Out of your

comfort zone

By Richard Tett

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ScripturePhilippians 1:3-6James 5:7-16

Let’s Focus:We are currently working on an estate in the northwest of England. The estate is made up of post warhousing mainly owner occupied but still pockets ofcouncil and housing association properties, there aresome new builds near by. The estate is on theoutskirts of town just out of reasonable walkingdistance. It is an urban priority area and has swathesof poverty. There are many issues within the area asalways highlighted in the media regarding youngpeople. There are problems with drugs, alcohol andvandalism. The area also has a high proportion ofteenage pregnancies.

With high unemployment and not being close toworking areas this gives rise to the young people beingbored and finding other ways to entertain themselves.Facilities on the estate are few and far between for theteenagers, a youth centre that is open only 2 nights aweek. The general norm is for the teenagers to hangaround the 5 or 6 shops that are nearby or the pub carpark. At the centre of the estate is the church, arelatively modern church. The church is working toserve the community and the congregation worktogether to the glory of God and in the service of anestablished but ever changing community.

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Let’s Reflect:When Paul writes this letter to the Philippians, he is full of joy, eventhough he is in prison, joy at sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. He has joy in finding unity of heart within the body of Christ.

Even though we are often challenged by the contexts that God places usin, indeed even resistant to them; when we overcome those challengesand relinquish ourselves to God, it is then that we will see the power ofour obedience to God bearing some fruit in the lives of those whom weare witnessing to.

When we step out in faith, God can do massive things with us throughordinary everyday situations. Paul in his letter to the Philippians is settingthe mark that it is important to pray. This manifests itself in how we showand reflect Christian community when engaging with the young people.There are great opportunities to explore the Gospel with the youngpeople and the potential of transforming lives.

A God moment as I call them happened one week; a young person wastalking about how prayer doesn’t work, she needed a job and wasunable to find one. So I said to her Iwould pray with her and ask God tohelp her in her confidence and abilityto find the right job for her. She said'I still don’t believe prayer works'. At this point, a young lad, whom wehad been praying with some weeksago, came onto the bus and said'oh yes it does, because I was

prayed for and I have found a joband I never thought I would'.

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Like this story, James encourages us not to give up (James 5:7-16).Through this scripture we learn to ask God to help us to develop morepatience as we wait for something; for instance when we make a longterm commitment to pray for a non Christian friend.

When working with young people their language can sometimes be achallenge. We try to teach the young people that praying can help themwith difficulties they may face in their daily lives, how it can turn their livesaround and help them to be more positive when talking to others. InJames's view, oaths and prayers are simply the verbal expressions of whata person is truly feeling but cannot articulate. In many ways, it is the samewith young people and faith. James is clearly a man of faith; he has apassion for prayer.

Let’s be encouraged to think on this matter of prayer with three emphases: • When to Pray? (5:13-14) When we are in trouble and facing adversity.

We teach these young people that when in a crisis turning to God in aprayer is infinitely more rewarding than responding with violence or anger.

• How to Pray? (5:14-15) Pray with others, pray in the name of the Lord,pray as if you believe that God will answer your request! The prayer ofgenuine faith is the prayer that is effective.

• Why Pray? (5:16) If you spent time thinkingabout this you would undoubtedly come tothe conclusion that God certainly doesanswer prayer. Therefore we pray to seekan answer. We also pray to develop ourrighteousness before God, that is todevelop our humble side of our nature.

1. Where are you challenged to move out of your comfort zoneand give some ground to an apparently resistant group?

2. Can you stand firm in your faith with the most basic things likebelief in the power of prayer?

3. What can you draw from your own life experience that wouldbenefit another person on their journey? (remember no one hasan ordinary experience)

4. In reading the passage in James, where are you challenged inyour prayer life?

5. How can the knowledge that Jesus is returning, help us to bepatient in our prayers today?

Let’s Discuss:

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Action:The team is made up from the congregation and tend to be of the olderage group. They have had some uneasy experiences of the local youngpeople in the past, so for most of them they are stepping out of theircomfort zones and dealing with their prejudices and fears. The team havebattled with these issues and have come a long way to being themselvesamongst the young people and gelling with us and the rest of the team.The key to this type of evangelism is being comfortable with yourself.Young people search for role models. They look to those role models foradvice, guidance, love and humour.

There have been many great turning points in facilitating the team toshare in what they believe with the young people. One man, a dedicatedmember of the volunteers, has grown in confidence in the relatively shorttime we have been on the estate with the bus. He shared an incident withme, which occurred a short time ago. He was walking down the roadwith his friend and there were some young people hanging off a bridge,they started to take it out of him until he got closer. Then they recognisedhim and said 'Hey aren’t you the guy from the Jesus bus? When’s itcoming back?' For him, this was a big step in his faith and understandingof how he engaged with the young people.

When we engage with young people, they develop an understanding ofwho we are and what we represent. They might take the rise out of us,but underneath, deep down, they see that we belong to something. They will often overcome big hurdles, not least peer pressure, to get tothe point where they feel comfortable about belonging too.

