*These next 3 weeks, we are taking a pause in our usual sermon-based curriculum for you to take time to review our One Life curriculum. We hope this will encourage you and equip you to take steps in sharing your faith with the people around you!
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
If Jesus Christ has radically changed your life, you can't help but share that information with others. God has rescued you from darkness into His wonderful light. This light shines best in a dark place. We see this when a person first comes to faith at Sagebrush. They get baptized, invite people to church, and can't stop sharing about our good God. But something happens the longer they stay put around our church. They become timid to share, and they begin to doubt their ability to communicate the message of Jesus with others. We often miss that sharing Jesus with another person is as simple as sharing what we have learned.
An easy way to share the truth of Jesus and His rescue plan for humanity is by using the bridge diagram. When a conversation turns to spiritual things, you can grab a piece of paper and sketch a quick picture. Put the word "Us" on one side, and, on the other side, put the word "God." Explain there is this huge separation between God and us, and write the word "sin" in between the words "Us" and "God." Share that sin is all the wrong things we have done that separate us from God. People have tried to bridge the gap between God and us through doing good works or being religious, but the Bible says that no matter how hard we try, we can't make it to the other side on our own.
Thankfully, God saw the mess we were in and loved us so much that He sent His only son Jesus to bridge the gap between God and us. As you explain this, draw a cross over our sin. Jesus died for every wrong thing we have ever done. Explain that when Jesus died, the sky grew dark as midnight at noon as Jesus hung on the cross. At that time, the sin of the world was poured out upon Jesus, and He cried, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" God the Father is holy and perfect and can't be in the presence of sin, so Jesus felt the separation from the Father when our sin was put upon Him. Jesus became the payment for our sin that we owed to a holy God.
One of the last things that Jesus said before He died was, "It is finished." This meant "paid in full." Jesus paid in full our sin debt, and now we can have a relationship with God here on earth and in Heaven one day because of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. You see, Jesus didn't stay dead. Three days after His death, He rose from the dead. Through His resurrection, He showed that everything He said was true and gave the promise that those who put their faith and hope in Him can be in Heaven with Him forever. Putting your trust in Jesus is as easy as 123 or ABC. Then, write out these words:
A. Admit you are a sinner.
We all have done wrong things. Beyond just admitting and saying we are sorry, we have to repent. To repent means that we turn away from our sin.
B. Believe that Jesus is God's son who died on the cross and rose from the dead.
Most people believe that to be true. However, James 2 says that even the demons believe and shudder with fear, so it's not enough just to believe some facts about Jesus. You have to take a further step.
C. Commit your life to Jesus.
You say, "Jesus, everything I am and everything I hope to be, I give over to you. Take my life and use it. I don't want to live for myself anymore. I want to live for you."
After sharing, we ask them, "Now, where do you see yourself? Here at 1, 2, or 3?" Most of the time, they will say I am at number 2. I know that I am a sinner, and I believe that Jesus gave his life for me, but I have never committed my life to Him. If that is the case, we want you to say, "Is there anything holding you back from committing your life to Jesus today?" If they say no, lead them in prayer and walk them back through those three steps.
Dear God, I admit that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose again. I commit my life to you. Everything that I am and everything I hope to be, I give to you. I love you. Thank you for forgiving me and loving me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
We have to be willing to share what we've learned about Jesus with those who are far from God. Practice this method and ask God to fill you with the courage to share it with someone else.
Take out a sheet of paper today and practice sharing the Bridge Diagram out loud. Share it like you were explaining it to a person who doesn't have a relationship with Jesus but is very interested in believing. This week, commit to practicing doing this ten times so that, after building an intentional relationship with someone far from God, you are ready to share this diagram with them. If you want to make a difference, you have to be willing to share what you have learned.
Ephesians 2:1-10 (NLT)
"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."
©2024 Sagebrush Church
