How to Share Your Faith Using ???? (If I tell you...)
...it will ruin the trivia quiz.
Current Events Trivia Time!!
Who's the lead singer of the band that won five Grammy Awards February 8 th , 2006, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year?
- Billie Joe Armstrong
- Bono
- Fergie
- Jason Wade
Who was the keynote speaker to a crowd of 3000 at the February 2nd, 2006 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.?
- Billy Graham
- Rick Warren
- Greg Stier
- Bono
Who was named one of Time Magazine's Persons of the Year on December, 26th, 2005, along with multi-millionaires Bill and Melinda Gates?
- George W. Bush
- Pope John Paul
- Bono
- Warren Buffet
Did you notice a common thread in the above multiple choice options? Unbelievable as it may seem, the correct answer to each of the above three questions is U2's frontman...Bono!
Sounds like an interesting character, doesn't he? In his own words Bono jokes, "I appreciate the absurdity of being a rock star and quoting the Scriptures."
His long and highly successful career as lead singer for U2 has provided Bono a celebrity platform for his global social activist message of helping 'the least of these.' His largely private faith walk as a Christian, which he characterizes as being influenced by the words and actions of Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount and the Old Testament prophets, has given him the content of his message-step up and help 'the least of these.' His partnership in philanthropy with multi-millionaires Bill and Melinda Gates and their colossal Gates Foundation has given him a strategic means to deliver change to the world's poorest of the poor.
During his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, Bono quoted Isaiah 58:7-8:
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Bono has long championed debt relief for the poorest nations of the world whose citizens struggle to feed themselves and lack even the most basic human needs. At the National Prayer Breakfast, he once again urged Christians to step up their generosity and respond to "the least of these."
Next time you hear a U2 song or find yourself in a conversation about music celebrities, try turning the conversation to Bono. Here are some ideas that might help you get the conversation moving in a spiritual direction:
- Ask your friends if they're familiar with Bono's social activism? Find out what they think of it. Share your opinion.
- What do you think motivates Bono? What motivates you to help others who are in desperate need? Use the chance to share about Jesus in your life.
- Many teens today are eager to step up, take action and change their world for the better. Explore what you and your friends might do to play a part in reaching out to "the least of these." (Consider sponsoring a Compassion child, organizing a food drive or launching another service project. Get your youth group involved.)
- Ask your friends if they think people that do more for the poor than others are more likely to go to heaven? Why or why not? This may lead to a discussion about salvation through grace how that motivates us to help 'the least of these'.
Individuals really can change the course of history-by reaching out and impacting others, one soul at a time! Step up, dive in and make a difference in your world for Jesus' sake!
