Week 8 - LIVE IT
CONNECT
What are you thankful for?
What challenge are you facing?
Have there been any answers to prayer?
Pray for each other.
Did anything stand out to you from last week’s follow-up Bible readings?
How did your “I will …” statement from last week go?
How did your sharing goal from last week go?
How’s your memory work coming along?
Acts 4:31 (NIV)
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
DISCOVER
Let’s start with a review.
NEED IT
As we partner with Jesus in mission to those around us, we need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
BELIEVE IT
Just as Jesus ministered through the Person and power of the Holy Spirit, so can we.
SEEK IT
Because we continually need the filling of the Holy Spirit, we need to continually seek it.
TRY IT
As you are led by the Holy Spirit, act on these leadings from the Holy Spirit.
USE IT
Use your spiritual gift(s) for the blessing of others and the glory of God.
PRAY IT
Pray for others in the power of the Holy Spirit.
SAY IT
Say what the Holy Spirit is saying to you.
And now …
LIVE IT
Join Jesus and walk by the Spirit as you live a missional life.
Ask God to speak to you as you read His Word.
Acts 3:1-19 (NIV)
1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
Have someone retell the passage in their own words.
What stands out to you in this passage?
What does this passage say about God (The Father, His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit)?
What does this passage say about people, including ourselves?
What does this passage say about the life God invites us to live?
Digging Deeper
As we wrap up FILLING, let’s consider how to join Jesus and walk by the Spirit to live a missional lifestyle. What follows integrates the 5 Step Prayer Model (Week 6 - PRAY IT) with Prayer > Care > Share > Dare of FRUIT. Let’s review:
Our mission is to join Jesus in making disciples of those around us through a Prayer > Care > Share > Dare lifestyle.
PRAYER — Pray for others to encounter Jesus.
CARE — Care for others’ needs.
SHARE — Share each others’ stories and Jesus’ Story.
DARE — Dare others to be disciples of Jesus.
SHOW & TELL
JOIN JESUS
John 5:19-20 (NLT)
19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing.”
John 20:20 (NLT)
“As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”
John 15:5 (NIV)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
In the same way, Jesus did what His Father was doing, we need to do what Jesus is doing. Our mission, then, is to join Jesus in His mission. As we remain in Jesus (that is, as we connect with Him and depend on Him through faith and love), He will show us what He is doing and help us bear the fruit of a missional life.
PRAYER
Start your day and regularly pray throughout your day (especially as you transition from one activity to another or one location to another) …
Jesus, how can I join You in mission? Give me eyes to see and ears to hear and courage to do what You show me.
Stay attentive and be ready to follow the Lord’s leading. This is how we walk by the Spirit.
CARE (Show)
1. ASK
To build rapport …
Get a conversation started with questions, like …
How are you doing today?
You seem a bit down today. What’s up?
Wasn’t your son struggling in school? How's he doing? How are YOU doing?
Ask a question and then listen—really listen.
You may be able to build rapport in one interaction or it may take several. Continue to connect, ask questions and show interest in the person’s life. Keep on caring for his or her needs.
To offer prayer …
Then ask some follow-up questions, like …
How can I pray for you?
Can I pray for that?
If God would answer one prayer for you, what would it be?
What could Jesus do for you to show you just how much He loves you and wants a relationship with you?
Practice active listening by repeating what the person is saying or asking you to do.
2. INVITE
Ask the Father/Jesus/Holy Spirit to come and to show His presence and love to the person you’re praying for. Let the person know that you’ll pause for a moment to just be still. This gives space and time for the person to experience God’s presence personally and for you to listen for direction from the Spirit. Be okay with a bit of silence. Your comfort will make them comfortable.
3. PRAY
Pray for what the person has requested. Pray as the Holy Spirit leads. If appropriate, lay hands on the person. Generally, keep your prayer short and sweet. And don’t preach through your prayer. Just pray.
Note that the prayers that Jesus and the early church prayed were usually quite short and direct. In fact, in many ways, they were more declarations, even commands, than prayers, such as, “In Jesus’ name, medical condition be healed” or “In Jesus’ name, demon come out.” Jesus has authorized us to use His name boldly and compassionately for His Kingdom.
Pray something like this: “Lord, thank You for Your loving presence and Your healing power. Now show _____ that You love him/her and want a relationship with him/her. I pray that You would heal _____’s knee. Knee be healed in Jesus’ name, Amen.””
4. CHECK
Check with the person by asking, “What’s happening?” or “What do you sense God is doing?” or “What is the level of your pain? Can you do something that you couldn’t do before?” or “Are you sensing any direction from the Lord?”, etc.
