LEADER’S GUIDE

 – The Growing With God Series –
READ  .  PRAY  .  SHARE  .  MEET

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Student Notes

The BIG IDEA 

God calls us to tell others the good news of Jesus Christ.

The PROBLEM
We often do not tell others about Christ because we are afraid or don’t know how.

Our RESPONSE
Tell others about Jesus with confidence.

I WANT MY STUDENTS TO:

• KNOW: God gives us the privilege and power of working through us so that others hear his good news.
• EXPERIENCE: The joy and satisfaction that come from seeing God work through us to bring others to himself.
• DO: Begin sharing Christ with others.

The idea box is a place where you can find some creative ideas for leading this study. You might find videos, activities, or great illustrations that really bring the main point home. The ideas come from small group leaders like you, so if you have an idea that isn’t in there, click below to share it with the community!

GET AN IDEA  I  SHARE AN IDEA

*WHAT DO YOU THINK?

As Dustin began to grow in his relationship with God and thought about talking to his friends about his faith, he was excited. After all, Jesus was changing his life. But he also felt nervous about it.

• How would he bring up the subject?
• What would he say?
• How would he handle it if he didn’t know the answer to someone’s question?
• As you think about talking to others about your faith in Jesus, how can you relate to Dustin’s experience?

WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT THIS?

*Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.

*1. What did the writer choose not to rely on when he was talking to people about Jesus?
Verses 1 and 4 say he didn’t rely on superior speech or persuasive words of wisdom.

2. Why is it good to know we don’t need to be good with words or be super-wise to talk to people about Jesus?
Allow the group to discuss. God’s not limited by our limitations when he wants to work through us to help people know about him.

*3. What did the writer focus on when he talked to people about Jesus?
Verse 2 says he focused on Jesus and his death, which paid for our sins and made it possible for us to know God personally.

4. How did the writer feel as he was talking to people about Jesus?
Verse 3 says he felt weak and afraid, so much so that he was trembling.

5. Why is it good to know that weakness and fear don’t mean you can’t talk to people about Jesus?
Allow the group to discuss. Weakness and fear are common for just about everyone. It’s encouraging to know that God can work through us in spite of those feelings.

6. The picture at the top of a page is a life preserver. How is telling someone about Jesus like throwing a drowning person a life preserver?
A person that doesn’t know Jesus is drowning in their own sin (even if they don’t know it). Telling them about Jesus is their only hope for eternal life.  

*7. What role does God’s Spirit play in us as we talk to people about Jesus?
In verse 4 it says that he provides the power for us to talk to people about Jesus.

Sometimes starting conversations with people about Jesus can feel hard. Understanding the definition of successful witnessing can help. Successful witnessing is:

“Taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.”   

8. How do you think understanding this definition might help someone?
It’s freeing, because knowing it’s not our responsibility to make a person place their faith in Christ takes the pressure off us. We know our role, and we can rest in the fact that God will do his part (and even give us the power to do our part!). Breaking down the definition:

• “Taking initiative” means to take action in some way. It might mean just starting a conversation or when in a conversation, bringing up Jesus. It might mean simply asking a question about a person’s faith.  
• “Sharing Christ” means talking about the person of Jesus and what he has done to save you.
• “In the power of the Holy Spirit” means relying on the power and strength God gives us through the Holy Spirit.
• “Leaving the results to God” means exactly that!
  

*9. What happens when we take the initiative to talk to people about Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leave the results to God? (verse 5)
Allow the group to discuss. People’s faith rests on the power of God, not people’s words.

HOW DO WE APPLY THIS TO OUR LIVES?

*10. Make a “Most Wanted” list.  Take a minute to pray for God to open your heart to the people around you that need to know more of his love. 

• Who does he bring to mind that doesn’t (or might not) know Jesus?
• Write down 3-5 names on a notecard or the notes on your phone.  
• Begin praying for these people each day, that God would give you opportunities to talk with them about Jesus.

Allow the group to discuss. Have each person come up with 3-5 people and write them down.  Pray for them together as a group.  We suggest that you also bring this list up every week at your small group.  Pray for them, and help your students think of ways they could share their faith with these people.

11. What are some ways that you could bring up the topic of God with this person?
Allow the group to discuss. Some possible questions:

• On a scale of 1-10, how would you rank your desire to know God personally?
• At this point in your life, do you think you’re moving closer to God, further away, or staying the same?
• What kind of spiritual background do you have?
• If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

*12. What are some ways you could explain the good news of Jesus Christ to this person?
Allow the group to discuss. Ideas include explaining the story of how you came into a relationship with Jesus or talking through a simple summary of the good news of Jesus Christ like the “Connecting with God” or “Would You Like to Know God Personally?” booklets, or the God Tools app on your phone.

Our review cards are an excellent way to review your past lessons with your students before each study. Not every lesson has one yet but if we have them, you can find them on the PRINT page. Check them out and use them each week to help your students grab hold of the truths in these studies.

What ideas do you have that could improve this study? Are there creative things you do to bring this topic home to your students? Please share with the community clicking the FEEDBACK button or leaving a comment below.