SAMPLE SESSION EMBRACE AND ENGAGE THE WONDER OF EVANGELISM ED NEWTON

Transcription

1 SAMPLE SESSION EMBRACE AND ENGAGE THE WONDER OF EVANGELISM ED NEWTON

2 SESSION 1 MY PICTURE Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Who should I send? Who will go for Us? I said: Here I am. Send me. ISAIAH 6:8 STUDENT BOOK 5

3 WATCH As you watch the Session 1 DVD, complete the viewer guide below. 1. Evangelism is not just a request, it s a from Scripture. 2. God could have chosen to spell out the gospel in the sky, but instead He has chosen to use and. 3. The four key verses in the My 8 strategy are: Isaiah 6:8: The calling on our lives to make Christ known is not, but. 5. Matthew 28: serves as the fuel for evangelism. 6. Acts 1:8: What (or Who) is the power source for evangelism? The. 7. Acts 8: Acts 8 is a practical look at the God has given you to share the gospel. Additional Notes: 6 MY 8

4 STARTING THOUGHTS Are you able to see the image hidden in an autostereogram? Perhaps you re struggling to just pronounce the word, nevertheless see the picture hidden in one. Autostereograms are pictures that just seem to be a series of colors and patterns, but if you look long enough, another image begins to form. For some people, the hidden image is easy to see, while others can t see it at all. Think about a time when a friend could see something you couldn t whether the image in an autostereogram, the truth of someone s character, or the consequences of the actions you were about to take. Describe that situation. Sometimes, what s apparent or true isn t necessarily easy to see. It s not hidden, but rather just not evident to you, like the FedEx arrow wasn t evident to me. But once you see it, what are you likely to do? That s right, pass it on. In a conversation with a friend or acquaintance, you ll probably find a way to share the insight you recently gained. There s a chance the person you re talking to may have already noticed whatever it is you ve just come to understand. But what if that person reacts with enthusiasm and excitement because you ve just shared information about something he or she has never understood? In all likelihood, the cycle will continue. The person you enlightened will enlighten someone else. In essence, you ve come to understand something vitally important that was once veiled to you. Now it s so clear that it s like a glaring neon sign you ll never overlook for the rest of your life. With that in mind, think about this: How does this apply to sharing the gospel? For many people, the gospel has been veiled. They may know something about the gospel, but they ve never come to a moment where they really understood it. For many people, the truth of the gospel is veiled because we, as believers, have come to the false conclusion that everyone in our circle of influence has either heard of or received our Jesus. But that s not the case. Does that describe you? Have you consciously or subconsciously decided not to share the gospel with someone because you assume that everyone you know has already heard? What s the danger in that kind of thinking? It s my prayer for you that the joy of knowing Jesus would lead to a zeal for others to know your Jesus. I pray that zeal would drive you to unashamedly proclaim Him. This is the beauty of evangelism: your life divinely and intentionally colliding with those who God has placed in your path who need to hear what you have seen and experienced in Jesus. STUDENT BOOK 7

5 CLOSER LOOK Now, before we journey on, here s another challenge for you: What s the common denominator in these four Scripture passages: Isaiah 6:8; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; and Acts 8? My intent isn t to be mystical or mysterious, but the answer may be a little like those autostereograms you read about earlier apparent, but not evident just yet. It s the reason this study has eight sessions, eight Scripture references to memorize, and eight eight-minute sermonette video clips to watch. So, what is it? Jot your answer here. The answer? It s the number 8. Isaiah 6:8; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; and Acts 8. Before we go any further, here s a disclaimer: I don t believe that the chapter and verse references of the Bible are inspired by God. Actually, the chapter and verse organization we re so familiar with in the Bible didn t come on the scene until 1227 A.D. So while these numbers aren t inspired, they do present an interesting phenomenon one I hope will serve as a battle cry to help God s people return to the joy of sharing Jesus. Isaiah 6:8 Let s take a quick look at these four important passages, starting with Isaiah 6:1-7. Read it in your Bible, then answer the questions that follow. Who did Isaiah encounter in this passage? Why is that important? Describe or sketch the scene Isaiah witnessed. 8 MY 8

