Sermon Based Small Group Lessons

iWitness

2008 March 16

Dr. Les Hughes, Senior Pastor

Meeting Schedule

1. Fellowship time & snacks

2. Share prayer requests

3. Pray (taking turns with short sentence prayers is good if group members are comfortable).

4. Begin the lesson.

a. Share the title (above)

b. Ask the Ice Breaker Question

c. Follow the guide, reading the Scripture and asking the questions.

Ice Breaker Questions

What do you fear most about the thought of telling someone else about Christ?

(New groups: Share your name and….question above)

Focus Scripture: Acts 4:1-22

Ask people to open their Bibles and read this passage again silently. Tell them to read the scripture and find one verse that really challenges them. Likely verses will be:

v. 12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by

which we must be saved."

v. 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary

men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

v. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you

rather than God. (20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

(If God does a work as people share, you may need to skip a few of the questions below.)

Digging for Truth

1. Pastor Les asked the question at the beginning of the message, “How much does your faith affect your life?” If we lived in a different day and time and you were on trial for being a follower of Christ, what evidence could the prosecution present as evidence of your belief?”

2. Did you struggle with the question about marriage? ; ) When asked about going to heaven, why do you think so many people today answer “I certainly hope so!” Why is there confusion on something that should be as simple as the married-single question?

3. Lesson #1 states, “If you have a true relationship with Jesus Christ, I know it.” What does 1 John 5:13 say to you about whether we can know for certain?

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13

(This might be a good time to share your testimony in Christ and how you “know for sure” that you have a relationship with Christ. Invite others in the group to share their salvation story. Tell the group if anyone is unsure, there is no time like tonight to nail it down. Invite them to talk with you after group.)

4. Lesson #2 states “True relationship with Jesus leads to life change.” Invite members to share about the person they know about who has had the greatest life change after following Christ.

5. Lesson #3 states “When a person becomes a witness, not everyone is pleased.” People usually don’t mind what private beliefs we hold, but when they become public people get uncomfortable. Do you struggle with any antagonists to your faith at work or in family?

Why does faith make people uncomfortable? (Possible answer: Because if it is true, then they bear responsibility for how they choose to live their lives.)

Have you noticed that you are under more scrutiny as a believer? Do people try to bring you down?

6. Lesson #4 states “If I’m a true iwitness, Jesus Christ does not embarrass me.” While that should be true, what comes to our minds when presented with a witnessing opportunity? What type of self-talk should we remember next time we have opportunities to witness? (Possible answers: people need the Lord, many people are hungry to hear, the Holy Spirit will give me the words - Luke 12:14-15)

Pastor Les gave illustrations of intelligent design and going to church. What types of situations will bring us opportunities to affirm the faith or keep silent? (possible answers: use of language, alcohol, witnessing, reading the Bible, basic integrity in business)

7. Lesson #5 states “If I’ve been an iWitness to what God has done in my life, I want others to experience the same thing.” This is similar to discovering a cure for cancer. If we’ve found something really wonderful, why would we want to hold on to it ourselves? Let’s think of some people we hope find Christ in the next year.

Encourage the group to write down their names and pray for them. Also look for opportunities to share Christ with them.

8. Lesson #6 states “iWitnesses can do more together then they can on their own.” Why do believers need one another?

What are some ways we in this group can encourage one another to share with the world what Christ has done in our lives?

Close in Prayer

Close in prayer asking God to help us to encourage one another, to give us a boldness to witness, and to give us such a love for others that we are truly concerned about their lives.