Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Lesson 1: The Pledge
The Heart of the Pledge
Launch: Talking Point
Watch this video: Surrender, Servant, Steward:
https://vimeo.com/126406951
Learning Objectives
• To prepare our hearts as we
pray for God’s leading in our
future plans.
• To understand God’s heart
for us when we trust and
surrender our future
uncertain plans to Him.
• To make a faith commitment
to surrender unto Him in the
power of His Holy Spirit to
★
★
★
★
What did you learn from this video?
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Go to where God leads us.
Do what God wants us to
do
Say what God wants us to
say
Give what God wants us
to give
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
The Heart of the Pledge
The Heart of the Pledge
Lord Jesus, I surrender to You, and in the power of Your Spirit, I will …
•
GO where You want me to GO
•
DO what You want me DO
•
SAY what You want me to SAY
•
GIVE what You want me to GIVE
Lord Jesus,
I surrender to you...
We have our own preferences for where we want to go, what we want to do or say or
give. But what if God wants something different for our lives than we do?
It can be hard to see sometimes, but God truly wants the best for us. He invites us not to
be his enemies anymore, but to be his allies, to be his co-workers.
To say, “I surrender” to God is not about losing what we have, but about gaining all the
beauty, wonder, overflowing life and expansive love God offers. It’s saying, “I have my own
ideas about how to live my life, but instead I’m going to follow you and see where you
take me.”
I’m not going to fight. I’m not going to resist. I’m not going to hide.
I surrender.
And in the power of your Spirit…
We aren’t on this journey alone.
God gives us the strength to do what he asks of us, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
As we depend on the Spirit, he will guide us, and make us the kind of people he wants us
to be. He keeps our eyes open to him, softens our hearts and transforms our lives. The
Holy Spirit guides us and walks alongside us.
There are other people on this path, too. Other followers of Jesus walk with us,
encourage us and cheer us on. Thousands of people across the world and millions of
people throughout history have made this decision to surrender and follow in the power
of the Holy Spirit. We can, alongside thousands of others like us, make disciples and help
change the world!
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
GO
Explore: Into the Word
Will you GO where God wants?
I will…
GO where you want me to GO.
What does it look like to GO anywhere God wants us to go? For some it means going
next door to your neighbor and for others it means packing up everything and moving
across the world. We’ve been given unique desires, passions and experiences that will
shape what it looks like for us to follow Jesus where he wants to take us.
Maybe there is a certain cause that ignites something in your heart. Maybe there is a city
or country that is calling your name. Or maybe there is a certain group of people within
whom you can make a real difference.
You don’t have to have it all figured out today – God might want you to go to one place
now and a different place later - what really matters is your willingness to go where he
leads you.
Think about whether or not you’re ready to GO.
•
What does that look like?
•
Where might Jesus be leading you to go?
•
What might prevent you from going?
Take some time to journal your thoughts, and ask God where He might be leading you.
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
GO
Journal down your thoughts:
What does it look like to GO? (Refer to Appendix)
•
How to take the gospel to your campus (Appendix 1)
You can be a missionary anywhere.
•
The Gospel Without Sound (Appendix 2)
When Sarah went to Africa on a mission trip, she had one prayer: to share the gospel
with a deaf person.
•
Those in Your Own Backyard (Appendix 3)
Three stories and examples of ways to bring Christ into conversations all around you.
•
NFL Star Changed by Mission Trip (Appendix 4)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith originally didn’t want to go on a mission
trip, but he saw his life changed after he decided to go.
•
Learn to start a Bible study of your own (Appendix 5)
Missy learned what it really meant to follow Christ through a neighborhood Bible
study.
To GO is not the only thing God asks of us.
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
DO
I will…
DO what you want me to DO.
When we say to Jesus, “My life is yours.” we can expect things to be different. Our dreams,
our plans, our ideas – when infused with Jesus – become his dreams, his plans, and his ideas.
Through the power of the Spirit and by reading the Bible, we find freedom and
contentment in living out his plans for us.
From simple, daily acts of kindness, to choosing whether or not to cheat on a test, to
momentous decisions like choosing a career…anything and everything we do is an
opportunity to follow God and his plans or to do our own thing.
Which of these describes how it feels to DO what Jesus wants you to do:
•
That sounds scary to me.
•
I’m so excited to get started
•
I’m not even sure where to begin.
•
The whole idea is pretty overwhelming.
