FOCUSING ON THE ONE
Based on the message by Lee Grady
OVERVIEW
What if God wants to use you to change someone’s life, but you’re too distracted, too busy, or too concerned about what others think to notice?
It’s easy to assume that making a difference for God requires a platform, a large following, or the ability to speak in front of crowds. But throughout the book of Acts, God used personal relationships and individual encounters to accomplish extraordinary things.
Philip left a powerful revival to share Jesus with one Ethiopian man. Paul invested in individuals, encouraged believers by name, and helped raise up others who would continue spreading the gospel.
God doesn’t measure the value of a person by their popularity, influence, or the number of people who know their name. Every person matters to Him.
That includes the people you pass in the hallway, sit beside in class, interact with online, or see every week at church.
Lee Grady challenges us to be relational, intentional, encouraging, and willing to invest in others. Following Jesus isn’t only about our personal relationship with Him. It’s also about recognizing the people He places in our lives and being willing to reach them.
“God doesn’t look at one as if it’s small. He looks at the one as a seed that’s going to spread out all over.” – Lee Grady
The question isn’t whether you’re old enough, outgoing enough, or knowledgeable enough to make a difference. Are you paying attention to the people God has placed around you, and are you willing to obey when He leads?
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
Read → Respond → Reflect → Pray → Live It
Read each passage carefully. Look at how God used ordinary people, personal relationships, and individual encounters to advance His Kingdom.
Respond from Scripture. Don’t answer based only on what you remember from the sermon or what someone else has told you. Open your Bible and find the answers.
Reflect honestly. Think about your friendships, school environment, social media, priorities, fears, and how you treat people who aren’t part of your usual circle. Don’t settle for answers that sound spiritual but never challenge how you actually live.
Pray about what the Holy Spirit reveals, and then Live It. Choose a specific response that puts God’s Word into action.
Section 5 will challenge you to identify opportunities, recognize obstacles, and prepare yourself to obey God as you focus on reaching one person.
SECTION 1 — BE RELATIONAL
FOCUS
Christianity isn’t meant to be lived in isolation. The Church is a family, and genuine relationships are an important part of following Jesus. Paul didn’t simply preach to people and move on. He remembered them, prayed for them, encouraged them, and invested in their lives. Being relational means moving beyond surface-level conversations and caring enough to build meaningful connections with others.
READ
Romans 1:8–12; Romans 16:1–16
RESPOND
- According to Romans 1:9, what did Paul continually do for the believers in Rome?
- What did Paul want to impart to them according to Romans 1:11?
- How does Romans 1:12 describe the encouragement Paul expected believers to share?
- How does Paul describe Phoebe in Romans 16:1–2, and what does he ask the church to do for her?
- What do Paul’s personal greetings in Romans 16 reveal about the importance of relationships in his ministry?
REFLECT
- Think about your friendships at school, church, and online. Are your relationships mostly built around shared interests, entertainment, and social status, or do you genuinely care about people’s lives and spiritual growth? What evidence supports your answer?
- Do you only invest in people who make you feel accepted, comfortable, or popular? How do you treat someone who isn’t part of your friend group, has a different personality, or doesn’t have much social influence?
- Have past hurts, rejection, or fear of being left out caused you to keep people at a distance? Are you willing to let God challenge those barriers so you can build the kind of relationships He’s calling you to have?
PRAY
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal whether your relationships reflect genuine love or are mostly shaped by convenience and social acceptance. Ask Him to help you see people as valuable and develop a heart that cares about their spiritual growth.
LIVE IT
Choose one person outside your usual friend group and make an intentional effort to connect with them this week. Don’t just say hello and move on. Take time to listen, learn something about them, and begin building a genuine relationship.
READ MORE
John 13:34–35
SECTION 2 — BE INTENTIONAL
FOCUS
Philip was involved in a powerful revival when God directed him to a deserted road to encounter one man. He didn’t know what would happen, but he obeyed. That encounter led to the Ethiopian man’s salvation and baptism.
