Schedule for lifegroups

LifeGroup Discussion Guide January 31, 2010

Evangelism Training With Mark Cahill

Special Event

Flint Hill Baptist Church – Life on the Hill

Selected Passages
SCHEDULE FOR LIFEGROUPS
*Teacher Instructions: Try to keep the following approximate schedule in mind each week so that we can make sure that we stay balanced in our LifeGroup meetings…
9:45-10:00am - Refreshments and Greeting Time

10:00-10:15am - Life Together Emphasis

10:15-10:45am - Lesson: Recap, Discuss and Apply, Wrap Up
LIFE TOGETHER
*Teacher Instructions: Before getting into the assigned small group material for the day, begin your group meeting with the following (informal and conversational)…
Share Together

• 
  Have a few moments for group members to share what is going on in their life currently (accountability, joys, sorrows, praises, fears, struggles, triumphs, etc.).
  

Prayer Together

• 
  Spend a few minutes going around the group and praying for one another.
  

Grow Together

• 
  Ask, “What has God been teaching you in your own personal Bible study time lately? Are there any theological questions or spiritual concerns that have been on your heart and mind as of late?” Have a few minutes of friendly conversation.
  

Show Together

• 
  Think together, “How can we, as a small group, show the love of Christ to the world? Are there any mission/ministry projects that we can begin planning/working on, etc?”
  

RECAP
*Teacher Instructions: Remind the class of the title, text(s), and general direction of the sermon from the previous week.
This week’s discussion will focus on the messages that we heard last week from Mark Cahill. Here are a few questions to get us started…
? What do you think about Mark’s ministry (“sharing the gospel for a living”)?

? How did God speak to you through Mark’s words?

Let’s walk through some of the major points from Mark’s talks and from his book, One Thing You Can’t Do in Heaven…
DISCUSS & APPLY
*Teacher Instructions: Walk your class through the primary points of the sermon while focusing on practical application. Recommended discussion questions are listed below each point. Feel free to eliminate some questions or to add questions of your own.
Winning, Winning, Winning – How Sharing is Always a Winning Situation
1. Sharing and seeing someone ACCEPT Christ is a win.
Look at Romans 1:14-16.

? How is it a “win” when we courageously share our faith with someone and God sovereignly saves them? (Seems obvious, right?)

2. Having a SEED-PLANTING conversation with someone is a win.
Look at I Corinthians 3:5-9.

? How is it a “win” when we do not see immediate results, but we see seeds planted?

3. Sharing and seeing someone REJECT Christ is a win.
Look at Matthew 5:10.
? How can it possibly be considered a “win” if someone rejects Christ?
Excuses, Excuses – Reasons We Don’t Share Our Faith
1. Fear of being rejected

2. Don’t know how to

3. Fear of losing a friend

4. They have probably already heard

5. Laziness

6. Friendship evangelism (Thinking that sharing with our lifestyle alone is enough)

7. I don’t know enough

8. They probably won’t want to talk about it

9. I can’t answer their questions
? Dissect each of these excuses. What is wrong with each one of them?

? Which of these excuses (or others) do you use?

Say What? – How to Start the Conversation
1. Where are you on your spiritual journey?

2. If you died tonight, are you 100% sure that you would go to Heaven?

3. When you die, what do you think is on the other side?

4. Why do you wear that cross?

? Which of these questions (or others) do you plan on using?

? Why is getting the conversation started so difficult?

Conversation Not Presentation
In closing, remember that Mark encouraged us to simply talk to people about Jesus. But, he also informed us regarding what exactly we need to make sure that we include in our conversation if it is going to be a “gospel conversation.”
? As you talk with people, how can you use the 10 commandments to share the gospel?

? What are some key verses or passages of Scripture that we could either memorize or read with someone to help them understand the gospel message?

Where to Go From Here
Conclude by making a list of people that your small group needs to share the gospel with. Pray for each of these individuals by name and hold each other accountable to share in the days ahead.

WRAP-UP
*Teacher Instructions: Offer any summary comments/discussion questions to bring the small group meeting to a conclusion. Make sure that you encourage your class to focus their mind’s attention and their heart’s affection upon the Lord and His message this morning in worship as you will be discussing the material during LifeGroup time again next week.