Jesus

Read the following story aloud, and then use the questions to start a faith conversation:

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman.  He grew up in another village.  He worked in a carpenter shop until He was 30, and then for three years He traveled the country preaching.  He never wrote a book.  He never held an office.  He never owned a home.  He never had a family of His own.  He never went to college.  He never traveled more than 200 miles from the place where He was born.  He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness.  He had no credentials but Himself.
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him.  His friends ran away.  One of them denied Him.  He was turned over to His enemies.  He went through the mockery of a trial.  He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves.  His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth while He was dying.  When He was dead He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress.  I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that were ever built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as has that one solitary life.

1.  How do you feel when you read about the effect of Jesus' life on our world?
2.  Why do you feel this way?

Faith

Read the following story, and then answer the questions that follow to start a faith conversation:

Things looked bleak for the children in George Muller's orphanage at Ashley Downs in England.  It was time for breakfast, and there was no food.  A small girl whose father was a close friend of Muller's was visiting in the orphanage.  Muller took her hand and said, "Come and see what our heavenly Father will do."
In the dining room, long tables were set with empty plates and empty mugs.  Not only was there no food in the kitchen, but also there was no money in the orphanage's account.  Muller prayed, "Dear Father, we thank You for what You are going to give us to eat."
Immediately, they heard a knock at the door.  When they opened it, there stood the local baker.  "Mr. Muller," he said, "I couldn't sleep last night.  Somehow I felt that you had no bread for breakfast, so I got up at two o'clock and baked fresh bread.  Here it is."  Muller thanked him and gave praise to God.
Soon, a second knock was heard.  It was the milkman.  His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage.  He said he would like to give the children the milk so he could empty the cart and repair it.

1.)  What does this story tell you about George Muller?
2.)  How is this like or unlike your experience with prayer?
3.)  What steps can we take in our lives to have a stronger faith?

Obedience

Read the following story, and then answer a few questions to start a faith conversation:

On August 17, 1859, Charles Blondin, arguably one of the best tightrope walkers of all time, stretched a tightrope across Niagara Falls.  People came by train from Buffalo, New York and Toronto, Canada to see him walk across the tightrope that was suspended high above the raging falls.
The story is told that as Blondin stepped onto the tightrope, a hush fell over the crowd.  He carried with him a 40-foot-long balance bar that weighed 39 pounds.  When he finally stepped foot on the Canadian side, a huge cheer arose from the crowd.  Then they began to shout in unison, "Blondin, Blondin, Blondin..."  Finally, Blondin held up his hand asking for the crowd's attention.  He asked the crowd, "How many of you believe I can put someone on my shoulders and walk across?"
First one person shouted, "I believe" and then a second and a third, until finally the whole crowd was shouting, "We believe!  We believe!  We believe!"
Then Blondin shouted, "Who would like to be that someone?"  All of a sudden, everyone became quiet.  They all said they believed, but no one was willing to risk their lives.
Blondin pointed his finger at one person and then another and asked, "Would you like to get on my back as I go across?"
They all said "No!" until he came to Harry Colcord, his manager, who said, "Yes."
Colcord got on Blondin's back, and a deathly silence fell over the crowd as Blondin stepped out onto the tightrope.  Carefully, step by step, Blondin made his way across.  When they were about halfway across, the rope started swaying violently back and forth.  Blondin broke into a desperate run to reach the first guy rope, and when he reached it and steadied himself, the rope broke.
Once more the pair swayed as Blondin again ran for the next rope guy.  When they reached it, he told Colcord to get down off his back.  Blondin looked at Colcord and said, "If we are going to make it safely to the other side, you can no longer be Colcord.  You have to become part of me.  You can do nothing to try and balance yourself; you have to let me do everything.  If you do anything on your own, we will both die."
Colcord then got back on Blondin's shoulders, and Blondin began to walk and then he began to run down the rope to safety on the other side.

1.) If you were in the crowd, would you have gone with Blondin?  Why or why not?

2.) What steps can Christians take to act on their belief?

3.)  Why is it often difficult to trust and obey Christ?