The Gospel
Week 1 – Know Your Testimony
Leader Guide
This week, we learn that we are God's chosen people. He has paid our debts! Let's learn more about this Good News and how we can prepare ourselves to share the Gospel with others.
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
Leader: This section is designed to get discussions started, examine God’s truth, and apply it to our week. Life Group leaders should not assume everyone in their group is a Christ follower. Because they are taking part in a Life Group, they must have some openness to knowing more, exploring. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work and let Him lead you as well.
1. Does "The Gospel" series graphic with the angsty-smiley faces reflect your emotions? Why or why not? What are your emotions about sharing your testimony?
2. Before you can share the Truth of Jesus’ work in your life, you must know who you are, where you’ve come from, and where you are going. What does the Bible say about that? Read 1 Peter 2:9. Which of these descriptions do you readily accept? Which are harder for you? Do you praise God and accept who He has called you to be?
Leader’s Note: Personally, I love that we are a chosen people. No longer are the Jews the only ones in the apple of God’s eye (Zechariah 2:8). All believers are His new chosen people! We are royalty, children of the King of Kings, siblings to the Prince of Peace. It is not hard for me to feel loved of God, though it may be for you. It is hard for all of us to feel “holy” enough to be called to serve and minister salvation to others. It may be tough to feel priestly, though we have direct access to God. Especially as Americans, we want our rights; we don’t want to acknowledge we are God’s possession, bought with a price. If you wish, you could play this song, which talks about who we are in God and how He sees us, no matter how we see ourselves: “You Say” by Lauren Daigle.)
3. Read Isaiah 6:1-9. If you are a Jesus Follower, is this a part of your story? Do you remember a time of recognizing God’s holiness and your own guilt and sin? Tell us in one sentence when you really sensed this vast distinction. Read 1 Peter 2:10. How does this apply to your story? Share this sentence: “Once I was _____, but now I am_________.”
Leader’s Note: Even small children who come to faith in Jesus must recognize that God is holy, they are sinners, and only Jesus can cleanse us from our sins. That moment of realization of sin, conviction of sin, is the power of the Holy Spirit. You may or may not remember the details now. I can remember my seven-year-old feelings well, all these decades later.
4. Read Luke 7:36-50. If you were at this dinner party, which person would you have been? What does our having been forgiven and receiving mercy from God create in our hearts? Do you have the same passion for God that you had when you first came to faith? If our love is strong, what will we do? Read Luke 9:23. What do you need to pick up or lay down to follow Jesus? In what areas does the world tempt you to compromise?
Leader’s Note: If we are forgiven, we will be passionate with our love. If we are serious about following Him, we cannot deny that sharing our story, being public about our love and our faith is part of our mission. There is a battle going on for our attention and souls.
5. Read 1 Peter 2:12-15, 17. How do you gain the opportunity to speak the Truth of Jesus? What attitudes do you need to turn the ridicule of unbelievers to respect and even praise to God? How can Christians honor others more?
Leader’s Note: By our good, godly lives, we silence the ridicule and create opportunities to share. By our humility and respect, we gain respect. By our debating, arguing, fighting against others’ viewpoints and actions, we lose the opportunity to share Jesus, the only One who can change our world. By listening and befriending and caring for others (the poor, the lonely, the sick, those of different faiths), we can show honor and the love of God for them, to show the love of Jesus to them.
6. Action Step: Would you commit to a four-week class to teach you how to share your faith when God gives you the opportunity? You can register here. Pray and ask God how He wants to change you in these areas of your life: your words, your actions, generosity, how you treat others who believe differently than you do.
Deeper
Leader: This section is designed for further use in your Life Group or for personal study. These can also be used as discussion points and ways to stay connected with your group throughout the week. Encourage your group to take time daily to walk through these questions.
Throughout the Bible, there are prophecies or stories of life change. Look at these passages and see the many ways God changes the course of history and lives!
7. Zechariah 3:1-4: (LN: This is a vision, but symbolic of the salvation of God. Later in this chapter are Messianic prophecies about the Branch and where God says, “‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.” This message of clean robes applies to us all.)
8. Ezekiel 36:25-27: (LN: This vision and prophecy came true at Pentecost, Acts Chapter Two. The Spirit is now available to help direct and empower us to live for Jesus and share His Gospel with others.)
9. Joshua 2:1-5,8-14; Matthew 1:1,5-6, 16-17; Hebrews 11:31: (LN: Rahab acted in faith, betraying her countrymen because she believed God was greater. She ended up in the genealogy of Jesus and in the “Heroes of the Faith” chapter!)
10. John 9:1-38: (LN: Notice the deepening of the man’s understanding. First, he speaks of “the man called Jesus” in verse 11. Then he states, “He is a prophet” in verse 17. By the end of this passage, he calls Jesus Lord and worships Him.)
11. Esther 2:5-8, 16, 2:12-13, 4:3, 13-16, 8:1-8: (LN: Esther or Hadassah, went from being an orphan to Queen to the person God used to rescue His people from destruction. Instead of hiding her identity as a Jewess, she shared and spoke up and convinced the king of the loyalty and the plot against them.)
12. John 11:1-44: (LN: Lazarus went from being a friend of Jesus, to an ill man, to death, and back to life. Two of the greatest verses of our faith are found in this passage: verses 25-26. Jesus proclaims Himself to be the I AM of resurrection and life. And this was for Lazarus and for us: “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”