Small Groups Mission

In 2020 while the quarantine was in full force, I sent a text to my small group members asking if anyone would join me in volunteering at our church’s drive-through food bank as one of the “evangelists.”  I only got silence as a response.  I figured that would be the case!  For many of us, it sounds intimidating to be an “evangelist.”  I gave it one more shot and texted the guys in the group directly, and one said he’d join. Yes! (Secretively, even as a pastor, I was scared to go alone and wanted some company). 

At the food bank we went through a brief training and were then released to engage the cars that had just picked up their food. We thanked the people for coming, shared how Christ had changed our lives by giving us hope, and asked if they would like to surrender their life to Christ. Like anything new, we fumbled through it a couple times and even had a couple cars drive away from us mid-sentence. But we found our rhythm and at the end of our time both of us had led a number of people through a prayer of surrender and forgiveness. 

Walking away from that event our hearts burned with joy. We were humbled by the fact that God used us to help someone take that first step of faith. Headed to the car, my friend looked me and said, “That was amazing!” Something amazing happens when we share how Christ has transformed our lives and invite another person to allow God to change their life as well.  

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Living out the God’s purpose of evangelism is important in order to experience spiritual health as a Christian. But why is it so difficult? For many of us, the thought of sharing our faith is scary. If you would have been one of those people that didn’t respond to my group text out of fear – know you are not alone. Your small group is a perfect place to begin.  

I’m not going to give you an overview of how to share your faith in this post (go to CLASS 401 for a great overview of that). Instead, I want to give you some practical tips in how to take your first steps in living this purpose out within your group. 

Share your testimony with each other 

It’s been said, “God does not need you to be a lawyer, but he needs you to be a witness.” No one that I know has become a Christian through a debate. But I know so many people that have surrendered their lives to Christ because of hearing how Jesus has transformed someone else’s life. Everyone in your group has a story. Learn how to share it by starting with each other. 

 Our group just did this. Recently I asked everyone: “Share why you became a Christian. Then share why you are still a Christian today.” Wow. Let me tell you, powerful and vulnerable things were shared.  

In the Gospels when you read about people meeting Jesus and having their lives changed by Him, those people leave and tell others of what Jesus did. That is evangelism – it’s telling others what Jesus has done for you. Your life has been changed by Jesus. Others in your group have been as well. Practice sharing that story of how you went from that dark place in life to living in the light of Christ. Like me being at the food bank, it will take a couple times to find your rhythm, but start sharing it in the group so you can feel comfortable sharing it outside.  

Pray 

I know, I know, super simple. But this could actually be the most significant thing you do. And do it as a group. While your group is together, have everyone ask God to give you two names of people you can be praying for. Sit in silence for a minute. If names come to mind, believe that this is God telling you who to begin praying for. After that time of silence, share with the group the names that came to your mind and who they are.  

Then pray for them. Break up into pairs or sub-groups and pray for those people out loud. Sometimes I like to start by asking God how I should pray for them. I literally say, “God, how should I pray for this person?” If something comes to mind, that’s God directing you. Begin to pray for that. Then ask God to give you an opportunity to build a relationship with them.  

I prayed for my sister and that same week my sister reached out to me on a phone call – and we hadn’t spoken for almost a year. I prayed for an opportunity to share my faith with one of my neighbors, and within the month my neighbor asked my why going to church was so important to me.  Both those opportunities started with simply praying!  

Encourage one another in the group by sharing these opportunities when they occur. They are answers to prayer and will inspire to keep going knowing that God is active and going before you.   

Consider making one of these suggestions your next step as a group. When you do, you will grow in the purpose of evangelism and develop spiritual health as a group. Just take the first step, and like my friend in my small group, you’ll begin to experience how “amazing” it is to acknowledge the goodness of God in your life and the joy of sharing it with others.