Chapel - EVANGELISM Day 2

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Matthew 9:37–38

Part 1 – CAN GOD BE KNOWN?

• Click on this link to watch the video – CAN GOD BE KNOWN?  (12 minutes)

  • Self-reflection: Write down your answers (not in the blog) to the video questions and to the following questions. (5 minutes)

    • Does the idea of sharing a testimony seem easy, or difficult? Why do you think so?

    • Regardless of your salvation testimony, do you feel that God is making a difference in your life story right now? Why or why not?

    • Where is the balance between giving someone time to think through a commitment, and being too unconcerned with their spiritual status? In other words, what’s the balance between patience and intentionality?

Part 2 – Comment: 5 minutes

• Post a short answer below to the following questions by using the “join the discussion.” This is important. You do not need to comment on the above questions. (If the blog does not show up, email Pastor John your responses.)

  • Contextualization means sharing the Gospel in a way your audience can understand. Tullian Tchividjian said, “If you don’t contextualize enough, no one’s life will be transformed because they won’t understand you. But if you contextualize too much, no one’s life will be transformed because you won’t be challenging their deepest assumptions and calling them to change.”

  • What do you think Tullian Tchividjian meant by contextualization?

  • What does a balanced approach look like?

Part 3 – Prayer: 3 minutes

• Pull out your list of family members, friends, and acquaintances who you think are missing out on a personal relationship with Jesus. Pray for them.

• Take a moment to reflect upon how you live your life. Ask the Lord to reveal some specific areas where you need to grow in Christ and grow in sharing the good news.

Thank you!

Pastor John

Chapel - EVANGELISM Day 1

"Christianity does not seek to impose, it proposes. The Gospel is the great proposal: Come to the wedding feast, one and all—black, white, rich, poor, East, West, Muslim, Jew, Christian—all are welcome, and it's never too late. God turns no man or woman away, not one."

Chuck Colson – The Faith

Part 1 – THE FIRST STEP

• Click on this link to watch the video – THE FIRST STEP  (15 minutes)

  • Self-reflection: Write down your answers (not in the blog) to the video questions and to the following questions. (5 minutes)

    • Do you think it’s more common for doubts about God to be purely intellectual, or based in some negative personal experience? Why do you think so?

    • When is a time you saw evangelism done well? What about a time you saw it done poorly, or awkwardly? Write down some key words for each.

    • What are some common threads for things done well?

    • What are some common threads for things done poorly?

Part 2 – Comment: 5 minutes

• Post a short answer below to the following questions by using the “join the discussion”. This is important. You do not need to comment on the above questions. (If the blog does not show up, email Pastor John your responses.)

  • Read Colossians 4:6, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

  • The Urban Dictionary defines “salty” as being “upset, angry, or bitter.” Paul was promoting the exact opposite kind of conversation. Back then, salt kept food from spoiling. The Expositor’s Greek also says salt “expressed the wit with which conversation was flavored.”

    • Write a 2-3 sentence definition of what it means to be “the salt of the earth”.

Part 3 – Prayer: 3 minutes

• Create a list of family members, friends, and acquaintances who you think are missing out on a personal relationship with Jesus.

• Pray for each person on your list. Ask the Lord to give you an opportunity to “be the salt of the earth” for each of them.

Thank you!

Pastor John

Chapel - LIFE Day Four

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

Part 1 – ADOPT A LOVE STORY:

• Click on this link to watch the video – ADOPT A LOVE STORY (6 minutes)

  • Self-reflection: Write down your answers (not in the blog) to the video questions and to the following questions. (30 minutes)

  • Click here and go to Choosing Hope Adoptions website. Explore this page and note the families who are adopting.

  • What are three takeaways from being on this site?

    • What interests you?

    • What would scare you if you were about to adopt?

    • How can you pray for those adopting?

  • Read the following verse and below the text answer the questions. Proverbs 31:8–9, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

    • Can the unborn speak for themselves?

    • What does this verse say about the heart of God?

    • How can your heart be more like your Heavenly Father’s heart?

