Listening To Hope

Stepping Into God’s Story in the Life of a Friend

Feb 14, 2010

by Steve Hawthorne

notes by Geno Hildebrandt

Lesson: We are called to follow Jesus in seeking those far from God.  We should look for those that are looking for answers or for God or for something more.  We should also recognize that we are stepping into an ongoing God-story in the life of someone else. Our purpose is help them reach out toward God in faith by telling attractive truth.

Texts: Luke 19:1-10  Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.

Ice-Breakers:

1. Steve opened his talk by asking why ‘seeking’ was an important concept in Luke 19:10.  There were many answers given from the congregation.  How would you respond to that query?

2. When you think of ‘Evangelism’ what images come to mind?  Are they positive?  What images do you think come to the minds of your unbelieving friends?

Background:

Steve used the story of Zaccheus in Luke 19 to discuss how we should approach the whole matter of Evangelism.  In it he noticed that Jesus came seeking those who were already seeking something or someone themselves.  He noted that Jesus did away with the standard us/them, insider/outsider categories by going to the home of Zaccheus and staying with the most oppressive sinner in the region.

By calling Zaccheus a ‘son of Abraham’ Jesus was noting that this man was a member of the community by virtue of his identity.  But Jesus was perhaps also pointing to a ‘long story’ in which Abraham was called to be blessed and to be a blessing to others.  When Zaccheus gave away half of his possessions and returned four times what he had stolen from others the entire community was in shock at their good fortune.

This intersection of the ‘long story’ of God’s work to bless all the families of the earth and the personal story of Zaccheus forms a framework for understanding how we can engage those around us with really good news.  Before going to the home of Zaccheus Jesus healed a blind beggar at the gate.  Jesus had asked him, ‘What do you want?’  Then Jesus taught him how to pray and said ‘your faith has made you whole.’

Steve exhorted Hope Chapel to become a congregation of ‘Sensitive Seekers’—people who become sensitized to the needs of others through prayer, seeking to join God’s story in their lives and pray in blessing, to “pray our way into their story.”

Steve taught us to:

• Focus on the unfolding story of their lives
• Recognize what God has already done in their lives
• Anticipate what God will do in their lives
• Major on God’s love and desire, becoming one who loves
• Learn to count on God working in love and power, becoming one who believes
• Remember Romans 2:14 that the kindness of God leads people to repentance

Finally, Steve used the booklet Seek God for the City to teach us how to become people who Pray, Care and Share with/for others.

Digging Deeper:

1. Read Luke 19:1-10 out loud.  How does the story of Zaccheus serve as a model for evangelism?  How does this modulate your own ideas/experiences with evangelism?
2. Steve said he set out to save the word ‘save’.  How does the word ‘salvation’ tend to alienate people today?  How can the word be redeemed?
3. Read I Timothy 2:1-6 out loud.  What is Paul urging here?  Steve taught that God does not crush our will in order to save us.  How does God woo us?
4. Read II Corinthians 5:18-6:2 out loud.  What is the ministry of reconciliation and how does that intersect with the story of Zaccheus?
5. How can we begin to recognize the work of God in the lives of people we know that are far from God?  How can we come to know the ‘long story’ of God’s activity in these lives?
6. How can we begin to get involved in praying for people we know that are far from God?  How do you do this?
7. Do you agree with Steve that we need to become ‘sensitive seekers?

Wrap Up:

• Make a short list of people that are ‘Far from God but close to you.’  Record this list on page 19 of Seek God for the City booklet.
• Use Seek God for the City to pray for people that are far from God.  See especially page 22.  On Prayer, Care and Sharing see pages18-19, 28-29 and 38-39

Reach Out:

• Look for ways to care for people far from God but close to you.
• Make plans to go to your friends to initiate conversation about God’s good work in their lives.  Seek to join God by praying for your friend and encouraging their own faith.