6 Words and phrases are repeated in Scripture for emphasis. Underline the repeated words or phrases in this passage. Why are they significant? What do they teach you about God? About His glory and holiness? Look at verse 5. How did Isaiah respond to his encounter with our holy God? Why did he respond this way? Explain. The holiness of God consumed His throne room. The seraphim praised God s holiness, and it was seeing God in all His glory and holiness that caused Isaiah to fall on his face before God crying Woe is me! Now, direct your attention to Isaiah 6:7 in your Bible. How did God respond to Isaiah s confession? Explain. Underline the word your every time it is used in Isaiah 6:7. Why is this word significant? Explain. God responded to Isaiah s confession with forgiveness. When Isaiah recognized his sinfulness, he called out to God, and God responded with grace and mercy, cleansing him of his guilt and freeing him from the bondage of sin. To symbolize that cleansing, the seraphim touched a burning coal to Isaiah s lips. When you and I see God for who He is and ourselves for who we are not, then we will see the chasm of our sin and the utter hopelessness it creates. Because of our sin, you and I like Isaiah stand guilty before a holy God, and there is nothing we can do through our own effort or power to make ourselves clean, righteous, or pleasing to Him. But, as a Christian, He has shown you the same grace and mercy He extended to Isaiah and given you freedom from sin. Your sin and shame are gone, taken away through Jesus all-sufficient sacrifice. Turn your attention to Isaiah 6:8. Journal it here. What did God do after cleansing Isaiah from his sin? How did Isaiah s cleansing prepare him for God s call? STUDENT BOOK 9

7 What was Isaiah s response to God s call? How is this an appropriate response to God s work of salvation in our lives? Explain. Isaiah had no clue how this vision would end. All Isaiah knew was that his guilt had caused God s judgment to be unleashed. This prompted Isaiah s heart cry of I am wrecked and ruined. But God acted according to His mercy and grace to forgive and cleanse Isaiah, who responded to God s call in obedience: Here am I! Send me! When we confess our sin and place our faith for salvation in Jesus, God s grace covers our sin and brings us from spiritual death to life. When you have experienced that transformation, there is only one appropriate response to God s call: Here am I! Send me. Matthew 28:18-20 Isaiah 6:8 shows us what it means to be arrested by grace, but don t stop there. Read Matthew 28:18-20 in your Bible. You re probably familiar with this passage. It s usually called the Great Commission and details what Jesus called His followers to do. In your own words, list what He instructed us to do. Read Matthew 28:17 to learn more about the context of Jesus' call for His followers to make disciples. Jesus had died on the cross and been raised to life, defeating sin and death once and for all. The risen Lord had appeared to nearly 500 eyewitnesses, some of whom responded with worship and others with doubt, according to Matthew 28:17. Those who received Jesus mandate to go into all the world would do so in an attitude of worship. John Piper was spot-on in his book Let the Nations Be Glad when he wrote that worship fuels our evangelism. Jesus command in the Great Commission will become exhausting if we are not fueled by awe for the only God who can remove our wickedness and atone for our sin. If we have not been arrested by grace, then we will seek to fulfill Jesus directive in Matthew 28 through our own power and effort and the results will be futile and have no lasting effect. Acts 1:8 So far, we ve learned that when we experience God s grace and mercy, we respond in obedience that is fueled by worship and awe for the holy God who has saved us. But we must be moved from worship to actually engaging people with the gospel. And Acts 1:8 sheds some light on how that happens. 10 MY 8