•
Meh. I feel kind of numb.
Take a moment to reflect and journal a bit about which of these feelings resonate most
with you right now. What might cause that to change?
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
SAY
Will You Say What God Wants You To Say?
I will…
SAY what you want me to SAY.
Words are powerful.
They seem so small, so insignificant, and yet the words people say often stick with us. An
off-handed compliment can be a light for someone in a dark place. A sharp critique may
fester insecurities and self-defeat.
We can learn to speak like Jesus.
Maybe he will ask us to speak about our experience of him. Maybe he will tell us to say
“I’m sorry” or “You’re forgiven.” Maybe he will instruct us to share words of
encouragement, or to speak up against evil. More than once he’ll tell us to say, “You are
loved.”
We might be excited or nervous, happy or scared, shy or outspoken, but the question is
whether we will say the words he is asking us to say.
Take a few minutes to reflect on what you feel Jesus is calling you to SAY.
You can consider reading the following articles. (Appendix)
5 Tips For Making God An Everyday Conversation (Appendix 6)
Here are some “tracks to run on” to explain the message of Christ with people you
already have relationships with.
When A Stranger Got My Phone Number (Appendix 7)
When you get an angry text message from your old phone number, your options are: 1)
delete it 2) fire back an angry text in response, or 3) what Keri Armentrout did.
How To Incorporate Your Faith At Work (Appendix 8)
Whether it’s a classroom, cubicle or car, your faith can play an important role in your work
environment.
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
SAY
Be a Better Witness For Christ (Appendix 9)
Beginning a relationship with Christ is the most important thing a person can do, and you
can help them. But how do you increase your witness for Christ?
You can share your reflections here:
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
GIVE
I will…
GIVE what you want me to GIVE.
God is enormously generous. He gives us sunlight and rain, he shares his love with us, he
provides for us, and he sent his son to die for broken humanity. He has given us so much,
and he continues to give to us day in and day out.
Generosity will characterize our lives as we seek to imitate God. Giving – whether we
have a little or a lot – is part of developing a generous heart. A generous person has a
compassionate heart and sees the needs of people around them.
God may ask us to use our time, our money, our skills, or any of our resources as we’re
working together with him to change the world. What gifts can we give to those around
us? What might he ask of us? Are we willing to give what he asks us to give?
Stop and think about GIVING. Whether it is time, money, talent, etc., jot down some
thoughts on how you can GIVE. What areas of your life is Jesus calling you to be more
generous with?
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Take the Pledge
APPLY: The Next Step
Take the Pledge
Lord Jesus, I surrender to You, and in the power of Your Spirit, I will …
•
GO where You want me to GO
•
DO what You want me DO
•
SAY what You want me to SAY
•
GIVE what You want me to GIVE
PONDER: Before the Next Session
Read the articles in the appendix and continue asking the Lord how He might want you to GO,
DO, SAY, GIVE.
“Cru.N.Action” is a small group material created by Cru Singapore,
adapted from “The Community”. We’d love to hear your feedback on
this study. Please write us at [email protected]. No part of this
publication may be digitally reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted, without the prior permission of Cru.
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 1 - It Isn't "Location, Location, Location.”
Taken from “Communities” at https://www.cru.org/communities/campus/always-a-missionary.html
You're a missionary. Now what?
You don’t have to be a missionary to, well, be a missionary.
Liz Jackson is the daughter of two full-time ministries. Her parents serve in Budapest,
Hungary. Unlike them, it isn’t her “job” to explain Christ to other people. But she still does
it.
A dual-enrolled student of Kansas State University and Manhattan Christian College, Liz
says, “The Great Commission is for every Christian, not just for those who happen to live
internationally. Some raise support; some get a paycheck. Where you live and how you are
paid have nothing to do with your calling or purpose: making disciples.”
“At school, I go to several political clubs at K-state and have made a lot of friends through
attending. As we become friends, I ask them about their religious beliefs and usually get an
opportunity to explain mine to them as well. I have had the opportunity to share the
gospel with many students through this. I enjoy it because there is the foundation of a
long-term relationship, and that enables me to have many conversations with these other
students and answer lots of their questions. Also, I hope that my life and love is an example
to them for Christ, so the gospel is echoed in both my words and my actions.”
Ellyn Pupero is also a college student, at Purdue University.
