Guide 01: Begin with Love
Reflect (35 minutes)
How is it with your soul?
Is there anything you would like to confess to the group?
Have you been listening to the teachings?
If so, what’s been coming up for you? Anything you’re having a hard time embracing?
If not, when could we check back in?
Read together (10 minutes)
Either one person read this entire section, or split it up
Key Session Theme: Despite Jesus’ invitation to be his witnesses in the world, many of us feel emotionally allergic to the idea of “evangelism” because of the unloving examples that we’ve experienced.
Good news: When we let the Spirit’s impulse to witness lead us to love those far from God, we will come alive in a whole new way as we learn to lovingly accompany people on their journey to faith at all stages of their journey.
Jesus Envisions His Followers as Witnesses
The word “witness” is martus in Greek, as in a court of law, where somebody who saw something important firsthand is asked questions, and they tell people what they have seen, or heard, or know to be true.
There is an impulse of the Spirit of Jesus in the hearts of all his followers to let the love and light of God come through our lives to those around us.
This is not a fringe practice for the extroverted “evangelists.” It’s core to the way of Jesus. And if we suppress it, we halt our spiritual growth.
The Five Thresholds
Don Everts and Doug Schaupp write about five thresholds that Western people need to cross in order to become followers of Jesus:
Trusting a Christian
Becoming curious
Opening up to change
Seeking after God
Entering the Kingdom
We err if we think of witness as only about leading people in a prayer to cross that final threshold; witness is about companioning people at every stage in their journey.
Love as the Only Proper Motivation
Some people’s witness gets caught up in the culture wars and political polarization; others do it out of duty or obligation, to be a “good Christian”; others do it out of ambition.
But the one and only motivation that will bear long-term fruit is love.
Key Scriptures and Context
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
—Acts 1v8
Jesus envisions the gospel continuing to spread in concentric circles to the ends of the earth through our witness.
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all ... that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
—2 Corinthians 5v14-15
Love was the driving motivation in Paul’s heart to tell others about Jesus’ death and resurrection
Read Practice (5 Minutes)
Identify 3-5 people you care about who are not followers of Jesus and begin praying for them daily.
Optional Exercises:
Go on a prayer walk
Read: The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield (Chapters 01-03)
Listen: Rule of Life Podcast on Witness (Episode 01)