Discovering

My Life Mission
S H A R E
Class 401: Discovering My Life Mission — PARTICIPANT’S GUIDE
Copyright © 2019 Rick Warren.

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Table of Contents
WELCOME 5

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

S E S S I O N O N E : U n d e r s t a n d i n g G o d ’ s M i s s i o n 9

Why God Created Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

The Mission of Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Why Jesus’ Mission Must Matter to Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

SESSION TWO: Communicating God’s Story 23

Sharing My Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
The Four Parts of My Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Fishing in My Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
How to Build a Bridge of Friendship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

S E S S I O N T H R E E : L i v i n g O n - M i s s i o n f o r G o d 49

What the World Needs Now . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

The Five Global Evil Giants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Jesus Modeled an Answer to the Giants: The P E AC E Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
What It Takes to Be On-Mission for God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
What Will You Live the Rest of Your Life For? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
What Are My Next Steps? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

A P P E N D I C E S 73

Appendix A: Recognize Your Personal Style of Witnessing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Appendix B: How to Lead Your Testimony into a Conversation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Appendix C: Preparing a Testimony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Appendix D: Becoming a World-Class Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

A N S W E R K E Y 85
CLASS 401
Welcome
Class 401: Discovering My Life Mission is the fourth of Saddleback’s
foundational classes. Congratulations on making it around all the bases!

•  In Class 101, you committed to being a Member of God’s family.

•  In Class 201, you committed to the habits for spiritual Maturity.

•  In Class 301, you committed to having a Ministry in our church.

•  In Class 401, you will begin to discover your Mission in the world.

YOU ARE HERE

 INTRODUCTION
CLASS 401

The Basis for Class 401

I was created to ........................................ God’s purpose.

DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

The Lord has made everything for his

own purposes.
PROVERBS 16:4 (TLB)

God ............................................... his mission in my life before I was born.

God has made us what we are, and in our union

with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good
deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.
EPHESIANS 2:10 (GNT)

My life mission has both:

•  Universal elements (what God calls every Christian to do)

6 •  Unique elements (what God custom-designs me to do)

My ........................................................................ in life is to fulfill the mission God

has for me.

The most important thing is that I complete my

mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me—to
tell people the Good News about God’s grace.
ACTS 20:24 (NCV)

Fulfilling God’s mission in my life brings ................................................................... .

“I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the

work you gave me to do.”
JOHN 17:4 (NIV)
THE GOAL OF

WELCOME
THIS CLASS

That I commit the rest of my life to being a messenger of God’s Good News
to other people—using my time, talents, and treasures for his kingdom—

D ISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

regardless of where it leads or what it costs.

We make it our goal to please him.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:9 (NIV)

Our goal is to measure up to God’s plan for us.

2 CORINTHIANS 10:13 (TLB)

7
CLASS 401
SESSION
ONE

Understanding
God’s Mission
To discover God’s mission in the world, you must first understand:

1. God’s overall purpose in creating human beings.

2. Jesus’ mis­­­sion in coming to earth.

 WHY GOD
CLASS 401

C R E AT E D U S

1. We were made to have a ............................................................................................... .

DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our

image, in our likeness.”
GENESIS 1:26 (NIV)

Long ago, even before he made the world, God

chose us to be his very own through what Christ
would do for us . . . His unchanging plan has always
been to adopt us into his own family by sending
Jesus Christ to die for us.
EPHESIANS 1:4–5 (TLB)

2. We were made to ............................................................................................... .

For those God foreknew he also predestined to

be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he
might be the firstborn among many brothers.
10
ROMANS 8:29 (NIV84)

God knew what he was doing from the very

beginning. He decided from the outset to
shape the lives of those who love him along
the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son
stands first in the line of humanity he restored.
We see the original and intended shape of
our lives there in him.
ROMANS 8:29 (THE MESSAGE)
 SESSION ONE
3. We were made to ............................................................................................................. .

God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God

made us to do good works, which God planned in
advance for us to live our lives doing.
EPHESIANS 2:10 (NCV)

U ND ERSTANDING GOD’S MISSION

4. We were made to ............................................................................................... .

He has planted eternity in the human heart.

ECCLESIASTES 3:11 (NLT)

This was his purpose: that when the time is ripe

he will gather us all together.
EPHESIANS 1:10 (TLB)

 HIS LIFE IS
T
P R E PA R AT I O N
FOR LIFE IN
11
E T E R N I T Y.
 THE MISSION
CLASS 401

OF JESUS

The Problem: Our sin has broken our relationship with God.
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

Your iniquities have separated you from your God

and your sins have hidden his face from you.
ISAIAH 59:2 (NIV84)

God’s Solution: He took the initiative to bring us back to himself.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his

only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life.
JOHN 3:16 (TLB)

God was in Christ, restoring the world to himself.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:19 (TLB)

12
 SESSION ONE
What Was Jesus’ Life Mission?

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what

was lost.”
LUKE 19:10 (NIV84)

U ND ERSTANDING GOD’S MISSION

“This is why I was born and came into the world:
to tell people the truth.”
JOHN 18:37 (NCV)

“I came to give life—life in all its fullness.”

JOHN 10:10 (NCV)

“I have come as a Light to shine in this dark world,

so that all who put their trust in me will no longer
wander in the darkness.”
JOHN 12:46 (TLB)

“I must tell the Good News about God’s kingdom

. . . This is what I was sent to do.”
LUKE 4:43 (ICB)

13
 WHY JESUS’
CLASS 401

MISSION MUST
M AT T E R T O M E

Ten Facts That Motivate Me

DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

1. If I want to be like Jesus, ...................................................................................

must determine .................................................................................. .

[Jesus prayed to the Father:] “In the same way

that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them
a mission in the world.”
JOHN 17:18 (THE MESSAGE)

God is the mission giver; we don’t make it up, or dream it up. It is there for
us to detect and discover as we seek God in prayer. Each of us has a unique
SHAPE that gives us clues into how God has prepared us to join his historic
global mission.
14
2. Jesus ........................................................... to continue his mission.
 SESSION ONE
THE FIVE COMMISSIONS OF JESUS

Commission 1:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the

U ND ERSTANDING GOD’S MISSION

Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely
I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
MATTHEW 28:19–20 (NIV)

Commission 2:

“You are to go into all the world and preach the

Good News to everyone, everywhere.”
MARK 16:15 (TLB)

Commission 3:

“This message of salvation should be taken from

Jerusalem to all the nations: There is forgiveness of
sins for all who turn to me.”
LUKE 24:47 (TLB) 15

Commission 4:

“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

JOHN 20:21 (NIV)

Commission 5:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes

on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of
the earth.”
ACTS 1:8 (NIV)
 3. Sharing the Good News is my .......................................................................... .
CLASS 401

You must warn them so they may live. If you don’t

speak out to warn the wicked to stop their evil
ways, they will die in their sin. But I will hold you
responsible for their death.
EZEKIEL 3:18 (NCV)
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

I F I ’ M A C H R I S T I A N ,
JESUS’ MISSION IS
NOT OPTIONAL!