“A person working at Walmart can just as easily be used by the Lord as someone who is
working in the slums of Africa - it's all about our heart condition and whether or not we
are choosing to be used by God,” says Ellyn.
Last semester, Ellyn met Leah, a classmate who also lived a few doors down from her.
Interested in spiritual discussions, Leah joined Ellyn’s Bible study and continuously heard
about having a personal relationship with Christ.
“After 8 months of being intentional with Leah, finally, on March 21, 2012, Leah
surrendered her life to Christ,” says Ellyn. “It couldn't have happened without the Lord's
strength and it was only through Him that Leah gave over control to Him, I'm just so
thankful He used me in the process.”
David Fenz has a similar story. David met an exchange student from Austria, named
Matthias. Over lunch, Matthias thoughtfully answered David’s spiritual questions, explaining
that he thought he was a 6 on a scale of 1-10, 10 being sure he would go to Heaven.
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 1 - It Isn't "Location, Location, Location.”
Being a missionary has nothing to do with location. It has to do with being in God’s will: at
school, with neighbors, over lunch.
“We think of being a missionary more in terms of where we are rather than what we do,
and it should be the other way around,” says David. “Christ's call to us to lay down our
lives is not just a command for some kind of super Christian. This joy is not something just
for pastors or career missionaries.”
“I'm a missionary because I find more joy in seeing people knowing Christ and watching
Him change their lives than in anything else. It's far more exciting than any Basketball
Tournament, on any big screen TV, in any large house. Not that those things are bad or that
the fact that you have those things makes you a weak Christian. The test is what we love;
what our hearts are set on.”
END A
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 2 - The Gospel Without Sound
Taken from “Communities” at https://www.cru.org/communities/locations/africa/ghana/gospel-withoutsound.html
Sarah’s bold prayer was to be able to share the gospel with a deaf person.
God had already put Ghana on her mind.
“I really wanted to go to Ghana but knew God would have to raise the funds and thought
maybe I could go later,” Sarah Kunz recalls.
A sophomore at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Sarah studies American Sign
Language as her foreign language. When she heard about the Ghana summer project with
Cru, she got excited.
“I knew that the man who brought sign language to Ghana spoke English,” Sarah says, “and
knew I wanted to go to Ghana, meet someone who was deaf and share the gospel with
them.”
During the 5-week summer project, Sarah’s entire team of 33 knew that she was praying
God would put a deaf person in her path.
Sarah remembers thinking, I’m not fluent yet, but if God wants me to find someone, He will help
me communicate.
During the second week, the group visited a small village to talk with people about the
gospel and show the JESUS Film.
Sarah remembers one of her teammates running through the village. “[She] was looking for
me,” Sarah says. “The team had met a tailor on the other side of the village who was deaf
and wanted to talk with me.”
When Sarah met the man and signed, “Hi, my name is Sarah,” a look of pure joy appeared
on his face. “It was so cool,” Sarah recalls. “He signed his name – which was his name sign
‘K,’ mixed with the sign for ‘deaf.’ People who are deaf or grow up in a deaf community,
create a name sign instead of spelling out their name every time. It’s usually the first letter
of their name mixed with another sign.”
Continued >>
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 2 - The Gospel Without Sound
Then the man took out his notebook and showed Sarah his phone number, full name and
other information. His name was Kwame Amoako. People working with Kwame or visiting
him saw Sarah talking with him and told her she couldn’t talk to him because he couldn’t
hear her. But then they saw her sign something to Kwame and understood:
Sarah was talking to him.
The team’s bus was leaving, but Sarah told Kwame she would come back and talk to him. “I
left a gospel picture booklet with him,” she says, “wrote my name down on it. Told him I
looked forward to talking to him more.”
On their third day in the village, Sarah grabbed one of her friends and rushed off to speak
with Kwame.
“I brought the booklet with me again,” she explains, “the name ‘Yesu Kristo’ was written
on the booklet – I asked him if he knew who Jesus was.”
They flipped through the booklet together, using signs for “God,” “Jesus” and “love.” If their
signs were different or weren’t making sense, they would write things down. “I knew he
was understanding the things I was saying,” Sarah says.
A friend of Kwame’s was there who appeared to know some sign language. He was
communicating with Kwame and hearing what Sarah said.
“Then, I asked him if he wanted to have that personal relationship with Jesus,” Sarah says.
Emphasizing that Kwame could make that decision right then and there. “And when you do
[decide], you will have that relationship with Him and you will be with him when you die,”
Sarah explained. “You will spend eternity with Him.”
