Simon Manchester & Simon Roberts

St Matthias Media (The Good book Company)

During my quiet time back in September (2008) I read in I Peter 3 that we should ‘always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have’ (verse 15). God convicted me that I wasn’t as ready as I needed to be, so that when I saw a course entitled ‘Six Steps to Talking About Jesus’ advertised in the Good Book Company catalogue it immediately caught my attention. The course lasts for six sessions, and uses a Bible Study workbook, and DVD.The church elders were keen for me to try it out, so I asked three friends to join me, on the understanding that if we found it useful then we would find other women in the church to do the course with. All four of us are now taking groups of 7 or 8 women through the course, plus another group of ladies are using it as well. In total 35 women in the church are taking part, for which we praise God. The men felt left out! so those who are interested are currently being arranged into groups.

The course is easy to use and very helpful. It has sound theological content, helpful practical exercises and good sets of questions. The Bible Studies are clear and simple, interspersed with DVD talks by Simon Manchester, which confirm what we’ve studied. There are no wasted words and the presentation of the Gospel is clear, as is the call to go out and tell others.

The first three studies are the Biblical foundation for speaking to others about Jesus, and the last three more practical:-
1. Love - the heartfelt love and concern from God for people
2. Understand - know the gospel in its essence and sequence
3. Pray - for God to do what we cannot do
4. Connect - with the people we already know
5. Invite - to events, to church, to read a book, etc
6. Talk - ‘give a reason for the hope you have’. Use a gospel outline, share your story etc

Our prayer is that, having looked at what Jesus has done for us, we will then prayerfully take more initiative to reach out to others with the glorious message of Jesus our Saviour.

by Esther Cowley