St. John's
Presbyterian Church
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St. John's
Presbyterian Church |
Rooted in Christ's Love |
| Growing as Disciples | |
| Bearing the Good News |
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LIFEGROUPS
Lifegroups are central to our community of believers at St. John’s. Sixty-five percent of our members participate in a group. What is a Lifegroup A Lifegroup is an intentional, face to face, gathering of 3-12 people who meet on a regular basis, with a common purpose of discovering and growing in the adventure of serving Christ and extending his kingdom in every arena of life: family, work, neighborhood and community.
Lifegroup Group CovenantA Lifegroup is an [SHC1]intentional, face to face, gathering of 3-12 people who meet on a regular basis, with a common purpose of discovering and growing in the adventure of serving Christ and extending his kingdom in every arena of life. Our threefold priority is to build relationships, study God’s word, and reach out to others.
We agree to meet at __________ (time) on __________ (day) for the next __________ weeks. At the end of this commitment period, we are free to re-commit, invite others to join, or to exit the group.
1. We will meet at ______________________________ (location).
2. We agree to the following rules of our group (check those that apply):
r PRAYER: We will pray for our fellow lifegroup members, asking the Holy Spirit to empower us to live more like Jesus, and seek his grace when we fall short.
r PRIORITY: For the duration of the commitment period, lifegroup meetings will have our priority.
r PARTICIPATION: Everyone is given the freedom to participate as they feel comfortable, and only one person may talk at a time. There are no “dumb questions”.
r CONFIDENTIALITY: Anything said in the meeting is not to be repeated outside the meeting.
r ENCOURAGEMENT: Permission is given to call each other in times of need.
r ADVICE GIVING: Unsolicited advice is not allowed.
What are the responsibilities
of a Lifegroup Leader? · Guide the group in the development of a Group Covenant [see “Group Covenant” attached] so that all members understand their common purpose and shared commitments.
· Set the agenda for each gathering which will usually include Bible study, prayer and relationship building. Groups will also be encouraged to adopt a ministry & outreach focus. Preparation time for each meeting is about 1 hour.
· Develop an atmosphere of mutual care and sharing among members.
· Pray regularly for individual members that they would grow to maturity and accomplish their ministry.
· Let the Word of God always have the final authority in all matters.
· Attend the annual Leadership Community meeting for encouragement, skill development and contributing to and receiving vision for the ministry.
Bible Study
Each group will be provided with a study guide containing questions for discussion [see attached]. The foundation of all Bible Study is three questions:
(1) What does it say? (observation) (2) What does it mean? (interpretation) (3) What does it mean to me/ask of me? (application).
· Your group study questions are predicated on the principle that there are no resident experts. Everyone’s insight is equally valid. Questions are meant to spark dialogue with Scripture and provide a format for sharing everyone’s discoveries.
· Part of your goal as a Lifegroup Leader is to involve the other members in the group to share in the leading of the study. It is exciting to witness members grow not only in their familiarity with the Bible, but also in their comfort in leading all or an aspect of the discussion.
· The ultimate teacher of the group is the Holy Spirit, who is operative in every believer’s life. The role of the Lifegroup Leader is to guide the members of the group through the questions at an appropriate rate and facilitate an atmosphere where God’s truth is made clear through personal discovery, dialogue and sharing.
Prayer & Worship
We encourage Lifegroups to worship and sing together utilizing the musical gifts of your group, a hymnal and/or book of praise songs. Even 10 minutes of worship at the beginning of your Lifegroup meeting can be transformational, and focus the group on its purpose, and the presence of God in your midst.
In addition to worship, prayer is one of the most vital aspects of your Lifegroup, and yet often the most difficult! For some of us, the thought of praying aloud in a group is downright frightening! While we often relegate prayer to the “professionals,” the Bible teaches us that all members of Christ’s body have the privilege and promise of all that prayer entails. Here are some guidelines for group prayer:
· The ABC’s: Audible or loud enough for everyone to hear; Brief enough to give everyone a chance to pray and to prevent domination by one or two; Christ-centered such that prayer is not used for personal manipulation, but for the purpose of taking our needs to Jesus in the company of his followers. · No Pressure: While everyone is encouraged to participate in group prayer, each individual has the freedom not to participate. · A Conversational Model: Rosalind Rinker’s method of conversational prayer can be a helpful way to begin at the group’s early stages: Pray for one subject/issue at a time. Use simple, one or two sentence conversational prayers: “Dear God, please help me with ________.” Before moving on to the next prayer need, one or two should affirm the prayer: “Dear Lord, please help ___________ with this particular need.” · Inclusion: Make sure there has been opportunity and time for all to pray. Prayer should not always be left as the last activity for the group. · Guided: At times, the leader may wish to guide the types of prayers by simply announcing, “Let’s not now enter into a time of praise….now we will take time to pray for our church…now let’s pray for ourselves etc. · Closing: It’s important to set some boundaries during the prayer experience as to who will close and who will open, so that it will minimize a sense of awkwardness.
