LET’STALK(SPIRITUALCONVERSATIONS) LEADERGUIDE:WEEK3(May7,2017)

CONCEPT“Goodpeoplegotoheaven,badpeopledon’t.”Thisliehasbeenaroundformillennia,anditneedstobeaddressedineverygeneration.Wemustunderstandthatnothingwedoearnsussalvation;thegoodwedoisbecause1)wearecreatedinGod’simage,soacertainamountofknowingrightfromwrongis“builtin”tous,and2)becausewehavebeensaved,andwetrytoliveasJesuslived,empoweredbytheHolySpirit.Attimes,“goodpeople”arethehardesttoreachwiththegoodnewsofJesus.Butallpeopleneed/deservetohearthegoodnews.So…let’stalk!

PREPARE• Prayforeachpersoninyourgroup,foryourmeeting,andforyourpreparation• ReadTransformingNeighborhoods(T.N.)chapter10• StudyActs10:1-48(thisisthestoryfromtheT.N.chapterandthesermon)• Readthroughthisweek’sguideentirely,includingtheprinciplesection.Thenchoose

whichquestionsandexercisesyouplantodowiththegroup• PreparetheClosingsection

ACTSSTORYReadActs10:1-48(bonus:tellitasastorywithBiblesclosed,thenreaditaloud).Askthese3questions(optional):• Whatdowelearnfromthistext?• Whatchallengesyoufromthistext?• Whatareyougoingtodoaboutit?

QUESTIONS/DISCUSSIONNOTE:choose3-5thatmakethemostsenseforyourgroup;doNOTtrytousethemall.1. Readtheparagraphinchapter10ofT.N.thatbegins,“TheGreekworddunamis…”

WhenhaveyoupersonallyseentheGospelhave“dynamite”power?Ifyouhaven’tseenthat,haveyouprayedaboutit?Ifyou’veprayedaboutit,haveyousharedit?

2. Whydoyouthinkpeoplebelievebeinggoodwillgetyouintoheaven?3. BeforeGodchangedhismind,PetersawCorneliusasanuncleanperson,unworthy

orunabletobeadiscipleofJesus.Beingveryhonest,whodoyoustruggletoseeas“worthy?”Whataboutourlocalchurch?WhataboutthechurchintheUS?

4. ReadtheparableofthesowerfromMatthew13:3-9,18-23.WhydidJesustellusthisparable?Whatarethe4typesofsoil,andhowdotheyrelatetotellingpeopleaboutJesus?Whichtypeofsoildoyoutrulythinkyouarerightnow?

5. Ifpeoplearesincere,doesitmatterwhattheybelieveaboutGod?

EXERCISESNOTE:choosewhatmakesthemostsenseforyourgroup;doNOTtrytousethemall.• DeterminethatyourgroupwilltrytomemorizeRomans3:21-26(inwhicheverBible

versionyouchoose).HaveeachpersoninthegroupreadthroughRomans3:21-26,usingthatBibleversion,outloud.Soifyouhave12people,read/listentoitourloud12times!Next,giveeachpersonapieceofpaperandpen,andhavethemwriteitdownindividually(don’tprintitforthem!)andtakeithometomemorizethisweek.

• Role-playscenario:anon-Christianwhoisa“goodperson,”whobelievestheirgoodworkswillbegoodenoughinGod’seyes.Afterall,they’veseensomeofthethingsChristiansdo,andseenhowreligionisthecauseofsomuchviolenceanddestructionintheworld,andthey’redefinitelynotinterestedinthat.TheybelieveinGodandevenlikeJesus,buttheydon’tseeChristiansbehavinganybetterthananyoneelse.Thenon-Christianneedstoprovidegood,scriptural,logicalanswersandreasonsthatwillhelpthegoodpersonconsiderthepossibilitythattheyneedJesus.

• Seventy-fivetoninetypercentofpeoplewhojoinalocalchurchsaythatafriendorrelativeinfluencedtheirdecision(J.HamptonKeathley,III,“TheStewardshipofGod’sTruthThroughEvangelism”).Consideryournetworkoffriends.MakealistofpeopleyouknowwhoarenotChristiansornotchurch-goingandconsiderwaysyourchurchgroupmightbefriendyournon-believingfriends.

• “God’sgifttous”—separatesheet.Giveeachpersonacopy.Walkthroughtheversetogether,fillingintheblanks.Thenflipthepaperoverandhaveeachpersondrawtheirownversion,withacoupleofvolunteersdoingit“live”forthewholegroup.(Note:blanksare…You,Wages,Sin,Death|God;Gift;God;Life).Don’tforgettodrawthecross!

