Why and How Should I tell Others?

Week 9 - Why and How Should I Tell Others?

Sharing YOUR Story

• This last week of Rooted together, seeks to help everyone refine their stories into concise explanations of God’s goodness in our lives. We want to develop an understanding of God’s involvement in our lives so we can tell others. Being a storyteller is all about advocating for something by:
• Explaining our experience with it and how it’s changed our lives.
• Simply wanting others to taste and see for themselves what God has done for us.
• It’s an invitation with an explanation. It’s not about being abrasive, having all the right answers, or feeling finished with what we’ve experienced or may still be learning.

When we tell our story, we’re partnering with what God is already doing in someone’s life to pull them closer to God.  We need to not just believe in God, but also experience him. That’s what this Rooted journey is all about—balancing knowledge with practice.

Make sure to challenge your group to be praying about an opportunity to share their story with someone, if they haven’t already. This is part of the Rooted Experience.

Cards & Rooted Stories

In this final week together, take some time to let everyone share their experiences with Rooted. What pieces were most meaningful to them? Has something changed in their lives? It doesn’t have to be some big revelation, but something most likely has happened that’s moved them a little closer to Jesus.

We believe that “the story you live in is the story you live out.” That’s what Rooted is all about—understanding the story of God and our place inside of it.

In your group, we are asking you to make a card that flips from “I WAS ___ “ to “JESUS IS ___.” It could be a single word or it could be a phrase. Feel free to break the mold and think outside the box. These cards could help them both with their bigger story, but specifically for Week 10 help them tell their story when it comes to their Rooted experience as well.

RESPONSE Cards

Separate from the cards above, these cards are for each person in your group. These are to help facilitate telling their story after week 9, they will talk about what Jesus has done for them in this Rooted season for Week 10 before you speak truth into their lives. It doesn’t have to be confined to their story from this specific season, but it is helpful to reflect on the positive things that have happened.

These cards are slightly different than the “Cardboard Testimonies” It will allow everyone to participate. On one side they say “10 Weeks Ago, I __” and the other says “Today, I __.” Feel free to let them explain beyond those constraints. 

You can simply download/print the ROOTED Response Card HERE (click to print attached PDF) and your group members can make their own for the celebration. These should be shared then.

Stories

Be SURE to relay one or two stories we could tell at the Celebration. We want to put a few stories on display for everyone to celebrate what Jesus has been doing this season.

Email sarooted@usw.salvationarmy.org to nominate anyone that comes to mind.

SHARE YOUR STORY

LOOK AHEAD | Important Decisions & Dates

Preparing for Week 10. Prep your group to think through one or two encouraging truths they want to share with each person in their group. Maybe encourage them to think of a word, a phrase, quality, or a passion that comes to mind when they think about each individual in their group.

The point of the ROOTED experience is to help establish 7 Rhythms that foster a transformational lifestyle. We want to provide a few opportunities to help everyone continue:

• ROOTED Life Group Decision - (See if your group wants to commit to continuing basically as they are or plan to transition at the end of the ROOTED Experience.)
• Facilitator Nominations
• We want to hear from you about three different people.
• One or two people might want to share their story at the Celebration.
• Someone to lead this group if it continues (it could be you).
• There might be someone in your group that might be especially interested or gifted at leading a Rooted group. Talk to them privately about why you chose them too.