Session 8: Power for the Mission

When you think about the Great Commission, how do you typically feel (i.e. overwhelmed, excited, something else)?

What leads you to feel this way?

Where do you typically seek motivation for obeying the Great Commission?

When we look at the mission Jesus was on, we need to be on the same mission. We need to realize this mission doesn’t happen one day of the week. In order for us to have an effective witness, we need to try and model our lives after the life of Jesus daily.

Though the times we live in are different than the time of Christ with the availability to sin more available, the simple fact is, the world condition hasn’t changed. There are many people who need to hear and accept the Good News of Christ and be freed from their sin.

We have the power of the Holy Spirit to help us when we are sharing.

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

What can you learn about serving your own community by looking at the way Jesus, the Son of God, dwelt among us?

Jesus was always putting others first before himself. While He recognized it was important for Him to spend time in prayer with His Heavenly Father, when He was with the people, He was with the people. He took the time to listen to them and to be among them. He wasn’t busy with other issues. He met them where they were and tried to help them where their needs were.

The kingdom of God is sometimes described as “already, but not yet,” because the arrival of Jesus represents the arrival of God’s kingdom, but the fullness of God’s kingdom awaits Christ’s return. What does it look like to live as a member of God’s kingdom when there is still so much sin and brokenness in our world?

We have to live lives which imitates Christ’s as best we can. We are going to fail, but that isn’t an excuse for not trying. We need to make sure we are putting forth the effort in order to try to make it work.

A lot of times people will not only look at us when we have wins, but they will also look at us how we handle our losses. They will look at us when we fail. I think all of our situations are teachable moments. We don’t need to be condescending when we are teaching from our own lives. We need to make sure all of the teaching we do comes from a position of love and humility.

We are all in the same position. We have recognized the gift that was given to us by the sacrifice Christ made for us on the cross. We have been adopted in to God’s family. However, we all started from the same place as the sinner who hasn’t accepted this gift yet. We need to always be aware of this.

Luke 4:16–22 ESV

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”

Why were the people in the synagogue so shocked at Jesus’ words?

They were shocked to hear someone who was part of their community say He was the One who was fulfilling these prophecies. I think we need to remember how scripture describes Jesus’s stature as well. He was very ordinary in appearance. As opposed to how we like to picture Him, there was nothing which would have drawn a crowd to Him.

What stands out to you about the fact that Jesus didn’t only meet spiritual needs but also physical ones?

Jesus was concerned about the entire person. He realized before He could focus on spiritual needs, the physical needs needed to be met.

Sort of a sidebar here, we are realizing this in education now. There are so many kids who are coming from home situations where they wonder what they are going to be dealing with when they get home, and we expect them to be able to learn complex math problems or concentrate on a story we are reading in class. Needs have to be met before you can get someone to focus on what you are trying to teach them.

What does this mean for how we should live as His followers?

We should be reaching out to people who have these physical needs. They can’t focus on deeper truths you are going to try and teach them if they are wondering if they are going to have electric when they get home. Maybe there is something physically wrong with a loved one or themselves. There are so many things we need to be sensitive to and try to see how we can help. However, the conversation needs to go beyond the physical needs. Jesus dealt with these physical needs, but He would always draw them to their spiritual needs as well.

Luke 4:23–30 ESV

23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘ “Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away.

Where do you find it difficult to stand firm as a Christian in a culture that is increasingly hostile to the Bible’s teaching?

We battle this every day for those of us who are still in the work force. We have to walk the walk since it is very hard to talk the talk in today’s society in the work place. We have to be more of a physical representation of Christ than we can a verbal. That might be a good thing. If people can see us living a life which emulates Christ, it makes it more believable in what we are trying to present to them. However, it does mean we also have to be very consistent in our walk.

How does involvement in a local church help you to stand firm as a follower of Jesus?

To me, it helps me know I have others who are going through the same struggles I am, but also knowing I have people who are praying for me. As a teacher and an influencer of young people, there is nothing more that I can think of means more to me than knowing I have people lifting me up in prayer. I know they are praying for me to have wisdom in the things I say and do.

We all have people who are praying for us. I think we need all need to have little prayer groups so we can pray for each other and our needs within these groups. This is what small groups are for on Sunday Mornings or any of the Bible studies we offer on other evenings. These small groups can take each others needs and not be overwhelmed by the needs of the entire group.

Prayer groups/prayer partners can be invaluable as we reach out to our community for Christ. God loves it when we come to Him in prayer.

Honestly, this lesson could be the start of an important ministry we need to have started within our church. Let’s pray about where this could take us.

Questions and challenges for this week:

Take time this week to talk with your group about how you can live out God’s kingdom principles in your own community this week. If Jesus were to come to your community, where would He spend His time? What would He change?

Work to memorize John 1:14. Reflect on the privilege of having Jesus come and live among us.

Take time to pray this week as well how God could take this lesson and help us to establish “Prayer Villages” within our church.

As I’m writing this tonight, I’m already trying to work this in my head, but I don’t want to get ahead of God. Pray about this and allow God to take lead in it. How cool would it be to team people up in small prayer groups so that everyone is prayed for no matter how small or big the need.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.