The third session of Just Walk Across the Room was about sharing your faith story in a way that appeals to people. After all, why walk across the room to scare someone off or bore them to tears?
The DVD gave some excellent examples of how to tell a bad story, and of how to tell a good story. In a nutshell, keep it short, clear, and to the point. Briefly tell your listener what your life was like before your experience with God, what your experience with God was, and how that experience changed you.
For a couple of examples of faith stories from scripture, check out John 9:24-25 and Acts 22:1-21.
The end of class was spent working on polishing the way we tell our own faith stories. If you're interested in sharing (or just practicing in a friendly environment and getting feedback), there will be opportunities to tell your story in class in the weeks to come.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Just Walk Across the Room: Care
The second session of "Just Walk Across the Room" was about caring for the people that God puts in our lives. More than that, it was about reaching out to people whose paths we cross, so that we do more than just cross paths.
As Christians, over time we discover that we are surrounded more and more by fellow believers. And while the fellowship of believers is wonderful, we're more effective in reaching unbelievers for Christ if we truly care for all of the people that we meet.
The DVD session told the story of Dave, a guy that Bill met as part of a sailing team. Over time, Bill developed a friendship with Dave. Their common interest in sailing brought them together, but it was Bill's intentional kindness toward Dave--asking how his week had been, how his wife was--that moved them from teammates to friends. It was that friendship that allowed Bill to help Dave through the death of Dave's father. And Dave credits that friendship and care with helping him on his journey to faith in Christ.
Jesus cared for others, and not just people that already believed. Luke 15:1-2 gives a glimpse of Jesus's love for others overpowering the pressure to only spend time with the "good crowd".
This week, I encourage you to prayerfully look at your own life. Who do you share a common interest with, but aren't connected with? "Walk across the room" to them, with no agenda besides loving them and enjoying your common interest.
As Christians, over time we discover that we are surrounded more and more by fellow believers. And while the fellowship of believers is wonderful, we're more effective in reaching unbelievers for Christ if we truly care for all of the people that we meet.
The DVD session told the story of Dave, a guy that Bill met as part of a sailing team. Over time, Bill developed a friendship with Dave. Their common interest in sailing brought them together, but it was Bill's intentional kindness toward Dave--asking how his week had been, how his wife was--that moved them from teammates to friends. It was that friendship that allowed Bill to help Dave through the death of Dave's father. And Dave credits that friendship and care with helping him on his journey to faith in Christ.
Jesus cared for others, and not just people that already believed. Luke 15:1-2 gives a glimpse of Jesus's love for others overpowering the pressure to only spend time with the "good crowd".
This week, I encourage you to prayerfully look at your own life. Who do you share a common interest with, but aren't connected with? "Walk across the room" to them, with no agenda besides loving them and enjoying your common interest.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Old Classmates, New Friends
Our "Just Walk Across the Room" series took a break tonight so that we could hear from some members of the class that have been out of the country for a while. They have been working with Wycliffe Bible Translators in southeast Asia, and are home on furlough. Most of us are new to the class since they were here last, so we got to meet them and make some new friends.
If you feel so led, please pray for the training they will attend in Dallas in the coming months, and also for the team of nationals who are working unsupported for the first time.
If you couldn't make it this week, you missed out on a great class and also a great potluck.
If you feel so led, please pray for the training they will attend in Dallas in the coming months, and also for the team of nationals who are working unsupported for the first time.
If you couldn't make it this week, you missed out on a great class and also a great potluck.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Potluck After Class March 15th
Just a reminder, there will be a potluck dinner after class on March 15th. If you signed up to bring something, please remember to bring it! If you didn't, you're still welcome to bring something. And if you don't want to bring something, please bring yourself!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Just Walk Across the Room: Prayer
It's not often that the sermon and ABF lessons intentionally coincide, but that's what happened tonight. Pastor Bob started his sermon series on Just Walk Across the Room, and Marriage Matters started our DVD-based series.
The DVD told the story of Brian, who came to Christ years after Bill walked across a soccer field and introduced himself. Bill showed Brian that he cared, even after his invitation to come to a holiday church service was rebuffed. Years later, when Brian needed wise counsel, he sought out Bill, and God opened a door to sharing the Gospel.
The focus of our discussion was on having a passion for seeing people come to Christ. In Romans 9:1-5, Paul revealed the depth and strength of his desire to see his fellow Israelites saved. Jeremiah shared an analogy that might be helpful in understanding the stakes: if you were getting off a train that you knew was going to plunge into a river before the next stop, why wouldn't you tell the other passengers?
The first two steps are prayer (for your own heart, for opportunities to build and deepen relationships, and for the lost to come to Christ) and taking that "walk across the room". You don't have to do anything unusual. Just be yourself. Introduce yourself. Ask their name. If it's someone you already know, invite them over for dinner or to do some activity together.
What makes you hesitate to "walk across the room"? And how do you overcome that hesitation?
The DVD told the story of Brian, who came to Christ years after Bill walked across a soccer field and introduced himself. Bill showed Brian that he cared, even after his invitation to come to a holiday church service was rebuffed. Years later, when Brian needed wise counsel, he sought out Bill, and God opened a door to sharing the Gospel.
The focus of our discussion was on having a passion for seeing people come to Christ. In Romans 9:1-5, Paul revealed the depth and strength of his desire to see his fellow Israelites saved. Jeremiah shared an analogy that might be helpful in understanding the stakes: if you were getting off a train that you knew was going to plunge into a river before the next stop, why wouldn't you tell the other passengers?
The first two steps are prayer (for your own heart, for opportunities to build and deepen relationships, and for the lost to come to Christ) and taking that "walk across the room". You don't have to do anything unusual. Just be yourself. Introduce yourself. Ask their name. If it's someone you already know, invite them over for dinner or to do some activity together.
What makes you hesitate to "walk across the room"? And how do you overcome that hesitation?
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Practice for Walk Across the Room
The plan for March 1st had been to start the Just Walk Across the Room series. We made a last-minute decision to postpone the start of the series so that the ABF could attend the Mitch McVicker concert in the worship center.
However, we did practice walking across the room as we played a few questions' worth of "Would You Rather." Next week we'll actually start the series.
Comments are open for thoughts on the concert.
However, we did practice walking across the room as we played a few questions' worth of "Would You Rather." Next week we'll actually start the series.
Comments are open for thoughts on the concert.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)