coercing them, overwhelming them, or...

EVANGELISM TRAINING

E VA NG E L IS M IS N OT S A L ES M A NSH IP. IT IS N OT U RG ING P E O P L E , P R ES S ING TH E M ,

C O E RC ING TH E M , O V E RWH E L M ING TH E M , O R S U B D U ING TH E M . E VA NG E L IS M IS

T E L L ING A M ES S A G E . E VA NG E L IS M IS R E P O RTING G O O D N E WS . – R ICH A R D C .

H A LV E R S O N L IF E IS T O O SH O RT A N D H E L L IS T O O H OT T O J UST P L AY CH U RCH.

– L A R RY O S B O R N E I H AV E B U T O N E PA S S IO N: IT IS H E; IT IS H E A LO N E . TH E

W O R L D IS TH E F I E L D A N D TH E F I E L D IS TH E W O R L D; A N D H E N C EF O RTH TH AT

C O U N T RY SH A L L B E M Y H O M E WH E R E I C A N B E M O ST US E D IN WINNING S O U L S

F O R CH R IST. – C O U N T NIC O L A US L U D WIG V O N Z INZ E N D O RF S O M E WISH T O L I V E

WITH IN TH E S O U N D OF A CH A P E L B E L L; I WISH T O R U N A R ES C U E M IS S IO N

WITH IN A YA R D OF H E L L . – C . T. ST U D D M IS S IO NS IS N OT TH E U LTIM AT E G O A L

OF TH E CH U RCH. W O R SH IP IS . M IS S IO NS EX ISTS B E C A US E W O R SH IP D O ES N’ T. –

J OHN P IP E R W E M UST B E G LO B A L CH R ISTIA NS WITH A G LO B A L VIS IO N B E C A US E

O U R G O D IS A G LO B A L G O D. – J OHN ST OT T L E T E LO Q U EN C E B E F L U NG T O TH E

D O G S R ATH E R TH A N S O U L S B E LO ST. WH AT W E WA N T IS T O WIN S O U L S . TH E Y

A R E N OT W O N B Y F LO W E RY S P E E CH ES . – CH A R L ES S P U RG E O N

© 2017 PULSE

PULSEMOVEMENT.COM

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

© 2017 PULSEPULSEMOVEMENT.COM

TA BL E OF CONT ENTS

EL EPHANTS & LIONS . . . . . . . . .

3 ST EPS TO EVANGELISM . . . . . .

TH E MOV EMENT CHAL L ENGE . . . .

ADDITIONAL R ESO URCES . . . . . .

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EL EPHANTS & LIONS

IT ' S OK AY.

W E ' R E A L L FA M IL Y H E R E .

Y O U C A N A CK N O W L E D G E TH E

E L E PH A N T IN TH E R O O M .

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EVANGELISM IS HARD

It feels pretty good just to say that, doesn’t it? Evangelism is hard, and that means it’s not just for “super-Christians” or really extroverted people. It’s for you and me. Jesus told us to follow Him. He also said it wasn’t going to be easy. So each day, we have a choice. We can either choose to follow Jesus, even when it’s hard, or we can live like Jesus never said those things. Sadly, you and I often live controlled by fear. But living in denial is definitely not the plan God has for our lives.

So what keeps us from sharing our faith with others? Let’s get personal here—remember, we’re all family. What keeps YOU from sharing your faith with others? Use the list on the next page to identify some of the excuses you’ve used to keep you from sharing your faith.

J ES U S T O L D U S T O F O L LO W H IM . H E A L S O S A I D IT

WA S N’ T G O ING T O B E E A S Y.

ELEPHANTS & LIONS

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EXC USE LISTCH ECK AL L THAT APPLY

I D ON’ T HAV E TIM E TO SHAR E MY FAITH.

I D ON’ T KNOW HOW TO START A SPIRITUAL CONV ERSATION.

I ALR EADY KNOW TH E Y’ D SAY NO.

I’M WAITING FOR TH E PERF ECT TIM E.

I’M NOT A GOOD SPEAK ER.

I’M NOT AN O UTGOING PERSON.

I WANT TO SPEAK WITH MY LIF E , NOT MY WORDS.

I F E EL LIK E A BAD EXAMPL E TO BE SHARING TH E GOSPEL .

I D ON’ T WANT TO INCONV ENIENCE PEOPL E .

IT’S MY PASTOR’S JOB TO SHAR E TH E GOSPEL , NOT MINE.

I D ON’ T KNOW HOW TO SHAR E MY FAITH.

I WON’ T BE A BL E TO ANSW ER TH EIR Q U ESTIONS.

