Engaging Faith: Sharing Stories in a Curious World

 

Summary

In today's gathering at Yadkinville United Methodist Church, we explored the challenges and opportunities facing the modern church in a world where traditional religious engagement is declining. Despite the statistics showing a decrease in church attendance and an increase in those identifying as non-religious, there remains a significant curiosity about spirituality. This curiosity presents a fertile ground for ministry and evangelism. The story of Jesus sending out the 70 disciples serves as a powerful reminder that we are called to engage with the world not by seeking those who already believe, but by reaching out to those who have questions and are open to exploring faith.

The disciples were sent out with humility and their personal stories, not with a mandate to convert but to share peace and engage in genuine relationships. This approach is crucial for us today. We are encouraged to begin with prayer, listen to others, share meals, serve together, and ultimately share our personal stories of faith. This method of evangelism is not about having all the answers but about journeying together in faith and love.

The sermon also highlighted the importance of knowing and sharing our own stories of faith. Understanding why we continue to follow Jesus and what keeps us connected to the church is essential for inviting others into this journey. The call to action is clear: we must be willing to step out, engage with those around us, and share the transformative power of our faith stories.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Challenge of Declining Church Attendance: Despite the decline in traditional church attendance, there is a significant curiosity about spirituality among those who identify as non-religious or non-practicing Christians. This curiosity presents an opportunity for the church to engage with people who have questions and are open to exploring faith. [37:03]

2. The Example of the 70 Disciples: Jesus sent out the 70 disciples with humility and their personal stories, not with a mandate to convert but to share peace and engage in genuine relationships. This approach is crucial for us today as we seek to connect with those who have questions about faith. [40:35]

3. The Importance of Personal Stories: Sharing our personal stories of faith is essential for inviting others into the journey of faith. Understanding why we continue to follow Jesus and what keeps us connected to the church is crucial for effective evangelism. [46:43]

4. Engaging with Humility and Service: Evangelism is about engaging with others in humility, listening to their questions, sharing meals, and serving together. This approach fosters genuine relationships and opens the door for meaningful conversations about faith. [50:08]

5. The Call to Action: We are called to be laborers in the harvest, to step out and engage with those around us, sharing the transformative power of our faith stories. This requires us to be proactive in building relationships and inviting others to explore faith with us. [52:57]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [08:37] - Introduction and Announcements
- [11:38] - Call to Worship
- [12:24] - Opening Prayer
- [13:24] - Personal Story of Faith
- [32:27] - The Drift from Church
- [35:25] - Statistics on Church Attendance
- [37:03] - The Challenge and Opportunity
- [40:35] - Jesus Sends the 70
- [41:23] - The Message of Peace
- [42:42] - Evangelism with Humility
- [45:55] - Building Relationships
- [46:43] - Sharing Your Story
- [50:08] - The Call to Action
- [52:57] - Prayer and Commitment

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 10:1-12 (The Sending of the Seventy)
- Matthew 9:37-38 (The Harvest is Plentiful)

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the primary mission Jesus gave to the 70 disciples when He sent them out? How does this relate to the concept of evangelism discussed in the sermon? [40:35]

2. According to the sermon, what are the two key things the disciples were to carry with them on their mission? [41:23]

3. How does the sermon describe the current state of church attendance and spiritual curiosity in society? [37:03]

4. What specific actions does the sermon suggest we take to engage with those who are curious about faith? [50:08]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the story of the 70 disciples challenge the traditional view of evangelism as merely converting others? What does it suggest about the nature of building relationships? [42:42]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that humility plays a role in effective evangelism? How might this humility be demonstrated in our interactions with others? [41:23]

3. The sermon mentions the importance of sharing personal stories of faith. Why might personal stories be more impactful than doctrinal arguments in today's context? [46:43]

4. How does the sermon interpret the phrase "the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few"? What implications does this have for the church's mission today? [42:42]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own story of faith. How would you articulate why you continue to follow Jesus and what keeps you connected to the church? [47:40]

2. Identify someone in your life who is curious about spirituality. What steps can you take this week to engage them in a meaningful conversation about faith? [51:53]

3. The sermon emphasizes starting with prayer when engaging with others. How can you incorporate prayer into your daily routine to prepare for opportunities to share your faith? [50:08]

4. Consider a time when you felt discouraged by declining church attendance. How can the sermon’s message of hope and opportunity change your perspective? [37:03]

5. What are some practical ways you can serve alongside others in your community to build genuine relationships? How might these relationships open doors for sharing your faith story? [45:55]

6. The sermon suggests that humility is key in evangelism. What is one area in your life where you can practice humility this week, especially in your interactions with others? [41:23]

7. How can you be more proactive in inviting others to explore faith with you, especially those who may not currently attend church? What specific actions can you take to extend such invitations? [52:57]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Spiritual Curiosity
In a world where traditional religious engagement is declining, there is a growing curiosity about spirituality among those who identify as non-religious or non-practicing Christians. This curiosity presents a unique opportunity for the church to engage with individuals who have questions and are open to exploring faith. By recognizing and embracing this curiosity, the church can create spaces for meaningful conversations and spiritual exploration. It is essential to approach these opportunities with openness and a willingness to listen, allowing for genuine connections to form. [37:03]

"Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!" (1 Chronicles 16:11, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life is showing signs of spiritual curiosity, and how can you create a space for them to explore their questions about faith?