Then, Sarah prayed for Kwame, spoke it and signed it so he could understand. “We wrote
some of it down, too,” she says.
After that, it was time to leave but the next day Sarah invited Kwame to watch
theJESUS Film with the other people in the village.
Continued >>
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 2 - The Gospel Without Sound
“Throughout the film, we were able to talk and discuss things through sign language,”
Sarah remembers. “It was really cool to see what a change had happened in him. We were
able to understand each other through barriers – not sharing the gospel in the normal
way.”
“Kwame’s joy was obvious. It was something I saw a lot that summer,” Sarah says. “When
people understood, you could just see it in their eyes. It just clicked. It happened with
Kwame too. The joy I saw in him after the spiritual conversation and after we prayed
together.”
“Before I left for Ghana, I started praying that God would provide an opportunity for me
to use my knowledge of American Sign Language to share the gospel with a deaf Ghanaian.
I even told multiple people that it was my not-so-secret hope for the project. At the end
of our first day in the village, God provided that opportunity.”
“Throughout this whole experience, God really blew my mind,” Sarah says. “Even though I
had been bold in telling people that I wanted this to happen, I had never imagined that
God would bring me to an unmapped village in the middle of an African country to share
His love with a man that I had been praying for, but didn't even know existed.”
“God showed me that His word is more powerful than anything else, that even someone
without ears can hear it. Some people may have had doubts that he could understand, but
I know that I’ll see Kwame in heaven someday.”
END A
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 3 - Those in Your Own Backyard
Taken from “Communities” at https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/share-the-gospel/neighborhoodevangelism.html
Try these practical ways to introduce your neighbors to Jesus
When Florida fishing guide Phil Anthony (Tony to his friends) showed up at the local
school to shoot hoops with the guys, he was looking for a good workout, not necessarily a
place to share Christ with others.
But he found both.
Combining Everyday Life and Faith
While playing evening pickup games, his excitement for both his church and his Lord
bounced around on the basketball court.
"I started playing basketball at the school just after my father died," says Dave Turnbeaugh.
"Tony became one of my friends and told me that Christ was important to him. He'd invite
me and the other players to dinners or musical programs at the church. He told us that
Christ died for our sins and one day He was coming back to gather His people, so we'd
better be prepared for that day.”
"It didn't turn me off when Tony talked to me about Christ, because that was his way of
life," says Dave. "I knew his personality -- he enjoyed fishing, basketball and Jesus. Those
were the 3 things that he liked to talk about.”
Dave was one of several guys who took Tony up on his offers and visited Tony's church.
Soon Dave and his wife, Sue, gave their lives to Christ.
When Tony played basketball with non-Christians, it took Jesus to where the men lived and
played. Because of their common interest, the men took Tony as he was and didn't put up
spiritual defenses.
Doing something you enjoy with your neighbors helps them see Christ in you. Here are
some ideas to help you bring the gospel to those nearby. Maybe among these ideas, you'll
find one that fits your personality or would be just right for your neighborhood.
Continued >>
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 3 - Those in Your Own Backyard
Being Prepared to Transition Your Conversation
Several years ago, I realized that although I'd taken the time to greet my neighbors and
chitchat about small stuff, I didn't know how to transition from an everyday conversation
to explaining the gospel. So my husband and I came up with a plan.
We asked Orlando and Evelyn and their daughter to our home for dinner. After we ate,
and our children ran off to play, we said, "You know, we've lived as neighbors for a few
years now and we've really come to care about you. You probably have already seen that
our relationship with God is very important to us, but maybe you don't know why. We
wanted to share a booklet with you that has meant a lot to us -- it explains how to have a
personal relationship with God. Can we read it with you?”
Orlando and Evelyn said yes, and we read through Would You Like to Know God
Personally? (evangelistic tract) Orlando seemed ready to invite Christ into his life, but
Evelyn was not. At least they both left knowing how they could receive Christ.
I've found it very helpful to have in my mind a transitional phrase like the one I
just mentioned, for it helps get me to the point of communicating the gospel with people.
I've used a similar phrase when I've invited over moms from my children's school.
Once I get to the booklet, it's just a matter of reading through it. If tangential questions
come up while reading, I simply say, "That's a good question. Maybe as we read on, your
question will be answered. If it isn't, I'll answer it at the end.”
