Being Missional in IsolationEsimerkki

SHARE GOD’S STORY

Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere — in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus believed in his followers so much, he trusted them to tell his story. Then he sent them around the world to do it. Now, he’s sending us.

There’s no one “best way” to tell God’s story (also called the Gospel), because the best way will depend on with whom you’re sharing. Every disciple should learn to tell God’s Story in a way that’s true to scripture and connects with the audience they’re sharing with.

One way to share God’s Good News is by telling God’s Story from Creation to Judgement – from the beginning of humankind all the way to the end of this age. When we tell God’s story in this way, we can make it long or short, detailed or just broad strokes, but always connected to the culture of the one who hears. 

Here is God’s Story of Good News

In the beginning, God made the whole world and everything in it. He created the FIRST MAN and the FIRST WOMAN. He placed them in a beautiful garden. He made them PART OF HIS FAMILY and had a CLOSE RELATIONSHIP with them. He created them to LIVE FOREVER. There was no such thing as death.

Even in this perfect place, man rebelled against God and brought SIN and SUFFERING into the world. God BANISHED man from the garden. The relationship between man and God was BROKEN. Now man would have to face DEATH.

Over many hundreds of years, God kept sending MESSENGERS into the world. They reminded man of his sin but also told him of God’s FAITHFULNESS and PROMISE to send a SAVIOR into the world. The Savior would RESTORE the close relationship between God and Man. The Savior would RESCUE man from death. The Savior would give ETERNAL LIFE and be with man forever.

God loves his creation. When the time was right, he demonstrated his great love to the world by sending his Son into it to be the promised Savior.

Jesus was God’s Son. He was born into the world through a virgin. He lived a perfect life. He never sinned. Jesus taught people about God. He performed many miracles showing his great power. He cast out many demons. He healed many people. He made the blind see. He made the deaf hear. He made the lame walk. Jesus even raised the dead.

Many religious leaders were THREATENED and JEALOUS of Jesus. They wanted him killed. Since he never sinned, Jesus did not have to die. But He CHOSE to die as a SACRIFICE for all of us. His painful death covered up the sins of mankind. After this, Jesus was buried in a tomb.

God saw the SACRIFICE Jesus made and accepted it. God showed his acceptance by raising Jesus from the dead on the third day and giving him all authority!

If we BELIEVE in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, and ACKNOWLEDGE him as our Lord – our Ruler and King – we will be saved. As believers we TURN AWAY from our sinful way of living and are baptized in Jesus’ name, being BURIED in the water, dead to our old lives, and RAISED from the water as Jesus was raised from the dead, to live a NEW LIFE following him. God forgives us of all our sin and sends the HOLY SPIRIT to live within us to enable us to follow God, and to bring us back into his family again.

When Jesus rose from the dead, he spent 40 days on earth. Jesus taught his followers to go everywhere and tell the good news of his salvation to everyone around the world.

Jesus said, “Go and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and TEACHING them to obey all I have commanded. I will be with you always – even to the end of this age.” Then, Jesus was then TAKEN UP before their eyes into heaven.

One day, Jesus will COME AGAIN in the same way he left. He will PUNISH FOREVER those who did not love and obey him. He will RECEIVE and REWARD FOREVER those who did love and obey him. We will LIVE FOREVER with him in a New Heaven and on a New Earth.

I BELIEVED and RECEIVED the sacrifice Jesus made for my sins. He has made me clean and restored me as part of God’s family. He loves me, and I love him and will live with him forever in his kingdom.

God loves you and wants you to receive this gift, as well. Would you like to do that right now?

------

Today, call a friend who is a follower of Jesus and practice telling God’s Story. Remember, it isn’t about memorizing a script, but about being able to communicate the essence of the message. Practice makes progress!

This week, as you are praying through your prayer calendar, reach out to friends who do not yet follow Jesus and share God’s Story with them. You can use the Creation to Judgement Story or some other way you think will work well for the person with whom you’re sharing.

DAILY DISCOVERY QUESTIONS FOR JOURNALING OR DISCUSSION: 

• What does this teach me about God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit?
• What does this teach me about myself and other people?
• What does this teach me about making disciples?
• How will I obey this lesson personally?
• Who can I share these truths with today?