5. REPEAT
If need be repeat 2. INVITE, 3. PRAY and 4. CHECK seeking more of Lord’s presence, direction, healing or peace.
SHARE (Tell)
Depending on what’s happening, you have several directions to go.
Thank the Lord for what He has done or is doing.
Transition to a Good News conversation.
“God has answered our prayer (revealed His presence to you / given direction to you, etc.) because He wants you to know just much He loves you and wants to have a relationship with you.
“Can I ask you what your relationship with God is like? Do you believe in Jesus?”
Share your story (15 Second Testimony)
Share Jesus’ Story (The Good News)
“Has anyone ever shared with you the Good News of the Bible?”
“Can I show you from the Bible just how much God loves you?”
Check out other passages and presentations that you could share at FRUIT - SHARE (Part 2).
DARE
After sharing the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ, it’s time to challenge the person to accept God’s love and follow Jesus.
“Let me ask, What would stop you from accepting God’s love personally and following Jesus?”
Interact with their response. Answer their questions. Encourage them to step out in faith.
If they’re ready to respond in faith, here’s a prayer you could lead them to pray:
“God, thank You so much for Your love for me. And I’m so sorry for my sin against You. I now believe in Jesus and receive Your forgiveness. Help me from now on to follow Jesus and Your way of life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Invite them to start a discipleship relationship with you. Follow The Way Discipleship Journey will help you introduce them to the Story of the Bible and guide them to maturity as a follower of Jesus Christ. Follow The Way is based on a discipleship process that is relational, biblical and intentional.
TELL & SHOW
That’s SHOW & TELL. Sometimes the order will be TELL & SHOW. Instead of starting with SHOW (Demonstration / Wonder), you’ll start with TELL (Proclamation / Word). It goes like this …
PRAYER
“Jesus, how can I join You in mission? Give me eyes to see and ears to hear and courage to do what You show me.”
SHARE (Tell)
Share each other’s stories (including your 15 Second Testimony) and Jesus’ Story (The Good News)
CARE (Show)
"God hasn’t just shown you His love for you in the past by sending Jesus to die for your sins, God wants to show you His love for you right now. So …”
1. Ask
“How can I pray for you? What’s one thing that God could do for you that would really show His love for you?”
Work through 2. INVITE, 3. PRAY, 4. CHECK and 5. REPEAT.
DARE
“God has shown you His love for you in Jesus. Now He has shown you His love for you in answering our prayer. Let me ask, What would stop you from accepting God’s love personally and following Jesus?”
Interact with their response. Answer their questions. Encourage them to step out in faith.
If they’re ready to respond in faith, here’s a prayer you could lead them to pray:
“God, thank You so much for Your love for me. And I’m so sorry for my sin against You. I now believe in Jesus and receive Your forgiveness. Help me from now on to follow Jesus and Your way of life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Invite them to start a discipleship relationship with you. Once again, Follow The Way can help you with this discipleship journey.
QUESTIONS
What do you think of this approach to evangelism?
Is it too bold?
Does it test God? Is that a good thing or bad thing?
What if God doesn’t seem to “answer” your prayer? Have you damaged God’s reputation? Have you lied?
If the New Testament church practiced SHOW & TELL, should we?
Share a story of God has used you in SHOW & TELL.
How can you begin to live a SHOW & TELL life?
How about going out as team (2 by 2) to practice SHOW & TELL on the streets or at the mall or …?
LIVE
What truth have you discovered from today’s Bible passage(s) and conversation?
What would stop you from believing and obeying this truth?
How will you live out this truth this coming week? Finish this statement: “I will ….”
Who else needs to hear this truth? How could you share it with them?
When will we meet again?
Who will facilitate that meeting?
Pray for God’s help as you seek to follow Jesus this coming week.
NEXT STEPS
Foundations
Congratulations on finishing FILLING. You are encouraged to now move on to FOUNDATIONS.
God works great changes in the lives of those who believe and follow Jesus. These changes are the basic building blocks for our identity and maturity in Christ. In these 7-weeks, you’ll learn how to build your life upon the solid foundation of the truth of who you are in Christ.
Foundations and Freedom make up Follow The Way’s GROW Set.
FOLLOW-UP BIBLE READINGS
Let’s finish off FILLING with 3 more passages.
BUDDY SYSTEM
Connect with your buddy this week and ask each other these questions:
How are your readings going?
How’s your “I will …” statement coming along?
How’s your sharing goal coming along?
How can I pray for you?
PRINTABLE PDF
FILLING - Week 8 printable PDF
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