I’M SCAR E D OF GETTING R EJ ECT E D OR LOOK E D D OWN ON.

OTH ER

If you checked most or all of the boxes, you’re in good company.

Take Acts 4 for example. The religious leaders had just thrown Peter and John into jail, and they threatened them to not talk about Jesus again. Peter and John returned to their friends and began praying with them. “Now, Lord,” they said, “consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”

The early Church prayed for boldness. I don’t know about you, but I don’t usually pray for something I already have. Paul, the writer of half the New Testament, asked believers to pray for him, “so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19). If the people who walked with Jesus needed to pray for boldness, then we shouldn’t be ashamed to either. We all need boldness.

E V E N TH E D IS C IP L ES FA C E D M A N Y OF TH E S A M E F E A R S W E D O .

ELEPHANTS & LIONS

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“The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are

bold as a lion.”Proverbs 28:1

BECOMING LIONS

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The way we become lions is by listening to God’s voice over the voice of our fears.

LIONS IN TH E BIBL ELook at these examples of ordinary, broken people who were used mightily by God. Match the description with the hero.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; andyou will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

DEMON POSSESSE D

M URDERO US

AD ULT ER ER

COWARD

DENIE D FAITH

UNACCEPT E D R EF UGE E

RUTH (RUTH 1 :3 - 4)

TH E APOSTL E PET ER (MARK 14 :66 -72)

TH E APOSTL E PAUL (ACTS 7:58; 9 :1)

MARY MAGDAL ENE (LUK E 8:2)

KING DAVID (2 SAM U EL 12 :9)

A BRAHAM (GENESIS 20:1 1)

TH E Q U ESTION IS : AR E YO U LIVING IN YO UR POW ER OR GOD’S POW ER?

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BOLD AS LIONSWhat if you knew that anything you did out of love for Jesus would never fail? What if you knew that sharing your faith would always have a good ending? Believe it or not, that’s exactly what Scripture tells us. Think about it: When you share your faith with someone, what possible outcomes are there?

N O W N O R M A L L Y # 3 IS WH AT K E E PS U S F R O M S H A R ING O U R FA ITH , B U T R E A L L Y TH ES E A R E A L L S U C C ES S ES IN J ES U S’ B O OK .

1 . TH E Y S AY Y ES T O J ES U S .

2 . TH E Y A R E N’ T R E A D Y Y E T.

3 . TH E Y U NF O L LO W Y O U O N S O C IA L M E D IA .

BECOMING LIONS

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BOLD AS LIONS

On top of all of this, when we share our faith, we’re choosing to love the same things that Jesus loves. “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15).

1 . WH E N S O M E O N E S AYS Y ES T O J ES U S , TH E R E’ S A PA RT Y IN H E AV E N !

( L UK E 15 :7 )

2 . WH E N S O M E O N E D O ES N’ T S AY Y ES B U T Y O U H AV E A S P IR IT U A L

C O N V E R S ATI O N , A S E E D IS P L A N T E D ( M AT TH E W 1 3 : 1 -2 3) .

3 . WH E N S O M E O N E R EJ E C TS U S , J ES U S S AYS , “ R EJ O IC E A N D B E G L A D,

B E C A U S E G R E AT IS Y O U R R E WA R D IN H E AV E N” ( M AT TH E W 5 : 1 2 ) .

Take a few minutes, turn to page 8, and pray through the fears you listed.

BECOMING LIONS

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PRAY. CAR E. SHAR E.

3 ST EPS TO EVANGELISM

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HOW D O I SHAR E MY FAITH?We know evangelism is good, but we also know it’s hard. We see that Jesus gives us the boldness to be able to step beyond our discomfort and share about Him with others. He can make us bold as lions. But what does that look like for you? Over the centuries, people have suggested different methods for sharing faith. While these are good, we know that one method isn’t a cookie-cutter solution for everyone. As well, Jesus never gave us a step-by-step guide for sharing our faith. Instead, Jesus gave us principles. Following Jesus is not a method but a lifestyle. We’re going to look at three central principles of Jesus in this section, “Pray, Care, Share.”

3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM

F O L LO W ING

J ES U S IS N O T A

M E TH O D B U T A

L IF ES T Y L E .

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CS

K E E P 5

L IS T E N& LO V E

T O O L S

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P R AYC A R ES H A R E

P

CS

K E E P 5

L IS T E N& LO V E

T O O L S

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WHAT HAPPENS WH EN W E PRAY?W RIT E D OWN HOW YO U’V E SE EN GOD MOV E THRO UGH PRAY ER

WH EN W E PRAY,GOD MOV ES.

