1 Doug Do you feel equipped and motivated to share your faith with others?

Transcription

1 Dare 2 Share Discussion Guide Part One: Getting Ready for the Journey 1 Doug Do you feel equipped and motivated to share your faith with others? What excuses do you fall back on when you see an opportunity but are afraid to share your faith? How do you feel when you hear someone challenging you to make a difference with your life? 2 Passion Fuel What does the author mean by passion fuel? Which of the three types of passion fuel best describes your motivation for sharing your faith? What are some other kinds of passion fuel besides these three? If you had the opportunity to go somewhere like a mall to watch people, and see the sign, share about your experience. How would you answer the question Why bother? when it comes to sharing your faith? 3 Get Strong Discuss the differences between jumper-cable Christians and Spirit-charged Christians.

2 Which kind of Christian are you now? Which do you want to be? What changes can you make in your life to help you consistently plug into the power of the Holy Spirit? 4 Beware the Darkness What specific ways have Satan and his army tried to deceive, distract, and discourage you personally? How can you fight back against the attacks of the evil one? Why don t more Christians take Satan and his demons seriously? 5 Knowing That You Can Know and What You Do Know How would you respond to a friend who says, I want proof that God is there? What would you say to the statement, Well, that Jesus stuff is true for you but not for me? If we can t know anything for sure, could we ever truly have a sure and certain faith in God? 6 Sharing Your Faith with Style As you read the four sharing styles, which one best describes you talker, stalker, buddy, or brain? Did the test confirm your first impression of which one is your style? What are your personal strengths and weaknesses when it comes to sharing styles? Part Two: How to Share Your Faith

3 7 How to Bring It Up Without Throwing Up Is it hard or easy for you to bring up God in your conversations with your friends? Which of the opening questions listed in this chapter seem like they d work best for you? Practice some salvation segues. What are some segues you might use to turn the conversation toward God the next time you hear a friend say, My life stinks! or That s not fair! or I hate my dad!? 8 Understanding the GOSPEL Journey What do you think of the imagery of helping your friends on their spiritual journey? Do you agree that your unreached friends need help finding a way across a gigantic chasm in order to have a relationship with God? Do you consider it a privilege or a responsibility to help your friends on their spiritual journey? 9 God Created Us to Be with Him In your experience, what is the typical person today looking for? Wealth, power, sex, happiness, or something else? Do you think most people realize that God created them so that He could pour His love out on them? Do most people recognize that they have a built-in longing for a relationship with God? 10 Our Sins Separate Us from God When you miss the mark and sin, what is typically your natural reaction? To cover up? To hide from God? To play the blame game? Is it unpopular to talk about sin and evil? Why or why not?

4 Do you agree that it s necessary to talk about sin and evil when explaining the Gospel to others? 11 Sins Cannot Be Removed by Good Deeds Why aren t living a good life and being a nice person enough to get you across to heaven? When you took an honest look at the Ten Commandments, how did you feel? Do you think most of your unreached friends think they are living a good enough life to get them into heaven when they die? How can you help them see the truth? 12 Paying the Price for Sin, Jesus Died and Rose Again Why did Jesus have to die to pay the price for sin? Why isn t there some other way? How does Jesus death on the cross combine God s love and justice? Jesus sacrifice for us was immense. Does that truth affect your willingness to make sacrifices to help others on their journey toward God? How do you feel about sacrificing your time, energy, popularity, and money? 13 Everyone Who Puts Their Trust in Him Has Eternal Life Jesus said, I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life (John 6:47). In your own words, explain what believes means in this verse. How do you respond to the question, Since even Satan believes Jesus is the Son of God, is he saved? Discuss the author s statement, Eternal life is not a matter of trying but trusting. 14 Life That s Eternal Means We Will Be with Jesus Forever Being saved is not just about what we are saved from but also about what we are saved to. Discuss some of the things you are saved to.

5 Is it difficult or easy for you to live like you can talk to God any time of the day or night, no matter how far you have fallen, no matter where you are or who you are with? What kinds of things can happen when you disobey your earthly parents? What kinds of things can happen when you disobey your heavenly parent? 15 How to Take Your Friends on the GOSPEL Journey Practice saying the six points of the GOSPEL acronym. Do you agree that it s important to memorize the six points? Which of the illustrations in this chapter struck you as something you could use in conversation (The Ant Pile, Throwing Rocks at the Moon, Swimming the Ocean, White Frosting/Burned Cake, The Truck, The Chair, or The River)? 16 How to Bring Your Friends to a Point of Deciding Is it hard or easy for you to ask the deciding question, Would you trust in Jesus as your only hope of eternal life with God? Why or why not? Jesus parable describes rocky soil and good soil. Do you have friends who appear to be rocky soil because they seem closed to spiritual things and others who appear to be good soil and are more open to discussions that involve God? 17 How to Keep the Message Clear to Your Friends Do you have any friends who think they are Christians just because they were born in America? Discuss why turning from your sin is a result, not a requirement, for salvation. Why won t saying a prayer save you? 18 How to Share Your Own Story

6 Share your before-and-after factor and turning point in your personal testimony. Do you agree with the author s description of sharing the gospel as one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread? Why or why not? 19 How to Have L³ Conversations Do you find it difficult or easy to care about and love your classmates, teammates, neighbors, family members, and coworkers? Is it challenging for you to listen to and learn from those you believe are spiritually off target? Do you agree that you will never argue someone into heaven? How do you keep spirited dialogue from turning into an argument? 20 How to Defend Your Faith Without Being Offensive Discuss appropriate and inappropriate ways to use the 4-1 Defensive Formation. How are these questions like a surgeon s scalpel? If someone asked you the question, What difference has your faith made in your life? how would you answer? What about, How do you know your Christianity is true? or What if you re wrong? 21 Know How to Use Your Seven Secret Weapons Do you agree that deep down inside everyone knows there is a God? Are you prepared to use specific Bible verses in your sharing conversations? As you share your faith, how important do you believe it is that you live a life of doing good? That your love for other Christians is evident? That you are praying for your unreached friends?