  • Complete the LIFE Overview Form. Do your best to remember the content from this Spiritual Emphasis Week.

    • Click here for LIFE Overview Form

Part 2 – Comment: 5 minutes

• Post a short answer below to the following questions by using the “join the discussion”. This is important. You do not need to comment on the above questions. (If for some reason the blog does not show up, try logging into Chrome with a different user or email Pastor John your responses.)

  • Re-read James 1:27 above. Does ‘orphans’ only mean kids in orphanages?

    • What do you think James is including under the heading of ‘orphan’?

    • Which is more important? To defend a cause on a political level or be involved on a personal level?

    • How did people combat slavery?

Part 3 – Prayer: 3 minutes

• Pray for mothers and families who are in a crossroad and contemplating an abortion. Ask the Lord to intervene and to show them how much he values life.

• Pray for both of your parents and guardians. Thank the Lord for the role they play in your life.

Thank you!

Pastor John

Chapel - LIFE Day Three

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!” Psalm 127:3–5

Part 1 – ProMom:

• Click on this link to watch the video – ProMom (10 minutes)

  • Self-reflection: Write down your answers (not in the blog) to the video questions and to the following questions. (10 minutes)

  • Knowing the facts about the unborn is critical, but we must also empathize with the mother's situation and commit to supporting her. Pro-lifers are often accused of only caring about the unborn child and not the mother.

    • 84% of mothers considering abortion feel that they have no choice. How can we support mothers who are in the decision-making process?

  • Watch this video from the Pregnancy Resource Center – Click here for PRC Video

  • What ideas does it give you as to how you might support mothers?

    • FYI – The PRC Executive Director is Thorne Welsh’s mother (our custodian).

Part 2 – Comment: 5 minutes

• Post a short answer below to the following questions by using the “join the discussion”. This is important. You do not need to comment on the above questions. (If for some reason the blog does not show up, try logging into Chrome with a different user or email Pastor John your responses.)

  • Many people argue over “pro-life” or “pro-choice”, and the two sides will never see eye to eye, but what we should be concerned about is being pro-mom. Abortion is profoundly anti-women. Many women choose abortion because they feel isolated and unsupported, and think they have no other choice. Even worse, many in the pro-life movement give off the impression that only the life of the baby matters. Apathy, violence, anger, and shunning the pregnant are not answers to the problem. Instead, Christians should show love and support to women in need.

  • What does it mean to be “Pro Mom”? How does it differ from being Pro Life or Pro Choice?

Part 3 – Prayer: 5 minutes

• Pray for mothers and families who are in a crossroad and contemplating an abortion. Ask the Lord to intervene and to show them how much he values life.

• Pray for the Pregnancy Resource Clinic, for provision, for volunteers, for its mission.

• Pray for each one of your small group members.

Thank you!

Pastor John

Chapel - LIFE Day Two

“This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.” Isaiah 44:24

Part 1 – GOD LOVES LIFE:

• Click on this link to watch the video – COMING TO TERMS (11 minutes)

  • Self-reflection: Write down your answers (not in the blog) to the video questions and to the following questions. (10 minutes)

  • In your mind, are the unborn fully human? Why?

  • Use acronym SLED to establish the value of an embryo. What does each letter represent?

    • S

    • L

    • E

    • D

  • Pro Life supporters are often seen as angry and opposed. How can they do a better job or portray a better representation of the Christian family?

Part 2 – Comment: 5 minutes

• Post a short answer below to the following questions by using the “join the discussion”. This is important. You do not need to comment on the above questions. (If for some reason the blog does not show up, try logging into Chrome with a different user or email Pastor John your responses.)

  • Read Philippians 2:3–4 and answer the question below the text. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

  • How does this verse support choosing life over choosing abortion?

Part 3 – Prayer: 5 minutes

• Pray for mothers and families who are in a crossroads and contemplating an abortion. Ask the Lord to intervene and to show them how much he values life.

• Pray for our legislators: Supreme Court, Senate, House of Representatives, and President.

• Pray for each one of your small group members.

Thank you!

Pastor John