WEEK 1 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

How to share your faith without ruining your Thanksgiving

Introduction:

As Thanksgiving approaches, you are likely to be surrounded by a few (or maybe many) family members who you would love to see trust in Christ. However, when conversations about the Savior come up, it can quickly turn into an argument. Both sides run down rabbit trails and talk over each other to prove their points, leading to everybody leaving the discussion frustrated. How can you avoid this? How can you share the most important message you’ve ever received with someone you dearly care about – without it becoming an argument?

Bottom line:

Something To Talk About:

Treasure Jesus: One of our primary responsibilities as Christians is to be witnesses for Jesus. After Christ’s resurrection, He charged His disciples with the Great Commission: “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15). Perhaps one of the greatest ways to witness is through treasuring Jesus by reflecting His love. After all, “God is love” (1 John 4:8), so when we show love to others, we show them God. Jesus taught His disciples, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35). Displaying genuine love for others makes you an effective witness and that you treasure God. The foundation of an effective witness for Christ is intimate communion with the Lord. You can enjoy that fellowship through prayer, worship, and meditating on Bible scriptures. The goal is to know God better as He imparts His nature and character to you. Eventually, you will reach a point where you will want to share the good news with others.
Answer questions without being a doofus, jerk or hypocrite: When sharing your faith, it’s crucial to be prepared to answer questions that may arise, as people will likely have inquiries about your beliefs, and being ready to respond thoughtfully and respectfully is key to effective communication about your faith; this aligns with the Bible verse 1 Peter 3:15, which encourages believers to “always be prepared to answer everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” The “how “ you share your faith is important. It is important not to come off as a doofus, a jerk, or a hypocrite—key points to remember when answering questions about your faith without being arrogant, condescending, or aloof. First, listen actively: Listen to the person’s questions and concerns and understand their perspective before responding. Secondly, be respectful and gentle. Avoid being forceful or condescending, even if you disagree with someone’s viewpoint. Third, share personal experiences: Explain how your faith has impacted your life to make your beliefs relatable. And last, be honest about uncertainties. If you don’t have an immediate answer, acknowledge that you can do further research and get back to them.

Discussion Questions:

Is it harder or easier to share your faith on a holiday?
What unique challenges do you face when sharing your faith with family members?
How can you demonstrate genuine love and care while still sharing your beliefs?
“How can we navigate potential conflict or resistance when witnessing to family?
What are some practical ways to integrate spiritual conversations into everyday family interactions?
Is it difficult to focus on the delicate balance of love, respect, and clear communication while sharing your faith within the family dynamic?
Why does the Bible emphasize the importance of sharing your faith with those closest to you?
How can witnessing to family members be a powerful testimony to your beliefs? How can you respond gracefully if a family member disagrees with your faith?
How can you listen actively and understand your family member’s perspectives before sharing your faith?
How do you avoid being judgmental or condescending when discussing your faith with your family?
How can you use shared experiences or life situations as a springboard to discuss spiritual matters with family?
How can you respond gracefully if a family member disagrees with your faith?

Take one thing home with you:

Witnessing the family: First, we must acknowledge the situation’s difficulty. Many Christians are baffled or puzzled by: Why is it so much harder to witness to family members than it is to next-door neighbors or coworkers? And I think they make the situation even more challenging by thinking, “This should be easy. These are the people that I know the most,” or the best. It can be more difficult for several reasons, so we need to be prepared when we step into these situations and find that they’re more complicated than we would have anticipated and that we’re not thrown off or lose our footing.

Mark 4 talks about planting seeds. We know how to plant seeds. But we do not know how the plants grow. We do not tell the plants what they must do. But each plant grows by itself. And it continues to grow until the new seeds are ready. It is God who causes the seeds to grow. So we may sow the seeds. God did the most important work. The seed is like God’s message. People must tell God’s message to other people. But only God can save someone. Only God can change a person’s life. These things are God’s work.