01: Why witness? Discussion Starters
- Why witness? At the beginning of a new quarter of lessons, we are invited to think about how God’s love is the main reason we have a church family. Did you notice the perspective in the introduction to the lesson, that it’s not our job to save the world. That is the work of God. Our work is to cooperate with Him to help Him accomplish His purpose. At birth, we are given the desire for eternity. How can that concept help us realize the glorious challenge of being a witness of God’s great love for each one of us here on earth?
- Providing opportunities for salvation. If you don’t believe in God, you can’t call on His name. Can our friends who don’t know Jesus believe in Him? How can you and I participate with the Holy Spirit in turning a soul from certain and eternal death, not to mention the suffering and spiritual pain that goes along with a life drifting from God’s loving heart? Can you save someone for Jesus? What can you and I do for on a daily basis for His eternal kingdom?
- Making Jesus glad. There is plenty going on in this world to make Jesus weep and suffer intense pain for the sin that surrounds us. Is there any way that you and I can share with Him the joy and satisfaction we experience in serving Him? In the week that has just passed (or is rapidly passing), have you had even one opportunity to share your joy in Christ with someone? What is it about sharing our faith in God with another human being that makes God’s heart overflow with joy?
- Has the pandemic helped us? This isn’t in the lesson, of course, but have you felt a longing in your heart to take away the suffering and death from the pandemic we are enduring around the world? Hare you spent more time in prayer since this calamity arrived? Has God opened doors for you to witness to others even as you follow instructions to keep a “safe” distance from everyone else?
- Faithfulness to Christ’s command. The book of 2 Peter is short, but powerful. “The Lord,” God’s servant Peter declares, “is not slack concerning His promise” but wants everyone to follow God and come to repentance. Was Peter always faithful to Jesus in every respect? How did he find a deep experience as a follower of Jesus? Is an experience like Peter’s available to us today?
- Motivated by Love. Sometimes when things are quiet and you just need to think, ask yourself how the apostle Paul was willing, even eager, to suffer all kinds of hardships that were motivated by love. How much of your life’s decisions are in harmony with your love for God? How can you follow Paul’s life as told in Scripture and learn with him the joy of complete surrender to Jesus?
I think the question that’s on everyone’s mind these days is–how can we witness to people (especially strangers) through a mask from six feet away?
Rob I have been doing several Bible studies on FaceTime, Zoom, and Facebook Messenger video. I will be having a baptism when church opens back up here in July 18. There are many ways to keep our relationships going during this time including making friends for God.
I believe Covid is a blessing in disguise because I normally don’t see neighbors but Now we have a conversation and find out that they have a need that I can help with. I would post the Sabbath School lesson study and the sermons I heard on my Facebook page. In spite of Covid I also placed a track beside the driver on the bus or hand a tract to the cashiers when I go to the store.