The Journey of Many Mini Steps and Soul Barriers

Sermon Quick Summary
This message is the final step on our journey about taking many mini steps towards faith. Sometimes faith requires small consistent steps that draw us closer to God and God’s purpose for our life journey on earth. Faith is not always about great leaps. God specializes in making the impossible possible. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to evangelize and make disciples of others. God’s presence and love gives us the opportunity to continue to share our faith in the midst of ridicule, from unbelievers who have barriers to faith in their soul. Let us read our biblical scripture from John 3:18: “Whoever believes in Him in not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” The words for believe in the original Greek language mean continuing not to believe in Jesus; the word believe is not about a past act of unbelief that has ended by believing in Jesus. There are consequences to what you believe; Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, so we must be open to what Jesus is doing in our life journey. Even with unbelievers, followers of Christ must exhibit compassion and grace, rather than judgment. The model of our church in evangelism is known as B.L.E.S.S. The letter B means to begin with prayer. As we pray, we must pray for anyone God has placed on our hearts to share the Good News of God’s love. The letter L means to listen with care. We must continue to listen to what others say; patience with younger or older people with a long history of unbelief is critical. God can bless an unbelieving person and give them the opportunity to accept the love of God. The letter E means to eat together. Eating together builds a relationship towards sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, as the disciples then wait and watch God. Patience is important because the move from unbelief to faith is not on our timeline as Christians, but God will bless on God’s timeline. The first letter S means to serve in love. As disciples of Jesus, we serve in love and empathy for unbelievers.  As we share our faith and our story of what God has done for us, we always operate out of love for other people, whether they are a friend or foe. The second letter S means to share your story. When you share your story, you communicate why you have faith in what you believe. You stand on the biblical Word of God that you know to be true. In communication with unbelievers you convey the truth of God’s revelation of God’s Heart, God’s Will and God’s Way.      

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FAMILY GROUPS          
God specializes in making the impossible possible.
-What are some ways that God blesses people even when all hope seems to be lost?
God’s presence and love gives us the opportunity to continue to share our faith in the midst of ridicule, from unbelievers who have barriers to faith in their soul
-How do you prevent yourself from telling lies about God even with religious fervor that you swear are the truth?
Let us read our biblical scripture from John 3:18
-In what ways does John 3:18 most resonate with you in understanding more about Jesus and how Jesus responded to soul barriers of unbelievers?
-In following the model of Jesus’ ministry on earth, how must you engage with those who, through unbelief, close themselves off to faith?
Even with unbelievers, followers of Christ must exhibit compassion and grace, rather than judgment.
-While avoiding judgment, how do you exhibit compassion and grace? Why is this compassion and grace so important to engage with those who close themselves off to faith?
The letter B means to begin with prayer.
-Why is it important for a follower of Jesus to pray for an unbeliever when we communicate with God in prayer?
-Who has God placed on your heart for sharing the Good News of God’s love as you begin with praying for that unbeliever?
The letter L means to listen with care.
-Why is it important to listen to God in your prayer?
-As the next step, why is it important for you to also listen to an unbeliever?
The letter E means to eat together.
-In what instances have you experienced a closer relationship with another person from eating together?
-How can eating a meal together lead to a relationship of caring for the other person with love, empathy, and willingness to hear the story of the other person?
The first letter S means to serve in love. 
-Jesus directed us to love our enemies. What are the various ways describing how you serve in love another person even though they may be an enemy or a foe?
The second letter S means to share your story.
-See Zechariah 8: 16-17 as one example of repeated declarations throughout the bible of declaring truth to each other. In sharing your story, what practices best help you in sharing with an unbeliever the divine revelation of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, not lies about God that you falsely claim are the truth.