The first and most important step in evangelism is prayer.

We could be the most intelligent debater in the world, but we would only be able to change people’s minds. When we pray, we’re asking God to do what only He can do—change people’s hearts. When we share our faith without making prayer a priority, we tend to fall for one of two traps. The first is depending on ourselves instead of God, and the second is sharing our faith because it’s the “Good Christian” thing to do. But when we pray and then act, we’re doing life and ministry with Jesus.

PRAY

WH E N Y O U P R AY, Y O U C A R E . IT IS IM P O S S I B L E T O P R AY F O R S O M E O N E A N D N O T S TA RT T O C A R E A B O U T TH E M .

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WHO IN YO UR LIF E NE E DS J ESUS?FAMILY

FRIENDS

CLASSMAT ES

COWORK ERS

NEIGH BORS

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3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: PRAY

KEEP5“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full

understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” - PHILEMON 1:6

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WRITE down the names of fivepeople who need Jesus,

PRAY for them everyday, and

LOOK for opportunities toshare Jesus with them.

When we pray, God moves!

I WILL

pulsemovement.com

Y O U C A N F IN D A N O TH E R K E E P 5 C A R D AT TH E B A CK OF TH IS B O OK T O P L A C E IN Y O U R B I B L E .

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T EXT A FRIENDTake a pic of your filled out Keep 5 card and send it to your friend. Ask them to pray with you and to keep you accountable to share the Gospel.

W R IT E D O W N

P R AY F O R

LO OK F O R

IN C L U D E

NA M ES

F R I E N DS

O P P O RT U NITI ES

O TH E R S

3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: PRAY

PEOPL E D ON’ T CAR E HOW M UCH YO U KNOW, UNTIL TH E Y KNOW HOW

M UCH YO U CAR E.

D O I CAR E ENO UGH TO T EL L TH EM A BO UT J ESUS?

CAR E

Let’s talk about the people in your life who don’t know Jesus and how best to approach them.

Sometimes when people come to Jesus, they become overly zealous toward family and friends and come off as pushy or uncaring. The Bible tells us to “Speak the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15) That means we don’t shy away from telling people why they need Jesus, but we also do it with gentleness. So how do we approach a conversation like this?

LISTEN. LEARN. LOVE. LEAD.

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Evangelism is about intentional listening—about things that matter most.

Sometimes we approach spiritual conversations with others like a boxing match; it’s like we’re waiting to throw the knockout punch. Instead of coming in with raised fists, let’s come in with open hands.

LIST EN

3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: CARE

A R E Y O U W IL L ING T O H AV E C O N V E R S AT I O NS TH AT M AT T E R?

Start Here.

Have a conversation. Don’t focus on being spiritual, but focus on learning more.

Starting with, “Tell me about yourself” can lead to asking, “What are your spiritual beliefs?”

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L EARNThere are two kinds of listening—listening for the purpose of responding, and listening for the purpose of understanding. The first kind of listening is used in debates. The second kind of listening is used by friends.

When we learn, we begin to love with God’s heart for each person. Learning is about looking for the areas God is already at work. Allow the conversation to follow the natural in-roads to talk about what matters most.

What is their story? What is their need? What is their greatest dream? Does God relate to that situation?


E V E R Y O N E LO V ES T O B E H E A R D.

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ACTING AS A SO UN DING BOARD

HOW D O YO U LOV E TO SHOW LOV E?

MAKING A MEAL FOR SOMEON E IN N E E D

OFF ERING ADVICEENCO URAGING

OTH ERS

POINTING O UT TH E STR ENGTHS OF OTH ERS

OFF ERING A SHO ULDER TO CRY ON

MAKING PEOPL E LA UGH

SPEN DING Q UALIT Y TIME WITH OTH ERS

W RITING L ET T ERS OR NOT ES OF ENCO URAGEMENT

GI VING GIFTS TO SHOW MY CAR E

GI VING H UGS

D OING CHOR ES FOR OTH ERS

OFF ERING A LIST ENING EAR

PRAYING WITH OTH ERS

SIT TING Q UI ETLY WITH TH E BROK EN

GI VING FR E E HIGH FI V ES TO STRANGERS

SHARING A SMIL E

CIRCL E AL L THAT APPLY.

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LOV ELove is the foundation of our faith and should flow through every conversation. When we come across as condescending or condemning, we often do more harm than good.

Every conversation should be anchored in God’s love for each individual. Use your words to encourage the good you see in their lives and not to condemn. Love ultimately leads us to Jesus.


