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
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. What is something you’ve been very excited about and “talked up”? Did you invite others to experience it?
Leader Note: Think of examples such as a restaurant, CrossFit, a movie, or a vacation spot.
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?
Leader Note: Paul makes it clear that God offers salvation to everyone. But they have to call on Him. Some passages help us to know God is just and makes a way for those who have never heard (Romans 1:19-20, 2 Peter 3:9, Ecclesiastes 3:11, and Acts 17:31). We can trust Him to be fair, but we have a responsibility to share with everyone that we can reach. It is our responsibility to go, to tell, and even to send others when we cannot go (Romans 10:15).
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?
Leader Note: Think of things like physical healing, a relationship that was repaired, an addiction overcome. Any of these type circumstances are opportunities to share with others, especially in like situations, what God has done for you. It opens the door to pray with them and share the Gospel of Jesus.
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
Leader Note: When he was continually challenged to answer questions for which he had no answers, he reverted and restated what he did know: I was blind and now I see! He inferred that Jesus must be from God, or how else could He heal a blind man? But he didn’t try to argue these points. Our stories are undeniable. Stick to what you know and offer to get back with people on the things you don’t know; or better yet, offer to study these things with them! You only have to know your own story!
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?
Leader Note: Contact your friend or acquaintance who needs encouragement. Drop a line, pray with them, be willing to share what God has done for you. If you had a one-off conversation, pray that God will draw them and reveal Himself to them. Pray that they will recall your story. Pray that the Spirit will water the seed that has been planted.
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
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.
7. Read John 1:35-39. Who were the people involved in inviting in this passage? Who invited you to Jesus? LN: John made mention, proclaiming Jesus. John’s followers then sought out Jesus, and He Himself invited them to “come and see.” But John’s mention sent them in the right direction searching for the Messiah.
8. Read John 1:40-42. Who was convinced enough to say, “We have found the Messiah”? What did that lead to? LN: Andrew made that personal decision, then went to tell his brother, who also came. And Jesus recognized him by name and gave him a place, a calling, and a new name.
9. Read John 1:43-45. Who was next invited by Jesus? What was his immediate reaction? LN: Jesus invited Phillip, who immediately went to his friend Nathaniel and invited him.
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.