Week 2 – Be Bold
Leader Guide
Last week, we talked about sharing our stories, knowing who we are and where we’ve come from. But how in the world do you get the conversation started? How do you learn to share all that God has done in your life?
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
1. Have you ever been so excited that you sounded crazy? Think sports team, restaurant, or a movie you had just seen.
2. What would I say? Maybe the fear of getting started is a big deal for you. Read Luke 21:12-15. How do verses 12 and 13 reframe suffering and “persecution” like bias at the workplace? How is this like or unlike the early church persecution? What comfort do you find specifically in these verses? What do verses 14-15 tell you to do and promise you?
3. Memorize. Read John 3:16 and consider memorizing it. What is so important about knowing this one verse? Read Hebrews 4:12. How does this seem to contradict the Luke passage above? What does the Word of God do? Have you experienced its “aliveness” or “sharpness” in your life or as you are sharing Scripture with someone else? How does memorizing Scripture “slow the game down” and take away our anxiety in a spiritual situation?
4. Go when God says “Go.” Read Acts 8:26, 29. Where did God send Philip? How did this seem crazy? What would you expect to find in the desert? In verse 29, how awkward would it be? Where does obedience start? Before you worry about having the conversation, what has to happen? Have you ever felt the nudge to step into an opportunity?
5. Listen, then speak. Read Acts 8:30-35. How did Philip respond in verse 30? When Philip listened to the eunuch, how did this make sharing the Gospel simple? How good are you at listening? How good are you at listening specifically to those with whom you have conflicting opinions and beliefs? How can listening provide an open door, as opposed to just starting off on an evangelism spiel?
6. Action Step: Have you picked three verses to memorize this week? Have you downloaded the Bible Memory App? Have you signed up for Evangelism Foundations? Are you ready to go when you feel God’s nudge? Who do you need to begin really listening to instead of preparing your reply while they talk?
Deeper
7. As Jesus promised in Luke 21:12-15 (above), the Spirit of God will empower us in difficult situations. Check the examples below to see how God provides boldness, wisdom, and powerful words in extreme situations. What are the miraculous results?
• Acts 2:13-41:
• Acts 3:6-16:
• Acts 4:1-4, 7-12:
• Acts 5:17-21:
• Acts 7:54-60:
• Acts 9:10-19:
• Acts 10:19-20, 22-43: