Begin With Love
We are in week 1 of a 4-week series on the practice of witness, inspired by the resources from Practicing the Way. Witness is the practice of intentionally opening up our lives to others in love and testifying to the good news of Jesus through our words, our stories, and our way of life in community.
Sermon Recap
The idea of sharing our faith is intimidating. Maybe we fear saying too much, or at the wrong time, or in the wrong way. Maybe we’ve seen the gospel weaponized on others before. We cringe at the way some have shared the faith in a transactional way – just trying to get the “sale.”
We are implicitly aware that in our own cultural moment, the greatest sin is not in being wrong, but rather telling someone else they are wrong. We feel that tension.
Into this tension, we are called to be witnesses. But we are invited to start with love. Love begins with the right message. Love begins with the right posture. And love begins with a simple invitation.
Love begins with the right message. The word “gospel” is an ancient Greek word for an empire-relevant announcement of good news. Mark 1:14 says that Jesus came proclaiming the “gospel” of the kingdom. The good news is not advice, it is the announcement that the kingdom of God has come here, to us. Yes, God cares about what happens when we die. But the good news of the Bible is about more than just individuals. It is about a restoration of God’s rule over all creation – including the land itself.
Love begins with the right posture. Sharing the gospel is not an “information dump” where we try to say the right things in the right way. Rather, witnessing in the way of Jesus begins with deep compassion and a posture of humility. In the words of Ger Jones, people do not change their views because of truth alone, but rather because of trust. A trust that is earned not by speaking, but by faithful relationship over time.
Love begins with a simple invitation. The word witness simply means someone who has seen or experienced something and then tells others what they know to be true. We don’t have to be like a lawyer, convincing someone else of the case. Rather, we can be like the apostle Philip, who invited his skeptical brother Nathaniel to encounter Jesus with the simple invitation, “Come and see.”
The first step for us is to pray. Ask the Spirit to help you identify those who are already in your life. Pray for them by name, that you will be filled with compassion for them. Ask God if there is a next step you should take, and to give you the wisdom you need to do so. Witnessing is not about bringing a person to a moment of decision. It is walking with someone toward a Person, a Person who is already moving toward them.
Entering Conversation
We recognize that every small group has its own conversational dynamics. Feel free to use either set of questions below – or use your own! – in order to structure your talking together. As you do, remember that our goal, always, is not to end up with merely better knowledge of the teaching, but to help each other respond to what was taught.
We recognize that every small group has its own conversational dynamics. Feel free to use either set of questions below – or use your own! – in order to structure your talking together. As you do, remember that our goal, always, is not to end up with merely better knowledge of the teaching, but to help each other respond to what was taught.
1. Reflect back on what you heard in this sermon, or on the thoughts that have come afterwards. What stood out to you, either because it was new/interesting, or because you felt like the Spirit directed your attention to it?
2. What might it look like to respond in some way to what you heard? (NB – this is where community can be helpful. Sometimes we don’t know what to do with what we heard, but others can help us identify ways of responding. Be free to help each other, graciously and gently, listening for what the Spirit may be prompting.)
3. As you close your time, pray together. Invite the Spirit to help you see where God has been at work in your life, and where you might have opportunities to share that with someone else.
-OR (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)-
1. What is the last thing you were really excited about – a book, movie, meal, experience, etc? What was so good about it?
2. Have you ever witnessed someone sharing their faith in a way that felt off-putting or even harmful? How has that shaped the way you think about sharing your own faith?
3. When you imagine yourself telling someone else about Jesus, what’s the first emotion that comes up? Why do you think that is?
4. The sermon says witnessing is not about bringing a person to a moment of decision, but walking with someone toward a Person. What would it look like practically for you to walk with someone in your life in that way right now?
Tonight’s Practice
Before you go, set aside 5-10 minutes for this exercise. Think through people who are already in your life. Who would you want to become a follower of Jesus? Name 3 to 5 people if you can, and begin praying for them daily. What reminders will help you remember them daily? Set phone reminders or other prompts to help you begin this practice.
Pray together before leaving, giving space to name before God (even in a moment of quietness) those people you identified, asking God to give you his heart for them.