Empowering Gospel Conversations: Building Relationships in Faith

 

Summary

In this sermon, I shared my deep love for our church community and the excitement surrounding our recent Vision Sunday. We are embarking on a journey to inspire and empower our church to engage in 20,280 Gospel Conversations this year. This vision is not just about numbers; it's about building genuine relationships and sharing the transformative love of Jesus with others. Our Gospel Conversation Labs are designed to equip everyone in the church with the skills needed to have these meaningful conversations. The overwhelming response, with 87 adults already signed up, is a testament to our collective commitment to this mission.

The focus of our current sermon series is to carefully walk through this vision, ensuring that we all develop the necessary skills to engage in these conversations effectively. Gospel conversations are not about approaching strangers with a sales pitch; they are about building relationships based on genuine care and interest. The American Psychological Association's study highlights that deep conversations lead to greater connectedness and enjoyment, which aligns with our goal of fostering meaningful relationships.

We explored the reasons for having Gospel Conversations, emphasizing that they are acts of love, opportunities to reveal truth, and ways to follow Jesus's example. These conversations bring glory to God, help others find peace, purpose, and hope, and ultimately, they are a means to fulfill the Great Commission. We are called to share the Gospel, not out of obligation, but out of love for others and a desire to see them experience the life-transforming power of Jesus.

As we move forward, I encourage everyone to pray for opportunities to have these conversations and to track and report them. Our goal is ambitious, but with the Holy Spirit's guidance, we can achieve it. Let's continue to invest in this mission and trust that God will work through us to impact our community and beyond.

Key Takeaways:

1. Building Genuine Relationships: Gospel conversations are not about quick conversions but about building genuine relationships. By investing time and care into these relationships, we create a foundation for meaningful discussions about faith. This approach aligns with the study showing that deep conversations lead to greater connectedness and enjoyment. [06:01]

2. Overcoming Fear with Faith: Many of us have fears about how others will perceive us when we share our faith. However, trusting in the Holy Spirit and recognizing that God prepares the way for us can help us overcome these fears. Our expectations should be rooted in faith, not in our assumptions about others' reactions. [14:00]

3. Intentionality in Conversations: Jesus's example teaches us the importance of being intentional in our interactions. Gospel conversations require intentionality, as they are opportunities to seek and save the lost, just as Jesus did. This intentionality is crucial for fulfilling our mission. [23:23]

4. Sharing Truth and Hope: In a world searching for meaning, Gospel conversations offer the truth and hope found in Jesus. By sharing our testimonies and the truth of God's Word, we provide others with the opportunity to find peace, purpose, and hope in Christ. [22:17]

5. The Eternal Significance of Our Mission: Our mission to share the Gospel has eternal significance. Every person has an eternal destination, and our role is to share the message of salvation through Jesus. This mission is the most important message we can carry, and we are called to be faithful messengers. [34:41]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:48] - Vision for Gospel Conversations
[06:01] - Building Relationships, Not Sales Pitches
[09:29] - Study on Deep vs. Shallow Conversations
[12:19] - Misconceptions About Deep Conversations
[14:00] - Overcoming Fear with Faith
[15:03] - False Expectations and Instant Failure
[16:17] - The Great Commission and Our Role
[19:12] - Introverts and Extroverts in Ministry
[22:17] - Sharing Truth in a Confused World
[23:23] - Following Jesus's Intentional Example
[24:24] - Bringing Glory to God
[26:34] - Helping Others Find Peace and Purpose
[29:26] - Offering Hope Through the Gospel
[33:23] - The Eternal Significance of Our Mission
[36:20] - Call to Prayer and Action

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 28:18-20 (The Great Commission)
2. Matthew 22:37-39 (The Greatest Commandment)
3. John 14:6 (Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life)

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Observation Questions:

1. What is the primary goal of the church's vision for 20,280 Gospel Conversations this year? How does this align with the Great Commission? [02:48]

2. According to the sermon, what are Gospel Conversation Labs, and why are they important for the church community? [02:48]

3. How does the American Psychological Association's study relate to the concept of Gospel Conversations? What does it reveal about deep versus shallow conversations? [09:29]

4. What are the four types of Gospel Conversations mentioned in the sermon, and how do they contribute to building relationships? [06:01]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 inform the church's mission to engage in Gospel Conversations? What does it mean to "go and make disciples"? [16:17]

2. In what ways does the Greatest Commandment in Matthew 22:37-39 influence the motivation behind having Gospel Conversations? How is love for God connected to love for others? [19:12]

3. How does the concept of Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6) shape the content and purpose of Gospel Conversations? Why is sharing truth important in these interactions? [22:17]

4. What role does intentionality play in Gospel Conversations, and how does Jesus's example in Luke 19:9-10 illustrate this? [23:23]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current relationships. How can you intentionally build deeper connections that may lead to Gospel Conversations? What steps can you take this week to invest in these relationships? [06:01]

2. Consider any fears or reservations you have about sharing your faith. How can trusting in the Holy Spirit help you overcome these fears? What practical steps can you take to shift your expectations from fear to faith? [14:00]

