others with your faith
Telling jailors about his faith was not a new thing to Paul
Acts 16:22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
The apostles including Peter had the experience of telling jailors about Jesus. (Acts 5)

5. 1. Sometimes you get one chance to impact others with your faith
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

6. 1. Sometimes you get one chance to impact others with your faith
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
The jailor was fearful of the shame and agonizing death he would receive from the Romans for letting the inmates go
Paul shouted
Don’t harm yourself

7. 1. Sometimes you get one chance to impact others with your faith
God designs encounters
An alternate spiritual reality/plan is taking place as you live your life
Every day’s route takes twists and turns
I live my life seeking chance encounters
How? One word, phrase, sentence at a time.
Jesus calls us to be fishers of men
Recently, fished a lot.
Different type of fishing than what I am used to
Invovles slowing down
Sitting
Waiting
Putting out a bait and waiting for something to nibble at it
(Jesus time a net; waiting for a fish to swim into it)

8. 2. God wants your availability / willingness
Acts 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
ARE YOU WILLING TO BE USED BY GOD?
Don’t try to say what you don’t know
Say what you know to be true- “witness”
Your own story
Your experience
Your belief

9. 3. “Making faith fun” involves having the courage to speak to someone about Jesus
My call:
To develop winsome, personal, tellers of the story
Look (for people)
Listen (to people)
Lead (people to Jesus)
Love (people where they are, as they are)
Learn (together from the Bible)
Laugh (together and enjoy life)
Live (really live)

10. 3. “Making faith fun” involves having the courage to speak to someone about Jesus
“Honest blurting” is OK; even humorous
“I feel like I am supposed to tell you about my faith”
“Does it seem pretty random that we met?”
“I believe God causes me to cross paths with people for a reason. Do you?”

11. 3. “Making faith fun” involves having the courage to speak to someone about Jesus
Listen to a person and tie into their beliefs
“I had a car wreck and now I don’t know what I’ll do now to get to work. But I’ve heard everything happens for a reason.” “So you believe in a God that guides events…?”
“I think the Universe just wanted it to happen.” “I don’t know what you mean by “the Universe. If you mean an energy that guides, it seems similar to my understanding of God who guides my life.”

12. 4. Jesus didn’t call us to be nice. He called us to be witnesses
“I don’t want to offend people.”
“I don’t like to talk about my faith. People can just see it in my life.”
James 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
Christians quote James 2 to justify not telling others; but they are not reading the whole passage.

13. 4. Jesus didn’t call us to be nice. He called us to be witnesses
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. NIV

14. What if… Life is not completely random?
Free choice/ not pre-determinism
God predestined us to be conformed to Jesus Rm 8:29
God places you in specific places at specific moments in time
God breaks in
Some call it serendipity
God ordained moment
“I’m glad I was here….” to prevent a
tragedy

15. What if… God whispers to you… Speak
“God told me…” must always square with what the Bible says God wants.”
“You will be my witnesses.”
When you speak, and conversation begins…
It becomes a Holy Moment
A sharing of intimacy about spiritual things
You share your story about the one you
love and who loved you.

16. So What? If faith isn’t fun anymore…
When have you placed yourself in a position to lose something?
A friendship
A position or status that you enjoy
When it comes to your faith, what sort of risk have you entered into?
ARE YOU AVAILABLE? ARE YOU WILLING?
Faith, without risk, is belief, not faith!
Snow skiing
Fun because there is risk involved
Exhilarting because you know you might get hurt