4. Sharing the Good News is a ..................................................... .

And God has given us the privilege of urging

16 everyone to come into his favor and be reconciled to
him . . . This is the wonderful message he has given
us to tell others. We are Christ’s ambassadors.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:18–20 (TLB)

I am not ashamed of the Good News, because it is

the power God uses to save everyone who believes.
ROMANS 1:16 (NCV)
 SESSION ONE
5. I’m ............................................... for what Jesus has done for me.

Remember that in the past you were without Christ

. . . You had no hope, and you did not know God.
EPHESIANS 2:12 (NCV)

U ND ERSTANDING GOD’S MISSION

For I have a great sense of obligation to people in
both the civilized world and the rest of the world.
ROMANS 1:14 (NLT)

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are

convinced that one died for all.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:14 (NIV)

6. People are ......................................................................... without Christ.

Jesus is the only One who can save people. No one

else in the world is able to save us.
ACTS 4:12 (NCV)

“Anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.” But

before people can ask the Lord for help, they must
believe in him; and before they can believe in him, 17
they must hear about him; and for them to hear
about the Lord, someone must tell them.
ROMANS 10:13–14 (NCV)

Telling the Good News is my duty—something I

must do. And how terrible it will be for me if I do
not tell the Good News.
1 CORINTHIANS 9:16 (NCV)
 7. God wants ..................................................... saved!
CLASS 401

[God] wants all people to be saved and to come to a

knowledge of the truth.
1 TIMOTHY 2:4 (NIV)
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

[God] does not want anyone to be lost, but he

wants all people to change their hearts and lives.
2 PETER 3:9 (NCV)

8. I will be .......................................................... for eternity.

Remember that you will receive your reward from

the Lord, which he promised to his people.
COLOSSIANS 3:24 (ICB)

9. God’s ...................................................... for history hinges around us completing

Jesus’ mission!

18 “The Good News about God’s kingdom will

be preached in all the world, to every nation.
Then the end will come.”
MATTHEW 24:14 (NCV)

Then they gathered around him and asked him,

“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the
kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for
you to know the times or dates the Father has set
by his own authority. But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will
be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
ACTS 1:6–8 (NIV)
 SESSION ONE
10. I will ................................................. when I see people in heaven.

“I tell you there is much joy in heaven when 1

sinner changes his heart.”
LUKE 15:7 (ICB)

U ND ERSTANDING GOD’S MISSION

 NOWING ALL THIS,
K
W H AT S H O U L D B E
MY RESPONSE?

“I want to carry out the mission I received from the

Lord Jesus—the mission of testifying to the Good
News of God’s kindness.”
ACTS 20:24 (GW)

19
CLASS 401

Writing Assignment: God’s Mission

Review the notes from Session One. In your own words, write out what you see as
God’s mission in the world. Refer to what you discovered from the Scriptures and the
notes, as well as your own paraphrases of key Scriptures. Use one or two verses
you’d also like to commit to memory.
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

20
SESSION ONE
21

U ND ERSTANDING GOD’S MISSION

CLASS 401
SESSION
TWO

Communicating
God’s Story
To share what God has done in your life with other people, it helps to:

1. Know the Good News.

2. Write your story in four parts.

3. Learn how to fish for people.

4. Build a bridge of friendship.

 The Message of the Good News
CLASS 401

If someone asked you to explain the Good News of Jesus, would you be able to
confidently respond? Rate yourself:  How confident are you in communicating
the Good News to someone who asks about it?
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Very nervous Adequate Confident

What Is the Good News?

1. God became a man so ................................................................................................. .

It is the Good News about [God’s] Son, Jesus Christ

our Lord , who came as a human baby, born into
King David’s royal family line; and by being raised
from the dead he proved to be the mighty Son of
24
God, with the holy nature of God himself.
ROMANS 1:3–4 (TLB)
 SESSION TWO
2. Jesus died for my sins so .............................................................................. .

It is this Good News that saves you if you firmly

believe it . . . that Christ died for our sins. He was
buried, and he was raised from the dead on the
third day, as the Scriptures said.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:2–4 (NLT96)

COMMU NICATING G OD’S STORY

For God was in Christ, restoring the world to
himself, no longer counting men’s sins against
them but blotting them out. This is the wonderful
message he has given us to tell others.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:19 (TLB)

3. Jesus destroyed death so ...............................................................................................

.............................................................. .

[Jesus] destroyed death , and through the Good

News he showed us the way to have life that cannot
be destroyed.
2 TIMOTHY 1:10 (NCV)

25
4. Salvation is a free gift so ............................................................................................

................................. .

People are made right with God by his grace, which

is a free gift. They are made right with God by being
made free from sin through Jesus Christ. God gave
Jesus as a way to forgive sin through faith.
ROMANS 3:24–25 (ICB)
 5. It is based on faith so ........................................................................................................
CLASS 401

........................................................................................ .

[Jesus:] “Repent and believe the good news!”

MARK 1:15 (NIV)
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

The Good News shows how God makes people right

with himself—that it begins and ends with faith. As
the Scripture says, “Those who are right with God
will live by trusting in him.”
ROMANS 1:17 (NCV)

 EMORIZE
M
THESE FIVE
BASIC TRUTHS!

26
SHARING

SESSION TWO
MY STORY

But you are the ones chosen by God . . . God’s

instruments to do his work and speak out for him,

COMMU NICATING G OD’S STORY

to tell others of the night-and-day difference he
made for you.
1 PETER 2:9 (THE MESSAGE)

He has given us this message of restored

relationships to tell others. Therefore, we are
Christ’s representatives.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:19–20 (GW)

 PERSONAL
A
STORY IS ONE
OF THE MOST
PERSUASIVE
FORMS OF 27
C O M M U N I C AT I O N .
 The Bible Is Full of Testimonies
CLASS 401

David

Come and listen, and I will tell you what he has

done for me.
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

PSALM 66:16 (NCV)

The Woman at the Well

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in

him because of the woman’s testimony.
JOHN 4:39 (NIV)

The Man Born Blind

“I don’t know whether he is good or bad . . . but I

know this: I was blind, and now I see!”
JOHN 9:25 (TLB)

Peter and John

28
“We cannot stop telling about everything we have
seen and heard.”
ACTS 4:20 (NLT)

Paul

On six different occasions (Acts 22–26) Paul used his personal testimony to
share the Good News with unbelievers.

Jesus

“Listen carefully. I’m speaking sober truth to you.

I speak only of what I know by experience; I give
witness only to what I have seen with my own eyes.
There is nothing secondhand here, no hearsay.”
JOHN 3:10–11 (THE MESSAGE)
 SESSION TWO
We Are Commanded to Share Our Testimonies

Let the whole world know what he has done.

