Strengthen Your Core Series

Sharing My Faith

February 23, 2020

Pastor John Lloyd

Our physical bodies are made up of several core muscles. If kept in shape through exercise, they will function properly. God’s goal for followers is to make us more like Jesus. This happens when we think like Jesus, CORE beliefs, act like Jesus, CORE practices, and be like Jesus, CORE virtues. We need to exercise our CORE in order to glorify God. The journey of becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When we start thinking like Jesus, we are well on our way to becoming like Jesus. Last week we spoke about the reality of eternity. As it did Jesus, the truth of eternity moves us to share our faith with others. Most people received salvation because someone took the bold step to share the good news of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. The impact of sharing is exponential!

Practices covered so far: Worship, Prayer, Bible study, Single-Mindedness, Total Surrender, Biblical Community, Spiritual Gifts,Offering my Time& Giving.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Memory Verses: Ephesians 6: 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Key Question: How do I share my faith with those who don’t know God?

Key Idea: I share my faith with others to fulfill God’s purposes.

Year in and year out, decade after decade, statistics about how people come to faith in Jesus show a clear majority enter through a person who cares enough to share the gospel story. Relationships have always been, and still are, God’s primary path for bringing people into his kingdom. God has one plan for saving the world: his people — us. Randy Frazee

I. _______ and ____________ what God has done for you through Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 10:9 Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Romans 10:13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” John 10:10, John 17:3

Jesus desires for every person to receive his gift of eternal life.

II. Know that God has us here to _____________________ others.

2 Corinthians 5:18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

After we receive Christ, we may each have different careers to make a living, but we all have the same job description.

Begin with prayer.

Listen with empathy.

Eat together.

Serve sacrificially.

Share our story.

Who has God put in your life to BLESS? How is it going?

III. Believe your salvation story is powerful when you _____________ it!

2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Romans 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Colossians 4:5-6, Acts 1:8

Your Story/Faith/Testimony: John 9:25 One thing I know, I was blind and now I see.

1. In one minute or less, tell about your life before you came to Christ. Share your circumstances, struggles and questions you had. What path were you on before Jesus?

2. In one minute or less, tell how you came to faith in Christ. Who shared with you? What circumstances surrounded the decision? How did you know this was the right choice?

3. In one minute or less, tell how Christ has changed you. What differences has he made? How has life changed after crossing the line of faith?

Assignment: Write out your testimony/faith/story and pray about who you can share it with this week or in the near future.

Ephesians 6: 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

All believers are called to share their faith with others. We have been given the “ministry of reconciliation”; we are God’s “ambassadors” in the world. We are called to share our faith through the way we live our lives. We are to be “salt and light” to the people God has placed in our sphere of influence. The mere beauty of how Christians treat each other is an aroma that draws outsiders to want to know God and be in a relationship with him. We are also called to share our faith through our words. He desires for all people to come into a saving relationship with him. Therefore, we will share our faith with our enemies, people of different races or religions or sometimes even people in our own family. Let’s pray, like Paul, that we “may declare it fearlessly.”

We have been blessed so much! We must share with others!

Spiritual Growth Questions for February 23, 2020

(take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)

Use a scale of 1 – 6. Rate how well you are living out the statements below (1 = not living out at all, 6 = living out completely).

_____I frequently share my faith with people who are not Christians.

____ I try to live so that others will see Christ in my life.

____ I know how to share my faith with non-Christians.

____I pray for non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

1. Read Genesis 12:1-4 two times. What stands out to you about this passage? In what ways do you see the world being blessed through God’s people? In other words, how is the church positively affecting the world around it?

2. Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 two times. What stands out to you from this passage? Paul says we have been given a ministry of reconciliation. In your opinion, what does that mean?

3. Read Colossians 4:5-6. As ambassadors of Christ, we (the church) represent his character and desires to the world around us. In what ways are we representing him well? In what areas must we improve?

4. Read Psalm 40 once together and once silently. What stands out to you? What was David’s testimony? How did it motivate him to share his story? How could this be helpful for us with our stories?

5. Read Ephesians 6:18-20, Acts 1:8. What stands out to you from Paul’s prayer? What is impeding your ability to openly share your faith in Christ? How can you overcome this obstacle?

Write out your Story/Faith/Testimony: John 9:25 One thing I know, I was blind and now I see.

1. In one minute or less, tell about your life before you came to Christ. Share your circumstances, struggles and questions you had. What path were you on before Jesus? 2. In one minute or less, tell how you came to faith in Christ. Who shared with you? What circumstances surrounded the decision? How did you know this was the right choice? 3. In one minute or less, tell how Christ has changed you. What differences has he made? How has life changed after crossing the line of faith?

Sermon Podcast

John Lloyd - Sharing My Faith

Dolores Park Church