GAME-CHANGER with special guest Lee Strobel (LIVE) - November 2, 2025

Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount—“You are the salt of the earth… you are the light of the world”—are not just ancient metaphors, but a living call to each of us today. Salt makes people thirst for God; light brings hope, grace, and truth into the world’s darkness. The challenge is to become spiritual game changers in our families, neighborhoods, workplaces, and beyond. This isn’t about being perfect or having all the answers, but about living lives that point others to Christ through authenticity, prayer, and courageous love.

The journey of being salt and light is an unexpected adventure. When we are motivated, available, and prepared to share Jesus, God brings opportunities—sometimes in the most surprising ways—to have spiritual conversations that can change lives and eternities. Even our mistakes and awkward moments can become open doors for the gospel when we are willing to step out in faith.

Prayer is foundational. Before we talk to our neighbors about God, we must talk to God about our neighbors. Jesus modeled persistent, compassionate prayer—even for those who crucified Him. We are called to pray consistently and expectantly for those who seem far from God, never giving up, trusting that God is at work even when we see no visible progress.

We must also create safe spaces for questions and doubts. Jesus never shamed sincere seekers; He welcomed their questions and pointed them to evidence and truth. Our role is not to debate, but to dialogue—to listen, to walk alongside, and to help others find answers. Apologetics is not about winning arguments, but about removing obstacles so people can encounter the real Jesus.

God uses all kinds of people and personalities. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to sharing our faith. Whether you are direct, intellectual, relational, invitational, testimonial, or serving, God can use your unique wiring to reach others. The key is authenticity—being real, not projecting false piety or perfection, but letting others see Christ in us, especially in our struggles and scars.

Ultimately, people are watching to see if our actions match our words. Integrity, gentleness, and genuine care open hearts far more than clever arguments. Sometimes, the greatest evidence for Christ is a community of believers who simply love well. As we live out our faith with courage and compassion, we become the salt and light Jesus envisioned—game changers for His kingdom.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Persistent, Compassionate Prayer Changes Eternities Jesus prayed for those who crucified Him, modeling a relentless, grace-filled intercession. We are called to pray consistently and expectantly for those who seem far from God, refusing to give up even when years pass without visible change. Our prayers may be the unseen force that softens hearts and opens doors for the gospel. Who have you stopped praying for, and what might God do if you start again? [46:05]
• 2. Authenticity Is More Powerful Than Perfection People are not looking for flawless Christians, but for real ones—those whose actions match their words, who are honest about their struggles, and who love with integrity. Hypocrisy repels, but authenticity attracts, especially for those wounded by religious pretense. When we are genuine, we become living evidence that Jesus is real and that His grace is for everyone. [79:32]
• 3. God Uses Your Unique Personality and Style You don’t have to imitate someone else’s method of sharing faith. Whether you are direct like Peter, intellectual like Paul, relational like Matthew, invitational like the Samaritan woman, testimonial like the blind man, or serving like Tabitha, God can use your natural wiring. The most effective witness comes when you share Jesus in a way that fits who He made you to be. [67:23]
• 4. Safe Spaces for Questions Lead to Transformation Jesus welcomed doubters and seekers, never shaming sincere questions but offering evidence and hope. We are called to create environments where people can wrestle with doubts without fear of rejection. Sometimes, the journey to faith is less about having all the answers and more about being a safe, listening presence who helps others find their way to Jesus. [53:43]
• 5. Courage for Christ Leaves No Regrets At the end of life, what matters most is not the risks we avoided, but the moments we were courageous for Christ. Sharing our faith can be intimidating, but we will never regret the times we took the spiritual path, even if it felt awkward or costly. Eternity is changed when we step out in faith, trusting God to use our words and actions for His glory. [43:44]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [32:53] - Opening Stories and Humor
• [36:11] - The Call to Be Salt and Light
• [37:26] - The Unexpected Adventure of Faith
• [39:28] - Cracker Barrel Story: Spiritual Conversations
• [41:31] - How Evangelism Transforms Our Spiritual Life
• [42:44] - Lessons from Luis Palau: Courage for Christ
• [44:45] - What If Jesus Lived in Your House?
• [45:14] - The Power of Persistent Prayer
• [47:00] - Testimonies of Answered Prayer
• [51:34] - Creating Safe Spaces for Questions
• [55:50] - The Role of Apologetics and Evidence
• [57:06] - The Great Debate: Faith vs. Atheism
• [01:02] - Dialogue, Not Debate: Building Relationships
• [01:04] - Authenticity and Six Styles of Evangelism
• [01:11] - Finding Your Unique Evangelism Style
• [01:15] - The Warning: Integrity and Hypocrisy
• [01:17] - Maggie’s Story: The Power of Real Faith
• [01:21] - Representing Jesus to the World
• [01:24] - The Impact of Authentic Community

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV) — > “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
> “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Luke 7:22 (ESV) — > “And he answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.’”

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) — > “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.”

Observation Questions

1. In Matthew 5:13-16, what does Jesus say is the purpose of being “salt” and “light” in the world? What are the results when salt loses its saltiness or when light is hidden?
2. According to the sermon, what are some practical ways that being “salt” and “light” can show up in our everyday lives? ([37:05])
3. In the story of John the Baptist’s doubts (Luke 7:22), how does Jesus respond to sincere questions and doubts? ([53:43])
4. What does 1 Peter 3:15 say about how we should answer people’s questions about our faith? What attitude should we have?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose the metaphors of salt and light to describe his followers? What do these images communicate about our role in the world? ([36:46])
2. The sermon says that authenticity is more powerful than perfection. Why might people be more drawn to “real” Christians than to those who seem flawless? ([01:19:32])
3. The speaker describes six different styles of sharing faith (direct, intellectual, testimonial, relational, invitational, serving). Why is it important to recognize and use your own unique style rather than copying someone else? ([01:07:23])
4. Jesus welcomed questions and doubts, even from someone as important as John the Baptist. What does this teach us about how we should respond to people who are struggling with faith or have tough questions? ([53:43])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to pray persistently and compassionately for people who seem far from God. Is there someone you have stopped praying for? What would it look like to start praying for them again this week? ([49:34])
2. Think about your own life: Are there areas where your actions and words don’t match up? How might you grow in authenticity so that others see the real Jesus in you, even in your struggles? ([01:19:32])
3. Which of the six evangelism styles (direct, intellectual, testimonial, relational, invitational, serving) do you most identify with? How could you use your natural style to point someone to Jesus in the next month? ([01:07:23])
4. Have you ever created a “safe space” for someone to ask questions or express doubts about faith? What could you do to make your home, workplace, or small group a place where people feel comfortable being honest? ([53:43])
5. The speaker shared a story about a woman who prayed for her brother for nine years before he came to faith. What keeps you going (or tempts you to give up) when you don’t see immediate results from your prayers or efforts? ([49:02])
6. When was the last time you took a risk to share your faith or show courageous love, even if it felt awkward or costly? What happened, and what did you learn from that experience? ([43:44])
7. The story of Maggie shows that people are watching to see if Christians are genuine. Who in your life might be watching you right now? What is one practical way you can show them the love and integrity of Jesus this week? ([01:21:32])