PSALM 105:1 (NLT)

Every day tell how he saves us. Tell the nations of

COMMU NICATING G OD’S STORY

his glory; tell all peoples the miracles he does.
PSALM 96:2–3 (NCV)

THE VALUE OF YOUR PERSONAL TESTIMONY

1. ................................................................. : There’s no other in the world just like it.

2. ................................................................. : You can share from your heart.

3. ................................................................. : You are the greatest authority on it!

4. ................................................................. : People love to hear personal

stories, and they remember them.

5. ................................................................. : People connect with experiences.

6. ................................................................. : In our postmodern world, it may be your most 29

effective witness.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone

who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
you have.
1 PETER 3:15 (NIV)
 T H E F O U R PA RT S
CLASS 401

OF MY STORY

If you became a Christian as an adult . . .

DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

1. What my life was like ...................................... I met Christ.

•  What were some common circumstances an unbeliever would

identify with?

•  What was your attitude that an unbeliever would identify with?

•  What was most important to you?

• What substitute for God did you use to find meaning in your life
(sports/fitness, success at work, marriage, sex, making money, drugs/
alcohol, having fun, entertainment, popularity, hobbies, etc.)?

2. How I ................................................... I needed Christ.

•  What significant steps led up to your conversion?

• What needs, hurts, or problems made you dissatisfied with the way you
were living without God?
30
• How did God get your attention? What motivated you?

3. How I ........................................................ my life to Christ.

• What specifically did you do?

• Where did it happen?

• What did you say in your prayer? Be specific.

4. The ...................................................... it has made in my life.

• What benefits have you experienced or felt?

• What problems have been resolved?

• How has Jesus helped you change for the better?

• How has it helped your relationships?

 SESSION TWO
If you became a Christian as a child but walked away or never grew until a
deeper recommitment as an adult . . .

Use the same four steps with this modification:

• Use the time just prior to your recommitment.

• Give some examples of how you were trying to meet your own needs

COMMU NICATING G OD’S STORY

without Christ, but it wasn’t working.

• Describe what caused you to realize you needed Christ directing your
life and how you made a full commitment to him.

• Explain how Jesus is currently meeting the deepest needs in your life.

If you became a Christian as a child and never strayed . . .

Use the same four steps with this modification:

• Point out some deep need or common problem that you see other
people trying to resolve.

• Point out how unsuccessful their attempts are to meet their own need.

• Explain why you never experienced that problem by trusting Christ

early in life. Don’t say the exact age. Continue with steps 3 and 4.

31
CLASS 401
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

Amount of Time

LEAST TIME:

1
The Four Parts of Your Story

Before

2
I Met Christ

MORE TIME:
How I Realized

3
My Need for Christ

32
EVEN MORE TIME:

4
How I Trusted Christ

MOST TIME:
The Changes Christ Has Made in My Life
 SESSION TWO
Guidelines for Story Preparation

TRANSLATING CHRISTIAN WORDS — A CLICHÉ LEXICON

Christian Term When Talking with Unbelievers

COMMU NICATING G OD’S STORY

“Blessed” “Happy”

“I was born again.” “I was given a fresh, new start.”

“I was saved.” “My life changed at that moment.”

“Jesus is my Lord.” “He’s the manager/CEO of my life.”

“I put Jesus in the driver’s seat.”

“I repented.” “I changed my mind.” (a mental U-turn)

“I had sinned.” “I knew I’d blown it.”

“All are sinners.” “Nobody’s perfect. No one bats a thousand.”

“I felt convicted.” “I realized that . . .”

“The Holy Ghost” “God’s Spirit”

Phrases to Avoid in a Testimony to Unbelievers 33

“I just praise the Lord for . . .”

“Now I am so blessed.”
“Hallelujah!”
“Amen!”
“It was glorious.”
“I was convicted.”
“The Lord laid on my heart.”
“I was called.”

Never criticize another church or denomination.

See Appendix A for “Twelve Tips to Effectively Share

Your Testimony.”
CLASS 401

LISTENING FOR LEARNINGS

As the teacher shares his/her story of God’s plan for their life, reflect on the
following questions:

• What did I like about this person’s approach to sharing God’s story
in their life?
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

• What words or phrases grabbed my attention?

• What was the overall theme I heard come through?

• What can I learn from this person that could help me be more
effective in sharing God’s story in my life with others?

Write down what stands out or helps you with ideas for sharing your own story
with others.

34

 SESSION TWO
Part A:  Identifying the Testimony Theme(s) of My Life

DEVELOPING MY STORY

Use the following form as a guide to write your story. Check the following themes

COMMU NICATING G OD’S STORY

that are dominant in your life.

My life before Christ My life with Christ

 Worries/Anxiety  Inner peace
 Guilt/Shame  Forgiveness
 Anger/Temper  Self-control, patience, and love
 Emptiness/Lack of purpose  Purpose in life
 Grief  Comfort and joy
 Stress/Burnout  Power for living
 Low self-esteem  Significance to God
 Poor health  Strength to rise above
 Disappointment  Trust in God’s good plans
 Insecurity  Confidence and security
 Regrets  A second chance at life
 Discontent/Always busy  Contentment and peace
 Fears  Faith to face my fears
 Loneliness  God’s always with me
35
 Addictions/Habits  Power to change
 Self-centeredness  Love for others
 Despair/Depression  Hope for living
 Cheap thrills  Real and lasting joy
 Boredom/Unmotivated  Adventure with God
 Fear of death  Assurance of Heaven
 “Something was missing”  Sense of completion
 Bitterness and resentment  Freedom from my past
 Pain of rejection  God’s unconditional love
 Marriage problems  Changes in my marriage
 Financial problems  Changes in my finances
 Business problems  Changes in my business

See Appendix B for helpful ways to lead your testimony into a conversation.

See Appendix C for additional suggestions on preparing your testimony.

 Part B:  Writing My Story
CLASS 401

WHAT MY LIFE WAS LIKE BEFORE I MET JESUS

What was your attitude that an unbeliever would identify with? What was most
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

important to you? What substitute for God did you use to find meaning in your life
(sports/fitness, success at work, marriage, sex, making money, drugs/alcohol, thrill
seeking, pleasure, entertainment, popularity, hobbies, etc.)?

36

 SESSION TWO
HOW I REALIZED I NEEDED JESUS

What significant steps led up to your conversion? What needs, hurts, or problems
made you dissatisfied with the way you were living without God? (Choose a theme
from Part A.) How did God get your attention?

COMMU NICATING G OD’S STORY

37

CLASS 401

HOW I COMMITTED MY LIFE TO JESUS

What specifically did you do to entrust your life to Jesus? Where did it happen?
What did you say to God? What do you remember most? Be specific.
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

38

 SESSION TWO
THE DIFFERENCE IT HAS MADE IN MY LIFE

What changes do you see God beginning to do in your life? Give current examples
from the last two weeks of how God is working in you and what God is saying
to you.