Relationship Building A Christian community, where there exists authentic love, genuine caring and open sharing is what every person needs and often longs to experience. This is not something that happens overnight, but rather through a process that each Lifegroup must undergo and understand.
Although each Lifegroup will focus on the three elements of Bible Study/Prayer, Relationship Building and Outreach, a newly formed Lifegroup should spend a significant amount of time in building a sense of community among its members.
Groups often discontinue or disengage because they never developed a feeling of closeness or comfort with one another. How then can we facilitate these close-knit relationships within a Lifegroup?
Sharing
Sharing questions are personal, open-ended questions which in the beginning do not require significant self-disclosure, but which – over several meetings -- should move toward more serious reflection [see “Examples of Sharing Questions” attached].
· There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. Group members can never be forced to share at a deeper level than they are willing to do and the permission to pass must always be honored.
· In the early stages of a Lifegroup, it is helpful for the leader to answer the sharing questions first for two reasons: (1) he/she knows the question and has more time to think about them; and (2) the leader has an opportunity to model the length of time for, and depth of, sharing.
· As is spelled out in the Group Covenant, any sharing within the group is done so with the utmost confidentiality, sharing will never take the form of gossip or refer to persons outside the group unless permission has been given; and no unsolicited advice will be offered by other group members.
· Some helpful hints for facilitating balanced sharing in your Lifegroup: (1) Preferably meet in a home where the environment is warmer and more conducive to comfort and sharing. (2) Avoid distractions, e.g., TV, pets, phone. (3) Sit in a circle in order to facilitate “face to face” communication. Those who can see each other will talk to each other! (4) For overly talkative or overly quiet members remember these principles: the person sitting directly opposite the leader is often more likely to talk because establishing eye-contact with the leader is easier (a good spot for more quiet members); while persons sitting on either side of the leader are less likely to talk because eye-contact with the leader is minimal (a good spot for more talkative members).
Caring
Caring for one another best occurs when sharing among members is encouraged and when the needs of members are given attention in appropriate and personal ways by the group leader and the other members. A person who is cared for has a sense of belonging. Lifegroup members will feel cared for when: they are prayed for regularly by name; they are able to express personal needs; they are affirmed for their contributions to the group’s life; they are encouraged to discover and use their God-given gifts for ministry; they are contacted when absent; they can share their thoughts without being judged; they are held accountable to living under the Lordship of Christ.
Having Fun
A group will want to consider doing activities outside their normal weekly meetings that will draw them closer together: e.g., picnics, potlucks, game nights, movie nights, weekend retreat, dining out, home improvement project.
Ministry & Outreach Groups that engage in some type of servant evangelism at least once every 10 weeks are more balanced and tend to be less self-focused. Such groups become launching pads for ministry in their neighborhoods. See Conspiracy of Kindness by Steve Sjogren (Ann Arbor, MI: Vinebooks,1993) for hundreds of great outreach ideas.
Sample Lifegroup Schedule
7:00-7:30 p.m. Gathering (coffee, announcements, worship) 7:30-8:15 p.m. Sharing/Bible Study 8:15-9:00 p.m. Caring (prayer requests & prayer)
What are the responsibilities of a Lifegroup Host?
· Provide the home where the Lifegroup will meet. · Organize food & refreshments for each meeting. · Attend each meeting as an active group member. · Pray regularly with the Lifegroup Leader(s) for individual members that they would grow to maturity and accomplish their ministry. · Attend annual Leadership Community meeting for encouragement, skill development and contributing to and receiving vision for the ministry once/month. · Be available to help the Lifegroup Leader(s) in other tasks as needs arise. Why Lifegroups are the most effective way to fulfill our Church’s 5 Priorities 1. WORSHIPING God in Spirit and in truth Jesus taught his followers to worship the Lord “in spirit and in truth.” Our first priority as believers is “to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” Worship binds God’s people together, re-centers us in the reality of God’s presence, and brings healing to our hectic and hurried lives. Much like the first century “house churches,” Lifegroups are an ideal place to magnify and glorify the Lord.