God’s opportunities don’t always arrive at convenient times or in ways we expect. Sometimes being intentional means allowing God to interrupt our plans, stepping outside our comfort zones, and recognizing that one person is worth our time and attention.
READ
Acts 8:26–40
RESPOND
- What instructions did the angel of the Lord give Philip in Acts 8:26?
- How did Philip respond to those instructions?
- What did the Holy Spirit tell Philip to do in verse 29?
- How did Philip begin his conversation with the Ethiopian man, and how did he use Scripture to share Jesus?
- What was the Ethiopian man’s response to the gospel, and what happened before Philip departed?
REFLECT
- Think about your typical day. How much attention do you give to your phone, social media, entertainment, school responsibilities, and your own plans? Are you leaving room to notice someone who may need encouragement, friendship, or to hear about Jesus?
- Have you ever felt prompted to speak to someone, include them, pray for them, or share your faith but ignored it because you were uncomfortable or worried about what others would think? What does that reveal about whose approval matters most to you?
- If God asked you to change your plans or give up some of your free time to invest in one person, would you see it as an opportunity or an inconvenience? What would need to change in your priorities for you to respond willingly?
PRAY
Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the people around you and make you sensitive to His leading. Ask Him to help you recognize opportunities you might otherwise overlook and give you courage to respond in obedience.
LIVE IT
Pay attention to the people you encounter this week. When you notice someone who needs encouragement, friendship, or help, don’t automatically assume someone else will reach out. Take the initiative to connect with them.
READ MORE
Acts 16:13–15
SECTION 3 — BE ENCOURAGING
FOCUS
Words have power. They can strengthen someone’s faith, build confidence, and bring hope, or they can discourage, embarrass, and tear people down.
God calls believers to become people who encourage and strengthen others. Encouragement isn’t simply saying something nice. It’s recognizing someone’s value, speaking life, and helping them see what God can accomplish in their lives.
READ
Proverbs 10:11; Ephesians 4:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:11
RESPOND
- How does Proverbs 10:11 describe the mouth of the righteous?
- What kind of speech does Ephesians 4:29 instruct believers to avoid?
- According to Ephesians 4:29, what should our words accomplish?
- What two instructions does Paul give in 1 Thessalonians 5:11?
- How do these passages describe the responsibility believers have to strengthen one another?
REFLECT
- If someone reviewed your text messages, group chats, social media comments, and conversations from the past week, would they find more encouragement or more criticism, sarcasm, gossip, and negativity? What do your words reveal about your heart?
- Have you ever joined in making fun of someone, stayed silent while others were being criticized, or used humor at someone else’s expense because you wanted to fit in? How does that behavior compare with God’s instruction to build others up?
- Are you more concerned about receiving attention, compliments, and affirmation than giving encouragement to others? Who in your life might be struggling while you’re waiting for someone to notice your own needs?
PRAY
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where your words and attitudes need to change. Ask Him to help you recognize the value in others and become someone who consistently speaks encouragement and life.
LIVE IT
Intentionally encourage someone this week who may not normally receive much attention or affirmation. Be specific and sincere. Look for an opportunity to speak life into their situation rather than offering a casual compliment.
READ MORE
Proverbs 16:24
SECTION 4 — REPLACE YOURSELF
FOCUS
God’s Kingdom grows when we invest in others who will continue sharing His truth. Paul didn’t focus only on what he could accomplish personally. He poured into people like Timothy and Onesimus, recognizing their value and potential.
Following Jesus isn’t about building our own reputation or becoming the center of attention. It’s about helping others grow in their faith, discover their purpose, and become equipped to reach even more people.
READ
2 Timothy 2:1–2; Philemon 1:8–17
RESPOND
- According to 2 Timothy 2:1, where does Paul instruct Timothy to find his strength?
- What does Paul instruct Timothy to do with the things he has learned in verse 2?