COMMU NICATING G OD’S STORY

39

 FISHING IN
CLASS 401

MY POND

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I

will show you how to fish for people!”
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

MATTHEW 4:19 (NLT)

Hunting vs. Fishing

Aggressive More gentle
Based on confrontation Based on attraction
“Go out there and shoot them” “Get them to nibble on your bait”
Uses “one size fits all” bullet Allows you to try all kinds of lures
Take your best shot and it’s over Reeling in a fish requires give and take
Scares off the animal if you miss You get more than one chance
The animal has no choice The fish gets a choice
Must be a skilled shot Anyone can put bait into the water

40 In Jesus’ day, they only used nets for fishing. Today, we have many methods for
fishing, including bass boats with built-in sonar equipment!
 SESSION TWO
Three Keys to Spiritual Fishing

1. Identify my ................................. .

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all of

Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.”

COMMU NICATING G OD’S STORY

ACTS 1:8 (NCV)

My circle of influence is “my fishing pond.” God holds me most

responsible for the people I already have relationships with. Where do
I start? Those closest to me!

“Go home to your family and tell them how much

the Lord has done for you and how he has had
mercy on you.”
MARK 5:19 (NCV)

List the names of people in your sphere of influence and how you associate with
them (such as immediate family, relatives, close friends, work associates, neighbors,
and so on).

Name Relationship
41
.......................................................... ..........................................................

.......................................................... ..........................................................

.......................................................... ..........................................................

 HE PERSON MOST ON
T
M Y H E A RT TO DAY I S

.................................................................................
 2. ........................................ like the fish in my pond.
CLASS 401

To the Jews I became like a Jew to win the Jews. . . .

To those who are without the law I became like
a person who is without the law. . . . To those who
are weak, I became weak so I could win the weak.
I have become all things to all people so I could
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

save some of them in any way possible. I do all

this because of the Good News and so I can share
in its blessings.
1 CORINTHIANS 9:20–23 (NCV)

Make a list of common-ground areas you have with the person most
on your heart today.

• Common Experiences .................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

• Common Interests ......................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................
42
....................................................................................................................................

• Common Needs ..........................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

• Common Hurts ...........................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................
 SESSION TWO
Ninety percent of evangelism is the art of asking questions!

Make a list of questions that will show you care and could lead to more conversation
with the person most on your heart.

COMMU NICATING G OD’S STORY

43

CLASS 401
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

44

3. Remember that fish get ................................................................................................ .

Be wise in the way you act toward those who are

not believers.
COLOSSIANS 4:5 (GNT)

This is called receptivity. How open are they to the Good News?

It is important to realize that people go through a process in coming to

faith in Christ, and they must be approached differently depending on
where they are.
 SESSION TWO
THE PARABLE OF SOILS (MATTHEW 13)
FOUR KINDS OF RECEPTIVITY

1. Hard soil = The defensive heart

2. Shallow soil = The impulsive heart

COMMU NICATING G OD’S STORY

3. Soil with weeds = The distracted heart

4. Good soil = The receptive heart

Fact: Some people are close to making a commitment to Christ, while others have a
long way to go!

Key: Effective evangelism relies on assessing how receptive a person is and then

helping them take the next step.

Examples of Levels of Spiritual Receptivity

from the Bible

Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are

far from righteousness.
ISAIAH 46:12 (NIV84)
45
[Jesus with an unbeliever:] “Realizing this man’s
understanding, Jesus said to him, ‘You are not far
from the Kingdom of God.’”
MARK 12:34 (TLB)

He has brought this Good News of peace to you

Gentiles who were very far away from him, and to
us Jews who were near.
EPHESIANS 2:17 (TLB)

Now you belong to Christ Jesus. Though you once

were far away from God, now you have been
brought near to him because of the blood of Christ.
EPHESIANS 2:13 (NLT96)
CLASS 401
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

My work was to plant the seed in your hearts, and

Apollos’ work was to water it, but it was God, not
we, who made the garden grow in your hearts.
1 CORINTHIANS 3:6 (TLB)

 VANGELISM IS
E
HELPING PEOPLE
DISCOVER HOW
GOD IS ALREADY
46
AT WO R K I N
THEIR LIVES.

SAM WILLIAMS
HOW TO BUILD

SESSION TWO
A BRIDGE
OF FRIENDSHIP

A Plan for Sharing Your Faith

COMMU NICATING G OD’S STORY

Good friendships are usually intentional, rather than accidental. Developing
friendship with unbelievers often requires going the extra mile, taking some
risks, and moving outside your comfort zone. With our busy lifestyles, this
takes planning. If you don’t plan to cultivate friendships with unbelievers,
you’ll find that you never have the time to do so.

We should make [our] plans—counting on God to

direct us.
PROVERBS 16:9 (TLB)

Step 1: Become ....................................... of the unbelievers God has placed

in your life.

•  Make a list of them by name.

47
•  Realize that they are your responsibility.

•  Assess each person’s level of spiritual receptivity.

•  Discover and write down their interests and needs.

•  Look for areas of common ground that you can build on.

•  Figure out what kind of testimony each person would respond to.

Step 2: Commit to ........................................ .

•  Use your list to pray daily for your unsaved friends.

•  Pray that God will draw them to himself (John 6:44).

• Pray that God will remove their spiritual blindness

(2 Corinthians 4:3–4).
 • Pray that the Holy Spirit will make their heart receptive
CLASS 401

(John 16:8–13).

• Pray you’ll get the opportunity to share a clear witness

(Colossians 4:3–5).

•  Pray that God will give you wisdom in what to say (James 1:5).

• Pray the Holy Spirit will use the words you say
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

(1 Thessalonians 1:5).

Step 3: Show you .............................. .

•  Treat everyone with respect as people, not as “prospects.”

•  Be a genuine friend. Help them in practical ways.

•  Be a good listener. It is a great way to show love.

•  Make service your aim, not recruitment.

•  Invite them into your home.

•  Consciously focus your concern on meeting their needs.

•  Go out of your way to love them until they ask you why.

•  Accept people as they are, without being judgmental.

48
Step 4: Be ready to ......................................... .

•  Identify yourself as a positive, joyful follower of Christ.

•  Share a testimony when the occasion naturally arises. (It will!)

•  Never force the Good News. Be patient. God is working!

•  Use crisis situations to show why we all need God.

•  Ask questions that lead to spiritual discussions.

• Give them appropriate message CDs, downloads, podcasts, or books

to read.

•  Concentrate on the essential. Don’t get sidetracked by hang-ups.

•  Invite them to a service at church.

• Offer to lead them in a prayer of commitment after sharing the

Good News.
SESSION
THREE

Living On-Mission
for God
To engage daily in what God is doing around the world, you must first understand:

1. The spiritual state of the world.

2. The vision and strategy of The PEAC E Plan.

3. What it means to live “Personal P E AC E .”

 W H AT T H E
CLASS 401

WORLD
NEEDS NOW
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

God has always been interested in reaching the entire world.