3. Think about a recent conversation you had. Was it more of a shallow or deep conversation? How can you incorporate more meaningful questions into your interactions to foster deeper connections? [09:29]

4. Identify one person in your life who may be searching for truth and hope. How can you share your testimony or a relevant Bible passage with them this week? What specific message of hope can you offer? [22:17]

5. How can you bring glory to God through your conversations this week? Consider sharing a personal story of how God has worked in your life. How might this testimony impact others? [24:24]

6. Reflect on the eternal significance of sharing the Gospel. How does this perspective influence your willingness to engage in Gospel Conversations? What is one action you can take this week to prioritize this mission? [34:41]

7. Pray for opportunities to have Gospel Conversations this week. Who comes to mind as someone you should reach out to? How will you prepare yourself spiritually and practically for this conversation? [36:20]

Devotional

Day 1: Building Relationships Through Gospel Conversations
Gospel conversations are not about quick conversions but about building genuine relationships. By investing time and care into these relationships, we create a foundation for meaningful discussions about faith. This approach aligns with the study showing that deep conversations lead to greater connectedness and enjoyment. [06:01]

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life that could benefit from deeper, more meaningful conversations. How can you intentionally invest in this relationship today to create a foundation for sharing your faith?


Day 2: Overcoming Fear with Faith
Many of us have fears about how others will perceive us when we share our faith. However, trusting in the Holy Spirit and recognizing that God prepares the way for us can help us overcome these fears. Our expectations should be rooted in faith, not in our assumptions about others' reactions. [14:00]

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a specific fear you have about sharing your faith. How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to transform this fear into an opportunity for faith today?


Day 3: Intentionality in Conversations
Jesus's example teaches us the importance of being intentional in our interactions. Gospel conversations require intentionality, as they are opportunities to seek and save the lost, just as Jesus did. This intentionality is crucial for fulfilling our mission. [23:23]

"Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time." (Colossians 4:5, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a conversation you plan to have today. How can you approach it with intentionality, seeking to reflect Jesus's love and truth in your words and actions?


Day 4: Sharing Truth and Hope
In a world searching for meaning, Gospel conversations offer the truth and hope found in Jesus. By sharing our testimonies and the truth of God's Word, we provide others with the opportunity to find peace, purpose, and hope in Christ. [22:17]

"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a person in your life who is searching for meaning. How can you share your testimony or a truth from God's Word with them today in a way that offers hope and encouragement?


Day 5: The Eternal Significance of Our Mission
Our mission to share the Gospel has eternal significance. Every person has an eternal destination, and our role is to share the message of salvation through Jesus. This mission is the most important message we can carry, and we are called to be faithful messengers. [34:41]

"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (1 John 5:11, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on the eternal significance of sharing the Gospel. How can you prioritize this mission in your daily life, ensuring that you are a faithful messenger of God's love and salvation?

Quotes



"Gospel conversations are a progression to build a relationship with people. This isn't some sales trick; it's not a gimmick. We care about Lake and Porter County. If we're going to do that well, then we have to develop conversations and just, I'm sorry, we have to develop relationships, and just like anything else, that takes a little bit of time." [00:04:00] (22 seconds)


"Overall, the researchers found that both deep and shallow conversations felt less awkward and led to greater feelings of connectedness and enjoyment than the participants had expected. That effect tended to be stronger for deep conversations. Participants who discussed the deep questions overestimated how awkward the conversation would be significantly more than those who discussed shallow questions." [00:09:11] (30 seconds)


"Do you really think that God is going to send you on a mission without knowing who you're going to be talking to and what you're going to say? Can we start from that place? Because this study that I read was secular, but it's revealing a lot about human behavior. But if we're going to have gospel conversations and we are Christians and we're led by the power of the Holy Spirit, then maybe we need to start rethinking our expectations." [00:13:49] (34 seconds)


"When we allow our fears, by the way, fears is an acronym, false expectation appearing real. Fear. False expectation appearing real. That's exactly what the study revealed, right? We're afraid to approach people. We're worried about how they're going to judge us, what they're going to say to us. And the study is revealing, well, none of that's true. We actually want to be connected to other people." [00:15:03] (30 seconds)


"Number two, we have gospel conversations to love others as Jesus does. So Matthew 22, Jesus said to him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Because we love God, we now have the desire to love others." [00:20:20] (30 seconds)


"Number four, we have gospel conversations to follow Jesus's example. I love in the gospel of Luke, when you read Luke 19, there's a passage where Zacchaeus is converted. And it says in this passage in verse nine, and Jesus said to him, today salvation has come to this house because he too is a son of Abraham." [00:23:23] (27 seconds)


"Number six, we have gospel conversations to help others find peace. Anybody think this world needs a little peace? John 14 says this, having gospel conversations has the potential to lead people to Christ where they can find peace that only Jesus can offer. Imagine leading people into a relationship where they can find peace that only Jesus can offer." [00:26:34] (40 seconds)


"When we carry the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have a part to play, to share in that. We can't save anyone. It's not our job to do that, by the way. So if that's one of your concerns, like, I don't know if I can save anybody. Let me assure you, you can't. That's the power of the Holy Spirit." [00:34:18] (26 seconds)


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Transcript
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