8 Read Acts 1:8. Write it here. There are several key words and phrases in this passage, but what would you say is the first key word? Why did you pick that word? The word is power. This power guided Jesus throughout His ministry, led Him to the cross, then raised Him from the dead. This same power now lives in us. How do we receive this power? It s important to recognize this isn t a power we summon. We receive this power in the form of a person, the Holy Spirit. Whether or not we choose to embrace and engage the wonder of evangelism hinges upon our willingness to submit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. When we tune our hearts to the fullness of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are able to walk in the supernatural and the unexplainable. We are able to share the gospel and see lives transformed. Acts 8:26-39 Finally, we arrive in Acts 8, where these three components of grace (Isa. 6:8), worship (Matt. 28:18-20), and power (Acts 1:8) culminate with a grand crescendo celebration. The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 is a masterful portrayal of what is required to live out the My 8 call on your life. Read Acts 8:26-39 in your Bible. Summarize it here. At the heart of Acts 8 is a majestic moment when the Holy Spirit brings about the divine collision between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. While the Ethiopian man was reading a passage from Isaiah that points to Jesus substitutionary sacrifice, Philip approached his chariot and asked a simple question. That interaction led to Acts 8:35: then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. It was the Holy Spirit who placed Philip there to help the eunuch come to a clear understanding of the Word of God, which transformed his life. This will be the case for us, too, when we see evangelism no longer as an obligation, but as a beautiful opportunity. Do you think this kind of encounter can happen in your life? Explain. STUDENT BOOK 11

9 u do N E XT STEPSyou selected this resource reveals that yo apter of on ld. Each ch Perhaps the reas own in your wor kn t is hr C e ak m nge in which have a heart to ction and challe fle re of e m ti a with pray over the My 8 concludes e Scripture, and iz or em m, ct fle and re laying on you will: review your mind and to ng gi in br is that God unsaved people your heart. e specific Scriptur ck over the four ba ok :18-20; lo 28 to t ew en 6:8; Matth Take a mom ah ai Is n: io ss se ied in this fit together? List passages we stud u see how they yo o D : s af ter your study: Acts 1:8; and Act stand out to you at th hs ut tr or three maj Review who came to me of the person na e th l na ur jo ent and pray On the first line, Pause for a mom n. io ss se is th ed plet n to reveal mind as you com God would begi at th ng ki as, on at pers My 8 List a name to your specifically for th d ad 'll ou (Y y. or her toda Himself to him session.) at the end of each My 8 List me to min 1. Person who ca 2. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, d: power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek MY 8 A fter each session, you' ll be challenged to e memorize a vers is of Scripture. Th week, focus on Romans 1:16: because it is God s 12 Scripture Memory 8.

10 LEADER GUIDE SAMPLE SESSION EMBRACE AND ENGAGE THE WONDER OF EVANGELISM ED NEWTON

11 SESSION 1 MY PICTURE Session Synopsis Session 1 introduces the direction of the study by briefly looking at the four main passages upon which the My 8 journey is based. You will discuss in detail the first passage, Isaiah 8:1-8, helping students understand that grace motivates our witnessing, then highlight the other three passages. WATCH Watch the Session 1 video (included in the leader kit). Instruct students to follow along with the viewer guide on page 6 of the My 8 Student Book. The answers are below. 1. Evangelism is not just a request, it s a COMMAND from Scripture. 2. God could have chosen to spell out the gospel in the sky, but instead He has chosen to use YOU and ME. 3. The four key verses in the My 8 strategy are: 1. Isaiah 6:8 2. Matthew Acts 1:8 4. Acts 8 4. Isaiah 6:8: The calling on our lives to make Christ known is not GUILT, but GRACE. 5. Matthew 28: WORSHIP serves as the fuel for evangelism. 6. Acts 1:8: What (or Who) is the power source for evangelism? The HOLY SPIRIT 7. Acts 8: Acts 8 is a practical look at the DIVINE APPOINTMENTS God has given you to share the gospel. Briefly review the key points of the video and allow time for discussion. LEADER GUIDE 7

