#1006. Go and tell what Jesus has done for you (7/3/24)

This week in our devotions in Luke we reflect upon Jesus’ power over creation (verses 22-39); His power over dark forces (verses 26-39); finally, we see His power over sickness and death (40-56). May we be inspired to see the glory of Christ so as to deepen our faith and step out in faith. Today, we see that as we witness Jesus’ work in our lives and around us, this is to be shared with those who don’t know Christ. 

Lesson: Whatever Jesus has done for us is testimony to be shared. 

You can listen to this devotional below (It’s also available on Spotify on the Community Church Putney podcast) 

Many people, myself included, feel that they are not very good evangelists. They feel very incapable and intimidated at the thought of answering people’s questions adequately. However, today’s text tells us the very simple truth that we can share our story. Most of us could never explain how a plane works but we can tell people about a holiday we’ve had that involved getting on a plane; likewise, we may not be able to answer people complex questions but we can tell them what Jesus has done for us. 

What has Jesus done for you? We can tell them our story of coming to faith. We can tell them how He’s helped us and answered prayer. We can tell the simple story of the gospel which, we are told, has power to save. Most of us could say very little about the biology of the human body, but we are all capable of telling why we love someone; likewise, we can all speak about the God that we love even if we can’t explain deep philosophical and scientific ideas. Like Jesus to the man in our narrative, Peter tells us a very similar thing:

Are we prepared to give the reason for the hope we have? What would you say to someone as to why you are a Christian? Are you ready to share your testimony? A simple approach is to ensure that you can say the gospel in a clear and concise fashion. Secondly, ensure that your are ready to tell your testimony in less than one minute including the ideas of:

Before - What was life like before coming to Christ?

How - What was the process of your conversion? (Include the gospel in this)

After - How has Jesus changed your life, maybe include a specific incident of how He’s helped. 

If you’ve grown up in a Christian home, that’s great and is a part of your story but you may want to major on the ‘after’ section and how Jesus has helped you in life. 

Response

Whatever Jesus has done for us is testimony to be shared. Are you ready, prepared and believing that you can, ‘tell how much God has done for you’? This narrative makes it clear that Jesus is interested in your salvation and healing, but this is not just for us, it is to be shared with others as He leads. 

COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY - SIV WEEK

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.

Please ensure that the members of your group are aware and familiar with using the daily devotionals which is accessed in Church News or the 'Teaching' button on the website. 

2. Icebreaker

How has God been speaking to you from His Word, or maybe from our week of prayer, this week and how has this helped you? (Again, as with last week, this parable of the lamp on a stand, that we are looking at today, is very much linked with knowing and doing God’s Word).

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

Previously, in chapter 8, Luke used The Parable of the Soils, The Parable of the Lamp on a Stand, and His teaching about His family, to teach us about how we are to love His Word and seek to put it into practice. Now, in Luke 8:22-56, he gives us 3 accounts that are applications of this.

Firstly, we see Jesus’ power over creation (verses 22-39); 

Secondly, His power over dark powers (verses 26-39); 

Finally, we see His power over sickness and death (40-56). 

In response, may we ask, 'Who then is this, that [these things] obey Him?' and move to a place of deeper faith and greater obedience. 

This week is SIV (Serve, Invest and inVite) week and so we will focus on how this text teaches us about how we are to seek to bring our community to Jesus. 

What is SIV? 

SIV stands for Serve, Invest, and Invite. This is our very simple strategy to help bring our community to Jesus. We believe that God has placed us in relationships and in specific locations to be 'salt and light.' and to ‘fish for people’.  We can effectively bring people to Jesus by 'Serving' them - demonstrating the love of Christ in practical ways; by 'Investing' in the people to whom we feel the Spirit is leading us; and by 'Inviting' them into our homes by showing hospitality and inviting them to church events, to Alpha, and ultimately, inviting them to come to Jesus through the gospel. 

Please read Luke 8:22-56

1. These incidents that reveal Jesus power over creation, demons, sickness and death are to fill us with awe and confidence. How should such a vision of God help us as we seek to witness to people? 

2. After setting the man free from demonic possession, He is told, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” What are the various stories that we could tell in regard to what Jesus has done for us?

3. We are told, ‘So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.’ How have you been serving, investing and inviting recently - what stories do you have to share? 

4. Who, in your community, are you regularly praying for to come to Christ?

5. Do you have any plans for how you plan to serve, invest and invite in the places and to the people that God has given to you? Why not make a note so that you can pray and hold yourself accountable? 

6. Are you planning to do anything together as a group?

7. Our passage from Luke makes it clear that it’s Jesus will to reveal His glory to us and to others. Let's pray for ourselves and our community together. Let's pray for the particular people that God is putting on your heart. Let's pray for the Holy Spirit to empower and direct us in how to Serve, Invest and Invite.