Sunday 10:13:13

John 15:26, 27 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. Jesus' plan: be with me, then tell others what you found. D.T. Niles, a Sri Lankan evangelist, said evangelism is One beggar telling another beggar where he can find bread. Children usually come to Christ because of the faith of their parents But when adults come to Christ, it is usually because a believer has loved them into the kingdom What you do is more important than what you say 1. Drop your mask - Let people see your struggles - and the reason for your hope 2. Treat all people with respect - Be kind to the rude, love the unlovable, be a friend to someone without a friend. The world takes notice of people who love others - it is uncommon in the world 3. Find ways to bless and serve others - Put others first. shows you are not a phony, but that you live what you believe. 4. Escape the Christian subculture - be a friend to someone who doesn't look like you, think like you. Christians are not to be hermetically sealed until Jesus comes back. We are to be IN the world but not OF the world. 5. Be a model of forgiveness - the world struggles to forgive. The Christian should be. Don't hold grudges. Don't talk bad about people who talk bad about you. You've received 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, Shouldn't someone else do this? Shouldn't someone older, wiser, holier, or at least a pastor? Paul to the Corinthians: You don't have many fathers, I'm sending you a peer. 1 Corinthians 4:14-17 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. My story God forgave my sins God saved my marriage God gave me courage to be a better father Talk to your coworkers. Be a regular at the grocery store, gas station, coffee shop, a restaurant. Get to know a few people. Engage with them. Listen to them. Pray for 2-3 people with struggles. Ask God for an opportunity to tell them what He has done in your life What happens when God's people are living out their new life and pointing other people to Him? More lives are changed and God is glorified. What is your faith story? How has Jesus changed your life? Where does God's plan to save us end? It doesn't. He is redeeming all areas and aspects of our lives. He has forgiven my sins, gave me new hope and purpose, saved my marriage, helps me be a better father/mother, helps me be a better husband/wife, helped me forgive something I never thought I could, helps me love people, healed my brokenness... 1. Life Before: • Before Christ: Focus on shared experiences (“Earlier in my life...”) • False Beliefs: Focus on wrong beliefs (“I always thought...”) 2. Life Change: • Truth Encounter: Focus on key gospel truths (“Then I discovered...”) • Faith Response: Focus on turn, trust, surrender (“I trusted Jesus to...”) 3. Life Now: • New life: Emphasize life changes (“Since I trusted in Jesus Christ...”) Hebrews says that Jesus is "the author and finisher" of our faith. He is not through writing your story. The longer and farther you follow Jesus Christ, His salvation will affect and redeem more and more of your life. He is always adding new chapters to your faith story.