2. INVESTING our lives in community Lifegroups encourage the building of relationships in the context of an encouraging, reconciling and grace-filled community. The possibilities for honesty, for caring, and for commitment are tremendous. The opportunities to celebrate and “have fun” together will be a natural outcome of the Lifegroup experience.
3. PRAYING for the Spirit’s fullness, fruit, and gifts for ministry Prayer is a priority for God’s people. Jesus often withdrew from the crowds and the demands of ministry to pray and commune with the Father. Jesus’ disciples longed to share in the intimacy and power that characterized Jesus’ relationship with the Father. The praying church is a revived and Spirit-led church! Therefore, God’s people are called to join the Master in this most critical of spiritual disciplines, by learning to pray in a close-knit community of disciples.
4. LEARNING to walk in the Way of Jesus The Lifegroup is an opportunity to explore the scriptures and grow in spiritual maturity, learning how to live our lives as Jesus would live them if he were us, within a community of mutual accountability and encouragement. 5. PROCLAIMING & DEMONSTRATING the gospel of Christ Lifegroups are a non-threatening environment in which seekers can safely explore Christianity and experience genuine Christian community. At the same time, the Lifegroup is the ideal launching pad for ministry and community service in the name of Christ, what is sometimes called “servant evangelism”. The purpose of the Lifegroup is not to be an isolated group of individuals who are focused only on self-concerns. Inviting others to join the group and serving the secular community through group projects can be a powerful demonstration of the gospel. Practical ideas for ministry and service will be discussed during future leadership meetings For more information, please contact the Lifegroup Coordinator, Jean Carfagno, through the church office.
GOING MISSIONAL What does it mean to be a “missional” church? “Missio Dei” or “Mission of God” is a Latin phrase that can be literally translated, “sending of God.” Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has sent me so I send you….receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20: 21-22). The missional church is rooted in our sending God. The Son was sent on a mission by the Father. The Spirit was sent on a mission by the Father and the Son. The Church was sent on a mission by the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. The church must be about more than a mission of self-preservation or institutional expansion. The church has been called to join God’s mission to a world in need. May God help us understand and put into practice what it means to be the missional church.
DATE: Sunday, September 7TEXT: Matthew 9: 35-36 TITLE: Week 1 – The Missional Heart FOCUS: The missional church is fueled by the heart of Christ for a broken world.
DATE: Sunday, September 14TEXT: Matthew 9: 37-38 TITLE: Week 2 – The Missional Prayer FOCUS: The overwhelming task of mission brings his followers to their knees in prayer.
DATE: Sunday, September 21TEXT: Matthew 10: 1 TITLE: Week 3 – Missional Gifts FOCUS: Christ will not send us out with his mission without the power to accomplish it.
DATE: Sunday, September 28TEXT: Matthew 10: 2-4 TITLE: Week 4 – The Missional Community FOCUS: Jesus’ first disciples exhibit the variety of the missional church and its source of unity.
DATE: Sunday, October 5 [World Communion]TEXT: Matthew 10: 5-6 TITLE: Week 5 – Missional Destinations FOCUS: Jesus’ specific call to bring the good news to Israel was the beginning of his mission to the whole world. It also reminds us that mission begins in our backyard.
DATE: Sunday, October 12TEXT: Matthew 10: 7-8a TITLE: Week 6 – Missional Triangulation FOCUS: Jesus shares with us the three essential dimensions of any missional strategy: go, proclaim, heal. DATE: Sunday, October 19 [Deacons Sun.]TEXT: Matthew 10: 8b-10 TITLE: Week 7 – Missional Abuse FOCUS: Because spiritual benefits awaken deep gratitude, Jesus warns the missional church not to become the abusive church.
DATE: Sunday, October 26TEXT: Matthew 10: 11-15 TITLE: Week 8 – Missional No Brainers FOCUS: Jesus teaches us to minister where the peace of God is received and bears fruit.
