Session 4 REACH out to nonbelievers Scripture study: (15 minutes) 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:35-38 a. Why do you believe Jesus drew crowds everywhere he went? b. How did Jesus feel toward the people he met? What was their main problem? c. What issue did Jesus identify between the harvest and the harvest workers? d. Why do you think Jesus asked his disciples to prayer, rather than jump in a start working in the harvest field? leadership skills: (30 minutes) It is one of life s great thrills to clearly communicate the Gospel to the world. Nothing matters more to God than the souls of lost people, and therefore nothing should matter more to the church. God s plan to REACH the world: Part 1: God wants everyone to be.
God passionately loves every person on the earth. And more importantly, He wants every person to be part of His family. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 Part 2: Salvation comes through in Christ. Because of His incredible love for us God sent His only Son to do what we could not do for ourselves. The Bible says that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Meaning, Jesus took on the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross so that we might be reconciled back into a relationship with God. I (Jesus) tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24 Part 3: The church is God s to reach the world. The church is the hope of the world. That s because the church is God s vehicle to redeem the world. The church is plan A and there is no plan B to spread the good news about God s kingdom. Our job as the church is not only to know Him, but to make Him known to the people God has placed around us. We are therefore Christ s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 Steps to REACH out to non-believers: The Great Commission was given to every follower of Christ, not to pastors and missionaries alone. The words of Jesus are not the Great Suggestion. If you are a part of God s family, the mission of God is our responsibility.
Step 1: Cast God s to reach people. Group evangelism always starts with the group leader. Every group will drift toward becoming a holy huddle and operating with a closed mind-set, unless someone directs the group down a different path. As a group leader you will need to consistently remind group members of the need to help fulfill God s mission to reach the world for Christ. Below are a few tools to help with this step. A) Use an open chair during meetings. If 8 people attend your group meeting be sure to leave one extra chair in the room. This open chair should serve as a reminder for your group to be open to new people looking for community. B) Pray for others using a Hope Circles list. Give each group member a copy of the Hope Circles worksheet. Ask group members to list names of individuals they know to who need a relationship with God or can be invited into group life. Group members pray for these individuals and work to build relational bridges. When the time is right group members invite non-members to the group. (the Hope Circle s worksheet can be found in the Leader s Toolbox on the newhopecaregroups.com website) C) Choose a study on reaching out. Go Fish: DVD featuring Andy Stanley from Northpoint Resources Reaching Out: Study Guide, by Bill Hybels and Zondervan Publishing Step 2: Invite others the group. Once you cast vision in the group to be open and prayerful about opportunities to add new members, the next step is to simply invite people into group life.
Note: Be aware that although people can join a group at any point there are times throughout the year when people are more likely to join a group. The fall / beginning of the school year. The winter / the beginning of a new year. When your group is getting ready to start a new study. A) Add your group to the CARE Group Hot List B) Walk across the room and ask. The friendliest people in the church should be CARE Group Leaders. Make it a point to introduce yourself to people while you are attending service. *CARE Group Truth* 50% of people will attend a group if asked. Most people are not in a CARE Group because no one has taken the time to invite them. Hand out CARE Group Invitation cards to potential members every time you have an event or start a new study. Cards should list group logistics (Event, Day, Time, Place). C) Plan Matthew Parties (see Matthew 9:9-13). Form a list of people you want to ask to join your group. Do a fun non-threatening activity to invite those people to attend. Invite them to join the group (or church) the following week. In the space below, dream up reasons to party as a group
Step 3: Share your. Once your group begins to pray for open door to reach out to others, and once they start inviting their friends, family, or neighbors to group chances are good you will have a chance to share the gospel message with them. Below are two methods to share your faith... A) Share your spiritual story. Every believer has been far from God and rescued by His love. Your faith story is a brief explanation of how God reached out to you and the difference He has made in your life. Your story can be shared in three parts: my life before Christ: my conversion: my life after Christ: The best part is because your testimony is your story, you don t have to memorize anything. You simply share what God has done for you and then end the conversation by asking, Would you like to hear more? Or, would you like to receive Christ today? B) Share God s spiritual story. The good news of salvation is pretty simple, but many people don t know how to communicate God s plan in a simple way. Below is an easy way to explain salvation to someone who is interested. How to Know God We ve all messed up Romans 3:23 There is a price to pay Romans 6:23 Jesus paid the price Romans 5:8 Receive Him now Romans 10:13 Mark your decision Romans 6:4 Note: This might be a great tool to write in the cover of your Bible, that way you will always be prepared to share it when needed.
Group discussion: (15 minutes) a. What is God s plan for the whole world? b. How do CARE Groups fit into God s plan and the mission of the church? c. Why is it so easy for a group to become a holy huddle? What can a group leader do to help with this issue? d. When would be the best time(s) to invite someone to join your CARE Group? Can you think of any situations when a group should be closed for a season? Explain. e. Summarize the three steps your group can take to reach out to others. Which do you believe is the most important? Of the 4-5 strategies mentioned in this lesson for inviting people to group, which one do you believe will be the most effective for you?