Most Aussies have either shelved 'religion' or are just unaware. They know little about Jesus and his claims. This isn't necessarily bad news. It can be a good place to begin. The first Jesus they meet will be the Jesus they meet in you! So let's begin with some ground rule.
Rule 1. Under no circumstances try to convert someone. That's God's job. (1 Corinthians 3:5-6)
Rule 2. Take courage. This requires trust in God and a personal risk. (Colossians 4:2-4)
Rule 3. If they say `no thank-you,' you haven't failed. They're just not ready.
Rule 4. If they say 'yes,' then you've got some preparation to do. So pray!

What are you going to ask your friend to do?
You're asking people to join you in a seven session study. Each session should take 30-45 minutes. It will depend upon the time available and the nature of the conversation. Try and find a balance between allowing the conversation to go where they direct and the content before you.

How will you 'make the ask'?
Go ahead and use your own words but they could include phrases like:
• "I'm looking for someone to read the Bible with and I'm wondering if you'd be interested?"
• "I'm looking for someone to explore faith with and I'm wondering if you'd be interested?"
• "I'm looking for someone whose open to explore Jesus with and I'm wondering of you'd be interested?" or
• "Hey! My place, 8pm, we're gonna talk about God!"

To 'make the ask' I want you to do some pre-praying. We want God to be very much in the middle of this conversation. Then wait for the right time.
Sometimes there is no right time, just ask. At this point I want to remember you of the story about Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. When the Ethiopian asked Philip a question about the Bible it says that he 'took a deep breath' and began to tell him about the good news of Jesus. So take a deep breath! As you prepare to make the ask remember that we have the best news to tell ever. The news about Jesus offers hope, peace and wisdom to a fumbling and searching world. After all, Jesus did say, "I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10) That's what Jesus is offering. Fullness of life. Freedom from addictions, rejections, shame, guilt, fear of death, negative thinking and all sins dark and enslaving powers. He gives this new life to people when they surrender their lives to him. Simply put, human beings flourish best under God. Jesus came to make that possible.

1. Social - How are you going? What's been your high/low for the week?
2. Review and Prayer Did you think any more about what we discussed last week? \ Did you happen to share it with anyone else? I believe in prayer, would you mind if I pray and ask God to speak to us today? When you ask this, don't sound so spiritual that they roll their eyes. Just be real and pray for the study time, including thanks for the 'highs' and help for the 'lows'.
3. Read and discuss This is the main part so keep 20 minutes as a minimum for this. It will go fast!

This week we are looking at: What's God like? 
Read Luke 15:11-24 out aloud twice. Take turns. Now tell the story back to each other.
Questions to discuss 
1. What do you like about this story? What do you find challenging?
2. What kind of parent does that? What kind of child does that?
3. What does this passage reveal about God?
4. What does this passage reveal about us?

Now read Luke 15:1-2 out aloud twice.
1. What does this passage reveal about God's attitude to people?
Idea 1: God is like that love filled father, waiting for the day we return home to him.
Idea 2: We don't intuitively know God. We are like that runaway child living our lives apart from him.
Actions: How might I be praying for you this week? If you like, take some time to read over the story again during the week, and if you get a chance, tell it to someone else.

This week we are looking at: How should we live? 
Read Luke 10:25-37 out aloud twice. Take turns. Now tell the story back to each other.
Questions to discuss
1. What do you like about this story? What do you find challenging?
2. What did the lawyer really want to know?
3. If Jesus made the hated Samaritan the hero of his story, what is he asking the Lawyer to do?
4. How does God want humans to live?
Idea 1: God has made us for relationships. He gave us the capacity to love. We are fully alive when we are in right relationship with him and others.
Idea 2: Our neighbour is not just the person next door, but anyone in need. That includes not just anyone, but everyone.
Actions: How might I be praying for you this week? If you like, take some time to read over the story again during the week, and if you get a chance, tell it to someone else.

This week we are looking at: What's Jesus like? 
Read Luke 7:36-50 out aloud twice. Take turns. Now tell the story back to each other.
Questions to discuss 
1. What do you like about this story? What challenges you about this story?
2. What does this passage reveal to you about Jesus?
3. What does this passage reveal about the woman?
4. What does this passage reveal about Simon?
5. If you were honest with yourself, who are you more like in attitude? Why?
Idea 1: No matter who you are, where you've been, what you've done or has been done to you, God loves you. You matter to God. When someone returns to him he welcomes (family), washes (forgives) and gives them a new power.
Idea 2: Even though Jesus clearly said that neither could pay, most people think they can. Many people don't take up Jesus' offer of life (in his kingdom) because they think they can go it alone. They don't need him, his life, or his forgiveness.
Actions: How might I be praying for you this week? If you like, take some time to read over the story again during the week, and if you get a chance, tell it to someone else.