I used to fret that if people didn't like my telling them about Christ, I could lose their
friendship. Then I realized that there are varying levels of friendship. I could continue having
a surface-level relationship with my neighbors for years to come.
But if I never told them about my faith, our relationship wouldn't have the chance to
deepen. Funny thing, though, as I've shared Christ from a heart of love for my neighbors,
our friendships have gotten better than ever.
Continued >>
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 3 - Those in Your Own Backyard
Celebrating Holiday and Special Events
Another way to lovingly present your faith with neighbors is to throw a party. Shortly
after Barbara Ball moved to Florida, she decided to host an Easter brunch for her
neighbors. She delivered invitations to their homes, then cooked up a tasty meal for
those who came.
After the women ate, they told about their backgrounds and got to know one another in
a new way. Then Barbara closed with a short, inspirational reading. The women loved it,
and shortly afterward, when Barbara began a 6-week Bible study in her home, 6 women
came.
When Barbara visited her mother in a retirement home, her mother told her, "I haven't
been sharing my faith with many of my neighbors in [here].”
So together they decided to host an Easter brunch. When the guests arrived, they served
the food and got acquainted. Then Barbara read a Christian poem and gave each
neighbor a plastic egg with a Scripture verse inside. All felt they had a special time
together.
The season of Lent provides many creative ways to host Christ-centered celebrations.
One Good Friday we invited 2 families over for dinner, then watched the JESUS video
together.
Besides asking people over, another idea is to give neighbors a gift. Giving
the JESUS video at Easter shows your neighbors what the holiday is all about.
Athletes in Action, Campus Crusade for Christ's sports division, has produced exciting
videos that can be given as gifts to friends with whom you want to know Christ.
Currently they offer evangelistic videos for fans of basketball, football, Olympic-style
wrestling, NASCAR, surfing and tennis. One of my friends gave the Left Behind book
series to her sister, who became a Christian as a result.
Continued >>
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 3 - Those in Your Own Backyard
Like this boy, there are people near you searching for God. Through your life, they can see
Him. Why not run with one of these ideas that suits you as well as pickup basketball suited
Tony?
No Time to Waste
A few years ago, Tony backed his fishing boat down the ramp to take a client out for a day's
catch. Without warning, his heart stopped beating and he slumped over the steering wheel.
He stepped into eternity, leaving his family and friends behind -- but not before giving them
clear instructions of how they could follow him to be with Jesus.
"Tony and I used to go to a lot of Orlando Magic basketball games together," says Bob
Schaeffer. "The whole way there and back he used to talk to me about the Savior.
Sometimes I got tired of it. But now I wish I could hear him again.”
We only have one brief life to tell others about Christ and the place He's preparing. Let's
invite the whole neighborhood.
END A
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 4- NFL Star Changed by Mission Trip
Taken from “Communities” at https://www.cru.org/communities/athletes/steve-smith-jesus-film.html
Steve Smith learns God can use him beyond his athletic status
Steve Smith didn't want to go to Africa.
The Carolina Panthers wide receiver had never been on a mission trip and didn't want to
leave his family. But as he began to pray, he sensed God leading him to go.
So Steve traveled to Togo and Nigeria in March with Athletes in Action, the sports ministry
of Cru, along with 11 other people.
In both countries, Steve was surrounded by poverty and trash, without comforts like
consistent running water and electricity.
In Togo, Steve played soccer with kids on a dirt field. For a moment, he wasn't a successful
NFL Pro Bowler, but just an ordinary man willing to spend time with some kids.
Throughout the trip, he communicated his faith to people multiple times and he also
helped show the JESUS film to a crowd of 400.
The trip profoundly affected Steve; he began to see how God could use him beyond his
status as a professional athlete.
Now back in the United States, Steve has been re-energized in his faith.
"Steve is now taking his position as a spiritual leader on the team with a lot more
urgency," says Mike Bunkley, Panthers chaplain and an AIA staff member.
Already, Steve is thinking about going on another trip with AIA. "I got more out of Africa
than Africa got out of me," he says.
END A
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 5 - “Why Do They Keep Talking About Jesus?”
Taken from “Communities” at https://www.cru.org/communities/city/why-keep-talking-about-jesus.html
Missy Novak learned about a relationship with Christ through a
neighborhood Bible study.
Missy Novak didn’t actually believe in Jesus; she taught Sunday school for her resume.
