The preparation for Week 3 is already here. Thank you for your investment in this emphasis. Week three is a very important week, so thank you for considering the following as you prepare:

1. Pray. I hope you are catching a theme here, but nothing will work without prayer. Our heart, passion, zeal won’t get it done. It is only by the power of the living God that great and mighty things happen. Ask Him for specifics for your Sunday School class, not just “bless us.” Ask Him to use your class, you and me, to see people come to faith in Jesus.

2. Use the Week 3 online lesson resources (located here). You’ll notice that for week 3 you will be emphasizing the power of prayer in sharing the Gospel with specific individuals. That is key. We are not praying a broad “save our community” prayer, but a directive toward praying for individuals you have placed in MY life. There is also an admonishment in the lesson to be ever so careful that we do pray for “our” needs, but that we focus the most on praying for the lost. During this lesson you will also have the opportunity to have your group members share their 3 minute testimony from week two. You will also have the opportunity to help your class members know a “sinner’s prayer” that they can use as they share their faith with someone. Remember that we can help you print the lesson worksheets if you need help.

3. One particular resource that will be helpful for you for this week will be the My316 tract. The tract is very simple with the verse John 3:16, and a sinner’s prayer printed on it. 2 things you could do with this: One, use it in the part of the lesson focusing on the sinner’s prayer, this will get this in everyone’s hands. Two, have everyone take three to use (we can get more), but in particular, carry at lease one in your pocket as a reminder. From Sunday to Sunday, our lives are busy. What a great reminder that I need to be praying for and sharing Christ than to have the tract in my pocket. We have these up front at the receptionist’s desk. Come by and pick them up anytime. We will also have them on the Sunday School records cart.

God bless you as you prepare for Week 3 and our specific emphasis on praying for particular people. Please contact me any time if I can be of assistance to you. I am here to serve you!

For God so Loved the World,
Ray

I am praying for you all as we launch the first week this Sunday the 19th. As you prepare for week 2 on September 26th, let me suggest the following:

1. Pray-as stated last week, continue to pray daily about this emphasis as you lead your Sunday School group. Pray that each person will have a fresh encounter with their own faith journey and the impact of salvation on their lives, but also a renewed and refreshed zeal to share the Good News of Jesus Christ!

2. In the lesson for week 2 (download here), you will be leading your group to zero in on the facts of their story with Jesus Christ. You may be familiar with the 3 minute testimony, life before, conversion, and after new faith in Christ. The lesson steps you through this; this is a great lesson. Here is the biggest thing I want you to be prepared for. Perhaps someone in your class is lost. This lesson focuses in on personally knowing and experiencing the facts of salvation. Use this lesson as an opportunity to highlight, “Hey, for some of you today, you may realize that you know facts about Christ, but you do not personally know Christ, there has not been a time when you have asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life and to forgive you of your sin…” What a great opportunity to be able to lead folks through a prayer of salvation, and be able to say, “We want to help you write your testimony that begins, today!” Please contact me any time if you would like help in how to lead your class through a time of decision, or how to even open the door to talk with someone after class about making this decision.