• “Thegoodnewsforthegoodperson”–separatesheet.Makeacopyforeachpersoninthegroup,orjustacopyforthewholegroup.Fillintheblankstogether,brieflytalkingabouteachpointasneeded/desired.

CLOSING• Howhaveyoudonewithatleastonethingyoudecidedtodoatourlastmeeting?• Havepeopleshareabouttheir“DoIlovemyneighbors?”gridthatwasinthebulletin

May7.Itisalsoincludedattheendofthisweek’sguideifneeded.• ReadMark12:31—ifwedon’tknowourneighbors,howcanwetrulylovethem?• Askpeopletopraythisasthegroupcloses,andeachmorningthisweek,“God,give

mecourageandopportunitiestogettoknowmyneighbors,soIcannoticemywayintospiritualconversations.”

RESOURCESBooks:TheArtofNeighboring(Pathak&Runyon);HowWillTheyHearIfWeDon’tListen?(RonaldJohnson)

Note:thematerialaboveandexercisesbelowareorganizedandeditedbySteveMurphyfromavarietyofsources,includingthebooksnotedintheIntroductionoftheLeader’sGuide.ContactStevewithanyquestions.

EXERCISE:ThegoodnewsforthegoodpersonFromchapter10ofTransformingNeighborhoodsbyTimWallingfordPART1.Fillintheblankstogether(seebookforanswersasneeded)Godloves_____________(Acts10:34)Godaccepts_____________whorespectshim(35)God_____________peoplethroughChrist(36)Jesus’power_____________(38)Jesusdeliverspeoplefrom_____________(38)Jesus_____________onthecross(39)Jesushada_____________resurrection(41)Therewere_____________witnesses(41)Jesusfulfillsallthe_____________prophesies(43)_____________inJesuscanbringforgiveness(43)AfterCornelius_____________thegospelmessage,PeterbaptizedhimintoChrist(47)PART2.BasedofthestoryofNicodemus,Timsaystherearefourthingsgoodpeopleneedtounderstandaboutthegoodnews.Readthroughtheversesandbrieflydiscusseachitem.Afterwards,havefourdifferentpeoplebrieflyexplainoneparteach.1.Godisjust(Acts10:36;Romans6:23;James2:10)2.OnlyJesusisgood(Acts10:38;Matthew19:17;Hebrews5:15)3.Jesuscanpayfortheirsins(Acts10:38-39;1John4:10;2Corinthians5:21)4.Confessionandbaptismdemonstrateourfaith(Acts10:47;Romans10:9-10;1Peter3:21)

EXERCISE:God’sgifttous

“Thewagesofsinisdeath,butthegiftofGodiseternallifethroughChristJesusourLord.”—Romans6:23

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EXERCISE:HolyhospitalityFromActivatingGodSpacebyDougPollockReadtogether:Leviticus19:33-3433“Donottakeadvantageofforeignerswholiveamongyouinyourland.34Treatthemlikenative-bornIsraelites,andlovethemasyouloveyourself.RememberthatyouwereonceforeignerslivinginthelandofEgypt.IamtheLordyourGod.”Luke14:12-1412Thenheturnedtohishost.“Whenyouputonaluncheonorabanquet,”hesaid,“don’tinviteyourfriends,brothers,relatives,andrichneighbors.Fortheywillinviteyouback,andthatwillbeyouronlyreward.13Instead,invitethepoor,thecrippled,thelame,andtheblind.14Thenattheresurrectionoftherighteous,Godwillrewardyouforinvitingthosewhocouldnotrepayyou.”Hebrews13:1-3Keeponlovingeachotherasbrothersandsisters.2Don’tforgettoshowhospitalitytostrangers,forsomewhohavedonethishaveentertainedangelswithoutrealizingit!3Rememberthoseinprison,asifyouwerethereyourself.Rememberalsothosebeingmistreated,asifyoufelttheirpaininyourownbodies.Thendiscuss:Foreigners,thepoor,thedisabled,strangers,prisoners,theabused.Ifyouweretoofferhospitalitytopeopleinoneofthesecategories,howwouldyougoaboutit?

HowwelldoIknow(love)myneighbors?Writeyournameonthegridinthecentersquare(orthelocationthatmakesthemostsenseinyourhousingsituation).Next,writethenamesofyour8closestneighborsintheothersquares.Thenwriteabriefnoteabouttheirspirituallife.