IF YO U CLAIM TO LOV E YO UR FRIENDS OR FAMILY AND HAV EN’ T ASK E D TH EM A BO UT TH EIR FAITH, AR E YO U R EAL LY LOVING TH EM?

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L EADThrough listening, learning, and loving, doors open to lead our family and friends to Jesus.

As you take steps to share the Gospel, consider the following points.

+ IDENTIFY – identify parts of their story that remind you of your own+ ADMIRE – be gracious and encouraging+ ADMIT – be vulnerable in sharing your own imperfections


A SK A “S O M E T IM E” Q U ES T I O N – “S O M E TIM E , W O U L D Y O U T E L L M E A B O U T Y O U R B E L I EFS ? ”

When we go beyond the superficial in our conversations, we open the door for deeper topics like beliefs, values, and spirituality.

On the next page, write down the names of those on your Keep 5 card and identify where you are in your relationship with them by marking an X. It’s time to take the next step.

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FRIEND’S NAM ELIST EN L EARN LOV E L EAD

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SHAR E

We’ve prayed for our friends. They know that we love them because we’ve listened, learned, and loved them. Now we want to lead them to Jesus.

Our goal: more conversations about Jesus.

Sharing Jesus isn’t a formula. There’s more than one right way to do it. What we present on the following pages are suggestions we hope will help you put the Gospel into words to answer a simple question.

So what do you believe?

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IS R ELATIONAL .

AR E CRAZ Y.

IS TH E ANSW ER.

TO J ESUS IS WH ER E LIF E BEGINS.

(H IN T, H IN T – A NS W E R S O N TH E N EX T PA G E )

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GOD IS R ELATIONAL . PEOPL E AR E CRAZ Y.We were made for God. From the beginning of time, God has always desired a relationship with us. We are made in God’s image—made to find our greatest satisfaction in Him. Because God is relational, He stepped into history, demonstrating His love for us ultimately through the life and death of Jesus.

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

When we look at the headlines or even at our own lives, we see the disorder and brokenness. God calls this brokenness sin and it separates us from God. Sin permeates our lives and our world in every selfish decision we make, every way we put others down in our thoughts and actions, and every way we choose our own way over God’s way. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us have turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53:6

3 STEPS TO EVANGELISM: SHARE

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J ESUS IS TH E ANSW ER. R ESPONDING TO J ESUS IS WH ER E LIF E BEGINS.

On the next page, we’ll show you what this can look like drawn out.

No one on earth is able to live an unbroken life except for Jesus. He lived perfectly selfless as God’s Son and died on the cross for us so that we could be restored to a relationship with God based not on work but on His love toward us. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” – 1 John 4:10

Jesus has done all the work, but we have to receive His forgiveness. When we say “Yes” to Jesus, we’re saying “No” to all the other things that ultimately steal our joy and satisfaction. When we admit that we need Jesus and believe He is enough, He promises to restore the broken bond between God and us. In Jesus, our lives are reset. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17


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TURN THISFor all the visual learners, you can use this simple drawing to share the four points of what you just read. Just remember: God, People, Jesus, Response.

JES US

R ESP ONSE

PEOPL E GOD


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INTO THISGod is relational, but people are crazy and we’ve separated ourselves from God. Jesus is the answer. He closes the gap when we respond by admitting we need Jesus.

On the next page, practice with a friend!


JES US

R ESP ONSE

PEOPL E GOD

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PRACTICE


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W E K N O W EX A C T L Y WH AT N E E DS T O B E D O N E T O A D VA N C E TH E G O S P E L

A N D F U LF IL L TH E G R E AT C O M M IS S I O N. TH E Q U ES T I O N

IS , W IL L W E D O IT?- DAV I D J E R E M IA H

R ECAP

PRAY: ASK GOD FOR OPPORTUNITIES AND BOLDNESS.

CAR E: LIST EN, L EARN, LOV E , AND L EAD OTH ERS.

SHAR E: R EM EM BER GOD / PEOPL E / J ESUS / R ESPONSE

P

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K E E P 5

L IS T E N& LO V E

T O O L S


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Telling people about Jesus is good, but it’s also just the beginning. Jesus showed us that the Gospel is about people, not projects. Said another way, Jesus told us to make disciples—followers of Him—not just “converts.” When someone says “Yes” to Jesus, there’s a party in heaven (there should be one on earth, too!). After this point, it’s so important that we make ourselves accessible to others to help them along the journey. The truth is, the “Pray, Care, Share” lifestyle doesn’t end once someone turns to Jesus. Every one of us needs the prayers of others, we need love demonstrated to us, and we need to be reminded of the message of Jesus regularly. Evangelism isn’t just about sharing the Gospel. Evangelism is about living the Gospel. Are you willing to share? More than that, are you willing to walk with people beyond their moment of decision?

