Impacting Others with Your Faith: Seize the Moment

1. “We have this moment…” “I have something I need to say…”

2. One shot at it • It involves the sharing of your most intimate love relationship, in a seemingly chance encounter that you may have with another person, even a total stranger!

3. Phil 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guardand to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. NIV

4. 1. Sometimes you get one chance to impact others with your faith • Telling jailors about his faith was not a new thing to Paul • Acts 16:22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

5. 1. Sometimes you get one chance to impact others with your faith • 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” • 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

6. 1. Sometimes you get one chance to impact others with your faith • 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

7. 1. Sometimes you get one chance to impact others with your faith • God designs encounters • An alternate spiritual reality/plan is taking place as you live your life • Every day’s route takes twists and turns

8. 2. God wants your availability / willingness • Acts 1:8  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.” • ARE YOU WILLING TO BE USED BY GOD? • Don’t try to say what you don’t know • Say what you know to be true- “witness” • Your own story • Your experience • Your belief

9. 3. “Making faith fun” involves having the courage to speak to someone about Jesus • My call: • To develop winsome, personal, tellers of the story • Look (for people) • Listen (to people) • Lead (people to Jesus) • Love (people where they are, as they are) • Learn (together from the Bible) • Laugh (together and enjoy life) • Live (really live)

10. 3. “Making faith fun” involves having the courage to speak to someone about Jesus • “Honest blurting” is OK; even humorous • “I feel like I am supposed to tell you about my faith” • “Does it seem pretty random that we met?” • “I believe God causes me to cross paths with people for a reason. Do you?”

11. 3. “Making faith fun” involves having the courage to speak to someone about Jesus • Listen to a person and tie into their beliefs • “I had a car wreck and now I don’t know what I’ll do now to get to work. But I’ve heard everything happens for a reason.” “So you believe in a God that guides events…?” • “I think the Universe just wanted it to happen.” “I don’t know what you mean by “the Universe. If you mean an energy that guides, it seems similar to my understanding of God who guides my life.”

12. 4. Jesus didn’t call us to be nice. He called us to be witnesses • “I don’t want to offend people.” • “I don’t like to talk about my faith. People can just see it in my life.” • James 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

13. 4. Jesus didn’t call us to be nice. He called us to be witnesses • 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. NIV

14. What if… • Life is not completely random? • Free choice/ not pre-determinism • God predestined us to be conformed to Jesus Rm 8:29 • God places you in specific places at specific moments in time • God breaks in • Some call it serendipity • God ordained moment • “I’m glad I was here….” to prevent a tragedy

15. What if… • God whispers to you… Speak • “God told me…” must always square with what the Bible says God wants.” • “You will be my witnesses.” • When you speak, and conversation begins… • It becomes a Holy Moment • A sharing of intimacy about spiritual things • You share your story about the one you love and who loved you.

16. So What? • If faith isn’t fun anymore… • When have you placed yourself in a position to lose something? • A friendship • A position or status that you enjoy • When it comes to your faith, what sort of risk have you entered into? • ARE YOU AVAILABLE? ARE YOU WILLING? • Faith, without risk, is belief, not faith!