top of page
Search

Your Message: My Story and God's Story

Updated: Mar 23, 2019

by Dave Miller

Previous Chapter 6.2 | Next Chapter 7.1


Followers of Jesus do not live a silent faith. Ours is one of proclamation and authority. Jesus said:


“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore…” (Matthew 28:18-19a).


The woman at the well went to her ministry, Sychar, with a simple message:


“Come see the man who told me everything I ever did. Could he be the Christ?”


We have a powerful story. Unlike the woman’s first message we can say with the entire town:


““It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Our message should be simple, clear, and sufficient.

We want to communicate the gospel simply so that someone can reproduce the message. We want to communicate the gospel clearly so that someone can understand. We want to communicate the gospel sufficiently so that someone might believe in Jesus. Luckily you are ready to communicate this gospel! In chapter 3 we used the outline of the #3Circles Gospel Presentation to understand the glory of God in disciple making. But let’s practice to make it simple, clear, and sufficient.


GOD’S STORY: #3CIRCLES

This world is broken. Just watch the news of wars, poverty, and crime to see the brokenness and its effect on everything. But that was not God’s design.

When God created the world he said it was very good. We were in a right relationship with God, each other, and creation. There was no pain, suffering, or struggle.

The Bible tells us that sin led to our brokenness. Our choice to live our way instead of God’s way has ruined God’s original design. We have disregarded God’s plan for our lives.

We of course believe we can solve the problem of our brokenness on our own without God. We try all kinds of ways. Maybe we think if we can just get enough money then everything will be ok. Maybe we think if I just had the job I wanted then I could fix my problems. Maybe we just give up and cover the hurt and pain with alcohol, drugs, or bad relationships. But no matter how hard we try, our attempts are like rubber bands snapping us right back into more brokenness. Eventually all of our attempts, according to the Bible only end in death.

But God loves us deeply and refused to leave us in our brokenness despite our refusal to follow his ways. He provided a rescue for us when he came down from heaven becoming the man named Jesus. He lived a perfect life without sin and followed God’s design. Yet, Jesus died on a cross for sin taking your place in death. On the third day He rose from the dead defeating death and providing new life for those who repent, or turn from their sin, and trust that Jesus died and rose from the dead in their place.

When you turn and trust in Jesus the Bible says that you are a new creation in Jesus! Then you can begin to follow Jesus in God’s design through your new life!

The Bible calls this following Jesus. In Matthew 4:19 Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

If you were to pick which circle you are in today, which one would it be? What keeps you from following Jesus right now?

 

This is the message of an ambassador.

Practice.


You will never share the message of Jesus if you are not competent and confident in the tool you use to share. Grab a pen and piece of paper and walk through the #3Circle presentation multiple times. While you practice, pray for people on your relationship map and for the generations to come through your message.

Once you have practiced enough to be comfortable with this gospel-sharing tool, go share with someone else. If you aren’t ready to share with your relationship map then find someone you are comfortable with and practice until you feel competent and confident. Practice using the #3Circles until you can simply, clearly, and sufficiently share the circles in 1-2 minutes.


YOUR STORY: 15 Second Story


Your story of following Jesus is powerful. Telling your story quickly in 15-30 seconds connects with people without overstepping their attention span. You are a living, breathing, undeniable illustration of God’s story for anyone with whom you share. God will make his appeal through you.

Here is my story as an example:

There was a time in my life when I was very selfish and disobedient to my parents. One afternoon as a six year old my dad told me how Jesus had come down from heaven, lived a perfect life, died for the sins I committed and rose on the third day. I turned from my sin and started following Jesus. Now I realize my life is not my own and I want to obediently follow Jesus and His ways. Do you have a store like this?

The outline of your 15-30 second story is simple:

Once you have practiced enough to be comfortable with your story, go share with someone else. If you aren’t ready to share with your relationship map then find someone you are comfortable with and practice until you feel competent and confident. Practice using your 15-30 second story until you can simply, clearly, and sufficiently tell someone else.


Practice, practice, practice.

The simplicity of your story is designed to be a conversation starter and quick way to transition to the gospel. We have found the two hardest moments sharing your faith are getting into the conversation and wrapping it up. Use your story to get it started and don’t forget to ask do you have a story like this? It allows the other person to understand why you told your story and that you want to hear theirs as well.


Take the opportunity to share the #3Circles and don’t forget to ask the simple question, “What keeps you from following Jesus now?” It also allows them to respond and engage the conversation.

We started with the simple practical outline of who you are. You are an ambassador with a mission and a message. You now have a tool to intentionally focus on sharing the message of Jesus with those God has put into your circle of influence. You can embrace the ordinary and watch the kingdom of heaven break into the mundane.

You also have the tools to train a new believer in their identity, their mission, and their message. When someone trusts Christ we train them as an Ambassador with a mission and a message within 48 hours if at all possible. Our goal is to train immediately so there is no delay in the gospel reaching their relationship network.

Practice training others.


Either someone you lead to Jesus or a believer who, like us, needs these tools. In the power and direction of the Holy Spirit you are equipped to try. And try we must. Knowledge is never enough. Obedience is required.

Create margin in your life for relationships and unexpected ministry moments. Practice kingdom intentionality. These moments are all around us, every single day. You will see them when you live as an image-bearing ambassador. This is how you follow Jesus and begin making disciples on Monday morning.


So what happens next? What if I lead someone to Jesus, then what?


I am glad you asked.




Until there's #NoPlaceLeft...

 

Sentergy: When Jesus, People, Practice and Theology Collide

Chapter 1: The Glory of God

Comentários

bottom of page