A R E Y O U

WIL L ING T O

WA LK WITH

P E O P L E

B E Y O N D TH E IR

M O M EN T OF

D E C IS IO N?


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1 . PAUL GAV E HIMSELF.

2 . PAUL PRAY E D FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ENCO URAGE TH EM.

TH E APOSTL E PAUL HAD FO UR STRAT EGIES TO H ELP FOL LOW ERS OF J ESUS DRAW CLOSER TO HIM.

“Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:8

“Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:10

MAY BE ONE OF TH ESE EXAMPL ES WIL L INSPIR E YO U AS W EL L :

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3. PAUL WROT E L ETT ERS.

4. PAUL INCLU DE D OTH ERS IN TH E JO URNE Y.

“Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.” – 2 Corinthians 2:9

“We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:2

W E C A N E M A IL O R T EX T.


N O T E : N O O N E IS A P R O . Y O U C A N D O TH IS !

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MOV EM ENT CHAL L ENGE

Everything we’ve learned so far is great, but unless we do something with it, it’s going to remain in our heads and never become action. Today, we’re going to challenge you to take action. Right now, look at your Keep 5 card and see the five names that you wrote down. On the following page, we want you to make a plan for at least one of them. Ask yourself:

WHO AM I GOING TO R EACH O UT TO?

WHAT D O I NE E D TO D O?

(THINK: LIST EN, L EARN, LOV E , L EAD)

WH EN AM I GOING TO D O IT?

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WHO:WHAT:WH EN:

T EXT A FRIEND NOW THAT YO U’ V E MADE A PLAN, IT’S TIM E TO

T EXT THAT PERSON! TAK E O UT YO UR PHONE AND

R EACH O UT TO TH EM WITH AN INVITATION TO M E ET.

MOVEMENT CHALLENGE

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1 . WRIT E O UT YO UR T ESTIMONY

HOM EWORK

- INTROD UCTION

- BEFOR E J ESUS

Your testimony is all about what Jesus is doing in your life. Practice writing out your testimony through the points below.

List words or phrases that described your life before you knew Jesus. Bewilling to share the struggles of your life and how you’ve experienced Jesus’ reset in your life. What did you need to change?

What sort of question could you ask to start a spiritual conversation?

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- HOW?

- AFT ER J ESUSNo one is perfect, but what is different about your life now that you knowJesus? Use words or phrases to describe how Jesus has changed you.

Answer the question: How did Jesus come into your life? What was themoment or moments that God used to change you?

After you share your testimony with someone, give them a chance to respond. A testimony can be an incredible open door into a spiritual conversation. If you have the opportunity, walk them through the Gospel: God is relational. People are crazy. Jesus is the answer. Responding to Jesus is where life begins.

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2. SHAR E WITH A GOOD FRIEND.Few things make our faith come more alive than sharing it with others. Take an opportunity to share your testimony with a friend. It will be great practice for you, and it will encourage you both!

3. SHAR E YO UR FAITH.Don’t let what you’ve experienced pass you by. Be intentional about praying for opportunities and being bold to reach out to everyone on your Keep 5 card over the coming weeks.

HOMEWORK

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K E E P P R AY ING F O R TH E M ,

A N D Y O U ’ L L S E E J ES U S D O

A M A Z ING TH ING S !

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R ESO URCESR ESET: J ESUS CHANGES EV ERYTHING BY NICK HAL L

Since 2006, Nick Hall—the founder and lead communicator of PULSE—has shared the message of reset with more than 3 million people around the world. This message drove the movement leading up to and emerging from Together 2016—an event that drew hundreds of thousands to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Published in 2016, Nick’s book Reset: Jesus Changes Everything is an invitation to a second chance—a do-over—to get beyond past missteps and refocus our lives around the power of Jesus to change everything. Order a copy of Reset today!

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R ESET SERMON SERIES AND SMAL L GRO UP STU DY

STAY CONNECT E D TO P ULSE

Your church or small group can go through a four-part series on what it looks like to reset your heart, mind, voice, and hands. Kits include videos, study guides, a leader guide, and other digital resources. Purchase the complete kit at Outreach.com.

We believe there is a need for evangelism in this world. PULSE exists to equip people and the Church to make known the name of Jesus. Using prayer, training, and big events, we are sharing Jesus and mobilizing a generation to go out with the great commission. Find out more information at pulsemovement.com and follow us on social media for the latest activities and events.

@PulseMovement@awakenculture/pulsemovement

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