Starter
1) What’s so hard about talking about Jesus in work or placement? (5-7 mins, put ideas on a big piece of paper if you like)
Next, have someone read this out.
Christians are likely to have had a range of experiences when it comes to evangelism in general. Sometimes it just seems to flow: they ask an amazing question which opens up a whole conversation! But many other times, we sit on the truth not knowing how to blurt it, whisper it or even open up the topic.
Jesus is so very important to us but that’s half the point. He is so important that deep conversations, without the help of an evangelistic event or a flyer to give out, seem hard to come by with colleagues that we often don’t count as true friends.
And the other issue is that sometimes we just don’t want to. We’d rather keep our head down, get on and avoid the awkwardness of bringing up Jesus. In short, it would be honest to say we’ve been ashamed of him.
But we know there is a bigger picture than our comfort, popularity or ability to explain things. If God is Lord of All, then he’s lord of our conversation at work too. He’s placed us in the schools and unis we’re in, knowing who we’ll meet and he will already be working in the hearts of those around us.
God wants more people to be alongside us, safe for eternity and worshipping him on the final day. He invites us to be involved in what he is doing. So it’s never going in cold – there is always a story of faith. Our colleagues think more deeply than we often realise and the answer they are looking for is Jesus. It’s always him.
So what do we do? Well, read on, discuss further and let’s remind each other again of how speaking about Jesus is worth it.
Going Deeper
2) Let’s remind ourselves what is so good about the gospel. Have someone read this short passage out twice while you think about how these truths impact your own life.
2 Timothy 1:9-10
‘He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and had brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.’
3) What’s good about speaking about Jesus on placement or at work? (You could talk about the experience of talking or the hopes of what it will achieve)
Paul says this to Timothy just beforehand in the same passage.
2 Timothy 1:7-8
‘For the Spirit God gave us does make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.’
4) What encourages you to give speaking about Jesus another go from these verses? (5 mins)
5) It’s easy to be timid or scared of any potential ‘suffering’ but this is a way of life, powered by God. What are simple things we can do to invite conversation about God while at school? (5 mins, on big paper again if it helps).
Reflect
A simple but big prayer to pray on this is ‘God, give me opportunities today to speak about you, and help me to see them and use them’. It takes courage to pray this because we know God answers prayers!
6) Share an honest prayer request (either the one above or on anything else you’re feeling about evangelism) and prayer together in 2s or 3s.
Taking It Further
If you want to pray more on this, you could link up with LICC’s prayer journey, ‘Pray for Life’. You can access it on the Bible App, You Version Plan or get daily encouragements by email.