[Jesus said:] “Go everywhere in the world, and tell

the Good News to everyone.”
MARK 16:15 (NCV)

“The Good News must be told to all people.”

MARK 13:10 (NCV)

You don’t have to be a pastor, teacher, missionary, or even an adult to take

the Good News to other countries. The Bible clearly points out that it is every
believer’s responsibility to be a world-class Christian.

We are all called to be .............................................................. .

50

Mission Term Definition

Mission The task of the church to fulfill its five biblical purposes as
given in the Great Commandment and the Great Commission:
worship, evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, and ministry.

Evangelism Introducing people to Jesus Christ, or sharing the Good News.

Missions Fulfilling the five biblical purposes of the church in a different

culture than your own.
 SESSION THREE
The New Testament Our Church’s Pattern

My neighborhood
JERUSALEM
community

LIVING ON- MISSION FOR GOD

Neighboring
JUDEA communities

Different culture
SAMARIA
within neighboring
communities

Every people group

THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
in other countries

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit

comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in 51
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to
the ends of the earth.”
ACTS 1:8 (NIV)

God desires for all people to come to know him. In today’s world, we have so
much technology that it’s easy to assume that everybody in the world has the
opportunity to hear about Christ, but that just isn’t true.
 The Truth is . . .
CLASS 401

 HERE ARE PLENTY OF

T
PEOPLE IN THE WORLD
READY TO HEAR THE
GOOD NEWS.
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

The Problem is . . .

  HE R E AR E N OT
T
E N OU GH P EOP LE
RE ADY TO G O
AND TE LL TH E
GO OD N E WS!

52
Jesus said to his followers, “There are many
people to harvest but only a few workers to help
harvest them.”
MATTHEW 9:37 (NCV)

“Anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.” But

before people can ask the Lord for help, they must
believe in him; and before they can believe in him,
they must hear about him; and for them to hear
about the Lord, someone must tell them; and
before someone can go and tell them, that person
must be sent.
ROMANS 10:13–15 (NCV)
 SESSION THREE
THE FIVE
GLOBAL
EVIL GIANTS

1. Spiritual ....................................................

LIVING ON- MISSION FOR GOD

“Everything is meaningless . . . completely
meaningless!” What do people get for all their
hard work . . . ? Generations come and . . . go,
but the earth never changes. . . . Everything is
wearisome beyond description. No matter how
much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter
how much we hear, we are not content.
ECCLESIASTES 1:2–8 (NLT)

2. Lack of .........................................................................

• The world is full of great leaders who lead out of self-serving motives.

• The world is in need of great leaders who lead out of others-serving

motives.
53
“You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their
weight around,” he said, “and when people get a
little power how quickly it goes to their heads.”
MARK 10:42 (THE MESSAGE)

Without wise leadership, a nation falls.

PROVERBS 11:14 (NLT)

So the people wander about like lost sheep. They

are in trouble because they have no leader.
ZECHARIAH 10:2 (GNT)
 3. .............................................
CLASS 401

•  3 billion live on less than $2/day.

•  1 billion people live in slums.

Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has

DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

become as dry as a stick. Those killed by the sword

are better off than those who die of famine; racked
with hunger, they waste away for lack of food.
LAMENTATIONS 4:8–9 (NIV)

4. ...........................................

• Out of an estimated 35 million people living with HIV, 56 percent of

them are girls.

•  Nearly 1 billion people do not have access to clean water.

•  Each day 17,000 children die from preventable or treatable disease.

The prophets who spoke long ago, before my

time and yours, predicted that war, starvation,
and disease would come to many nations and
powerful kingdoms.
54 JEREMIAH 28:8 (GNT)

5. ....................................................

•  Nearly 1 billion people are still illiterate.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

HOSEA 4:6 (NASB)
 SESSION THREE
Through Christ, God made peace between us
and himself, and God gave us the work of telling
everyone about the peace we can have with him. God
was in Christ, making peace between the world and
himself. In Christ, God did not hold the world guilty
of its sins. And he gave us this message of peace.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:18–19 (NCV)

LIVING ON- MISSION FOR GOD

• No government agency or organization is big enough to solve
these problems.

• Only the church is big enough.

• Only the church has the moral authority.

• We have the promises of God to do this.

55
 P
JESUS MODELED AN
CLASS 401

ANSWER TO THE GIANTS:

THE P E A C E PLAN

The PEACE strategy is clearly seen in the life of the Lord Jesus as he fulfilled
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

the mission God had sent him to accomplish.

E
P .................................................................... that promote reconciliation.
“I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will
not overcome it.”
MATTHEW 16:18 (NIV)

Two Kinds of Reconciliation

Possible through Jesus

A • Jesus promotes peace by ending our conflict with God.

[God] who reconciled us to himself through Christ

56 and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:18 (NIV)

• Jesus promotes peace by ending our conflict with each other.

C Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups

to God by means of his death on the cross, and our
hostility toward each other was put to death.
EPHESIANS 2:16 (NLT)

How can you promote reconciliation?

E

 P

SESSION THREE
E ................................... servant leaders.
“I [Jesus] have set an example for you, so that you
will do just what I have done for you.”
JOHN 13:15 (GNT)

LIVING ON- MISSION FOR GOD

Pass on what you heard from me—the whole
congregation saying Amen!—to reliable leaders

E
who are competent to teach others.

2 TIMOTHY 2:2 (THE MESSAGE)

J E S U S W A S T H E
PERFECT EXAMPLE
OF A SERVANT

A
LEADER!

57

C
How can you help equip servant leaders?

E
 P
A ............................ the poor.
CLASS 401

If you see some brother or sister in need and have

the means to do something about it but turn a cold
shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s
love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

1 JOHN 3:17 (THE MESSAGE)

E
What God the Father considers to be pure and
genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and
widows in their suffering.
JAMES 1:27 (GNT)

If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—

and he will repay you!
PROVERBS 19:17 (NLT)

A
58

C
How can you help the poor?

E
 P

SESSION THREE
C ............................ for the sick.
Jesus went to every town and village preaching the
good news, teaching everyone, and healing every
disease and sickness.
MATTHEW 9:35 (AP)

LIVING ON- MISSION FOR GOD

“You must be compassionate, just as your Father

E
is compassionate.”
LUKE 6:36 (NLT)

Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave

himself up for us.
EPHESIANS 5:2 (NIV84)

A
59

C
What can you do to care for the sick?

E
 P
E ................................... the next generation.
CLASS 401

“Let the little children come to me, and do not

hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs
to such as these.”
MATTHEW 19:14 (NIV)
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

So the next generation would know, and all the

E
generations to come—Know the truth and tell the
stories so their children can trust in God.
PSALM 78:6–7 (THE MESSAGE)

Teach children how they should live, and they will

remember it all their life.
PROVERBS 22:6 (GNT)

A
60

C
What can you do to educate the next generation?

