Day 2 - Session 1: Chair 1 - The Lost
Participant Handout
Session Theme
Section titled “Session Theme”Lost people are not merely misguided - they are spiritually dead and need resurrection, not rehabilitation, and Jesus models how we enter their world to bring them life.
Scripture Focus
Section titled “Scripture Focus”- Ephesians 2:1-5 (Dead in transgressions, made alive with Christ)
- Romans 6:23 (The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life)
- John 3:3-5 (Unless one is born again, cannot see the kingdom of God)
- John 1:35-51 (Jesus’s initial encounters with His first disciples)
- Genesis 12:2-3 (God blessed Abraham to be a blessing to all nations)
- Isaiah 28:23-29 (Spiritual CPR - cultivation, planting, reaping)
Learning Objectives
Section titled “Learning Objectives”- Describe the true spiritual condition of Chair 1 people - spiritually dead, not just “far from God”
- Explain the four relational needs of lost people and how Jesus modeled meeting them
- Apply the “Spiritual CPR” framework (Cultivation, Planting, Reaping) to a specific person they know
Teaching Block 1: Chair 1 - The Lost Are Not Just Lost, They Are Dead
Section titled “Teaching Block 1: Chair 1 - The Lost Are Not Just Lost, They Are Dead”Core Idea: Spader was active in religion but spiritually dead. The lost are not misguided - they are dead in sin and need resurrection, not rehabilitation.
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Spader’s story: Mass every week, altar boy, memorized catechism - yet “open to God but far from Him. Active in religion but spiritually dead.” The family Bible was “just black words on a white page.”
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Misconception vs. Biblical Reality:
| Misconception | Biblical Reality |
|---|---|
| “They just need more church” | They need resurrection, not religion |
| “They just need more Bible teaching” | Dead people cannot understand spiritual truth (1 Cor 2:14) |
| “They just need to try harder” | They are hostile to God, unable to submit (Rom 8:7) |
| “They’re basically good people” | By nature objects of wrath (Eph 2:3) |
| “They need to turn over a new leaf” | They need a new life (2 Cor 5:17) |
- The drowning man: In a Javanese river, a drowning man needs a Rescuer, not a swimming manual. The lost are drowning in sin.
Scripture: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins… But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.” - Ephesians 2:1, 4-5
Discussion Block 2: How Did Jesus Find and Approach the Lost?
Section titled “Discussion Block 2: How Did Jesus Find and Approach the Lost?”Two groups of 5
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(5 min) Scripture discovery - Group A reads John 1:35-42; Group B reads John 1:43-51. Discuss: What did Jesus DO when lost people showed interest?
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(5 min) Share findings. Key actions from Jesus:
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(5 min) Whole group: What does Jesus’s pattern teach us about approaching lost people in our villages?
Teaching Block 3: Four Needs of Chair 1 People
Section titled “Teaching Block 3: Four Needs of Chair 1 People”Core Idea: Lost people have four specific relational needs, and Jesus modeled how to meet every one of them.
- The four needs:
| Need | How Jesus Met It | How We Can Too |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Enter their world relationally | Left heaven, became flesh (John 1:14). “Friend of sinners” | Go to their village, their work, their celebrations |
| 2. Prepare yourself | 30 years learning culture. 90+ OT quotes | Your life experiences are God’s preparation |
| 3. Make yourself available | Responded to Andrew. Never in a rush | See interruptions as divine appointments |
| 4. Present the Gospel clearly | “Repent, for the kingdom is near” (Matt 4:17) | Do not assume they know. Be clear. Call for a response |
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Spader’s story of Neil: Neil loved guns, zero interest in God. Spader entered Neil’s world through the shooting range. After months, Neil asked: “Do you know what a born-again Christian is?” The harvest came because Spader first entered Neil’s world.
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The fishermen illustration: A church-planter goes to the riverbank at dawn, helps pull in nets, shares tea, talks about life. He enters their world on their terms.
Scripture: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” - John 1:14
Discussion Block 4: Spiritual CPR - Cultivation, Planting, Reaping
Section titled “Discussion Block 4: Spiritual CPR - Cultivation, Planting, Reaping”Three groups (one per CPR stage)
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(2 min) Read Isaiah 28:23-29 together - the farmer’s process.
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(8 min) Each group takes one stage:
- Cultivation (Group A): Breaking up hard ground. Building trust over months. What does this look like in a Javanese village?
- Planting (Group B): Sowing the seed at the right time, right depth. How do you know when to share?
- Reaping (Group C): Harvesting at the right time. Calling for a decision. What holds us back?
My key insight from my stage:
- (5 min) Share one key insight per group. Remember: some sow, some reap - we rejoice together (John 4:38).
Teaching Block 5: Seven Principles for Ministry to the Lost
Section titled “Teaching Block 5: Seven Principles for Ministry to the Lost”Core Idea: Seven practical handles from Spader, drawn from Jesus’s example, that work in any context.
1. “Come and See” is simple and reproducible - John 1:39, 46. A low-barrier invitation anyone can extend. The Samaritan woman used it (John 4:29) and many believed.
2. Outreach is a process - Few respond the first time. Spiritual CPR: Cultivate, Plant, Reap. Do not rush, but do not avoid planting.
3. Jesus is the ONLY way - John 14:6. Hold this truth with conviction AND love in a pluralistic context.
4. Evangelism must be motivated by love - 2 Cor 5:14. Seven times Jesus was “moved with compassion.” Love does not count cost.
5. Evangelism is a byproduct of a healthy body - Psalm 51:10-13. Internal health produces external multiplication (Acts 2:42-47).
6. Evangelism works best through relationships - People come to Christ through people, not programs. Spader’s friend Tom came to Christ at 2 a.m. because of a softball friendship.
7. We reap in proportion to what we sow - God prepares hearts (John 6:44), the Spirit convicts (John 16:8), we proclaim. Some sow, some reap (John 4:38).
Scripture: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6
Discussion Block 6: My Chair 1 People - Personal Commitment
Section titled “Discussion Block 6: My Chair 1 People - Personal Commitment”Groups of 3-4
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Write down 2-3 names of people you know who are in Chair 1 (unsaved, far from God):
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For ONE name, assess:
- Their “soil condition” (hard, rocky, thorny, good? - Mark 4): _________________
- Where are they in CPR? (Cultivation / Planting / Reaping): _________________
- ONE next step I can take this week: _________________
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Share your next step with your group.
Commitment: This week I will: _________________ For this person: _________________
Prayer: Pray specifically for the people you named. Ask for boldness to enter their world, wisdom to know when to plant, and courage to call for a decision.
Application Handles
Section titled “Application Handles”-
When you meet a lost person and feel they just need “a little more religion,” remember: they are not misguided - they are dead. Do not offer rehabilitation. Offer resurrection. Share Jesus, not religious activities. The only cure for death is life in Christ.
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When you do not know how to start a Gospel conversation with a lost neighbor, use the “Come and See” challenge. Invite them into your life first - a meal, helping with a task, a community gathering. Build the relationship. Then look for the moment when they ask a question - that is the Holy Spirit opening the door, just as Neil asked Spader, “Do you know what a born-again Christian is?”
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When outreach feels slow or fruitless, remember the Spiritual CPR framework. You may be in the cultivation phase - breaking up hard ground. That is the hardest work! Do not give up. Some sow, some reap. Be faithful in your part and trust God for the harvest.