- What qualities should Timothy look for in the people he teaches, and what should they be able to do?
- How does Paul describe Onesimus in Philemon 1:10–11?
- According to Philemon 1:15–17, how does Paul ask Philemon to receive Onesimus?
REFLECT
- Are you primarily focused on your own relationship with Jesus, or are you also helping others grow in theirs? If someone asked who you are intentionally encouraging or helping in their faith, could you name anyone?
- When someone else receives an opportunity, recognition, or leadership responsibility you wanted, do you celebrate their growth or feel threatened by it? What does your reaction reveal about whether you’re focused on God’s Kingdom or your own importance?
- Think about the influence you have on younger students, siblings, friends, or teammates. If they followed your example in how you speak, treat others, handle conflict, and follow Jesus, would you be helping them grow closer to Him? What needs to change?
PRAY
Ask God to help you see the potential He has placed in others. Pray for a willingness to invest your time, share what you’ve learned, and encourage others to grow, even when you don’t receive recognition for it.
LIVE IT
Identify someone you could begin encouraging or helping in their relationship with Jesus. Look for a practical opportunity to share something you’ve learned from God’s Word, pray with them, or help them take a step forward in their faith.
READ MORE
2 Timothy 1:3–7
SECTION 5 — FOCUS ON THE ONE: TAKE ACTION
You don’t have to wait until you’re older, have more Bible knowledge, or feel completely confident before God can use you. The people you see every day matter to Him, and He has placed you in relationships and situations where you can make a difference.
But hearing a message about reaching people isn’t the same as actually reaching them. This week, challenge yourself to move beyond good intentions and respond when God leads.
- Who is your ONE?
- Is there someone God has already placed on your heart who needs a genuine friendship, encouragement, discipleship, or an opportunity to know Jesus?
- As you go through your week, are you willing to ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to people you normally overlook, including those outside your usual social circle?
- Are you willing to see someone as valuable even if reaching out to them won’t benefit your reputation, popularity, or social standing?
- What’s standing in your way?
God calls us to overcome obstacles rather than allow them to keep us from obeying Him.
- Are there any obstacles keeping you from responding in obedience when God leads you? Consider whether fear of rejection, pressure to fit in, insecurity, past hurts, a busy schedule, or simply not knowing what to say might be holding you back.
- What needs to change in your heart, priorities, or actions so you’re ready to respond when He leads you?
- Is there a parent, pastor, leader, or trusted believer who could pray with you, encourage you, or help you overcome that obstacle?
- Will you take the step of obedience?
- Are you intentionally spending time in prayer and God’s Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to prepare your heart, open your eyes to recognize opportunities, and strengthen your faith to respond when He leads?
- When God places someone in your path, will you be ready to obey, even if it costs you personal convenience, comfort, popularity, or your own plans?
- What specific step of obedience will you take this week? Will you begin a conversation, include someone who’s been left out, offer encouragement, share your faith, or intentionally invest in someone’s spiritual growth?
Don’t just identify your one. Prepare your heart, recognize the opportunity, and obey when God leads.
FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT
“God doesn’t look at one as if it’s small. He looks at the one as a seed that’s going to spread out all over.” – Lee Grady
It’s easy to think that making a difference for God is something you’ll do later, when you’re older, more confident, or have more opportunities. But the people around you need Jesus now.
You don’t need thousands of followers, a leadership title, or a platform to make a Kingdom impact. God can use one conversation, one act of encouragement, one genuine friendship, or one moment of obedience to change someone’s life.
The question is whether you’re willing to notice the opportunity and respond.
Don’t allow fear, insecurity, social pressure, or your own plans to keep you from reaching someone God has placed in your path. Spend time in His Word, listen to the Holy Spirit, and be willing to step outside your comfort zone.
You may never know how far the impact of one act of obedience will reach.
Focus on the one. Be ready. Be willing. Obey when God leads.