Prayer:Lord Jesus,Help us to embrace what our young people offer us.Through our witness, equip us to encourage and establishthem. Through your Holy Spirit, guide us to be faithfulwitnesses to the power of prayer, and in doing so enableothers to live life to the full. Amen.

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I remember the first time I prepared to lead a bible study; I was 22years old and went bald! Well, I think that was down to naturerather than the preparation. However, it was scary as well asexciting. Ring a bell? Then read on….

The scriptures are littered with stories of God's people being called to do something they feel they are not humanly capable of. Yet it issimilarly littered with outcomes of God's people completing what Hehas called them to undertake and the blessing therein.

So let's take those fears and chill a bit, in the knowledge that God will help you, as he has helped countless others.

Part of my ministry as an evangelist over the past 10 years has beento encourage and enable, so be encouraged that the Lord ismoulding you in leadership. In my experience it helps to know thatyou do not have to be an expert on the Bible or even a collegeprofessor! Essentially it is all about preparation and discussion. AllowGod to enable you by His Holy Spirit to lead you with confidence anddiscernment. Therefore in order to offer some help to you, I have setout below some of the things that have aided me in leading studies in the past.

Supporting Notes

for Individuals and

Group Leaders

Before you begin Studying the scriptures and exploring other people’s experiences ofevangelism can be for some, very exciting; for others it can be verydaunting indeed.

I have put together some suggestions that may help you as youprepare to get the most out of The Fullness of Life. We hopethat each week you will be stimulated through the scriptures andthrough the content on the Web. To find out more about how allof our Evangelists and staff are working at transforming lives andcommunities visit http://www.churcharmy.org.uk/people to see videos of ministry in action.

Each of our contributors to these studies has carefully thoughtthrough how you can apply this learning in your own life and context,in order to engage in evangelism. Their questions are designed tochallenge and encourage action.

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Studying as an individual Pray: Before you begin each study, ask the Lord to guide you and openyour mind. Give yourself time to allow God to stabilise your inner self sothat you can apply what you are learning in your life.

Time: Give yourself space to learn; the studies are designed that youcan learn at a pace that suits you. It may help you to briefly read allseven studies before you begin; this may help you to think about wherethe studies will take you.

Bible: Having your own Bible is important as it will be a book that youwill be familiar with. The version that you find most helpful is the bestone to use. All Bible verses quoted in these studies are from the NewInternational Version.

Notes: Make notes within eachstudy. Remember there are nowrong answers; the beautyabout our relationship withGod is that He illuminatesour life and inspires us bythe Holy Spirit. So jotdown your response tothe question honestly.

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Studying as a group For the leader: These notes may be of some help as you prepare tolead the group either for the first time or as a seasoned veteran!

Preparation: Groups are naturally formed of individuals, so beencouraged to follow the points suggested for individuals, as youprepare for your group study. In this way you will find your learning ingroup study deepens through your preparation.

Participation: Discussion is by far the best form of learning.Remember that as the leader you will need to ensure that everyonehas their say. No answer is wrong! Share how God is teaching you,how He is encouraging/challenging you, and how He is doing that with others.

Be focussed: Stick to the study material being discussed for thatweek. It has been my intention that you only have to use the scripturesreferred to. There is no need to look up commentaries or other views.The core essence of these studies is to reflect upon the evangelisticexample given. Therefore the paramount questions of the study are:How can I do this? How do I apply this?

Listen: Encouraging all that listening to other members of a group is asimportant as contributing. If you have an attentive ear, you may besurprised at how much you can learn from others. In parish ministry Iwas always amazed at how the quiet person sometimes came with asuggestion that was as a blast of fresh air.

A balanced input: As group leader you should be able to ensure allhave the chance to contribute. It is important that we ensure thatindividuals do not dominate the discussions. The eagerness one has toshare can often be at the cost of others not having time to respond.Therefore encourage one another; after all, the Christian journey reallyshould not be about outsmarting each other.

Involve God: God wants to share with each of us; His desire to see usevangelise. Be open to the Holy Spirit talking to you and to your fellowgroup mates. Most of all have fun discovering new boundaries.

Supporting Church Army Your prayers and financial support are vital to the success of Church Armyministry. There are many ways in which you can partner with us - at home, in church, with friends, by joining us in prayer, making a regulardonation or even with a bequest in your Will.

Make a regular donation A regular gift enables us to plan with confidence, as well as reducing ouradministrative and banking costs.

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Make a one-off donation £15 - would enable a Church Army evangelist to minister with children and young

people through a school assembly or after-school club.£25 - would fund a prayer group for homeless people at a Church Army project.£50 - would provide a three course meal for 30 isolated older people at one of

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Pray for usYou can receive a prayer diary in paper format by ticking the box opposite, orelectronically by going to www.churcharmy.org.uk/pub/support/prayer/ePrayer-signup.asp

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