Likewise, she had the ulterior motive of making friends when she visited a Bible study at
age 30.
The women in her neighborhood surprised her – they were nice, but strange. "Why do
they keep talking about Jesus?" Missy thought. "I thought we weren’t supposed to talk
about politics or religion, and all they were doing was talking about religion.”
The leader, Debbie McGoldrick, a Cru staff member, visited Missy after she began attending
Bible study. “She pulled out a pamphlet,” says Missy, “and I remember my heart sinking.”
But she agreed to read through the evangelistic booklet called “Would You Like To Know
God Personally?” and wondered, Maybe I don’t know God.
That day, Missy prayed and received Christ. “I didn’t know all the answers, but God met me
in that place,” she says. Debbie met with her weekly after that, to study more of the
Christian life together.
Since then, Missy and her family have moved to Colorado. Now 42, she leads a
neighborhood Bible study of her own. Her husband, children, and women in her study have
also indicated decisions for Christ, stirred by the distinct change in Missy’s life.
END A
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 6 - 5 Tips for Making God an Everyday Conversation
Taken from “Communities” at https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/share-the-gospel/outreachstrategies/5-tips-for-making-god-an-everyday-conversation.html
“When did you come to Christ?”
It’s the common question in Christian culture that tends to fluster me.This time, a new friend asks.
“Well…” usually, at this point, I ask how much time they have to hear the story.This time, I didn’t,
and dove in with my usual, lengthy answer. “So, before I was born…”
Partway through came the most common follow-up question, “But when exactly was it? What was
the date?”
“I . . . don’t know.”
It was a fact I noticed during my sophomore year of college: I was near to the Lord and I knew
Christ gave Himself for my sins, but I had no idea the date I had received Him.
This is not uncommon.
Every Christian has made the decision to follow Christ at some point in life.That may have been
made in a moment or after a series of interactions with the gospel. For some, the exact moment
of accepting Christ is not distinctly remembered.
A recent trend has been for people to make the decision to follow Christ after many
conversations and forming a relationship with a believer, according to Shawn Cramer, leader of
Cru’s Denver metro team.
Shawn and his staff team gave their students “tracks to run on” to explain the message of Christ
with people they already have relationships with.The premise is derived from Doug Pollock’s book
God Space, which teaches people how to bring God into “everyday conversations.” This allows
freedom and for both people to move nearer to God and truth through spiritual conversations.
Christian students on Shawn’s campuses carry around an index card with the names of a few
people they know and a scale, which ranges from negative 10 to 0.
Continued >>
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 6 - 5 Tips for Making God an Everyday Conversation
The scale represents a spectrum of where people are in their knowledge of and relationship with
God; negative 10 represents those who are hostile to the gospel or God while negative 1
represents those seeking to be reconciled to God. Each category has different needs relative to
understanding God’s love, whether that need is a Christian they can trust or one who will
challenge them with questions about their belief.
The root of the activity is to share the love of Christ by creating God space, space where spiritual
matters can be discussed freely.
Here are some principles to employ to create God space in your own life:
1. Notice
The first step Shawn’s students took in creating the scale they carry with them is noticing
specific people whom they care about in their lives.
In God Space, Pollock says “We need ‘Jesus glasses,’ the kind that allow us to see the world
around us the way Jesus does.When we start to notice others with our Jesus glasses on ... His
compassion melts away the coldness in our hearts. Our callousness toward others is replaced
with genuine concern.”
2. Listen and wonder
Gauge where each person falls on the scale. Negative 10 to negative 7 could be considered
hostile toward the gospel, negative 6 to negative 4 are spiritually curious and negative 3 or less
are viewed as near to entering a relationship with Christ.
But in order to understand where each person falls, one must be willing to listen and wonder.
Pollock suggests asking questions about things that are meaningful to an individual, their
backgrounds in spirituality and the church and then summarizing their responses using a
phrase such as “So what I hear you saying . . .” in order to better listen. Here are 99
“wondering questions.”
3. Pray
Pollock says his routine in evangelism comes down to “notice, pray, repeat.” While noticing
others and getting to know their journey with God, be in constant prayer for them.
Continued >>
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 6 - 5 Tips for Making God an Everyday Conversation
4. Have an answer for the hope within you
“In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone
who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter
3:15
Know specific moments when God has lead you into truth and shown you His grace, and be
steadfast in Bible study.While we should never underestimate the power of listening, Shawn
says, “Sometimes it can sound like we’re listening someone into the Kingdom of God.We’re
not passive.We want to have gospel conversations, not just gospel presentations.”