HowwelldoIknow(love)myneighbors?Writeyournameonthegridinthecentersquare(orthelocationthatmakesthemostsenseinyourhousingsituation).Next,writethenamesofyour8closestneighborsintheothersquares.Thenwriteabriefnoteabouttheirspirituallife.

Principle3Christiansmustunderstandandbeabletoexplain1)thegospel,2)therealityofheavenandhell,and3)theimportanceofthecrucifixion.Note:Eachweekwe’llshare1keyprincipleforhavingsuccessfulspiritualconversations.TheseprinciplesweregleanedandsummarizedbyJimBrechbuhlerfromTransformingNeighborhoodsaLifeataTime:PersonalEvangelismDoneJesusStylebyTimWallingford.The5principlesthatwe’lldiscusswon’tdirectlycorrespondtoDr.Wallingford’sbook,becausehesharedfarmorethanfive.Wewishtherewastimetocoverthemall!Formuchmoredetailed,practicalinformation,wehighlyrecommendTransformingNeighborhoodsanditscompanionstudyguide,100AnswerstoQuestionsfromtheNeighborhoods.AvailableinprintintheDCCOasisBookstoreandAmazonKindle.Beforewebeginanyimportantmission,wemustbeequippedwiththeessentialsneededtosucceed.Thisweekwe’llexaminethreeessentialsnecessaryforearnestlysharingourfaith.Wemustgraspandembracetheseessentialsifwe’retocultivatespiritualconversations.Weneedtostudythem,andaskquestionsifwe’reunclearonanyfacetofthem.It’salsoimportantwesharethemwithournon-Christianfriends,intermstheyunderstand,withoutlosingthebiblicalmessage.Forexample,tellingsomeonetheycanbe“justifiedbythewashingofthebloodofthelamb”istheologicallycorrect,butitmustbeexplainedintermsthatdoesn’tcausethemtorunaway!Asemphasizedthelasttwoweeks,agenuine,lovingrelationshipalmostalwaysprecedesspiritualconversations.First,wemustbeabletoexplain,inourownwords,thegospel,thegoodnewsofJesus.Today’sChristianshavethesameresponsibilitytoshareChristasChristiansdidintheearlychurch.Weneedtobecrystal-clearonwhatthegospelis.Manyconfuseitwiththeplanofsalvation.ThegospeliswhatGoddidthroughJesusonthecross,sowecanbeforgivenandglorifyGod.ThesalvationplanexplainshowweacceptChristasourpersonalLordandSavior.

1Corinthians15:1-8,Now,brothersandsisters,IwanttoremindyouofthegospelIpreachedtoyou,whichyoureceivedandonwhichyouhavetakenyourstand.2Bythisgospelyouaresaved,ifyouholdfirmlytothewordIpreachedtoyou.Otherwise,youhavebelievedinvain.3ForwhatIreceivedIpassedontoyouasoffirstimportance:thatChristdiedforoursinsaccordingtotheScriptures,4thathewasburied,thathewasraisedonthethirddayaccordingtotheScriptures,5andthatheappearedtoCephas,andthentotheTwelve.6Afterthat,heappearedtomorethanfivehundredofthebrothersandsistersatthesametime,mostofwhomarestillliving,thoughsomehavefallenasleep.7ThenheappearedtoJames,thentoalltheapostles,8andlastofallheappearedtomealso,astooneabnormallyborn.

Thegospel,initsmostconciseform,canbefoundintheabovepassagefrom1Corinthians15:1-8,withparticularemphasisonvs.3-4.PaultaughttheCorinthians

