“A Word from our Founder”
Dan Davis • Hope Chapel • April 11, 2010
Notes by Cathy Tucek
Lesson—Be kind to people you meet. Your kindness may lead to discussions that allow you to pray for them out loud at that moment (having asked their permission).
Text(s)— Philippians 4:2-8
Ice-Breaker Questions
- Has anyone that you’ve met for the first time (outside of church activities) ever asked to pray for you at that moment and done so? How did it impact you?
Background—Dan said “I began to sense that God literally has a miracle that he’s given to us to deliver each day. I realized I have never led one single person to the Lord - and neither have you - the Holy Spirit has. Most times when he says things to me, it’s very inconvenient for me. Most times if I can listen, I realize I have something wonderful to say to someone.
“We talk about discipling as” only: “reading the Bible, Quiet Time, praying, serving the Church. None of them are a measure of whether you’re a disciple or not. It’s whether you look like Jesus…In discipling, we sometimes don’t take the time to correct…the word discipline is in the word. Those correctives need to happen.” Philippians 4:8 says “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Dan continued “In a culture in which there is a lot of meanness and sarcasm, let the landscape of your mind be reordered by these qualities…It’s important to pray, read your Bible...all of this needs to take place in the context of a mind that has been reshaped by the Holy Spirit.”
“When we are kind, gentle, and willing to listen to the Holy Spirit and to look for the opportunity to invite the Holy Spirit into the conversation,” lives are changed. “And most of the time, it’s through prayer. Cultivate the capacity for “praying out loud” for someone in their presence.” Say “ ‘The most loving thing I could do for you is pray for you. Could I pray for you?’ I’ve never had anyone say ‘No.’ ” This is being a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Digging Deeper
- Have you ever felt that because of your irritability or hurry that you have been inconsiderate to the people you are meeting at the check out stand or the ball game or in the parking lot, etc.? How difficult is it to regain your standing as a gracious follower of Christ? How does it impact your thoughts of sharing your testimony of Christ with them?
- Dan mentioned that most of the times that the Holy Spirit has impressed him to speak to a person he has just met with a word of encouragement or kindness, it is frequently inconvenient (doesn’t fit his schedule). Do you find this to be true for you? What interferes with our “taking the time”?
Wrap-Up—In pairs, pray for one another to be available to the Holy Spirit when out and about in daily life. Confess your areas of weakness and ask God to cause you to become more like Christ in regards to kindness, gentleness, peacefulness, patience and self-control in your dealings with those around you.
Outreach/Mission—Look for an opportunity this week to speak a kindness to a stranger, take a moment to listen, and then step out and say ““The most loving thing I could do for you is pray for you. Could I pray for you?” |
