Flying Lessons - Dare 2 Share
Helping youth leaders empower
students to reach their world.
Helping youth leaders empower
students to reach their world.

Flying Lessons

by

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Across the past several issues of energize, weā€™ve been exploring the ā€œ5 Keys to Nurturing a Faith-Sharing Focus.ā€ One of my goals each step along the way has been to provide you with a Group Discussion Guide you can use with your leadersā€”whether students or adultsā€”so that together, you can begin to unpack each of these key principles.

Last issue, we talked about Key #4: equipping your students to share the gospel. We explored how navigating a gospel conversation is a lot like flying a planeā€”from takeoff to landing. So think of yourself as the flight instructor! The Group Discussion Guide below is designed for you to use with your student and/or adult leaders as you equip them with the flying lessons they need to navigate a gospel conversation themselves.

Prepared to Share
Group Discussion Guide

Listen in while I read this true life recounting from one teenager who stepped out to share about Jesus with a friendā€¦

Thereā€™s this girl Iā€™ve kinda been talking with lately and sheā€™s never really known Christ, she kinda has a void in her life. Sheā€™s been abused and mistreated emotionally a lot. And I started discussing Christ with herā€¦It was just a really cool experience. I feel like Iā€™ve really been used by God to do something helpful, and maybe change somebodyā€™s life, and now maybe Iā€™ll have the opportunity to reach more lives, in turn. Itā€™s a cool experience. Itā€™s like Godā€™s really using you when you do it, and it just feels really cool.Ā  ā€”Jacob

Letā€™s spend a few minutes talking about Jacobā€™s experienceā€¦

  • Can you identify with his experience? Why or why not?
  • Does it intimidate you when you think about talking to a friend about Jesus and the gospel? Why or why not?
  • Do you feel prepared and equipped to talk to someone about the gospel?

On the most basic level, getting equipped to share your faith involves learning how to clearly explain the message of the gospel. But getting equipped to share Jesus also involves learning how to watch for opportunities to initiate spiritual conversations. The passage of Scripture weā€™re going to look at today provides an interesting example of what this can look like. Letā€™s take a look.

The Holy Spirit said to Philip, ā€œGo over and walk along beside the carriage.ā€

Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, ā€œDo you understand what you are reading?ā€

Ā The man replied, ā€œHow can I, unless someone instructs me?ā€ And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him (Acts 8:29-31).

Learn It

  • It sounds like Philip was tuned in to God so He could see opportunities for spiritual conversations when they presented themselves. What do you think is involved in being tuned into God like this?
  • Did Philip use a good direct question? Why do you think that?
  • Have you ever felt the Spirit leading you to talk to someone? If so, what happened?

Do It

  • Do you think most teenagers are willing to talk about spiritual things? Why do you think that?
  • What are examples of direct questions that wouldn’t be good ways to bring up spiritual issues? (Example: ā€œWow, it’s really hot in here…did you know it’s hot in hell?ā€)
  • Brainstorm some examples of direct questions that would be good ways to bring up spiritual issues. (Examples: ā€œWhat do you think about…?ā€, ā€œHave you ever wondered about God?ā€, ā€œDo you think religion is the cause of a lot of trouble in the world?ā€)
  • Can you think of any currently popular videos, music or movies that might open up opportunities to start a conversation about spiritual things?
  • Whatā€™s one thing you can do this week so that you are more tuned in to the opportunities God provides for you to share about Jesus and His importance in your life?

Choose one or more of the following hands-on training activities.

OPTION #1 – Lifein6Words.com

Step #1: Gather your group and together explore the website Lifein6Words.com.

Step #2: Discuss ways you might use this site in your efforts to share the gospel with others. (Mention it on your Facebook page and include a link, text a link of the video to a friend, etc.)

OPTION #2 – Soul Fuel

Step #1: Print out copies of a Soul Fuel article from the archives found here. Ā Read the article and discuss it together.

Step #2: Brainstorm ways you might use the topic of this article to initiate spiritual conversations with others. Role play with each other how you might transition an everyday conversation with an unbeliever on this cultural topic into a conversation about God.

related articles

5 Ways Our Gospel Presentations FlopĀ 

We all want people to know the beauty of being a Christian, but often the way we articulate the Gospel to a crowd can be confusing, unclear, or incomplete. Paul expressed to the followers of Jesus living in Colossae the importance of being clear:  And pray for us, too, that God may open a doorā€Æfor

Read More

free youth ministry resources

Free youth ministry curriculum, books, evangelism training, ebooks, videos, and more!Ā Download your free resources now and grow your youth ministry.

Start building a Gospel Advancing ministry.

Join a community of leaders with the vision to see every teen, everywhere, hear the Gospel from a friend.