God’s Story – a quick review Last weekend we looked at some elements of God’s Story. His Story is one of love and compassion that seeks to interact with Our Story. As we approach Easter 'we’ve got to remind ourselves’ that God’s Story still changes lives. Most of us would acknowledge some kind of change to our story, behaviour, priorities and lifestyle when our lives collided with God’s Story.
Do you remember the illustration of ‘major and minor’ collisions? Take a few minutes and allow some group members to reflect on their ‘collision’ and some of the key encounters around this experience. Now take a few minutes to read Luke 15 and discuss the stories of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son.
‘What ways of living with others does Jesus commend to His disciples? He decisively rejected playing games that treat others as pawns. Instead, Jesus taught that His disciples are to treat people as the prize!’
(1)- Luke 15v1-7 Lost Sheep
- Luke 15v8-10 Lost Coin
- Luke 15v11-32
What value and priority does God place on people who don’t know Him? What other observations do you make about these stories Jesus shares?
J John describes God’s Story like this
- God formed us – Design, in Genesis 1 God said ‘it was good’
- Sin deformed us – Disorder came into the world and we see this in many forms today
- Christ transforms us – Deliverance – Jesus name literally means ‘God saves’ or a modern translation could be ‘God to the rescue’
- Scripture informs us – about out Decision
Michael Marshall says evangelism happens best naturally when the church is an ‘apostolic bubbling point’, what he means is the best evangelism is not driven by feelings of guilt or duty but is a natural bi product of falling in love with Jesus. Ask the group to comment on how they have found sharing their stories with friends and if they have encountered any hindrances.
"We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV)Becoming more proactive We need to be prepared to enter the ‘Zone of the Unknown’, we do this by stepping out of our comfort zone and listening to the Spirit’s promptings. In John 4, Jesus crossed barriers and comfort zones in meeting and engaging in conversation with Samaritan women.
- Moral barrier: she had committed adultery in the eyes of the Jews by taking many husbands
- Social barrier: she was a woman, Jesus was a man
- Racial barrier: she was Samaritan, Jesus was Jew – the people groups did not get on
- Religious barrier: Jews and Samaritans did not mix on religious grounds
What barriers have you previously encountered?
Take a few minutes to pray for friends and for opportunities to share stories of how God has changed your lives.
(1) Richards, L. (1987). The teacher's commentary. Includes index. (Lk 17:1). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
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