How to Prepare to Share Your Life Lessons

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES What On Earth Am I Here For?

How to Prepare to Share Your Life Lessons By Rick Warren — Sep 25, 2015 “Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word …. The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore — you’re the message!” (1 Thessalonians 1:8 MSG) God has put a life message within you. When you became a believer, you also became God’s messenger. God wants to speak to the world through you. You may think you don’t have anything to share, but that’s the Devil trying to keep you silent. You have a storehouse of experiences that God wants to use to bring others into his family. The Bible says, “Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony of God in them” (1 John 5:10a GW). Here’s one thing that will help you prepare to share: Write down the major life lessons you’ve learned. We should be grateful Solomon did this, because it gave us the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, which are filled with practical lessons on living. Imagine how much needless frustration could be avoided if we learned from each other’s life lessons. Here are a few questions to jog your memory and get you started: What has God taught you from failure? (Psalm 51) What has God taught you from a lack of money? (Philippians 4:11-13) What has God taught you from pain or sorrow or depression? (2 Corinthians 1:4-10) What has God taught you through waiting? (Psalm 40) What has God taught you through illness? (Psalm 119:71) What has God taught you from disappointment? (Genesis 50:20) What have you learned from your family, your church, your relationships, your small group, and your critics? PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over Once you identify your life lessons, who does God want you to share them with? Why are we often hesitant to share with others our life lessons, especially lessons from failure? How does your perspective change when you learn life lessons from the difficult times in your life? Today’s Scripture “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up...” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Be a People Builder God designed us to live in relationship with others. He wants us to help each other grow. None of us will reach our highest potential by ourselves. We need people in our lives to encourage us, and we need to encourage the people in our lives and help them reach their potential. The word “encourage” means to “urge forward.” Many times, you can see things in other people that they don’t see themselves. You can see their strengths and talents. You can see that God has a special plan for them even though they may be going through a difficult time. Don’t assume that people see what you see in them. Take a moment and encourage them either with a kind word or a simple note. There might be a special gift you can give that will remind them of their goal or dream. In whatever way you can, urge the people in your life to keep moving forward. If you’ll be a people builder and help others fulfill their dreams, God will help you fulfill your dreams also, and you’ll live in blessing all the days of your life. A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for the people You have placed in my life. Help me build them up and find creative ways to urge them forward to Your glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.”