Series: Unshaken
Sermon: Why Should I Tell Others?

Main Idea: Good news requires a messenger. We have the best news of all, and our message has to get out.

Purpose: Introduce topic and get the group talking.

1. Share a recent experience of getting great news that benefitted or encouraged you.

Purpose: Observe the passage and interact with the text

2. Read Romans 10:9-15. According to these verses, what is necessary for salvation? List as many things that Paul says as you can find.

3. A famous quote (usually attributed to St. Francis of Assisi) says, “Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” React to that quote in light of what Paul says in Romans 10:9-15.

Purpose: Connect observations in God’s Word with observations in our world today.

4. It’s common to hear people say that faith should be a “private” matter, something between you and God and not something to be shared. What do you think motivates people to hold such a view?

5. Romans 10:9-15 makes it clear that the only way to salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ. What challenges does this message face in our culture today?

Purpose: Internalize God’s Word and apply the truth to your personal life.

6. When you think about sharing your faith with others, what is the most intimidating aspect of it for you personally? How could you push through that?

7. Where has God “sent” you (Romans 10:15) to share the good news of Jesus with others? What obstacles do you face in carrying that out?

8. The Bible says that we are all considered/commissioned to live as “missionaries”. How does that make you feel? How could the thought that you are a “missionary” provide you motivation to share about Jesus with others?

Purpose: Spend time listening for God’s for direction and guidance as you seek to live out the truths of this passage in your everyday life.

9. Share an opportunity you’ve had to share your faith or invite someone to church (i.e. to hear Nick Foles or other church services/events). How does this encourage you to invite someone to Easter services, or Good Friday?

10. If you have been through Rooted, you might remember the “Share Experience”, which is designed as an opportunity to share your faith (your story) with someone that doesn’t know Jesus. Here are the steps that we use to help encourage people towards this:

1) Pray about who God might be leading you to
2) Pursue a conversation with them (ideally over a meal or coffee)
3) Get to know more of their story
4) Seek an opportunity to share your story with Jesus as the hero.

Spend some time in silent prayer asking God who he might be leading you to. Listen in silence to see if a name comes to mind. Talk with God about what it might look like to pursue a conversation with that person.

Allow your group to share what it was like to ask God these questions. Share anything that came to mind. Close in prayer for each other as you seek to be faithful to God’s leading this week.

Purpose: Introduce topic and get the group talking.

1. Share a recent experience of getting great news that benefitted or encouraged you.

This question is intended to get people discussing the idea of receiving something great. Encourage the group to have fun with this question!

Purpose: Observe the passage and interact with the text

2. Read Romans 10:9-15. According to these verses, what is necessary for salvation? List as many things that Paul says as you can find.

– Believe the resurrection and proclaim the Lordship of Jesus
– People must be sent and the Gospel must be preached so that people can hear and believe
– Regarding the word “Justified” here – The affirmation/confession is not a “work” that merits justification, but more of a confession or expression of an inward faith. It often confirms that faith to the speaker himself/herself.

Purpose: Connect observations in God’s Word with observations in our world today.

3. A famous quote (usually attributed to St. Francis of Assisi) says, “Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” React to that quote in light of what Paul says in Romans 10:9-15.

The sentiment behind the quote is good: we must live out what we profess to believe. But this quote is also directly counter to this passage – it IS necessary to use words to explain and profess the gospel. (v. 14 – how can they hear without someone preaching?)

4. It’s common to hear people say that faith should be a “private” matter, something between you and God and not something to be shared. What do you think motivates people to hold such a view?

– We have FEAR of alienating people – what you believe is between you and God
– Being seen as intolerant
– Preaching that Jesus is the only way to God can be offensive and exclusive

5. Romans 10:9-15 makes it clear that the only way to salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ. What challenges does such a message face in our culture today?

– We live in a culture of tolerance. Exclusive language is offensive. The Gospel is actually offensive to people who want to think that faith is private, personal, and subjective. In our culture, faith and salvation seem nebulous.
– The conversation may lead to a discussion like: “How can God condemn those who haven’t heard?”
– “If God has a plan to save those of other religions, He has not seen fit to reveal it to us.” – Erwin Lutzer, Christ among other gods.

Purpose: Internalize God’s Word and apply the truth to your personal life.

6. When you think about sharing your faith with others, what is the most intimidating aspect of it for you personally? How do you think that you push through that?

– Fear of rejection, lack of knowledge/information, fear of being misunderstood, fear of looking intolerant.
– Give a simplistic tool to help people have a quick guide to what the essence of the Gospel.
– Reference/attached the Gospel in 4 statements. See also (if necessary) Week 2, Day 5 of Rooted.
– “I don’t have the gift of evangelism…but I am called to evangelize”- this statement sums up what many of us feel about sharing our faith – “isn’t it someone else’s job?”

7. Where has God “sent” you (Romans 10:15) to share the good news of Jesus with others? What obstacles do you face in carrying that out?

Often times, the places where we are sent by God are simply the places that we are – where we live, work, play, and study.

8. The Bible says that we are all considered/commissioned to live as “missionaries”. How does that make you feel? How could the thought that you are a “missionary” provide you motivation to share about Jesus with others?

See attachment -“Path of Salvation”

Purpose: Spend time listening for God’s direction and guidance as you seek to live out the truths of this passage in your everyday life.

9. Share an opportunity you’ve had to share your faith or invite someone to church (i.e. to hear Nick Foles or other church services/events)? How does this encourage you to invite someone to Easter services, or Good Friday?

10. If you have been through Rooted, you might remember the “Share Experience”, which is designed as an opportunity to share your faith (your story) with someone that doesn’t know Jesus. Here are the steps that we use to help encourage people towards this:

Allow your group to share what it was like to ask God these questions. Share anything that came to mind. Close in prayer for each other as you seek to be faithful to God’s leading this week.

Some people will struggle with hearing direction from God. This is OK! We are all learning. Also, God might not be giving them direction in this moment. Allow the group time to share honestly and process this together. The goal is not to simply come up with a name. The goal is to follow God. After all, bringing people to faith is HIS job. We simply are given a role.

Write down the names that arose, and follow up next week with how it went, and if anyone had an opportunity to share their faith.