5. Celebrate small victories
Shawn says this approach to explaining our faith allows us to celebrate different steps along
the way in someone’s spiritual journey, rather than simply a decision to receive Christ.
“What if we celebrated every first down?” Shawn says. “What if we celebrated when
someone went from ‘there is no God’ to ‘maybe there is a God?’ Or from hating Christianity
to ‘it’s okay.’ That’s huge!”
Shawn and Pollock agree the core of the method is to take the initiative to love the people in
our lives and engage them in conversations about what the Bible says is written on our hearts
(Eccl. 3:11).
“Relax, be yourself and let the Holy Spirit have His way in your relational connections,”
Pollock says. “If you’re willing to persevere in this holy endeavor, your words and actions will
eventually flow out of the changes God has brought in you.”
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Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 7 - When a Stranger Got My Phone Number
Taken from “Communities” at https://www.cru.org/communities/campus/when-a-stranger-got-myphone-number.html
When you get an angry text message from your old phone number, your options are: 1) delete it
2) fire back an angry text in response, or 3) what Keri Armentrout did.
The Cru staff member had moved to Italy last year and given up her U.S cell phone number, but
the person who inherited it found themselves bombarded with calls and messages from total
strangers.
Keri says, “This person became cranky.While I was home on furlough, it happened really frequently
because people defaulted to my old US number.The new owner started being rude, sometimes
pretending to be me.”
Then Keri received a text from her old number with a simple message. “I am the owner of this
number, please update your records.” Keri replied, apologizing for the hassle of having to respond
to a bunch of wrong messages.
Keri had no idea if she was talking to a man or a woman but she told them that she had lots of
friends who were committed to staying in touch with her, even if they had a wrong number. “My
relationships with them are strong, because we share a common bond,” said Keri. “If you'd like to
know what that bond is and why it’s so strong, you can read more here: http://everystudent.com”
Keri hesitated before hitting send, wondering how this stranger would respond.
She says, “I decided worst case scenario: they get mad and respond as such; best case scenario:
they don't respond but they read it.”
Being intentional with the accidental
A few hours later, they replied, saying, “Thank you for clearing up this mystery! I’ve been wondering
how someone could have so many sincere well wishers! I actually mentioned it to other people!
I’ve never heard of the philosophy mentioned on this site, but I am intrigued to know more.What
is it?”
Continued >>
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 7 - When a Stranger Got My Phone Number
Keri was surprised and excited. “Thank you so much,” she said. “And this is a site for people to
explore Christianity – not the misrepresented stereotypes, but the true and loving teachings of
Jesus, which have impacted me.”
They exchanged more texts, discussing each other’s views of religion and the person expressed a
desire to read more about Keri’s beliefs.
Keri was astonished at the way God had pursued this person, and thankful for the persistence
with which her friends pursued her.
“We love because He first loved us,” says Keri.The love of her friends created an opportunity for
her to share the gospel, and sparked a desire in someone to know more.
Keri says, “Bill Bright used to say, ‘There are no wrong numbers, only divine appointments.’ ”
How would you have responded if you were in Keri’s shoes? Would you have
ignored the text, apologized and moved on quickly? Or would you have had
the courage to make the most of an unexpected opportunity?
Here are 3 things we can learn from Keri’s story.
1. Keri eagerly anticipated her opportunity
2. She prayed for a person who was annoyed at her
3. She was aware of resources she could direct someone to
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Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 8 - How to Incorporate your Faith at Work
Taken from “Communities” at https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/share-the-gospel/outreachstrategies/incorporate-your-faith-at-work.html
It’s a tricky topic for every Christian with a job.What role should your faith play at work?
Do you have to drop your faith at the door to your office? Is it even legal to talk about religion at
work?
Whether it’s a classroom, cubicle or car, your faith can play an important role in your work
environment.
Examine your motivation for your job. Ask the Lord to show you His purposes for the role He has
you in.
In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus says, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
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."
Ask God to increase your care and compassion for your co-workers. Remember that God has
placed you there for a specific purpose.
What would happen if you became more vocal about your faith at work? Could you be fired?
Denied a promotion? Don’t worry, it is legal to talk about your faith at work, especially during
lunch and breaks.
