Life with God

AMinistry TO the Lord

Seeking God for who He is, not for what He gives

Ministry TO the Lord means seeking God’s presence. It is coming to Him for who He is — not for what He gives, not for what He does, not for how He makes you feel. It is like a child who wants to be with her father, just to be with him.

It is the foundation for all our life with Jesus.

Everything else must flow from Ministry TO the Lord

1. Set aside regular time to be with God — not to ask, but just to be with Him.
2. Tell God who He is — His faithfulness, goodness, and holiness.
3. Thank God for who He is, not only for what He has done.
4. Confess your sins honestly. Confession clears the way to be near Him.
5. When you catch yourself making requests, pause. Return to just being with Him.
6. Read the Bible to see who God is, not only to learn what to do.
7. Sing, read a poem, sit quietly, take a walk, write to Him. The form does not matter. The direction does — toward Him.

BThree Key Verses

The essential message of life with Jesus

These three verses follow a journey:

Use these verses to share the message of Jesus with anyone. They are enough. More about the Three Verses: Lk 15:11–32 (The Prodigal Son).

CEight General Commands of Jesus

We obey Jesus because we love Him — and we help others to love and obey Him, also

1. Love God Mt 22:37; Lk 10:25–28; Lk 10:38–42
2. Love Neighbors, Love Enemies, Love Believers Mt 22:39; Lk 6:27–35; Jn 13:34–35
3. Believe in Jesus, Repent, Receive the Holy Spirit Jn 3:16; Mk 1:14–15; Jn 20:19–22
4. Baptize Mt 28:19; Ac 8:26–40
5. Lord’s Supper Lk 22:14–20; Lk 24:13–35
6. Pray in the Name of Jesus Lk 11:1–13; Jn 14:13–14
7. Give Generously Mk 12:41–44
8. Make Disciples Mt 28:16–20; Lk 10:1–9, 2 Ti 2:2

✋ See the hand motions — 7gc.me/8gchand

DTelling Your Story

We tell our story about our journey with Jesus

Your story is your witness that John 3:16 is real — not just true in general, but true for you. Your story has three parts, each a witness to John 3:16:

1. Your life before Jesus (the perishing).
2. How you met Jesus (the gift you received).
3. How Jesus continues to change your life (eternal life — now, not just later).

Create two versions: (A) one that is one minute long; (B) one that is three minutes long.

1. Use words others will understand easily. Remove words like salvation, praise, worship.
2. Practice until it is memorized and flows well. Practice with others.

EHaving Spiritual Conversations

This is a step of faith for God to answer

1. Make a list of people you know.
2. Pray often for them to believe in Jesus and repent.
3. Make plans to visit them and share about Jesus.
4. When you visit, pray for the Lord to give you wisdom for what to say.
5. When you meet someone new, pray for boldness to share with them about Jesus.
6. Share with them your story with Jesus (see D).
7. Tell them a story about Jesus and walk through the three questions with them (see F).
8. Ask: “What does that show you about the God who’s with you?” Listen. Let the Holy Spirit work.
9. Invite them to follow Jesus. Share the Three Verses with them if you haven’t already. Meet with them regularly. Give them this guide and help them use it.
10. Give and get contact information to follow up.

FA Story to Share — Luke 15:11–32

A story about the Father’s love

Like many of us when tempted, a young man was drawn to the world. He asked for his inheritance and left his father’s home to pursue pleasure and material things. Soon he found himself poor and hopeless.

Full of shame, he humbly returned to his father. He admitted that he was unworthy of forgiveness and love. But his father embraced him and celebrated his return with a big dinner party.

In the same way, when we recognize our sin and turn toward the Father, He is already running to meet us. The welcome comes before we finish our confession. That is who He is.

Are you feeling lost? Have you strayed from God’s path? God is eagerly waiting for you to return. He wants to forgive you and guide you into the new life He has planned for you. Recognize your sin, turn toward Him, and He will run to meet you. Jesus is the way, and He gives eternal life.

Three questions to discuss

1. What is a good father like? → See — John 3:16
2. What is your relationship to a good father? → Shift — John 1:12–13
3. If you have a good father and understand that relationship… what do you do? → Sift — Matthew 22:37–40

Then ask: “What does that show you about the God who’s with you?” When someone encounters the Father, they need a place to keep encountering Him. That is what the gatherings are about (see H).

GHave the Lord’s Supper Regularly

We remember Jesus together

Preparation: have bread or biscuit for everyone to share, and a cup with something to drink — juice, tea, whatever is locally available.

1. Be with Jesus first. Be quiet. He is here with you right now.
2. Thank Him — not only for forgiving you, but for making a way for you to be with Him. His body and blood opened the door to relationship with God.
3. Ask someone to pray simply: “Thank You, Jesus, for saving us. Amen.”
4. Pass the bread around. Each person takes a piece and passes it on, saying, “The body of Jesus, broken for us.” Hold your piece until everyone has one.
5. Pass the cup around. Each person dips their bread and passes the cup on, saying, “The blood of Jesus, given for us.” Hold until everyone has dipped.
6. Ask someone to pray: “Thank You, Jesus, for Your body and Your blood. Amen.”
7. Eat together.
8. After everyone has eaten, ask someone to pray: “Thank You, Jesus, for Your body and Your blood. Amen.”

HGatherings

Every time disciples, leaders, and Jesus communities meet · See Him → Love Him → Live for Him

We gather not as an audience, but as family around the Father.

1. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead.
2. Minister TO the Lord together. Seek God together (see A).
3. Share. Ask everyone: What has God shown you since we last met? What have you obeyed? Where have you struggled? Who did you share with?
4. Read and retell. Ask someone to read the passage aloud. Close the Bible. Everyone retells the story from memory. Repeat two more times — three rounds total.
5. Pause. Everyone be silent for a while and think about what God is showing you.
6. Ask the Six Encounter Questions.

7. Live for Him. Ask each person: What will you do to show Jesus you love Him this week? With whom will you share what you learned?
8. Pray. Ask Jesus for strength to love and obey Him this week.
9. Encourage. Bless each other.

JKey Words

Ministry TO the Lord

Seeking God’s presence — coming to Him for who He is, not for what He gives, does, or how He makes you feel. Like a child who wants to be with her father, just to be with him.

Ministry FOR the Lord

Serving God and others — loving, giving, praying for others, teaching, making disciples. It flows from Ministry TO the Lord.

Eternal Life

An intimate, loving, and obedient relationship with Jesus. Lk 10:25–28; Jn 17:3; 1 Jn 2:3–6; Jn 14:6

Following Jesus

Requires counting the cost to love and obey Him. Lk 9:57–62; Lk 14:25–33; Mt 16:24–26

Disciple

Someone who is loving and obeying Jesus while helping others to do the same — emphasizing the first part. Mt 28:18–20; 2 Ti 2:2

Leader

Someone who is loving and obeying Jesus while helping others to do the same — emphasizing the second part. Mt 28:18–20; 2 Ti 2:2

Jesus Community (Church)

A group of disciples and leaders loving and obeying Jesus together while helping other groups to do the same. Ac 2:37–47; 2 Ti 2:2

Knowledge

Remembering what God says as recorded in the Bible. Lk 10:26

Understanding

Comprehending what Knowledge means in your situation. Lk 10:26

Wisdom

Implementing in your life what you know and understand. Lk 10:28

Maturing in Jesus

Knowing and understanding more about Him, and continuing to love and obey Him in harder and harder situations.