April 9 2017 How Can We Partner To Share The Good News With Others

How Can We Partner To Share The Good News With Others

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT: Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.... A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Memory Verse: Ph. 1:27b (LB)“... you are standing together side by side with one strong purpose – to tell the Good News.”

Ph. 1:5 (NLT)“You’ve been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ.”

HOW CAN WE “PARTNER” TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS WITH OTHERS?

Pray Together

Col. 4:3 (NCV)“Pray for us that God will give us an opportunity to tell people His message.”

-Make a prayer list.

Appeal to a common interests

1 Cor. 9:22-23 (LB) “Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him. I do this to get the Gospel to them and also for the blessing I myself receive when I see them come to Christ.”

-Discover the common interests in your group.

Reach out in love

1 Th. 2:8 (NCV) “Because we loved you, we were happy to share not only God's Good News with you, but even our own lives.”

1 Cor. 5:12 (NCV) “It is not my business to judge those who are not part of the church.”

2 Cor. 5:14 (LB) “Whatever we do, it is certainly not for our own profit but because Christ's love controls us now.”

-Ask God to give you a deeper love for others.

Tell your stories

1 Peter 2:9 (Mes) “You are... God's instruments to do His work and speak out for Him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made for you.”

Ps. 66:16 (NCV) “Listen, and I’ll tell you what God has done for me.”

-Write out your story & share it with your group

Nurture friendships

Rom. 12:16 (CEV)“Be friendly with everyone. Don't be proud and feel that you are smarter than others.

-Make friends with ordinary people.”

Luke 5:29 (CEV) “In his home Levi (Matthew) gave a big dinner party for Jesus. Many fellow tax collectors and other guests were also there.”

2 Tim. 1:7 (LB) “The Holy Spirit does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.”

-Bring a friend to church. Plan a party

Expect God to Act

Heb. 11:1 (NIV) “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Luke 5:20 (NIV) “When Jesus saw their faith, He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’”

-Never give up on anyone.

Represent Christ with your life.

Col. 3:17 (NLT) “Whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus.”

1 Thes. 4:11-12a (NCV) “Do all you can to live a peaceful life. Take care of your own business, and do your own work. If you do, people who are not believers will respect you.”

April 7 2013 Enjoying The People In Your Life

ENJOYING THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE
Philippians 1:3-11

FOUR KEYS TO ENJOYING PEOPLE

I. The first key, be grateful for the good in people.
Vs. 3 - I thank my God every time I remember you.

BACKGROUND ACTS 16
Lesson No. 1: Remember the best & forget the rest.
Vs. 5 - You have helped me from the very first day until now.


II. The second key, picture positive praying. 
Vs. 4 - In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.

Lesson No. 2: Start thanking God in prayer for these people.
Col. 4:2-3 - Devote yourself to prayer and pray for us too.
Eph. 6:18 - Keep on praying for all the saints.
Vss. 9-11- And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

What to pray for others: Pray they will
That they will grow in love. Vs. 9
That they make wise choices. Vs. 10 a
That they would do the right thing. Vs. 10 b
That they would live for God’s Glory. Vs. 11

III. The third key, be patient with their progress.
Vs. 6 - Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Lesson No. 3: God is not finished with His people.
Our Mistake: We judge others by how far they have to go, rather than how far they have already come

IV. The fourth key, love people from the heart. 
Vss. 7-8 - It is right for me to feel this way about all of you since I have you in my heart.

God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:5 - God has poured out His love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us.

Lesson No. 4
The secret to enjoying the people in my life is to be filled with God’s love.