Working on the first couple lessons...

As I have been thinking about our potential first meeting next week, I am struggling with what our lessons should include. I am working through the Workshop Presentation and a book I picked up this week (T4T by Steve Smith) - I got it Wednesday and made it through about 100 pages in the first few hours.

I think the materials we learned at the workshop offer a really good understanding of the task before us, but I feel like I need a less institutional feeling way to teach it. T4T says it is imperative to begin with a reproducible way for people to tell others about Jesus, help them think through their circles of influence for people they can tell about their faith and encourage (this is not a strong enough word, but I'll go with it) them to share with five people every week. So, the question I'm facing is: "Where do we start?"

Here's the answer I think I'm going to go with: John 4. John 4 is the story of the Samaritan Woman from the second field. This story will both introduce the simplicity of faith in Jesus and encourage them to immediately begin telling others. I will use the hand motions to show the group their responsibility. I will have our person of peace tell his story. Then, I will teach everyone present to tell their story and begin to make a list of people they know - both believers and not. I will ask them to pray asking God how many people they should tell their story this week. When they tell their stories, I will ask them to invite anyone who seems interested to come back to our next meeting. My plan right now is to open the second meeting with someone telling their story, then, teaching them to tell God's story. I may change my mind about this because I DO want everyone to know God's story since that story is where we find the power of God.

I will continue to pray and document the decisions I make here.

Right now I'm planning on following the first lesson or two on the second field with lessons about the third field introducing the 7 Commands of Jesus and begin working through the question: "What is the church?" This, of course, will lead us to the fourth field where we will talk specifically about multiplication.

This is a good starting place. Can't wait to see where the Spirit takes it.