Sermon Recap
Pastors Justin and Chrisy Kendrick shared God's plan for spreading the good news of Jesus Christ from Romans 10, outlining five steps: sent, preach, hear, believe, call. Each person is sent to proclaim the gospel through their own testimony and recipients need to truly hear the message of God's grace and acceptance through Christ. This leads to a choice, to trust in the saving grace of Jesus and to call out to God who answers. The sermon concluded with an encouragement that God can use each person to reach their family, neighbors, and community with the transformative truth of the gospel.
Ice Breaker Option:
What's something you were passionate about as a child that you still love today? How has it impacted your life?
HEAD: Romans 10:9-15
- What promise is given in this passage, and what are its specific implications?
- How is salvation received? From this text. explain the gospel message
- What steps are specified in God's plan to spread the gospel message?
HEART
- How does understanding the ways people frequently misunderstand the gospel, as religion or irreligion, help us better understand and share the true gospel message?
- What specific fears or hesitations do you personally face when thinking about sharing your faith?
- How does the gospel that has gotten in you propel you to speak even in the midst of your hesitations?
HANDS — Go Deeper Together
(Choose one or two practices below)
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1. Sharing a Whole Gospel — Telling a Better Story
“The Holy Spirit does the work. Your preaching is actually like kindling that starts a fire in the heart of another person. It is the necessary precursor to their surrender. And then the Holy Spirit comes and he does the work.”
The gospel answers two deep human questions:
- What must I do to be saved?
- What hope is there for the world?
Group Discussion:
Using the Timothy Keller’s gospel framework, how can we speak the gospel message in a practical relational way?
- Creation — Designed for Relationship
Where have you experienced longing for meaning, belonging, or purpose?
- Fall — What Went Wrong
Where did sin, shame, or self-rule show up in your story? - Redemption — What Christ Has Done
How did you come to understand who Jesus is and what He has done? - Response — Trusting by Grace
How has grace reshaped your identity?
Group Practice:
- Break into pairs. Each person shares the gospel message, using these four prompts. Make this conversational, personal and centered on Jesus.
- After each person shares, the listener answers:
- Did I clearly hear what Jesus has done?
- Did it answer: What must I do to be saved? What hope is there for the world?
Action Step: Personal Reflection
- Write down the name of one person you are praying for.
- Complete: “This week, I will seek an opportunity comes to share my story with __________.’
Group Prayer
- Close by asking God for opportunities to share the gospel and confidence to share our story.
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2. Sent People — From Silence to Story
“It is the work through the Holy Spirit that brings salvation. And so you must preach, right? Your testimony, your story, your articulation of the gospel is necessary for the heart of every unbeliever in your life.”
Practice: Writing & Sharing Your Testimony
- Provide time for each individual to write a short version of their testimony (3–5 minutes when spoken). Use this simple framework:
- Before — What was your life like before trusting Christ?
- How — How did you come to hear and believe the gospel?
- After — What difference has Jesus made in your life?
Group Practice:
- In groups of 2–3, share your testimony.
- After each person shares, respond with: “I see God’s grace in your story through __________.”
Action Step (Daily Practice):
- Each morning this week, ask the Holy Spirit to put in your mind and in your heart people that you need to share the truth with.
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3. From Spectators to Participants — Who Is God Sending You To?
“God can and wants to use you. The message of the gospel, this beautiful, powerful, transformative, life altering truth that you have within you.”
Group Discussion: What Do You Need to Go?
- As a group identify barriers to responding to God’s invitation to go and make disciples.
- Do I need a fresh stirring of faith?
- Do I need boldness?
- Do I feel unprepared?
- Do I welcome the Holy Spirit to put in my and in my heart people that I can share the truth with?
- Then discuss: How might the Holy Spirit already be preparing both you and those He has placed in your life?
Personal Reflection
- What is my next faithful step?
Group Prayer:
Lead the group in a prayer of confession and commitment. Encourage members to honestly share their barriers and to boldly ask for the Holy Spirit’s equipping to go.
Prayer of Confession (Quiet Reflection → Spoken Prayer)
- Invite a moment of silence and ask participants to reflect: What barrier keep me from speaking about Jesus?
- After a minute of silence, pray: “Father, we confess that we often shrink back. We confess fear of rejection, fear of saying the wrong thing, fear of not being enough. “
- Invite anyone who feels comfortable to briefly name (in a word or phrase) a barrier they are surrendering
Prayer of Commitment
- Pause for a moment and then lead a prayer of commitment “Jesus, You call us to go. We believe You are already at work in the lives of the people on our hearts. We commit ourselves again to be sent.”
- Invite participants to silently (or aloud) say the people and place God is sending them.
Bold Asking
- Lead the group in a time of asking: “Spirit of God, send us. Open doors. Prepare hearts to hear.”
Close with gratitude
- “Thank You that we are not initiating the mission — we are joining You in it. Use our lives, our stories, and our ordinary conversations to tell the greatest story ever told. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Action Step:
As you take you next step into the week ahead, continue using this prayer practice as a way or responding to God’s invitation to use you in sharing the beautiful, powerful, transformative gospel message.
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PRAYER
- Pray for an understanding of how you can be sent into the world to share the Gospel.
- Ask God for courage to herald the message of His love and grace.
- Thank God for the opportunity to be part of His plan to change lives.