7 22 How to Help New Believers Grow in Their Relationship with Jesus What could you do to help make your church or youth group an open and welcoming place for new believers? Discuss the balance the author describes between being patient and being somewhat pushy with new believers. How do you love people enough to accept them as they are, but also love them enough not to leave them there? Are you signed up for Soul Fuel, Dare 2 Share s free weekly teen devotional training , which will help you and new believers grow deeper in their faith? To sign up for Soul Fuel go to Part 3: Your Guide to Sharing Your Faith with Anyone 23 Starbucks Spirituality Do you have friends who mix and match their spiritual beliefs like a Starbucks latte? Why isn t it enough to just believe in something? Why does it matter what you believe in? Is it easy or difficult for you to ask questions about your friends spiritual beliefs? Why is it important to ask questions of others before you share about your faith in Jesus? 24 Agnosticism Why do you think people choose to be agnostics? Why is proof so important to them? Can God be proven through the scientific method? Review the preponderance of evidence discussion from chapter 5, on page 37. How can this help you discuss God with an agnostic? Do you have friends whose spiritual beliefs are similar to Alisha s?

8 25 Atheism Why do you think people choose to be atheists? The suffering in the world is often cited by atheists as a reason for their belief that God does not exist. How would you explain why suffering and evil exist? For help with this, check out the Soul Fuel on Why does God allow evil in this world? To access this Soul Fuel, visit Do you have friends whose spiritual beliefs are similar to Andy s? 26 Buddhism Most American Buddhists are religious atheists who don t believe in God but acknowledge a spiritual dimension to life. How does this influence how you would share your faith with them? Do you have friends whose spiritual beliefs are similar to Bailey s? Which one of the suggested conversation starters seems like it would work best for you? 27 Evolutionism Discuss the differences between theistic evolutionists and atheistic evolutionists. How would your approach to sharing your faith be different with these two groups? Do you agree with the author that it s more effective to focus your discussion on the science of the creation/evolution debate or on the evidence for the existence of God in nature? Why or why not? Do you have friends whose spiritual beliefs are similar to Erin s? Which one of the suggested conversation starters seems like it would work best for you?

9 28 Hinduism Have you ever met anyone from the Hindu faith? Share one insight from the chapter about Hinduism that was new or surprising to you. Which one of the suggested conversation starters seems like it would work best for you? 29 Jehovah s Witnesses Have you ever had a discussion with Jehovah s Witnesses who came to your door? If so, share what happened. If not, would you be willing to if the opportunity arose? Why or why not? Jehovah s Witnesses always work in pairs when they share their faith. Why? Do you think that it is wise to have a buddy with you if you find yourself in a series of long conversations with Jehovah s Witnesses? Why or why not? Jehovah s Witnesses are highly dedicated to sharing their faith. Why aren t most Christians as dedicated? 30 Judaism How should the fact that Jewish beliefs are generally strongly connected to family ties and traditions influence your conversation with Jewish friends? Review The Hammer and the Healer section in chapter 11 on page 91. How could these questions help you explain the need for a Savior to a Jewish friend? Do you have friends whose beliefs are similar to Jenna s?

10 31 Mormonism Have you ever had a discussion with Mormons who came to your door? If so, share what happened. If not, would you be willing to if the opportunity arose? Why or why not? Why do you think Mormons call themselves Christians? What key beliefs of Mormonism place them outside the Christian camp? Do you have friends who are Mormons? Which one of the suggested conversation starters seems like it would work best for you? 32 Islam Many Muslims feel like their faith has been hijacked by terrorists and portrayed as violent and hateful. Discuss how you can be respectful of Muslims beliefs, while still disagreeing with the teachings of Mohammed. Christianity and Islam both claim to be the only path to God, so how should a person decide which one is right? Do you have friends who are Muslims? Which one of the suggested conversation starters seems like it would work best for you? 33 New Age Discuss the New Age concept of people having a divine spark inside them. Is a divine spark different from being created in the image of God? Belief in God as a person is different from belief in god as an impersonal force or energy. Describe some of the differences. Discuss the implications of those differences in terms of being in a relationship with God. If you were to initiate a conversation about reincarnation with a New Ager, what would you say? What does the Bible say? Check out Hebrews 9:27.

11 34 The Religious What does the author mean when he says Ryan is trying to get to heaven through a combination of faith and works? If you stood before God and He asked you why He should let you into heaven, what would you say? Is this question difficult or easy for you to ask other people? 35 Satanism Why do you think people dabble in Satanism? Most Satanists are anti-religion. How would you explain the difference between religion and a relationship with God through Jesus? Would you be freaked out or fairly confident if you had the opportunity to share you faith with a Satanist? 36 The Typical How would you respond to someone who believes there are many ways to God? How can the hurt in Tara s life (divorced parents, dysfunctional family, emptiness) help you reach out to her? Do you have friends who are like Tara? Which one of the suggested conversation starters seems like it would work best for you as you launch into spiritual conversations? 37 Wicca Wiccans generally believe in karma and reincarnation. How would you approach a conversation about these topics?

12 How could you use a Wiccan s respect for nature and your Christian appreciation for the beauty of God s creation as common ground for conversation? Do you have friends who are Wiccans? Which one of the suggested conversation starters seems like it would work best for you?