This week we are looking at: What are we like? 
Read Luke 12:13-32 out aloud twice. Take turns. Now tell the story back to each other.
Questions to discuss 
1. What do you like about this story? What challenges you about this story?
2. What does this passage reveal about us?
3. What does this passage reveal to us about God?
4. What does this passage say we should do to find life?
Idea 1: Deep down we all know that there is more to life than the accumulation of things, but many of us don't know where to begin?
Idea 2: "We are made for yourself oh God, and we will not find rest until we find it in you." Augustine -4th C philosopher/theologian The Bible says that real life is found in God.
Actions: How might we be praying for each other this week? If you like, take some time to read over the story again during the week, and if you get a chance, tell it to someone else.

This week we are looking at: How can I experience God's life? 
Read John 3:1-17 out aloud twice. Take turns. Now tell the story back to each other.
Questions to discuss
1. What do you like about this passage? What challenges you about it?
2. What does this passage reveal about God's Spirit?
3. What does this passage reveal about what Jesus came to achieve?
4. What does this passage reveal about God the Father?
5. According to the passage what does someone need to do to enter new life with God?
Idea 1: We are more than flesh and blood. We are spirit too. We are spiritual beings.
Idea 2: Entry into God's life is not through what we do, but by placing our faith in Jesus because of what he has done for us. This is called grace.
Actions: How might we be praying for each other this week? Prereading for next sessions: Read John 19 before we meet again and apply the same general questions we have been asking.

This week we are looking at: Why did Jesus die? 
Pre reading John 19;
Questions to discuss
1. What did you like about this passage? What challenges you about it?
2. What does this reveal about Jesus?
3. What does this reveal about people?
4. What do you think Jesus meant when he said, "It is finished?"
Also in this session - Read John 20:1-31 out aloud twice. Take turns in reading to each other.
Questions to discuss
1. What do you like about this passage? What challenges you about it?
2. What does this reveal about Jesus?
3. What does this reveal about the disciples?
4. What does John (the writer) to do with this information? Refer to “Jesus — religion or relationship?” booklet.
Actions: How might we be praying for each other this week? Prereading for next sessions: Read Acts 2:1-21 before next time and apply the same questions we have been asking.

This week we are looking at: What does Jesus want me to do? Pre reading Acts 2:1-21
Questions to discuss
1. What did you like about this passage? What challenges you about it?
2. What does this reveal about the Spirit?
3. What does this reveal about God?
Also in this session read Acts 2:22-41 out aloud twice. 
Take turns reading to each other.
Questions to discuss
1. What do you like about this passage? What challenges you about it?
2. What was the message about Jesus they announced?
3. Who has God made Jesus to be?
4. What happens when someone returns (repents) to God?
Actions: Where do you stand with God? Are you ready to respond to him? Where do we go from here? Perhaps pray the prayer below...

Sin - that attitude which consciously or unconsciously says to God, “Get out of my life I want to do it my way.” Sin is more than a single wrong act (although it includes that). It’s a power which causes humans to behave in subhuman ways. It distorts our thinking and darkens our hearts. The problem with sin is that it enslaves us. It is the root cause of evil, suffering and rebellion in our world. Jesus came to defeat it.
Repentance -a wholehearted return to God without any wheeling or dealing
Pharisee - a self-appointed religious/political leader who was zealous for God’s kingdom to arrive on earth, even if through violent means.
Faith - a settled conviction that Jesus is God’s Son and that he has risen from the dead in bodily form
Saved - In the broad sense, the word saved describes the action of being rescued from a trouble or sickness. In a more specific sense, it refers to a rescue from the power of sin and physical death. When used in terms of faith in Jesus, it describes an event which takes place when someone puts their trust in Jesus. It is God’s doing. The new world which Jesus brought into being when God raised him from the dead, now comes alive in humans when they place their trust in him.
Grace - is God’s selfless love and generosity toward his creation even when it is undeserved. Saving grace refers to God’s exceedingly generous gift of Jesus who came to die in our place. Sustaining grace refers to God’s ability to accomplish in our lives what we cannot do for ourselves. Followers of Jesus need this to remain faithful and obedient to God as they learn to conform their lives to his.