LOVING PEOPLE TO JESUS
Session 1: God’s Heart for People
RELATE
Stand and discuss with one other person your answers to the following questions:

1. What comes to your mind when you hear the word “evangelism”?
2. Who was most influential in your decision to follow Jesus?
3. What did they do that influenced you?
4. How many times did you hear the good news of Jesus before you responded?
5. How long did the process take? How many people were involved?
   Typical discoveries…

• Most people are brought to Christ by friends or family members, not strangers.
  (So, we will pray for those closest to us in our families, workplaces, classrooms,
  and neighborhoods.)
• What influences people to come to Christ is others’ prayers and active concern for
  them. (So, we will actively bless and serve those around us.)
• It takes a long time for most people to come to Jesus. (So, we will be patient and
  keep praying and loving others.)
• Usually, multiple people are involved in someone’s journey to Christ. (So, we will
  introduce our friends that need Jesus to our friends that know Jesus.)
  READ
  Read and Re-read Mark 2:13-17 (Jesus
  Calls Levi and Eats with Sinners) out
  loud in two different translations.
  Then, without looking at the text,
  work together to Retell it.
  Habits of Replicating Disciples
  RESPOND
  Discuss:
• What stands out to you?
• What can we learn from this
  story about reaching our
  friends?
  For further discussion:
• Repeatedly in Scripture, we see that people influenced their family members and
  friends to Christ. (Joshua 24:15; John 1:35-51; Acts 10:24; Acts 16:15, 31-32)
• Jesus sent his followers out to continue his ministry in pairs. Why do you think he
  had people work in these small teams?
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  SESSION 1: GOD’S HEART FOR PEOPLE 2024 (FEEL FREE TO COPY)
  Put into Practice (Group “I will”)
  Below are suggestions for this group to help us listen to God and obey what he is speaking
  to us.
• Pray daily for your friends who need Jesus and for the friends of the person who
  will be your partner for the remainder of the sessions.
  o Ask God to bless them and make his goodness and power real to them.
  o Ask God to bring people into their lives to show them his love in practical
  ways.
  Pray Together
  Take a minute of silence to listen to God, asking who he is inviting you to pray for.
  Move into pairs (or, if necessary, triads). Some of us have many contacts who need Jesus.
  Some of us have almost none. Those with almost no friends who need Jesus can help
  those who have a lot. Together, create a list of six people to pray for throughout the next
  six weeks. Take time to pray for them now. Then, pray for one another’s friends daily over
  the remainder of these sessions.
  Want to learn more?
• Watch the 5-minute cartoon video, “What is a Disciple Making Movement?”
  o https://youtu.be/2-FL5Zlq7dU?si=sNUUSbJ7BwssQU8b
• Watch the inspiring 93-minute documentary, Ordinary People.
  o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_YgYbgnR8I
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