12 STARTING THOUGHTS Lead students through this portion of the study, inviting group participation. Use the content after each question to enhance and direct the conversation. Welcome students to the study, explaining that My 8 is not a formula for sharing the gospel, but rather a lifestyle. Are you able to see autostereograms? Do you even know what those are? Explain that autostereograms are 3-D pictures that on the surface just seem to be a series of colors and patterns. But if you stare at the picture long enough, you re supposed to be able to see an image behind the picture. Display examples from a Magic Eye book or images printed from the Internet. Provide sufficient time for students to try to identify the hidden images, then discuss who could see the images and who couldn t. Was this exercise enlightening or frustrating? Explain. Talk together about how frustrating it is when someone can see something that you can t. Direct attention back to the autostereograms and explain that the image isn t hidden; it s just that it s not evident, like the example Ed shared on the video about the FedEx logo. Stress that when we re able to see something that s hidden, our instinct is to pass it on. Have you ever had that experience? Explain. Be prepared to share a personal story. Direct attention to this paragraph in the My 8 Student Book and discuss: When you really see something, there s a high probability that you ll tell someone else about it. In a conversation with a friend or acquaintance, you ll probably find a way to share the insight you recently gained. There s a chance the person you re talking to may have already noticed whatever it is you ve just come to understand. But what if that person reacts with enthusiasm and excitement because you ve just shared information about something they ve never understood? In all likelihood, the cycle will continue. The person you enlightened will enlighten someone else. (My 8 Student Book, p. 7) How does this apply to us sharing the gospel? Explain that if we re not careful, we will assume that everyone around us is already a follower of Christ, or if not a follower, that they ve heard the gospel and have declined it. However, this is not the case. 8 MY 8

13 What s the danger in that kind of thinking? We must realize that there are people all around us perhaps even some of our closest friends who have not made a decision to follow Christ. Perhaps God is preparing their hearts to hear the good news again. He is wanting to collide our lives with theirs to bring about life transformation. CLOSER LOOK This section allows you and your students to dig deeper into the themes and topics Ed introduced in the video. Use the Scripture and information below to guide your discussion. Write these four Scripture reference on a white board or large sheet of paper: Isaiah 6:8 Matthew 28:18-20 Acts 1:8 Acts 8 What is the common factor in these references? Point out that the intent is not to be mystical or mysterious, or to say that the chapter and verse references were inspired by God. They are not. However, it is an interesting phenomenon that all these key passages have the number 8 in them. We will use this common factor to help frame our study: eight sessions, eight Scripture passages to memorize, eight names to pray for, and so forth. Guide students to take a quick look at these four important passages which will guide and shape the rest of our My 8 journey. Invite a student to read Isaiah 6:1-7 aloud, then allow students time to answer the following questions, also found on pages 8-9 of the student book. After a few minutes, discuss the questions together. Who did Isaiah encounter in this passage? Why is that important? Describe the scene. Words and phrases are repeated in Scripture for emphasis. What words or phrases are repeated in this passage? Why are they significant? What do they teach you about God? About His glory and holiness? LEADER GUIDE 9

14 Look at verse 5. How did Isaiah respond to his encounter with the holy God? Why did he respond this way? Explain. Explain that when we see God for who He is and ourselves for who we are not, then we see the chasm of our sin and understand the utter hopelessness it creates. Call for a volunteer to read Isaiah 6:7 aloud one more time. How did God respond to Isaiah s confession? Explain. Point out that when Isaiah confessed his sin, the seraphim came with a burning coal, touched his mouth and made an incredible statement: your wickedness is removed, and your sin is atoned for. Isaiah had done nothing to deserve the forgiveness he received. It was simply an act of mercy and grace of God. You and I are in the same position. Like Isaiah, you and I stand guilty before a holy God, and there is nothing we can do through our own effort or power to make ourselves clean, righteous, or pleasing to Him. Yet God, in His great mercy and grace, sent Christ to be our sacrifice and our Redeemer. We did nothing to deserve this gift. Yet our sin, our shame, our guilt, is gone, all because of what Jesus did on the cross. Direct students to write Isaiah 6:8 in the space provided in their student books (p. 9). Use the questions below to discuss the passage. What did God do after cleansing Isaiah from his sin? How did Isaiah s cleansing prepare him for God s call? What was Isaiah s response to God s call? How is this an appropriate response to God s work of salvation in our lives? Explain. Point out that Isaiah had no clue how this vision would end. All Isaiah knew was that his guilt had caused God s judgment to be unleashed. This prompted Isaiah s heart cry of I am wrecked and ruined. But God acted according to His mercy and grace to forgive and cleanse Isaiah, who responded to God s call in obedience: Here am I! Send me! When we confess our sin and place our faith for salvation in Jesus, God s grace covers our sin and brings us from spiritual death to life. When you have experienced that transformation, there is only one appropriate response to God s call: Here am I! Send me. Move to the second key passage. Enlist a volunteer to read Matthew 28:18-20 aloud. What do we call this passage? Why? 10 MY 8

