Our Mission Statement: “At The Cove Church, we will Introduce our friends to Jesus, Learn to follow Him, and Celebrate His Presence in our lives.” If you belong to our church family, this is a commitment we ask you to make. It’s not just what the pastors or the staff do. At The Cove, we make it easy for you to invite, to say, “come and see” so that they meet Jesus. Learn how this week.
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. What is something you’ve been very excited about and “talked up”? Did you invite others to experience it?
2. Being serious in our faith means sharing our faith. Read Romans 10:13-14. The Apostle Paul states a fact about God and His offer of salvation. What is it? What serious questions does Paul raise? How does this affect you and your faith?
3. Speak from experience. Read John 9:8-11 and Psalm 71:16. What was the formerly blind man able to tell? Is there some specific area where God has rescued you, not just from sin, but from a situation or circumstance? (Don’t limit this to your salvation story but include other stories of how God has changed or rescued you!) How have you shared His mighty deeds with others? Would you be willing to start journaling or keeping a record of God’s work in your life so that you remember you have something to share?
4. Own the unknown. Read John 9:12, 24-34. What did the man healed of blindness not know? How did he answer those unknown questions? How does this help you share your faith? Do you admit what you don’t know? Does this give you confidence: “You not having all the answers doesn’t make Jesus any less real.” -Tim Beal
5. Follow up. Read John 9:35-38. After you have the opportunity to share your story, keep in touch with them as you have an ongoing opportunity. Name some ways you can follow up with a friend, co-worker, or family member? Is there someone in mind whom you need to follow up with right now, whether to comfort, touch base, or go further in sharing the Gospel? If you can’t follow up with a random encounter, what can you do?
6. Pray: Father God, thank You for rescuing me, changing my life, opening my own eyes, and saving me. Help me to get serious about being used by You to share my story. Calm my fears. Give me courage. Help me to be willing and ready to share and invite. Please give me opportunities and show me the people You would have me speak to and invite. Help me to bring hope and healing by introducing them to You. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
Deeper
7. Read John 1:35-39. Who were the people involved in inviting in this passage? Who invited you to Jesus?
8. Read John 1:40-42. Who was convinced enough to say, “We have found the Messiah”? What did that lead to?
9. Read John 1:43-45. Who was next invited by Jesus? What was his immediate reaction?
10. Who invited you? Like Pastor Tim, was there a chain of invitations that you can trace? For a fun study of the power of one invite, read who all and how the evangelist Billy Graham came to know the Lord.