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Successful Way to Share your Faith

Wanted to hit few of the notes from my message last night on sharing faith.

Paul was speaking @ Areopagus Acts 17:16-34

How did Paul Share His Faith

  ·      Didn’t matter where he was, seized opportunity- He was hanging around waiting for Silas and Timothy

·      His spirit was provoked or troubled by what he saw

·      He was just being himself

·      He met the people where they were, on their turf- spoke to ALL people, both Jews and Gentiles.

·      He didn’t judge them because they didn’t know any better- What if Paul went in and said, “you guys are stupid, your following false gods, you guys are ignorant” would that have worked? No, ran them off and shut down.

·      He believed in what He spoke about

·      He wasn’t afraid

·      He made known what was unknown_ He explained God to them

·      He got people thinking- they said “we want to hear more about this later”

·      Didn’t win everyone to Christ- Not a perfect conversion rate, but still some believed! And that’s what matters, they were not all ready, they weren’t all in the same place in their journey of life.

God orchestrates this. We might just be a step in the process. The first or opening step, maybe the closing step. Just because you don’t win someone to Christ the first time doesn’t mean it was all for nothing.

8 Easy ways you can share your faith

·      Talk to people: Just talk, be friendly, be relational

·      Ask & Answer and Listen: open your mouth and also be an active listener, people want to tell their story. Listening also earns credibility

·      Be Selfless- it’s not all about us

·      Open your mind and your eyes to others, spiritually & literally (I see lots of Christians walk around w/ there heads down, avoiding other people, Ohh there so and so, let's keep walking…..be friendly, what if one of those people are going through a hard time or just need a friendly hello?

·      Visit different places- we are a people of habit, eat at the same places, visit same places, try a new one, expand yourself

·      Don’t be afraid- Listen to what Acts 18:9-11 says-  ⁹One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. ¹⁰For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." ¹¹So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God

·      If you have been a hypocrite, repent & ask for forgiveness- make it right w/ people- earns credibility. People wont care what you know until they know you care.

·      Ask and listen to the Holy Spirit- Act 19:21- says Paul was purposed or impelled to go to Macedonia

·      Be Yourself!! We have a lot in common w/ other humans. Don’t diminish that just because we attend church. We all feel pain the same way. 

·      Be yourself- Someone needs what you have. Some of you can't do what Pastor Mike does w/ the youth or reach students as some of our students can and so on and so on......

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Gideon

A few points about Gideon and Faith from a message I preached the other day. Judges 6&7≈

Gideon had 4 personal convo’s w/ God, 3 signs, a prophet-

• ·      God never got impatient w/ Gideon.-
• ·      Sometimes we go through life, not listening to God, we ignore him a little and we start thinking God is ready to drop us.
• ·      He is just the opposite, he is waiting and will hold your hand and walk you through your situation.

Gideon and his army carried no weapons-

• ·      God will protect you if you trust and obey him.
• ·      Even in your most hopeless, dark situations, you feel you’re up against and army- God will protect you.

Each subsequent convo w/ God we see Gideon’s willingness to yield himself to God and obey-

• ·      When we yield ourselves to God it opens the flood gates of heaven and victory is present.

Growth pattern of Gideon, every major step Gideon made took place following a convo w/ God-

• ·      Listen to what God is telling you, He will tell you your next step.
• I am the weakest of my tribe and the runt of my family-

• ·      God understands our weakness and infirmities and still uses us in spite of those things AND many times uses us because of our weakness.
• ·      He doesn’t want someone hotty, arrogant, self-made person, because chances are, they’ll take the Glory-
• ·      He wants the glory- and using us in our weakness gives Him the glory.

Gideon was afraid or fearful through this entire venture, all the way down until he ‘took the Midian camp’.

• ·      We can admit that we are afraid and still move forward in God's grace.
• ·      Even in fear, courage is possible and victory is assured as long as we have truly tuned in to God's command and plan for us.
• ·      Our faith can grow stronger in spite of fear as we trust God over our circumstances.

What did Gideon continue to do no matter what-

• ·      He ‘acted’ on His faith- that faith turned small faith steps into giant faith steps-
• ·      What if God showed Gideon the big picture and the end- sometimes we don’t even understand- our minds can’t comprehend it- Knowing Gideon, he would have ran some more.
• ·      We must do what we know what to do, and that is take the next step of action- we must always continue to ‘act’ on our faith.

The Lord saw Gideon for who he could become, a "mighty warrior" who could save his people.

• ·      All our failures, all the times we didn’t come through, all our experiences shaped us who we are today, AND God wants to use all of that for His glory.
• ·      Choose to see yourself  & others as God sees you.
• ·      We are not just an ordinary people; We are children of the living God

 www.ryancook.net

Tami- Wed Highlights

Our Lead pastors wife, Tami Miller, brought some heat Wednesday night. Here are a few thought provokers that stuck out about relationships w/ people.

• Are you involving God in every breath and heartbeat?
• 1 Thessalonians- Pray w/ out ceasing and in everything give thanks.
• Joy and thanksgiving- 2 keys to praying w/ out ceasing.
• Protect your thankfulness and don’t let circumstances steal your joy.
• Live out-loud, be who God made you- Do what only you can do.
• One action can ruin your entire testimony.
• When Jesus says to learn something, we should learn it.
• If the only time you have a relationship w/ God or other Christians is when you walk in these doors, it turns to religion.
• Make the most out of every opportunity.
• When our words dont line up w/ our lifestyle- there is destruction.
• Does your speech reflect God in your life?
• Seasoned w/ salt:

1. White= Pure = Pure Speech
2. Preservative
3. Flavor
4. Promotes Growth
5. Causes Thirst

• Make each conversation personalized. 

 www.ryancook.net