E
 SESSION THREE
MY PERSONAL P E AC E PLAN

SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS = PLANT CHURCHES THAT PROMOTE RECONCILIATION

What I can do . . .

LIVING ON- MISSION FOR GOD

• Believe that God could use me to host a new small group! Begin praying for two
couples (or four people) who do not have a relationship with Jesus. Invite them to
my new small group. Curriculum resources can be found at PastorRick.com.

• List and pray for three people who do not know the Lord.

• Seek opportunities to share the Good News through my testimony.

• Invite and bring someone to a weekend service.

EGOCENTRIC LEADERS = EQUIP SERVANT LEADERS

What I can do . . .

• Invite two Christian couples (or four believers) to share the responsibility of my small
group or start their own small group. Encourage them to pair up as spiritual partners
to grow in God’s five purposes for their lives.

• Help a believer take their next steps with God in their spiritual journey.

• Give someone a copy of the book The Purpose Driven Life for discussion.

• Meet with someone over coffee to share what God is doing in my life.

• Invite and bring them to my small group. 61

POVERTY = ASSIST THE POOR

What I can do . . .

• Pray for people in my spheres of influence that are in financial need.

• Ask God to make me aware of people living in poverty around me and commit
some of my time, talent, and money (beyond my tithe) to assist these people on a
regular basis.

• Seek to help people in practical ways through job searches, budget planning, or
assisting in debt reduction.

• Teach people a new skill or provide tools through classes or training.

CLASS 401

DISEASE = CARE FOR THE SICK

What I can do . . .

• Serve someone I know who is sick: take them a meal; offer to shuttle them to the
doctor; do errands or shopping for them; watch their children; send an encourag-
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

ing note or call; bring them a book to read in bed.

• Pray with those I know who are physically suffering for healing, strength,
comfort, and peace.

• Commit to praying daily for two weeks for that person.

• Communicate genuine concern by following up with that person.

IGNORANCE = EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION

What I can do . . .

• Look for someone younger than me with whom I could build a relationship and
mentor.

• Encourage someone around me who may be struggling as a result of a bad choice

or who lacks an educational opportunity.

• Offer to tutor or support someone.

• Connect someone to a Celebrate Recovery® program.

62

See Appendix D for a checklist to further develop your Personal P EAC E Plan.
 SESSION THREE
I T ’ S T I M E F O R
THE CHURCH TO
BE THE CHURCH.

LIVING ON- MISSION FOR GOD

God has gone before us and set the example of what it
means to live a life on-mission through P E AC E .

The Big Question is . . .

 M I WILLING TO
A
INVEST MY LIFE
FOR PEACE?

63
CLASS 401

W H AT I T
TA K E S T O B E
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

ON-MISSION
FOR GOD

We Must Make Five Major Shifts

in Our Thinking

1. We must shift our thinking from ..................................................................................

to .................................................................................... .

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit

comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses,
telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem,
64 throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of
the earth.”
ACTS 1:8 (NLT)

For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to
be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and
to love them and enjoy being with them. If you will
stir up this inner power, you will never be afraid to
tell others about our Lord.
2 TIMOTHY 1:7–8 (TLB)
 SESSION THREE
2. We must shift our thinking from ...................................... to ................................... .

If you ask me, I will give you the nations; all the
people on earth will be yours.
PSALM 2:8 (NCV)

LIVING ON- MISSION FOR GOD

 ATC H T H E WO R L D
W
NEWS WITH
“MISSIONARY
E Y E S ,” A N D
T H E N P R AY.

From one man he created all the nations throughout

the whole earth. He decided beforehand which
should rise and fall, and he determined their
boundaries. His purpose in all of this was for the 65
nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their
way toward him and find him—though he is not
far from any one of us.
ACTS 17:26–27 (NLT)
 3. We must shift our thinking from ................................................................................
CLASS 401

to .................................................................................... .

“Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work

I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
LUKE 9:62 (TLB)
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

No soldier in active service entangles himself in the

affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the
one who enlisted him as a soldier.
2 TIMOTHY 2:4 (NASB)

“Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants.

Then all your other needs will be met as well.”
MATTHEW 6:33 (NCV)

“Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative,

God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll
find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”
MATTHEW 6:33 (THE MESSAGE)

4. We must shift our thinking from ...............................................................................

66
to .................................................................................... .

“Only those who throw away their lives for my sake

and for the sake of the Good News will ever know
what it means to really live.”
MARK 8:35 (TLB)

Let us strip off anything that slows us down or

holds us back . . . and let us run with patience the
particular race that God has set before us.
HEBREWS 12:1 (TLB)
 SESSION THREE
5. We must shift our thinking from ..................................................................................

to .................................................................................... .

Since God has shown us great mercy . . . offer your

lives as a living sacrifice to him.
ROMANS 12:1 (NCV)

LIVING ON- MISSION FOR GOD

Give yourselves completely to God—every part of
you . . . you want to be tools in the hands of God, to
be used for his good purposes.
ROMANS 6:13 (TLB)

Jesus replied, “Let me assure you that no one has

ever given up anything . . . for love of me and to tell
others the Good News, who won’t be given back,
a hundred times over . . . All these will be his here
on earth, and in the world to come he shall have
eternal life.”
MARK 10:29–30 (TLB)

67
 W H AT W I L L
CLASS 401

YOU LIVE THE

REST OF YOUR
LIFE FOR?
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

I want to finish the race I’m running. I want to

carry out the mission I received from the Lord
Jesus—the mission of testifying to the Good News
of God’s kindness.
ACTS 20:24 (GW)

“Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to

benefit others and make friends. Then, when your
possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an
eternal home.”
LUKE 16:9 (NLT)

For what is it we live for, that gives us hope and joy

and is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes,
you will bring us much joy as we stand together
before our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes back
68 again. For you are our trophy and joy.
1 THESSALONIANS 2:19–20 (TLB)
 SESSION THREE
 HO WILL BE IN
W
H E AV E N B E C A U S E
OF YOU?

LIVING ON- MISSION FOR GOD

THE BEST INVESTMENT
IN LIFE IS GETTING
PEOPLE CONNECTED
TO GOD.

69
CLASS 401
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

P R AY E R O F C O M M I T M E N T

Father,

Thank you for inviting me to be your messenger of

the Good News. I commit my life to telling others
about Christ’s love for them, sharing my testimony,
and showing people what my relationship with
Christ has done in my life. Thank you for how you
have changed me. Give me the courage to share this
change with other people. I know you have asked
us to take your message to all people in all nations.
70 I commit to living on-mission through the PE AC E
Plan. I will be bold as I share your message, regardless
of where it leads me or what it costs.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.
 SESSION THREE
W H AT A R E M Y

LIVING ON- MISSION FOR GOD

NEXT STEPS?

