The purpose of Sunday's message entitled Every...time and the group study that comes with it is to help Christians understand that evangelism is more about showing the relational and transformational power of God's Kingdom in our life- not just a slick sales pitch that creates an occasion for choosing sides. One of the goals of your group time is to explore ways in which what's believed has already been communicated, regardless of whether a "spiritual conversation" has taken place or not.
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Discussion guide
Thaw
Have you ever been treated well by someone who turned out to only want to sell you something?
What kinds of words or phrases come to mind when you hear the words "evangelist", "share the gospel", "evangelical"?
Read
Luke 4:16-19
Does this personal mission statement of Jesus differ with how you would have described His mission? How?
What are some areas of our day to day life that run in opposition to creating good news for the poor, release to the captives, healing, equity, etc?
leader note: If some areas are uncovered, discuss how these affect a follower of Jesus and his/her ability to point to their belief as "good news". If someone is hearing a Christian talk about how Jesus saves the world, but is seeing that the system isn't really changing things in ways that prove any sort of god was at work- would they call it good news? How does intellectualizing (or reducing to a ideological discussion) the gospel both take away from Jesus' mission and people's ability to "observe" that it's of God?
Apply
In Mark 5:1-20, the formerly demon-possessed man is instructed to go and tell people what God has done. That, for Jesus, will be plenty in communicating that God's Kingdom is at hand.
-Share ways, no matter how big or small that you have seen God change your own life, or the life of someone close to you.
Leader note: if people are having a tough time coming up with anything, you may have to guide them to be aware of God in their midst. Ask them if they have experienced a difficulty in recent months or years, and what they learned from it. Ask them if they have had any "aha!" relational moments. Help them see ways that the appreciate beauty, compassion, generosity, justice- if even in small ways. If you get the sense that the group is at a loss as to what God may be doing and transforming in their own life, you should take some time to discuss what you, as a group of faith journeyers, can do together to allow God more space in 2008 to do what He does. Feel free to finish your time discussing this, as nothing else you discuss will be as valuable as when you decide that you are all in the group to be transformed by God, as well as an instrument of His transformation in others!
Wrap up
How do the following communicate which Kingdom we have given victory to:
Who we associate with.
What percentage of our income we spend on ourselves.
How speak to and about people.
Who we call enemies.
How we see those who have wronged or insulted us.
Where we cheat.
Whether people define us as talkers or listeners.
What makes us worry.
How we see environmental issues.
Clothing.
Our view of sex.
The number of impoverished people we name as friends.
What we eat.
Being in a Life Group.
Spend some quiet time in reflective prayer to give God's Spirit the room to shine some lights on areas that don't communicate His Kingdom well. Areas where we are living the way of a conquered kingdom of death. If the group members are willing, share some of the insights they may glean from this time so that the other members can encourage and ask about it in months to come.
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