Sometimes it seems like there is a shortage of good news in the world. Whether we are checking the balance of our bank account, watching the nightly news report, or waiting on word from the doctor, many of us have grown accustomed to hearing the worst.
Here’s a quick test: If an unknown number calls your phone in the evening while your children are out of the house, what are the chances you assume something terrible has happened to them?
Even what we we hear from the various corners of Christianity can join the dirge. Some of us are dealing with deep disappointment when lofty promises of health and wealth in Jesus never come to pass, while others of us are battling discouragement from sermons that are greater parts gloom than gladness.
In short, we need true good news. We live in a world longing for good news. And in Ephesians 4, Paul tells us that one of God’s gifts to his people are those who powerfully bring good news in Jesus wherever they go.
What would be good news to you?
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(Weekly Community Group Discussion Guide)
Date: February 14, 2016 // Title: Place in Grace: Evangelist
Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-11 / Mark 1:14-15
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
Today was a continuation of our study of the gifting that God bestows on His children: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherd, and teachers. Today, we talked about evangelists, and while many methods of evangelism have been tried, too often they are uncomfortable or awkward or negative. This doesn’t have to be! Evangelists don’t bring an awkward or condemning message; they bring the Good News, the Gospel, the Euaggelion. They are the ones who announce that the battle has been won. And it has…Jesus has won. Into our messes He has come and He brings hope that life can be different. Whether we are specifically gifted as “Good Newsilists” or not, Paul reminds us to “do the work of an evangelist,” by acting as a tour guide, showing to those around us the Good News that Jesus brings into the messiness of our lives, revealing what life can be like in the Kingdom.
THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
The Good News, the Gospel, is a Person, Jesus.
SEE IT Questions :: 10-15 minutes
Picture: What are some common methods of evangelism? What does evangelism/evangelist mean? What is the good news? Describe the tour method of evangelism that Jon spoke of.
Mirror: How have you pictured evangelism? Do you identify with the guilt and pressure that Jon mentioned? Or have you seen it more as the bearing of the Good News that the victory is won? What would it look like for you to be a tour guide to those around you, showing them the beauty of a better way?
Window: How do the common methods of evangelism and the “tour guide” method cause you to see others differently?
BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Worship 15 minutes
Spend time in prayer as a group specifically thanking God for how the Good News of Jesus has impacted your life (your marriage, your singleness, your children, attitudes, habits, etc.).
Change IN // Living it Out 5 minutes
On pieces of paper, write down the places in your life where you need to introduce the Gospel, places where you need to share how the Good News of Jesus has impacted you. Maybe it’s at work, in your neighborhood, on your child’s sports team. Share with one another.
Change OUT // Praying It Forward 5 minutes
Pray for opportunities this week to “do the work of an evangelist” in the places you mentioned
CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.