![[Sunday] Gentleness & Respect - Spiritual Conversations](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1653012509674-H2OG52EIUQ3NVEJZ27ER/SC+5a.jpg)
[Sunday] Gentleness & Respect - Spiritual Conversations
Peter sat up from writing the last paragraph and thought about all the times he was difficult to Jesus. He had put his foot in his mouth so many times. He even denied the Lord on that cold day when everything changed. But Peter's heart filled with warmth when he remembered how Jesus treated him when he rose: with gentleness and respect.
Questions for the week
Think of the last time you had a spiritual conversation. How did it go? How did it feel?
Read 1 Peter 3:8-18. What are the Christians whom Peter is writing to facing in life?
How does Peter encourage them to respond? What has Jesus done that enables them to respond that way?
What do you think is important to keep in mind so that you can spark a spiritual conversation while still being gentle and respectful?
Past Links and Helps
What Had happened at Grace this week.
![[Sunday] All Things - Keep It Simple](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1731687836393-04YTHZK3FOM503Y57MM3/Simple4a.jpg)
![[Sunday] Eager - Spiritual Conversations](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1652451592564-OR8VRNJ5T9YCLS6P4ZR7/SC+4a.jpg)
[Sunday] Eager - Spiritual Conversations
The armor of God sometimes seems like it's something we daily put on to fight our way through the culture. However, when we look at what Paul was actually saying, it's something that signals our readiness and eagerness to show the love of our God in Christ Jesus our lord.
Questions for the week
What do you think you would need to be able to talk about your faith more effectively?
Read Ephesians 6:10-20. Who does Paul encourage us to find our strength in? What does it look like to be strong in the Lord in your life?
How does getting ready by putting on the armor of God equip you to share your faith?
Review Lutheran Hour Ministries description of an “Eager Conversationalist” at www.lhm.org/eager. Take the “Eager Inventory” found on that website. Which letter are you strongest in? Which can you most improve in? How can spending more time with Jesus help you grow in those areas?
BONUS: Visit www.lhm.org/eager and begin the free LHM Learn course “Eager to Share.”
What Had happened at Grace this week.
![[Sunday] Shattered Beautiful - Spiritual Conversations](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1651785690302-VA8ZK4LAMJDT3ZXHZYGC/SC+3a.jpg)
[Sunday] Shattered Beautiful - Spiritual Conversations
The residents of Winchester stare despondently as all the stained glass lay shattered all over the ground, shattered like the homes and lives of God’s people in Babylon, shattered like our lives when things have not worked out. But wait, look, there's a runner from the mountains with good news of grace and peace on their breath.
Questions for the week
Thinking back over your life, what’s the most pleasant, interesting or delightful spiritual conversation you’ve ever had? Where were you? How did the conversation start?
Who in your life is a non-Christian friend? How much time per week do you spend nurturing a friendship with a non-Christian?
Read Isaiah 52:7-12. What makes spiritual conversations beautiful?
Think about the last spiritual conversation you had with a non-Christian. Are you glad about that conversation? If so, why? If not, what do you think could have changed the trajectory of that conversation to make it more enjoyable?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
![[Sunday] Why We Stopped Talking - Spiritual Conversations](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1651194231068-V79DNM80WD6ZM3TG3M7Q/SC+2a.jpg)
[Sunday] Why We Stopped Talking - Spiritual Conversations
Over the years, we have sold the faith in a way which has left us damaged, fearful, and mute. Perhaps, the Good Shepherd can gather us all in fields of abundance, heal our wounds, and give us voices of hope.
Questions for the week
Have you ever had a bad experience talking about your faith? Why do you think it’s so difficult to talk about your faith?
Read Colossians 4:2-6. How does Paul encourage us to witness our faith?
Look at the Lutheran Hour Ministries Conversations Curve. How can recognizing if a person is unreceptive, receptive, or seeking allow your conversation to be “gracious and seasoned with salt so you may know how you ought to answer each person?”
What Had happened at Grace this week.
![[Sunday] How Will They Hear - Spiritual Conversations](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5852f18a20099e30cd2c01dc/1650637265412-WN94VFZQCGUDQTPGYOUU/SC+1bb.jpg)
[Sunday] How Will They Hear - Spiritual Conversations
God’s people were saved from slavery - incredible news! God created them to be a blessing to all the nations in the world. But right before the captivity, they were only interested in what God could do for them. Those gentile outsiders were not good enough for what they had. To this, the prophet asks them, and us, “How will they hear?”
Questions for the week
How many spiritual conversations (conversations about faith) do you have, on average, per month?
Read Romans 10:1-4. How did Israel’s self-righteous attitude affect their witness to the nations around them?
Read Romans 10:5-13. What does the good news look like?
Read Romans 10:14-21. Paul asks a series of rhetorical questions. How has Israel shared the good news? What promise does he give us about God’s nature?
What hope do you have that God has chosen you to share good news? What good news can you share with someone this week?
What Had happened at Grace this week.
Spiritual Conversations (Teaching Series)
When it comes to evangelism, we have real fear of giving offense or being rejected. This fear creates barriers for many Christians when it comes to talking about their faith. Many people have said when spiritual conversations happened previously, it only created tensions and arguments. What I have seen is when we meld our faith with grace and good news, it will become a joy to have spiritual conversations, because it is indeed good news.
When it comes to evangelism, we have real fear of giving offense or being rejected. This fear creates barriers for many Christians when it comes to talking about their faith. Many people have said when spiritual conversations happened previously, it only created tensions and arguments. What I have seen is when we meld our faith with grace and good news, it will become a joy to have spiritual conversations, because it is indeed good news.
Reading Plan
April 24th 22 -
How will they hear -Romans 10 - 11:6
May 1st 22 -
Why We Stopped Talking -Luke 22:54-62 , Ezekiel 34:11-17, Colossians 4:2-6
May 8th 22 -
Beautiful Conversations-Isaiah 52
May 15th 22 -
Egar Conversationist -Ephesians 5-6
May 22nd 22 -
Everyday Conversations -Acts 4, 1 Peter 3:13-21
LHM
(Lutheran Hour Ministries)
Book which inspired this series.
The Kingdom of God is right here: The lowly manger being lauded by well traveled kings; wisdom from on high unearthing the way of love; the blind seeing the light radiating from a cold tomb. It's backwards. It's beautiful. It's the Kingdom way.