manythings,butinv.3hesays,“offirstimportance.”He’sstatingthisisthebiggestthinghe’severtaught-informationofhighestimportance,sopaysuper-closeattention!HeexplainsJesustookthepunishmentforoursinsonthecross,diedandwasplacedinatomb,and,provingHehadpoweroverdeath,arosethreedayslater.Jesusdidn’tariseinsecret,butappearedtomany.Thisisthesimplestexplanationofthegospel.Dr.RichardOster,ofHardingUniversityGraduateSchoolofReligion,pointsoutthatPaulmakes4majorpointsinthispassage,eachintroducedbytheGreektermmeaning“that”(hoti).Paulwrites,“thatChristdiedforoursins”,“thathewasburied”,“thathewasraisedonthethirdday”,and“thatheappeared”tomany.Osterfurtherwrites,“…theresurrectionofJesusbythehandofGodisthesinequanonoftheChristianfaith.”Sinequanonmeans“somethingabsolutelyindispensableoressential.”Wemustremember-ifJesusdidn’trisefromthedead,Christianityisjustonegianthoax.BelievinginHisresurrectionisessential!Sowhyisitsoimportanttobeabletoexplainthegospel?BecausethegospelisthewholefoundationonwhichtheChristianfaithexists!IfJesusdidn’tdieforoursins,we’restillguilty.IfHedidn’trisefromthedead,Hehasnopoweroverdeath,andisnodifferentfromanyotherfamous,deadreligiousleader.IftheChristiandoesn’tfullyunderstandandinternalizethegospel,andcan’texplainitveryeasilyintheirownwords,they’llstumbleoutofthegateinsharingtheirfaith.Keepinmind,itisthegospelthatourneighbors,friends,andfamilywillrespondto.That’swhyitissocriticalwecanexplainitinaloving,clearmanner.Alsokeyinsharingourfaithisabiblicalviewofheavenandhell.Whenabelieverdies,theirsoulisinparadise.Thescripturestellusparadiseisaplaceof“comfort”(Luke16:22-23,25),itisseparatedfromthetormentofthewickedbya“greatchasm”(Luke16:26),itisa“paradise”orablessedplace(Luke23:43),wehaveaspecialrelationship“withtheLord”(2Cor.5:6-8;Phil.1:21-23)andwe’reunderHiscare.Thetwenty-firstchapterofRevelationgoesintogreatdetailtodescribethenewearthafterJesuscomesagain.GodwilldwellamongHispeople,Hewillwipeawayeverytear-therewillbenomoredeath,mourning,cryingorpain.Everythingwillbenew!ThosewhohaveacceptedChristwillinheritthenewearth.Therewillbenonight.We’llmarvelatthebeautyofgold,topaz,jasper,onyx,emerald,turquoiseandotherincrediblejewels.JustwritingthismakesmelongforthedayofJesus’secondcoming!Onthecontrary,Revelation21:8tellsusjudgmentdaywillbeterriblebeyondimaginationforthosewhohaverejectedChrist:“8Butthecowardly,theunbelieving,thevile,themurderers,thesexuallyimmoral,thosewhopracticemagicarts,theidolatersandallliars—theywillbeconsignedtothefierylakeofburningsulfur.Thisistheseconddeath.”Revelation20:10,15describesthelakeoffireasaplaceofeternaltorment,dayandnight.BothMatthew8:12andMatthew25:30,describehellasaplaceofdarkness,wheretherewillbeweepingandgnashingofteeth.

Asunfathomablybeautifulasheavenwillbe,hellwillbeunfathomablyterrible…foreternity.Christiansmustgrasptherealityofheavenandhell,andbeabletodescribebothaccurately.Weneedtorememberwe’reinadailyspiritualbattlefortherestingplaceofourfriends’souls.Afinalkeyfundamentalbeliefisunderstandingwhathappenedonthecross.First,IwouldencourageeveryonetostudyRomans3:21-26.Itexplainstheabsolutenecessityofthecross.Dr.JackCottrell,aleadingexpertongrace,writes,“Thispassage,Romans3:21-26,istheheartandcorenotonlyofRomansbutalsoofthewholeBible.LeonMorris(TheEpistletotheRomans,173)saysitis“possiblythemostimportantsingleparagrapheverwritten.”Verse23states,“allhavesinnedandfallshortofthegloryofGod.”Becausewehavesinned,GodmustbetruetoHisholynature,andpunishoursin.Justasinacourtroomtheguiltyaresentencedfortheircrimes,sowestandreadytobepunishedbyajustGod.Butthisiswherethegoodnewstakesplaceandgraceenters!Verse26tellsusthatwhileGodstillpunishes,Heisalsothe“justifier.”Dr.Cottrellnotesthatwhenwe’rejustified,it’sasifthejudgesays,“Iproclaimyoutoberightwiththelaw,justasyouare!”Onthecross,ourholyGodwastruetoHisholynatureandpunishedoursin,butwasalsotruetoHisloving,mercifulnaturebytakingourpunishmentforus.WhenJesuswasonthecross,GodunleashedHiswrath-thatwedeserved-ontoJesus,whodidn’tdeserveit.Itmakesnosense–butthatisgrace!Theguiltygofree,theinnocentpaytheprice!IfweplaceourfaithinJesus,hewilljustifyourentranceintoheavenandintothepresenceofourholyGod.BecauseofourfaithinJesus,thejustifier,whopaidthepriceforoursins,wecanhearthejudgedeclare,“Nopenaltyforyou!”Isitworthputtingthetimeintomasterthesefundamentals?Ifwedon’t,itcouldaffectsomeone…foreternity.Nothingelseismoreworthyofourtime.Thanksforreading.—JimBrechbuhler