DATE: Sunday, November 2 [Communion]TEXT: Matthew 10:16-25 TITLE: Week 9 – Mission on the Margins FOCUS: We live in a post-Christian society and must learn to relate to it “on the margins,” much as the Christians of the first century did.
DATE: Sunday, November 9TEXT: Matthew 10: 26-33 TITLE: Week 10 – Facing Missional Fear FOCUS: Jesus invites us to face our fear of persecution with a holy fear of God; and the promise of his love.
DATE: Sunday, November 16TEXT: Matthew 10: 34-39 TITLE: Week 11 – Mission Division FOCUS: Can we be truly missional if our own family members have rejected the gospel?
DATE: Sunday, November 23 [Thanksgiving Sunday]TEXT: Matthew 10: 40 -11:1 TITLE: Week 12 – Missional Rewards FOCUS: The present and future rewards of “going missional” are cause for thanksgiving.
GOING MISSIONAL Week 11 Matthew 10: 34-39 (p. 791)
1. In v. 34 (cf. Luke 15: 21), Jesus says he did not come to bring peace but the sword of division. ‘Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so,’ Jesus seems to say, ‘I’ve come to disrupt and confront!’ (Peterson). Do these words blow your assumptions about Jesus and his mission, or confirm them? Explain.
2. In v. 35-37, Jesus clearly says that we are to love him more than our families. [This includes religious bodies that deny his Lordship: see 1 Cor. 8: 5-6]. Think of at least one way that “family” might hinder Christ’s work in you; or be a means of evading his call upon your life? On the other hand, may we use him as an excuse to neglect family (cf. Matt.15:1-6; 1Tim. 5:8)?
3. Regarding v. 38, Bonhoeffer wrote: “The cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise godfearing life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man he bids him come and die” (The Cost of Discipleship). What does it mean to voluntarily pick up our cross as the first step of discipleship to Jesus?
4. “I need to go find myself” is one of the mantras of our self-actualizing society. How is this approach different from Jesus’ word in v. 39? What have you lost or left behind for the sake of Christ and his mission…and what have you found?
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Lifegroups, church members, and friends, go to stjohnspres.org and click on the link to http://pastorstevecraig.blogspot.com/. At the bottom of the page click the “comments” link and post your reflections to Question 4.
Week 10 / Matthew 10: 24-33 (p. 791)
1. Think of a personal pursuit that has required significant investment on your part, then answer the following question: a) What have been the costs and what have been the rewards? b) What cost or reward is implied for the disciple of Jesus who aspires to be “like the teacher” (vv. 24-25)?
2. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his first inaugural address, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” How is FDR’s statement similar to, and very different from, what Jesus says in v. 26-28 about “fear”?
3. a) We assume that God is taken up with great historic moments or cataclysmic events, but how does Jesus reveal the true largeness of God here and address the fear of our own smallness (vv. 29-31)?
4. Barack Obama writes: "Secularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering into the public square…To say that men and women should not inject their ‘personal morality’ into public policy debates is a practical absurdity. Our law is by definition a codification of morality, much of it grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition” (The Role of Religion & Politics, 6-28-06). a) Why do we fear to bring our Christian faith into the public square? b) What warning and what hope does Jesus give to those who once denied him (vv. 32-33; Matt. 26: 31-35)?
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Lifegroups, church members, and friends, go to stjohnspres.org and click on the link to http://pastorstevecraig.blogspot.com/. At the bottom of the page click the “comments” link and post your reflections to Question 4.
Week 9 / Matthew 10: 16-23 (p. 791) 1. Jesus says, “I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (16). In what sense is 21st century America a hazardous place for disciples of Jesus? How has God called you to be “wise as a serpent” or “innocent/pure as a dove” lately?
2. Jesus, who commands us to love even our enemies, also tells us to “beware of people” (17)! Why not assume that all people are basically wonderful, trustworthy, and always have our best interests in mind?
3. Matt. 10:18-20 describes what 1st century Christians were up against (cf. 1 Cor. 4: 9-13). This was not a time of great power or political influence for Jesus’ own, but a time of persecution. Why might the church thrive in times of weakness rather than times of great material or political power? Share a time of weakness when the Spirit gave you the words to speak (20).
4. Jesus says, “You will be hated by all because of my name” (22). Have you ever been rejected, bullied, laughed at, or left out because of your allegiance to Jesus’ name or his ways? READ Matt. 5: 10-12 & be blessed!
