Share Your Story Discipleship Cycle
Read John 4:1-42
As soon as the Samaritan woman in John 4 encountered Jesus and turned from her old life, her immediate next step was to tell her whole community what Jesus had done for her. Part of what it means to follow Jesus is to tell our story of what Jesus has done for us.
How do you feel about sharing parts of your life with others?
Go and do
One of the ways that our friends learn about Jesus is through hearing the story of how he has impacted our lives. For many of them, your friendship with them might be their only reminder of God. When we share about what God is doing in our lives it gives them a glimpse at what relationship with Jesus looks like. For this reason, we are going to learn to share that story with others.
Pick one of the options below and take a few minutes to reflect and write down the answers to the following questions. Then synthesize your reflections into a clear story.
OPTION 1 - What has God done in your life lately
- What is something that Jesus has done for you in the last couple months? How have you recognized God’s presence in your life?
- Where have you experienced forgiveness, healing, or provision? If it is appropriate, get into specifics.
- Has God shown you any signs of his love for you? How did you recognize those things? How did that impact you?
OPTION 2 - How did you become a follower of Jesus?
- Before: Describe your life before encountering Jesus and choosing to follow him. How did you define yourself? (Before following Jesus, people often find their value through their family, their success, their hobbies, friends, etc).
- Jesus: How did you recognize Jesus pursuing you and getting involved in your life? How has God’s love changed how you view yourself? How are you different?
- Today: How has being embraced into God’s family and following Jesus shaped how you live and how you see your future?
FINAL STEP: Go back to your Network Map from the exercise we did together on week 1 and look over the people you know who are not following Jesus. Who will you share your testimony with this week? You’ve prepared a story to share, now make a plan for who you’ll share it with and when and where you’ll share it. We want to challenge you to stretch yourself and to share what the Lord has done in your life with three of your friends this week!
Reflect on what you learned
- What was it like to remember what the Lord has done for you and share it with others?
- What do you think would happen in your friendships if you shared what the Lord is doing in your life more often?
- Is there anything you would have done differently?