How do you begin?
•
Start with prayer. Pray specifically for each of your co-workers by name. Pray for opportunities
not only to demonstrate your faith, but also for spiritual conversations.
•
Get connected with a faith community. Ask your church to pray for you. Find other people in
your field of work. Contact Cru City, the marketplace ministry of Cru and see if they’re in
your city.
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Continued >>
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 8 - How to Incorporate your Faith at Work
•
Start a conversation. Ask what kind of spiritual background they have. Mention your church, or
that you prayed for something.Test the waters to see how receptive they are to spiritual
topics. Remember that even if they seem uninterested at first, God could be preparing them
for a later time.
•
Get training. (https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/share-the-gospel/evangelism-principles/
cojourners/cojourners-overview.html.)
•
Invite them to church, or to a special event, like a Christian concert or Christmas Eve service.
•
Offer to pray with them.
•
Show them an evangelistic tool, like Would You Like to Know God Personally? or a changedlife story which might connect with them.
•
Tell them your faith story. (https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/share-the-gospel/evangelismprinciples/how-to-tell-your-story.html)
•
Use a survey (https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/share-the-gospel/outreach-strategies/7steps-spiritual-surveys.html).
Need some motivation?
Check out these stories of how people have used their careers in ministry
•
The Young Business Professional
https://www.cru.org/how-to-know-god/my-story-a-life-changed/edward-lee-2.html
•
The Professor
https://www.cru.org/communities/ministries/faculty-and-graduates/iowa-prof-in-jamaica.html
•
The Interior Designer
https://www.cru.org/communities/city/remodeling-homes-and-lives.html
•
The Executive
https://www.cru.org/communities/city/unfinished-business-in-the-mile-high-city.html
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Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 9 - 5 Ways To Be a Better Witness for Christ
Taken from “Communities” at https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/share-the-gospel/evangelismprinciples/5-ways-better-witness-for-christ.html
Beginning a relationship with Christ is the most important thing a person can do, and you can help
them. But how do you increase your witness for Christ? These are 5 things you can start doing
today.
1. Be Filled with the Spirit
It is important to be in a right relationship with God as you talk to others about how they can
know God. So that means maintaining short accounts with God and others and confessing sin.
Practice “Spiritual Breathing” and being filled with the Spirit.
2. Pray for Opportunities
While serving as missionaries overseas, two roommates started praying for a man who had
attended church, but didn’t truly understand about Jesus.The two men prayed specifically that
the Lord would wake this man up in the middle of the night and give him dreams about God.
A few weeks later, the man came to a meeting and said, “I woke up in the middle of the night
and I had this picture I couldn’t get out of my mind.”
A Cru staff member asked him, “What was it? Can you draw it for me?”
While the student drew the images, the staff member recognized the drawing and thought:
“Did I ever show him the Four Laws gospel booklet?”
But he hadn’t. So he pulled out the booklet and began going through it with him.
When he got to the diagram, the student asked, “How does this man have my picture in his
book?”
“This is the biggest evidence I’ve ever seen that there’s a God,” the staff member told him. “He
put the exact picture in your head that I was going to show you in our meeting.”
Continued >>
Lesson 1: The Pledge
Campus & Beyond
Year 4 Sem 2
Appendix 9 - 5 Ways To Be a Better Witness for Christ
A few weeks later, the student placed his faith in Christ.
3. Be Authentic
People don’t care about how much you know they want to know that you care for them. Don’t
put on a front, but instead maintain a humble attitude.The Apostle Paul writes to the Christians in
Philippi and expresses his care and concern for them: “For God is my witness, how I long for you
all with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:8).
4. Ask Questions
As you talk to others about Jesus, don’t do a stand-up monologue. Engage in a conversation, but at
the same time, keep the focus on the message of the gospel. Jesus taught by asking questions.
Phillip asked the Ethiopian eunuch if he understood what he was reading. Doug Pollack’s book,
God Space, offers a list of 99 wondering questions to choose from to help you can connect with
others.
5. Ask People for a Response
If you’re not using a specific gospel explanation like the Four Laws or “The Would You Like to
Know God Personally booklet?” take the time to ask the person to respond to Christ’s invitation.
Acts 2:37-38 says,
“Now when the people heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the other apostles,
‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
Which of these ideas have you found most helpful? What other suggestions would you give fellow
believers to help them be a more effective witness?
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Lesson 1: The Pledge