Witnessing Struggle - Witnessing by the Book (Focus 4 of 8)

What's something that seems like it should be WAY easier than it actually is? 

Witnessing won’t always go smoothly. Don't expect it to.
Instead, counter the struggle with grace. 

Let's think about hills you're willing to die on.
Watch this video to dive into this Spotlight.

See what this Spotlight—and series— is focused on.
Tap on the words "Focus 4" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.

Acts 6 & Fairness When People Are Starving

Read Acts 6:1–4. In Acts 6, the early church faced a fairness issue. Some widows weren’t getting food. The apostles didn’t ignore it, instead they acted to make sure everyone was fed.

Discuss:

• What does this passage tell us about God’s concern for people who don’t have enough?

• Why do you think it’s easy for some groups to get overlooked?
• When you hear that there are people literally starving in Gaza and other places today, what rises up in you (anger, sadness, helplessness, others)?

“Two Loaves” Thought Experiment

Imagine you’re holding two loaves of bread. In front of you are five hungry people -- each with a real, human story. What do you do first? Who do you give to, and what do you say to the others?

Acts 6 shows a church stepping up when people were being overlooked. It didn’t solve every hunger in the world, but it did what it could, and that mattered. When we see hunger in Gaza or anywhere else, we’re called not to turn away but to ask, What can we do?

You cannot fix it all, but you definitely can help some.

Feel free to submit a prayer request by filling out the below form.
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)

Pray through your requests—together—as a group.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.

Read together the words of this poem by Malcolm Guite.

Witness for Jesus, man of fruitful blood,
Your martyrdom begins and stands for all.
They saw the stones, you saw the face of God,
And sowed a seed that blossomed in St. Paul.
When Saul departed breathing threats and slaughter
He had to pass through that Damascus gate
Where he had held the coats and heard the laughter
As Christ, alive in you, forgave his hate,
And showed him the same light you saw from heaven
And taught him, through his blindness, how to see;
Christ did not ask ‘Why were you stoning Stephen?’
But ‘Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
Each martyr after you adds to his story,
As clouds of witness shine through clouds of glory.

Sing this song as you close out this Spotlight.

Let's wrap things up by taking a look at what's Current at Illume.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.