5. In v. 23 the promise of Jesus’ coming could refer to his Resurrection, the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost, a special Visitation of his Spirit, or the Parousía itself (Jesus’ end time return). Is the promise of Jesus’ coming an encouragement to you? When does it seem like a threat?
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Lifegroups, church members, and friends, go to stjohnspres.org and click on the link to http://pastorstevecraig.blogspot.com/. At the bottom of the page click the “comments” link and post your reflections to Question 1.
Week 8 / Matthew 10: 11-15 (p. 791) 1. The term “worthy” in v. 11a is another word for “receptive” in Matthew’s vocabulary. What do you think causes people to be “receptive” to Christ, or even to conversations about meaning, the purpose of life, forgiveness, the burden of guilt, the meaning of suffering or death?
2. Jesus urged his disciples to stay in one place on their missional adventure if possible (11b), rather than to move around. Why is it important to root ourselves in a community as Christians?
3. The “peace of Christ” is something that we give to others as a gift (12-13a). What do you think this peace is from your experience? (e.g., a blessing, a prayer, the presence of the Holy Spirit, the gospel itself?)
4. Jesus taught his disciples to expect a certain amount of failure (13b-14). How do you cope with failure? (Do you have a “dust-shaking” ritual?)
5. Christian churches tend to focus on one of two “sin problems”: Sodom’s moral depravity (READ Gen. 19:1-11) or its social injustice (READ Ezekiel 16: 49); yet Jesus seems to imply in vv. 14-15 that while these are serious problems, they are secondary issues. What then is the primary issue (according to Jesus) with which all human beings must come to terms (READ Matt.10: 32-33, 40; 11: 2-6; 16: 24-26) and why? JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Lifegroups, church members, and friends, go to stjohnspres.org and click on the link to http://pastorstevecraig.blogspot.com/. At the bottom of the page click the “comments” link and post your reflections to Question 1 or 2.
Week 7 Matthew 10: 8b-10 (p. 791) 1. Describe a time when you felt abused, manipulated, or taken advantage of by a religious group OR a time when you felt protected and/or delivered from such abuse? What happened and what did you learn? 2. Jesus says, “You received without payment; give without payment.” What are we teaching and modeling for others when we share the gospel message free of charge? What are some creative ways that we can offer Jesus Christ and his love to others “with no strings attached”?
3. When Jesus says, “Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no [money] bag for your journey; or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff” he is echoing a familiar passage from the Talmud (Jewish commentary) that prohibited one from taking such “worldly” things associated with trade and business into the Temple. If I treat the whole world as God’s temple (or Church) how will that change the way I conduct myself in the world and the way I acquire and use material things?
4. Jesus balances his previous remarks by saying that “Laborers deserve their food.” What work/worker would Jesus say, does not deserve to be fed (e.g., Matt.7: 15-23; Matt. 21: 41-46; John 4: 31-34)? Assuming that what is true of God’s workers is true of the work of God’s church; what work “deserves” to be fed and how are we responsible for its nourishment?
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Lifegroups, church members, and friends, go to stjohnspres.org and click on the link to http://pastorstevecraig.blogspot.com/. At the bottom of the page click the “comments” link and post your reflections to Question 1 or 2.
Week 6 Matthew 10: 7-8a (p. 791) 1. At the time of Jesus’ ministry, bad news was plentiful. Israel had failed to realize its potential to be a righteous, God-centered people and a light to the world. It’s religious leadership was fragmented. It was a nation under occupation by Rome, scattered and heavily influenced by pagan culture. What are some of the “bad news” stories that we hear today with respect to America’s spiritual, material, and emotional/physical well-being? How do they affect you?
2. The disciples are told to announce the “good news” (cf. Mark 1:15) that “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Dale Bruner writes, “There is something exhilarating about telling people that as we speak the kingdom is breaking in.” How has the King and his good news “broken through” or “drawn near” to you recently?
3. Jesus instructs his disciples to “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.” These activities suggest that Jesus’ news is not just nice, or interesting – it is powerfully relevant, addressing illness, death, social isolation, and the denial of evil and the Evil One (respectively). Which of these giftings have you experienced in your life (a serious question) or most desire and want to use for his glory? Pray for each member as you ask God to empower you for his mission this week.