Day 2: Sharing Peace Through Genuine Relationships
The example of Jesus sending out the 70 disciples highlights the importance of humility and personal stories in engaging with others. The disciples were not sent with a mandate to convert but to share peace and build genuine relationships. This approach is crucial today as we seek to connect with those who have questions about faith. By focusing on building authentic relationships, we can create an environment where individuals feel safe to explore their spiritual journey. [40:35]

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally build a genuine relationship with someone who is curious about faith, and what steps can you take to share peace with them?


Day 3: The Power of Personal Faith Stories
Sharing personal stories of faith is essential for inviting others into the journey of faith. Understanding why we continue to follow Jesus and what keeps us connected to the church is crucial for effective evangelism. By sharing our experiences and the transformative power of our faith, we can inspire others to explore their spiritual path. It is important to be authentic and vulnerable in sharing our stories, allowing others to see the impact of faith in our lives. [46:43]

"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: What is one personal story of faith that you can share with someone this week, and how can you present it in a way that is authentic and inspiring?


Day 4: Humility and Service in Evangelism
Evangelism is about engaging with others in humility, listening to their questions, sharing meals, and serving together. This approach fosters genuine relationships and opens the door for meaningful conversations about faith. By serving others and meeting their needs, we demonstrate the love of Christ in action. It is through these acts of service and humility that we can create opportunities for spiritual growth and exploration. [50:08]

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you can serve someone in your community this week, and how can this act of service open the door for a conversation about faith?


Day 5: Stepping Out in Faith
We are called to be laborers in the harvest, to step out and engage with those around us, sharing the transformative power of our faith stories. This requires us to be proactive in building relationships and inviting others to explore faith with us. By stepping out in faith, we can create opportunities for spiritual growth and transformation in the lives of those we encounter. It is important to be intentional and courageous in our efforts to share the love of Christ with others. [52:57]

"And he said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" (Luke 10:2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one step of faith you can take this week to engage with someone who is open to exploring faith, and how can you invite them to join you on this journey?

Quotes


And for the most part, after we graduated college, all of us became involved in a church community at some level. But probably around year five, everyone stopped going to church. The only people of the ten of us, who now 20 years out, are still involved in a church community, and that's Carrie. Three of us are clergy, and one of us is married to a pastor. [00:32:42] (26 seconds)


And once they got away, it was easy to stay away, easy to find reasons not to go back. And I can... almost guarantee that all of us in this room know someone or have children or grandchildren who that story sounds very familiar for. They grew up in church, and then maybe something big happened, maybe nothing happened at all, and they just kind of drifted away. [00:33:55] (32 seconds)


And when we look at that, when we look around our church, when we look at our world, it's really easy to become discouraged. It's really easy to say, well, what went wrong? Where did things change? Where did, where is the world going? Because even if you look at my group of friends, it seems like they did everything right. [00:36:16] (28 seconds)


And so when Jesus sends out the 70, he's sending them out into a world very similar to our own. Not a world full of people who don't believe anything, but a world of people who have a lot of questions, who want to learn and to grow. And Valerie was right. She told the boys that Jesus told them to take nothing. [00:40:13] (31 seconds)


Evangelism isn't about going out and finding people who agree. It's not even about going out and finding people who believe. It's about going out and finding people who have questions. It's about going out and finding people who want to explore. And then exploring with them with a sense of humility. [00:42:38] (25 seconds)


And you go and you stay in the place that is promoting peace. Jesus doesn't say, go into the house, and as everybody believes immediately the way you believe, you stay there. He says, go out and say, peace be upon this house. And if the person there is promoting peace, stay. Stay. [00:41:47] (21 seconds)


If you want people to come to church. If you want people to know Jesus. You have to be able to answer the question, what keeps you coming to church? I love or like my church because. I am a follower of Jesus because. You can't share your story if you don't know your story. [00:47:50] (27 seconds)


And if we cannot tell our story, how can we expect anyone else to want it? How can we expect anyone else to want it? How can we expect anyone else to want it? Begin with prayer. That's what Jesus tells us that we need to do. Begin with prayer. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, so pray that God would send laborers out into the harvest. [00:49:13] (32 seconds)


And when the time is right, when you have built a relationship, when things are coming together, when there is trust, when there is love, share your story. Why are you a follower of Jesus? Only 21 % of active church members, invite someone to church in a year. Which is one out of almost four. [00:50:43] (29 seconds)


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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?