I'm Contagious: Telling Your Story

March 16, 2014

I’m Contagious

Telling Your Story

1 John 1:1-9

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Introduction

Two weeks ago we began a series of lessons about becoming more contagious with our faith.

• The church needs more contagious people.

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• Well, how do we do this? How can we become contagious?
• This is the purpose of these lessons…it take work on our part.
• The first week’s lesson was titled out beautiful feet.

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• “How beautiful are the feet of those that preach the good news”
• We must not only have the right “talk” we also need to have the right “walk” as well.
• Feet determine our direction.
• As we “walk” do people see Jesus?
• Last week’s lesson was titled, “Creating Thirst”

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• We studied John chapter 4 and Jesus’ interaction with the Samaritan woman.
• We saw that Jesus didn’t do anything that we cannot do.
• He TALKED to her.
• He talked to her ABOUT SPIRITUAL THINGS.
• He was willing to LET HER GO!

GOAL - Consider how we can be contagious, by telling our story!

• As we are creating a thirst in someone...how do you tell your story?

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• This is one way for us to be contagious.

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Text

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.   

1 John 1:1-4

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John believed strongly in Jesus.

• The Jesus that he saw, that he heard, and that he had touched.
• This is what he is proclaiming…
• “...we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us” - vs. 3
• John was talking about Jesus.
• This is what we are suppose to do, this is how we can be contagious!

We think …

• It would be a lot easier to convince people if…
• We could have seen, heard or touched Jesus!

• What does the gospels say?
• People saw the miraculous power of Jesus and yet they rejected Him.
• Even being an eyewitness didn’t make it easier to convince people.

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What do people want?

• Just like the people of John’s day, people want to know…
• What you’ve SEEN
• What you’ve HEARD
• What you’ve TOUCHED

Lesson

There are two ways in which that we can help to be contagious Christians.

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They can hear your story

To tell your story there are some questions that you need to consider.

• Why did you become a Christian?
• Why are you a Christian?
• Why did, or does Jesus make a difference in your life?

**Take a moment and think about those questions

Why are such questions important to consider?

• Some people have never given this much thought
• Some have never considered why they dedicated their life to Christ.
• Some have never given thought to their hope as 1 Peter 3:15 states:
• “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

• Why did you become a Christian?
• If you can do this you tell your story.
• With that story you can be contagious!
• With that story you can create thirst in people!

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They can see Jesus in your life

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14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16

• Does Jesus shine through in your life?

How would you know if Jesus was shining through in your life?

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• 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Gal. 5:22-23
• If these “fruits” are seen in your life  there is a great chance that people are seeing Jesus in your life.

How does this work?

• Consider the “fruit” JOY
• Do people see you filled with joy?

• Do people see that you are at peace because of the joy that is in your life?

**Joy is not a product of this life (think about it), it is a choice that we have to make!

This is the way the way it is when we belong to Jesus.

• When we belong to Jesus we shine bright and bring cheer and joy...we are contagious!
• “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
• Having Jesus in our life brightens things up!

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Conclusion

I want to close with these thoughts.

• John wrote, “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” - vs. 3

My point is this:

• When we talk to people about our faith it is easier to invite them to church then to talk about their soul...to introduce them to Jesus.
• We often forget that this is our main goal.
• That is to bring them to “our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
• It is not about getting people in the building and filling the seats.
• It is about being contagious!

Don’t be deceived into thinking that church can be a substitute for a relationship with God.

• We should invite people to Christ.
• We should be contagious by telling our story
• We should be contagious by our life.