The P E A C E Plan

Read and Sign the Mission Covenant

•  Your commitment today shows a willingness to be used by God!

Share Your Story with Someone in Your Pond

•  Start with someone who knows you well and keep sharing your story.

Serve with Local P E AC E

• Take your first step today:  Visit saddleback.com/localpeace. 71

Serve with Global P E AC E

• Explore the different places and passions where Saddleback Church
is focused. Let us know how we can help get you connected.
Visit saddleback.com/missions.

Fill Out the Next Steps Card

• Even if you are not sure where you want to get involved, let us know
today what sparked your interest.
 DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION CLASS 401

72
CLASS 401
Appendices
C O M M U N I C AT I O N T I P S :
H O W T O S H A R E E F F E C T I V E LY
APPENDIX A

APPENDICES
Recognize Your Personal Style of Witnessing

Your SHAPE not only determines your ministry in the church, it also

D ISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

influences the style of your mission in the world!

S piritual gifts 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 8, Ephesians 4

H eart Matthew 12:34, Proverbs 4:23, Psalm 37:4

A bilities Exodus 31:3, 1 Corinthians 12:5

P ersonality 1 Corinthians 2:11

E xperiences 2 Corinthians 1:4, Romans 8:28

Right-brain witness (emphasizes personal experience) — “all your heart”

Left-brain witness (emphasizes facts and Scripture) — “all your mind”

75

Left Brain = Mind Right Brain = Heart

KEY: People Need Both!

CLASS 401

SOME COMMON STYLES

• The Serving Style

• The Intellectual Style
• The Bringing Style
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

• The Testimonial Style

• The Literature Style
• The Confrontational Style

Don’t feel guilty about styles you don’t naturally use.

Don’t judge others who don’t use your style.

Realize that Jesus never used the same approach twice.

Twelve Tips to Effectively Share Your Testimony

1. Think through what you might say.

Everything you say should be kind and well thought

76
out so that you know how to answer everyone.
COLOSSIANS 4:6 (GW)

Intelligent people think before they speak; what

they say is then more persuasive.
PROVERBS 16:23 (GNT)

2. Ask God for help in choosing the right words.

Pray for me that when I speak, God will give me

words so that I can tell the secret of the Good News
without fear.
EPHESIANS 6:19 (NCV)
 3. Show love.

APPENDICES
If I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy
gong or clanging bell.
1 CORINTHIANS 13:1 (GNT)

D ISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

 EOPLE DON’T
P
CARE HOW MUCH
WE KNOW, UNTIL
THEY KNOW HOW
MUCH WE CARE!

4. Be positive and pleasant.

A wise, mature person is known for his

understanding. The more pleasant his words,
77
the more persuasive he is.
PROVERBS 16:21 (GNT)

Conduct yourself with wisdom in your

interactions with outsiders (non-believers),
make the most of each opportunity [treating
it as something precious].
COLOSSIANS 4:5 (AMP)

A word of encouragement does wonders!

PROVERBS 12:25 (TLB)
 5. Never use any put downs.
CLASS 401

Don’t expect people to act like believers until they are believers!

Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out

the best in others in a conversation, not put them
down, not cut them out.
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

COLOSSIANS 4:6 (THE MESSAGE)

6. Tell stories—give examples.

People always relate better to a story.

Jesus always used stories and illustrations like

these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never
spoke to them without using such parables.
MATTHEW 13:34 (NLT)

7. Lighten up.

“The Son of Man came, enjoying life.”

LUKE 7:34 (PHILLIPS)
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8. Be yourself; be natural; don’t try to sound “spiritual.”

Dear brothers, even when I first came to you I

didn’t use lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell
you God’s message.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:1 (TLB)

Your speech should be unaffected and logical,

so that your opponent may feel ashamed at
finding nothing in which to pick holes.
TITUS 2:8 (PHILLIPS)
 9. Be vulnerable and authentic.

APPENDICES
Because we loved you, we were happy to share
not only God’s Good News with you, but even
our own lives.
1 THESSALONIANS 2:8 (NCV)

D ISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened
our hearts wide.
2 CORINTHIANS 6:11 (GNT)

Be sure that you live in a way that brings honor to

the Good News of Christ.
PHILIPPIANS 1:27 (NCV)

10. Memorize a few key verses.

Concentrate . . . on being a workman with nothing

to be ashamed of, and who knows how to use the
word of truth to the best advantage.
2 TIMOTHY 2:15 (PHILLIPS)
79
11. Keep it simple.

I fear . . . [Satan will corrupt you] from the

simplicity that is in Christ.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:3 (NKJV)

12. Remember, the Holy Spirit is using your words.

You are not trying to convince anyone on your own.

For when we brought you the Good News, it was not

only with words but also with power, for the Holy
Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said
was true.
1 THESSALONIANS 1:5 (NLT)
 APPENDIX B
CLASS 401

How to Lead Your Testimony into a Conversation

1. Listen for problems or needs where Jesus has helped you.

DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

“You know, that used to be a big issue in my life, too (or my marriage,
etc.). In fact, I felt pretty hopeless (frustrated, etc.). But then I discovered
something that made a major difference in my life.”

2. Refer to something in the news or on TV that deals with a common

need or problem.

“Did you read about . . . ? I can identify with how those people feel.
It wasn’t that long ago that I struggled with that, too. But then
something happened that changed everything for me . . .”

Start with a statement they agree with or a situation where they

can relate.

80
I T S E E M S L I K E L I F E
I S G E T T I N G FA S T E R
A N D F A S T E R .”
“SOMETIMES LIFE JUST
G E T S S O C O M P L I C A T E D .”

“ L I F E D O E S N ’ T A LWAYS
T U R N O U T T H E WAY
YO U P L A N N E D I T.
 3. Apologize to people you’ve known a long time but haven’t witnessed to.

APPENDICES
“Bill, I need to apologize to you. We’ve known each other a long time, and
I consider you to be a good friend. But friends don’t keep secrets—and
I’ve never told you about the best thing that ever happened to me. I guess
I was afraid of what you’d think. Anyway, . . . (begin your story).”

D ISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

Each day tell someone that he saves.
PSALM 96:2 (TLB)

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 APPENDIX C
CLASS 401

Preparing a Testimony

•  Pray and ask God to give you the right words.

DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

•  Write it out on paper. God honors preparation.

