Session 3: Sharing and Inviting
10:00-10:05 Follow Up:
Take time to share experiences with Gospel conversations, and with establishing a date and making a covenant with the Lord. Participants should report on their assignments.
10:05-10:10 Introduction:
This workshop concludes the series. In it we review our approach to Gospel conversations and focus on sharing and inviting. In the previous workshops we have discussed conversations and answering questions. Here we practice inviting and bearing testimony.
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Inspired Framework |
Key Elements |
Actions |
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Share |
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Bring the gospel into conversations Ask/Answer questions Leave pass-along cards, use mormon.org, and literature
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10:10-10:20 Sharing the Gospel with pass-along cards and mormon.org
The Lord has given us many ways to share the Gospel. Personal example, gospel conversations, and answering gospel questions are important. We also have materials that we can share. Take to the class several pass-along cards (enough for each member of the class to take several home), as well as information on the new web site, www.mormon.org. Review with the class the different kinds of cards, and the web site.
After the members of the class have had a chance to review the materials, ask: In what situations can we best use these materials? This should generate many ideas, since the cards and the web site are among the simplest ways to introduce people to the gospel.
After a few minutes of discussion, ask the class: What should we say to people when we hand them a card? This is a good opportunity to bear testimony, with simple statements like: “ I love the way my Church helps me to build a strong family. I would love to share these ideas with you.”
Emphasize to the class that this phrase, “I love the way my Church…” is a good way to share and invite.
10:20-10:30 The Lord’s Way: Invite with the Spirit
Once we have “opened the door” for people in conversations, there are often opportunities to invite them to learn more about the Church, or to attend church activities. We can also invite those with whom we speak to participate in service projects, or to help with activities in various ways.
Introduce this section of the workshop by saying to the class: Let’s make a list of the different kinds of Church invitations we might issue to people we meet. This list might include various activities at Church, family home evening, meeting with the missionaries, reading the Book of Mormon and so forth.
Ask the class: What shall we say to people when we issue an invitation? Note the comments on the board, and let the class offer their ideas about different ways to issue different invitations. (You might also ask: What do you say if the person says no?)
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Inspired Framework |
Key Elements |
Actions |
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Invite |
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Invite to activities at Church Invite to serve Invite to your home to meet with the missionaries Invite to read the Book of Mormon Give the missionaries a referral |
10:30-10:45 Missionary Skills: Extend invitations to learn about the Church
The list of invitations and the discussion of how to invite leads naturally into the skills session. As before, divide the class into pairs, and have them take the roles of contact and member. Before class make copies of the Appendix to session 3 for each member of the class. This Appendix presents four situations that you will ask each pair to role-play. They should switch roles each time, so that each person plays the Contact twice, and the Member twice. To simplify this process, start with Situation 1, and have each pair work on it and then have everyone move to Situation 2, and switch roles as well. Continue in this way until each pair has finished all four situations.
10:45-10:50 Testimony
Share with the class your personal experiences with sharing and inviting. Bear your testimony of the work.
Assignment: have conversations, extend invitations, follow through on your covenant with the Lord
Note: Session 4: We will invite participants to meet one more time to share missionary experiences. The whole time in Session 4 will be devoted to reporting, and bearing testimony. At the conclusion, bear your testimony of the Gospel and the Lord’s call to all of us to build the Kingdom by sharing the Gospel with those around us.
Appendix to Session 3
Situation 1: Invitation to Family Home Evening
Contact: Coaches soccer with Member and is about to ask Member the following question about Member’s family: “I love the way your kids handle themselves. What did you do to get such good kids?”
Member: Has three children, and has known Contact for 4 months. Member’s assignment is to figure out how to invite Contact’s family to family home evening.
Situation 2: Invitation to read the Book of Mormon
Contact: Works for a large bank and is flying home from Atlanta. Has been talking with Member briefly about living in Boston. Begins to read a book.
Member: Is on the same flight to Boston, sitting next to Contact. Member’s assignment is to invite Contact to read the Book of Mormon.
Situation 3: Invitation to Serve
Contact: Works at the local dry cleaners. Sees Member almost every week. Is an avid hiker.
Member: Has lived in the town for five years. Has just been called to a job in the youth programs. Needs someone to help with an outdoor activity. Member’s assignment is to invite Contact to serve the youth of the ward.
Situation 4: Invitation to Take the Discussions
Contact: Lives up the street from Member. Has lived in the neighborhood for two months. Is talking to member and says: “I have always been interested in Joseph Smith. I watched that TV program on him and found it amazing.”
Member: Has a “Hi, how are you” relationship with Contact. Has lived in the neighborhood for three years. Knows Contact’s name and the names of family members. Member’s assignment is to invite Contact to take the discussions.