15 This passage is called the Great Commission. It s where Jesus makes the future purpose of His followers very clear. Guide students to identify Jesus commands in this verse. Challenge them to list the command in their own words in the space provided on page 10 of their student books. Point out that the call was to go and make disciples. Read Matthew 28:17 aloud to help students learn more about the context of Jesus call for His followers to make disciples. Guide students to examine the passage in its entirety and help them to understand that those who received Jesus mandate to go into all the world would do so in an attitude of worship. John Piper was spot-on in his book Let the Nations Be Glad when he wrote that worship fuels our evangelism. Take a moment to recap what students have learned so far. Point out that Isaiah 6:8 shows us that when we experience God s grace and mercy, we respond in obedience. Matthew 28:17 helps us to understand that our obedience is fueled by worship and awe for the holy God who has saved us. Next, we move to Acts 1:8, which shows us the power source for carrying out the mission God has called us to. Call on a student to read Acts 1:8. Direct students to write the verse in the space provided in their student books (p. 11). There are several key words and phrases in this passage, but what would you say is the first key word? Why did you pick that word? The word is power. This power guided Jesus throughout His ministry, led Him to the cross, then raised Him from the dead. This same power now lives in us. But we haven t been given this power to build our own kingdoms, but rather to expand the kingdom of God. How do we receive this power? Explain to students that the power we receive comes in the form of a person, the Holy Spirit. While the Spirit comes to live within us at salvation, we daily submit to His leadership. Without that submission, our efforts in evangelism will be futile. But if we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us and lead us, we will be empowered to accomplish the supernatural. Point out that the last key passage of the My 8 study, Acts 8, shows us some very practical, how-to tips for evangelism. Invite a student to read aloud Acts 8: Direct attention to page 11 of the student book and instruct students to summarize the passage in their own words in the space provided. After a few minutes, call for a few students to share their summaries. LEADER GUIDE 11

16 Briefly emphasize how the divine collision between Philip and the Ethiopian official plays out. The Ethiopian official was reading a passage from Isaiah that points to Jesus substitutionary sacrifice. Philip, led by the Holy Spirit, approached the Ethiopian man and asked a simple question. That question led to a conversation, which led to an opportunity for Philip to share Jesus with the Ethiopian man. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, a life was forever changed. Do you think this kind of encounter can happen in your life? Explain. NEXT STEPS Explain to students that at the conclusion of each My 8 session, the Next Steps activities will lead them to reflect on what they ve learned in each session. In addition, they ll also be challenged to pray for the unsaved people God has laid on their hearts and memorize Scripture that will prepare them to share their faith. Review Direct students to review Session 1 and the key verses. Challenge them to list some truths that stand out to them. After a few minutes, discuss some of the things the students listed. My 8 List Inform students that each week they will add a name to their My 8 Lists. Students will pray for the eight people they place on their list to come to know Christ. Today, encourage your students to record the name of the person who has been on their minds throughout this session. Invite the students to think about the people in their lives who are lost without Jesus and write the name of the first person who came to mind on their My 8 Lists. Allow time for students to pray individually for the person whose name they listed. Scripture Memory Point out to your students that in order to share their faith, it helps to have an understanding of the biblical explanation of the gospel. This will help them understand the gospel and better equip them to explain it to those who need to hear the good news. State that the memory verse for this session is Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. Close in prayer, thanking God for the students who have joined the My 8 journey. Pray that you would all be bold witnesses for Him. 12 MY 8