Witness Practice Week 1
Begin With Love
Our lives in Christ hinge on the practice of witness: where we as apprentices of Jesus open up our lives to others in love, testifying to the good news of Jesus through our words and way of life in community.
And while it’s true that we all would not be following Jesus the way we are today without this practice — many of us may also admittedly experience a certain allergic response to the idea of “evangelism.” It brings up images of uncompassionate preaching on street corners, unsolicited conversations, or perhaps more painfully, well-meaning invitations and interactions that are met with hostility.
But what if our witness to the person of Jesus could be more ordinary and less forced than what we may initially imagine? And what if the starting place for this practice was not pressure, fear, or obligation, but love?
Below you will find steps to help you engage with this practice over the next four weeks, as well as resources for further exploration.
Ways to engage with the Witness Practice
First and foremost, this practice (and all practices) are meant to be done in community. If you haven't yet, find a small group of people that are commited to walking through this practice together. You can join a Journey Group here.
Download the Witness Practice Guide. If you can, it is advised to print it out to reduce the distraction of our devices.
Gather with your group once a week to watch the Practicing the Way video found below. This will include questions for discussion, as well as a short teaching on that week's practice.
Step into each practice as much as you are able and feel comfortable to. This invitation is for everyone at all stages of life and faith.
Reflect on your experience of the practice using the reflection questions at the bottom of the guide and be prepared to share them the next time you gather with your group.
Recommended Reading
The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield (Chapters 1-2)
Rule of Life Podcast
Fasting Practice Guide
Download the practice guide here
Week 1 Practice - Identify three to five people you care about
who are not followers of Jesus and begin
praying for them daily.
Write down the names of three to five people who are not currently following Jesus that you want to pray for daily throughout this Practice.
Place each of those three to five people in the below category that you think best represents where they are in their spiritual journey.
1. Trusting a Chrisitan
2. Becoming Curious
3. Opening Up to Change
4. Seeking after God
5. Living in the Kingdom
Lastly, set aside some time now to ask God to speak to you, in your mind and heart, about what they need to experience next, and what part you play in it. What do you sense needs to happen next in their spiritual journey to move toward God?
Week 1 Reflection Questions
Before your next time together with the group for Week 2, take five minutes to journal out your answers to the following three questions about the practice:
Where did I feel resistance?
Where did I feel joy?
Where did I most experience God's nearness?
