Deeper Sharing

“ ⁶ And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. ⁷ Let your roots go down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” —Colossians 2:6-7

Big Idea: The deeper life is not only recognizing how God’s story has impacted your story, but it’s looking for ways to use your story for God’s glory.

“ ³⁴ Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, He never spoke to them without using such parables.” —Matthew 13:34

(1.) The deeper life is being able to share how God’s story has changed your story

“ ²⁸ The woman left her water jar beside the well and went back to the village and told everyone, ²⁹ ‘Come and meet the man who told me everything I ever did. Can this be the Messiah?’ ³⁰ So the people came streaming from the village to see him.” —John 4:28-30

“ ⁸ Jesus told him, ‘Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat and walk.’ ⁹ Instantly the man was healed! He rolled up the mat and began walking.” —John 5:8-9

“ ²⁵ Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have enough room for the books that would be written.” —John 21:25

(2.) The deeper life leads you to look and listen for ways to lovingly insert your story into someone else’s story

“ ⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer.” —Colossians 4:5-6

“ ⁶ My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow.” —1 Corinthians 3:6

“ ⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-control. ⁸ So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord…” —2 Timothy 1:6-8

(3.) The deeper life is defining and defeating our fears for the sake of sharing our story with others

“ ¹⁴ You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. ¹⁵ Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” —Matthew 5:14-16