what’s your story?

Our Roadmap Session 1: Why Become a Contagious Christian Lost people matter to God/to us Relational evangelism Session 2: Being Yourself Evangelism Styles Positives (and cautions) of your styles Session 3: Building Relationships Friends/Family, New Friends Three Approaches to starting spiritual conversations 2

Roadmap Session 4: What’s Your Story? Session 5: What’s God’s Story? Session 6: Crossing the Line Session 7: Putting It Together Session 8: Objection!

Preview Learn why your story is important Write out your personal story Practice telling your story in a safe environment

Prayer, Community Building Group Leader: The first person in your group to state the historical reason why we celebrate July 4th. Lead your group through the following: 1. Everyone acquainted in your group? 2. How do you feel when someone says to you: “Tell me about yourself”? What do you usually begin with? 5

Why Your Story Is Important Your friends are INTERESTED in it Your friends can RELATE to it It is HARD TO ARGUE WITH

How to Organize Your Story Paul’s Story—Acts 26: The Three Handles Before Christ 4-11 Meeting Christ 12-18 With Christ 19-23 “Do you believe the prophets?” (Acts 26:27) Believe in God’s Promise One, Jesus Christ! Acts 26:6

Writing Your Story: If you’ve known Christ all your life from infant baptism, write about what that’s been like, knowing you’ve been His child from early on, thankful that your parents understood God’s desire for baptism. Write about a time(s) you may have doubted or wandered, but how He’s remained faithful to you… If you professed faith later in life, see next slides…

Writing Your Story: Before Christ… Meeting Christ… With Christ… If God brought you to faith later in life, organize your story in the following way: Before Christ… Meeting Christ… With Christ… Concluding Question…

Writing Your Story: Before Christ What were you like before God saved you? What made you start thinking Jesus could make a difference in your life?

Writing Your Story: Meeting Christ What were the events that led up to your moment of conversion? Describe your moment of salvation.

Writing Your Story: With Christ How did your life begin to change (good or bad) after the day God adopted you as His child? How is your life different than “Before Christ”?

Story Tips Theme Describes the biggest DIFFERENCE in your life

Story Tips Middle Handle – Meeting Christ Keep your description simple, clear, and EASY TO IMITATE Believed as a baby? Talk about the beauty of God’s means of grace – how He provided for children to be saved, how your friend’s children can be part of God’s people through baptism(!), etc.

Story Tips Conclusion End with a question or statement that evokes a RESPONSE

Story Tips Scripture If there is one key verse in Scripture that really fits, use it; if not, don’t force it

Story Tips Language Avoid using Christian phrases or “church talk”

Story Tips Length Keep it SHORT

Story Tips Sequence Be able to start and end your story with any of the handles

Story Tips “Putting Others First” First encourage your friend to talk about his or her spiritual background Emphasize the parts of your story that are similar to your friend’s

Activity: Practice Telling Your Story Video What were Nate’s strengths and weaknesses in telling his story to Paul? In your small group, tell your story to your group (if you’d rather pick a partner and tell only him/her, that’s fine) Group or partner – give friendly, constructive feedback and encouragement.

Wrap-Up Identified why your story is important Wrote out your personal story using the three handles Practiced telling your story

Our Roadmap Session 1: Why Become a Contagious Christian Session 2: Being Yourself Session 3: Building Relationships Session 4: What’s Your Story? Session 5: What’s God’s Story? Session 6: Crossing the Line Session 7: Putting It Together Session 8: Objection! 23

Closing For the coming week: Review and practice what you’ve learned, asking God for help, guidance, and opportunities Read the Lutheran Witness article(s) Let’s pray… 24