Sharing Why I Love Jesus

By Nancy Carol Willis

Have you ever wondered about your faith story? Do you even have a faith story? Why do you have a faith story? Where did it come from? How does it work? How do you grow your faith? Should you share your faith story? How do you share your faith story?

Perhaps you're like me--an "ordinary Christian." You look forward to joining your church family for Sunday worship. You greet people at the door, help in the nursery, or bake cookies for fellowship time. You pray often, enjoy your daily devotional, and look forward to the next Bible study. Fantastic!

But if you're like most ordinary Christians, the thought of sharing your faith story with others makes your stomach churn. You're not alone!

The Sharing Why I Love Jesus study guide is more than a how-to book about writing your faith story. It begins by laying a biblical foundation for defining faith and illustrating faith through stories and examples. The study questions will prompt you to explore your own faith in greater depth. Then you will write your faith story and practice sharing it in today's world.

The study guide can be used individually or in a small group setting.

Let's get started!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887518602

Book preview

cover.jpg

Sharing Why I Love Jesus

Nancy Carol Willis

ISBN 979-8-88751-859-6 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88751-860-2 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Nancy Carol Willis

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Cover design by Nancy Carol Willis.

Author photo by Vera LaMarche.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

To R. Scott Burkley, DMin

Encouraging ordinary Christians to share Why I Love Jesus was his idea.

Pastor Scott discipled many ordinary Christians over many years, giving us the courage to share our faith stories.

Acknowledgments

How the Why I Love Jesus Ministry Began

Introduction

The study guide format

Independent or group study

Suggested schedule for a ten-week small group study

Welcome!

A Storytelling Tradition

Chapter 1

Why We Love the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Chapter 2

God's Steadfast Love and Faithfulness

Is God's love trustworthy?

Abounding in steadfast love

Abounding in faithfulness

Chapter 3

Why We Love Jesus

Old Testament prophecies about the coming of Jesus

Mary's Faith Story

Jesus begins His earthly ministry and confirms He is God

Only God can forgive sins

What does Jesus teach us about faith?

Examples of faith in action

The death and resurrection of Jesus

Be like Christ

The Great Commission

Chapter 4

Our Guide, the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit guides your faith journey

Spiritual gifts and love

Chapter 5

What Is Faith?

Faith versus belief

Faith and works

Chapter 6

Why Share Your Faith Story?

The Bible urges us to share our faith

How sharing your faith story helps Others

Sharing faith transforms lives

How sharing your faith story helps You

Chapter 7

Writing Your God-Inspired Faith Story

Mary Magdalene's faith story

Peter's faith story

The Samaritan woman's faith story

Paul's faith story

Analyzing Paul's faith story

Your Faith Story notebook

Next steps in writing your faith story

Write your faith story rough draft here

Chapter 8

Sharing Faith in Today's World

How to share your faith story

Listening skills

Sharing faith in the world today

Appendix

How Sharing Faith Helps Others

How Sharing Faith Helps You

References

Chapter 1: Why We Love God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit

Chapter 2: God's Steadfast Love and Faithfulness

Chapter 3: Why We Love Jesus

Chapter 6: Why Share Your Faith

Chapter 8: Sharing Faith in Today's World

Additional Resources

Endorsements

About the Author

To R. Scott Burkley, DMin

Encouraging ordinary Christians to share Why I Love Jesus was his idea.

Pastor Scott discipled many ordinary Christians over many years, giving us the courage to share our faith stories.

Acknowledgments

Iwould especially like to thank the Why I Love Jesus board of directors and study guide advisors for their passion for this ministry and help with this project: Rev. Robert Banks, MDiv; Sandy Boyce; Dottie Burkley; R. Scott Burkley, DMin; Donna Casey, DNP, RN; Beverly Cook; Lisa Dorr; Rev. Dr. Grace Howard; Danielle Sawyer, Esq.; Paul Willbanks, CPA, CGMA; and Rev. Gary Willingham-McLain, PhD.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank the ordinary Christians of all ages and cultures who have shared their faith stories in this study guide and on the Why I Love Jesus: Sharing My Faith Story website.

How the Why I Love Jesus Ministry Began

The journey that led to writing this study guide began many years ago. I was standing in line at the post office and asked the woman in front of me how she was doing. You don't want to know, was her reply.

Yes, I said, I'm listening, if you want to share.

Well, she said, my husband lost his job, and we're three months behind on our mortgage payments. I had to quit my job to take care of my mother, who's living with us and suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Last week my teenage son was arrested for drug possession.

I had no adequate words to say to this woman. I mumbled something about praying for her and later in the parking lot thought of what I might have said. I vowed to never again be caught off guard like that! I developed an elevator pitch that went like this: I'm sorry you're going through such a tough time. While I don't know exactly what you're feeling, I do know that when my husband was dying from cancer, I found that talking to God gave me great comfort. Can I pray with you or help in some way?

At the time, I was leading a Christian writers group. The participants were keen on writing faith-based life stories, but reluctant to write their faith stories. Then Pastor Scott Burkley asked me to share my faith story in church. Just tell why you love Jesus, he said.

That request was all the motivation the Christian writers group needed. We accepted the challenge, and together we developed a simple three-step process for organizing faith stories into presentations of about five minutes in length. The stories were so well received by the congregation that plans were made to help other church members—including the children—share their own faith stories.

In 2020, the Why I Love Jesus: Sharing My Faith Story ministry received nonprofit status as the COVID pandemic lockdown began. A website, https://WhyILoveJesus.org, was developed to expand our reach worldwide during the pandemic with