Encore! - Ready to Speak Up Daniel 3:16-18

This is an encore presentation as we take a summer break from recording. We hope you are well and rested!

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Do you know what you believe about God? Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego did. 

The king lost his cool. He decided he would give these 3 one last chance to bow down and worship him before he killed them. But it didn't matter. I wonder if my faith in God and my belief about God would come out of me so casually or matter-of-fact. They stated exactly what they believed and trusted and it mattered. 

Can you state what you believe about God so clearly? One or two sentences? With confidence? Nothing works like practice. On Day 3, we encourage you to know what you believe about Jesus. In our world today, we won't get thrown into a furnace, but we will be asked why we're different. When we appreciate those who are difficult to appreciate or when we serve others beyond what might be expected, others will question. 

We need to prepare today to answer the question, "Why are you doing this?" In one or two sentences, can you state how your faith in Jesus prompted you to go beyond your daily duties? Whatever you say, practice it until it is delivered the way it sounds like this statement was delivered. God will use you in the lives of others, but we need to be able to explain our faith in small, non-preachy or non-judgmental thoughts and statements. 

Try to write out your explanation in advance. Write it in a way that doesn't sound like you were lost or blind. We don't want our friends to get the idea that we think they're lost or blind, either. Often, I say something like, "Well, I follow Jesus and I've found I get a special kind of joy when I do a little extra or give a little more, just because I follow him."

Write it and practice it. Ask a friend or your Mission Trip Mentor to give you feedback as you practice. And if you're not on the mission trip, check it out. You can learn more and sign up at MarketplaceMissionTrip.com.