DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you told any of your friends/family/colleagues at work that you are doing Alpha? What was their reaction?

2. If you didn’t know anything about Christianity, how would you like to be told about it?

3. What do you think/feel about the idea of telling others about your faith?

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WHY AND HOW SHOULD I TELL OTHERS?

‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you’ (Matthew 28:18–20)

Why tell others?

• Jesus told us to
• For the needs of others – spiritual hunger in the world
• It’s good news: ‘gospel’ = good news
• Two opposite dangers
  • Insensitivity
  • Fear

How do we tell others?

1. PRESENCE (Matthew 5:13–16)

• We are called to be salt and light (vv.13–14)
• When people know we are Christians, they watch our lives (v.16)

‘You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.’ —(Matthew 5:13–16)

1. PERSUASION (Matthew 5:13–16)

‘Since… we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade people.’ —(2 Corinthians 5:11)

• Work out the answers to common questions
  • Eg: ‘What about other religions?’ and ‘How can a God of love allow suffering?’
• Do it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15)

3. PROCLAMATION (John 1:39–46)

• We are not all called to be ‘evangelists’ but we are all called to be ‘witnesses’ (v.41)
• We can all say, ‘Come and see’

4. POWER (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

• The love of God poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit
• Healing

5. PRAYER (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

• For others
• For ourselves – to have boldness (Acts 4:29–31)

Don’t give up – whenever you pass on the good news of Jesus, it has an effect. The gospel is the power of God —(Mark 4:15–20)

APPENDIX

Suggestions for preparing your story:

• Keep it short
  • Aim for three minutes – people switch off after that

• Make it personal
  • Don’t preach – use ‘I’ or ‘we’ – not ‘you’

• Keep Christ central
  • They need to follow him, not you

• The format:
  • A little of your former life
  • How you came into your relationship with Christ
  • Something of what it has meant since then

• Write it out in full
  • It’s easier to see the waffle when it’s down on paper!

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Have you told any of your friends/family/colleagues at work that you are doing Alpha? What was their reaction?

2. If you didn’t know anything about Christianity, how would you like to be told about it?

3. What do you think/feel about the idea of telling others about your faith?

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RECOMMENDED READING

The Case Against Christ
John Young

Searching Issues
Nicky Gumbel