•  Keep it short and to the point. Don’t lose sight of your goal.
•  Be succinct. Avoid excessive, unnecessary details.
•  Try to keep your testimony less than three minutes.
•  Refer to experiences most people have in common.
•  Share a slice of your life (a story) that they will identify with.
•  Be honest about your continuing struggles. Your life is not perfect.
•  Don’t imply that all of your problems ended at conversion.
• Spend the most time on “The Difference It Has Made in My Life”
exercise on page 39.
•  Emphasize why you received Christ (the benefits of doing it).
•  Mention the benefit of being certain of your destiny when you die.
•  Don’t exaggerate or brag about preconversion sins.
•  Don’t make negative remarks about other religions or people.
•  Don’t mention any denomination.
82 •  Don’t quote a lot of Scripture (a maximum of one verse).
•  Don’t answer questions they haven’t asked.
•  Give concrete examples of the changes in your life.
•  The more specific you are, the more dynamic it will be.
•  Avoid using dates, names, and ages. It doesn’t matter to them.
•  Be prepared. Practice it until it feels and sounds natural.
•  Read it aloud and edit it to make it conversational.
•  Let a friend read it and make suggestions.
•  Speak casually and informally, in a matter-of-fact tone.
•  Don’t dramatize or embellish your story.
•  Don’t share mystical experiences. Share on their level, not yours.
•  Don’t talk down to people. Don’t sound “preachy.”
•  Use “I, me, and my”—not “you.” It’s about you—not them.
•  Use humor—it reduces tension and relaxes people. Smile!
•  Choose a central theme (see the list on page 35).
APPENDIX D

APPENDICES
Becoming a World-Class Christian

A Personal Checklist to Effectively “Live P E AC E ”

D ISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

There’s no single magic formula for what it means to live P E AC E . But if
God is working in your life, there are some characteristics you may recognize
to help you discover his plan for you. Of course, no matter how many of
these characteristics describe you today, the important starting question is:
“Do I desire these things to be true in my life?”

A World-Class Christian is . . .

. . . Spiritually AWAKENED (an upward process)

  Lives in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord

 Obeys the Bible as a daily disciple and personally embraces the

Great Commission

 Serves through a local church, using his or her unique gifts

and experiences 83

 Gives faithfully of time, treasure, and talent to evangelistic

mission efforts

 Responds to God’s touch by praying and caring for people who

need to know Christ
 . . . Continually ADJUSTING (an inward process)
CLASS 401

 Seeks to understand and remove the barriers that keep people from
hearing the Gospel

  Discovers how God has uniquely created him or her to share Christ

  Changes attitudes and behaviors that may hinder sharing the Gospel
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

 Adapts to the variety of people and settings where Christ may

be presented

 Plans ways and develops partnerships to help effectively deliver

the Gospel

. . . Evangelistically ACTIVE (an outward process)

 Loves God and others by personally sharing Christ at every

divine appointment

 Builds intentional relationships with people who do not

know Christ

 Uses unique gifts, abilities, and vocational skills to serve and

share Christ

84  Invites people into settings where they will hear the Gospel in
personally relevant ways

 Cooperates with other believers who are purposefully sharing

Christ with targeted groups

. . . A passionate ADVOCATE (a forward process)

  Longs for the multiplication of on-mission Christians and churches

 Helps others discover their gifts and personal style for

sharing Christ

 Trains others in on-mission principles through active

volunteer involvement

 Sends on-mission Christians to all people and all people groups

of the world
CLASS 401
Answer Key
ANSWER KEY

ANSWER KEY
Introduction People are HOPELESSLY LOST
 6. 
without Christ.
I was created to FULFILL
God’s purpose.  7. God wants EVERYONE saved!

D ISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

God PLANNED his mission in my life  8. I will be REWARDED for eternity.
before I was born. God’s TIMETABLE for history
 9. 
My PRIMARY GOAL in life is to hinges around us completing
fulfill the mission God has for me. Jesus’ mission!

Fulfilling God’s mission in my life 10. I will BE GLAD when I see people
brings GLORY TO GOD. in heaven.

SESSION ONE: UNDERSTANDING SESSION TWO: COMMUNICATING

GOD’S MISSION GOD’S STORY

Why God Created Us What Is the Good News?

 1. We were made to have a God became a man so I COULD

 1. 
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. RELATE TO HIM.

 2. 
We were made to BECOME   2. Jesus died for my sins so I DON’T
LIKE CHRIST. HAVE TO.

 3. We were made to SERVE HIS Jesus destroyed death so

 3. 
PURPOSE. I COULD EXPERIENCE
ETERNAL LIFE. 87
 4. 
We were made to LAST
FOREVER. Salvation is a free gift so I DON’T
 4. 
HAVE TO EARN IT.
Why Jesus’ Mission Must Matter
 5. It is based on faith so ALL I
to Me
HAVE TO DO IS REPENT AND
Ten Facts That Motivate Me BELIEVE.

 1. If I want to be like Jesus, The Value of Your

HIS LIFE MISSION must
Personal Testimony
determine MY LIFE MISSION.
 1. UNIQUE
 2.  Jesus EXPECTS ME to continue
his mission.  2. PERSONAL

 3. 
Sharing the Good News is 100% YOURS
 3. 
my RESPONSIBILITY.  4. MEMORABLE
 4.  Sharing the Good News is  5. RELATIONAL
a PRIVILEGE.
 6. EFFECTIVE
I’m GRATEFUL for what Jesus
 5. 
has done for me.
 The Four Parts of My Story Jesus Modeled an Answer to the
CLASS 401

W hat my life was like BEFORE I

 1.  Giants: The P EAC E Plan
met Christ. P LANT CHURCHES that promote
 2. How I REALIZED I needed reconciliation.
Christ. E QUIP servant leaders.
How I COMMITTED my life
 3.  A SSIST the poor.
to Christ.
DISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION

C ARE for the sick.

T he DIFFERENCE it has made in
 4. 
my life. E DUCATE the next generation.

Fishing in My Pond What It Takes to Be On-Mission For God

Three Keys to Spiritual Fishing We must shift our thinking

 1. 
from SELF-CENTEREDNESS to
 1. Identify my POND. GOD-CENTEREDNESS.
 2. T HINK like the fish in my pond. We must shift our thinking from
 2. 
 3. Remember that fish get HUNGRY LOCAL to GLOBAL.
AT DIFFERENT TIMES. We must shift our thinking
 3. 
from TEMPORAL VALUES to
How to Build a Bridge of Friendship ETERNAL VALUES.
A Plan for Sharing Your Faith We must shift our thinking from
 4. 
SECURITY to SERVICE.
Step 1: Become AWARE of the
unbelievers God has placed We must shift our thinking from
 5. 
in your life. COMFORT to SACRIFICE.

88 Step 2:  Commit to PRAYER.

Step 3:  Show you CARE.
Step 4:  Be ready to SHARE.

SESSION THREE: LIVING
ON-MISSION FOR GOD

What the World Needs Now

We are all called to be ON-MISSION.

The Five Global Evil Giants

 1. Spiritual EMPTINESS
 2. Lack of SERVANT LEADERS
 3. POVERTY
 4. DISEASE
 5. ILLITERACY
NOTES
89

D ISCOVERING MY LIFE MISSION