Week 5 Matthew 10: 5-6 (p. 791)
On any journey, one has to pick a destination. Jesus picks “the lost sheep of Israel” for his disciples’ first mission.
1. The word “lost” (apolōlota) does not mean lost in the sense of “strayed” but lost in the sense of “perished” (cf. Matt. 11: 20-24). Do we share Jesus’ sense of the endangered state of the people around us? Why or why not?
2. Sheep are “ordinary” creatures. How does Jesus’ focus on “ordinary” folks square with our fascination with power and stardom? In what sense is it true that even the “up and ins” are just “ordinary” people to Jesus?
3. Jesus sends his disciples to Israel first. Later, Paul will describe the Gospel as the power of God for salvation “to the Jew first and then the Gentile” (Romans 1:16). Why? (See Peter’s explanation in Acts 3: 25-26).
4. How do we know the exclusion of Gentiles & Samaritans in this first mission was not permanent? (See Matt. 13:21-28; 28:19; John 4:9, 20)
5. Jesus did not tell us to permanently ignore Jews, Gentiles, or Samaritans (see above). Even so, who are we are tempted to exclude or ignore in our backyard from the saving mission of Jesus? What would your prayer be for them today?
Week 4/ Matthew 10: 2-4 (p. 791) 1. Webster defines “community” as “a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society.” Give three examples of how/where you have experienced “community” in your life?
2. Jesus called 12 men (and several women!) to be with him in close-knit community. Where have you been in close relationship with others at St. John’s & how has this challenged you to exhibit more of Jesus’ character traits (e.g., welcoming, patient, forgiving, loving, bold, truth-telling)?
3. The disciples were a diverse group…including Matthew (a former tax collector and Roman sympathizer) and Simon the (anti-Roman) zealot revolutionary. That Jesus was and is able to unite people of such different backgrounds is an historical fact. If possible, describe how you have experienced the unifying power of Jesus Christ “in community”?
4. The joy of knowing others and being known is a true blessing (Psalm 133). That being said, how might my love of the ten or a hundred people who “know my name” at church actually hinder the mission of Christ? Name 3 ways your Lifegroup could become a “community with a cause”?
Week 3 / Matthew 10: 1 (p. 790) 1. Describe one of your all time greatest adventures and the three things you took with you that ended up being most essential for the trip?
2. What essentials did Jesus give his followers before their first great adventure with him (READ Matthew 10:1, Mark 3: 13-15; Luke 6: 12-13)?
3. In the NT, the authority (exousia) of Jesus refers to his power as Messiah to act, forgive sins, teach, confront evil, expel unclean spirits, and heal, among other things (e.g., Matt. 28: 18; Rev. 12: 10; Matt. 7: 29; Mark 2: 10; Mark. 1: 34). What is similar or different about the power/authority Jesus gives to his disciples and future followers (READ John 1:12, Rev. 22:14; Mark 13: 32-34; Matt. 10: 1, 28: 19-20 where exousia is variously trans. as ‘power, right, authority, charge’)? 4. When considering our community and its particular needs, problems, and challenges, what is one essential or unique gift, authority, capacity, or charge that you believe Jesus has given to St. John ’s Presbyterian Church in response?
Week 2 / Matthew 9: 37-38 (p. 790) 1. “What a huge harvest…and how few workers” is how Eugene Peterson trans. v. 37 in The Message. Jesus seems to admit that the task of caring for the sick, grieving, lonely, hungry, rebellious etc. looks hopeless because of the hugeness of the task and the limited nature of our human resources. How is the call to prayer an answer to that hopelessness?
2. When Jesus calls us to pray that “workers” be “sent out” into the harvest field, he uses the Greek word ekballō, meaning “to cast out or throw out.” The assumption seems to be that the workers are around…but that they aren’t out in the fields. What is the work, who are the workers, and why aren’t the workers out working (cf. Matthew 25: 31-46; 28: 18-20)?
3. Jesus says, “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Do you think God will send out workers (e.g., witnesses, teachers, healers, servants, people of compassion) even if we don’t ask, or is he waiting for us to ask…and why? How important do you really think prayer is to being a missional church? Be honest…then close in prayer!
Week 1 / Matthew 9: 35-36 1. The word “mission” comes from the Latin missio which means “sending.” In the “The Sermon on Mission” (Matthew 9:35-11:1) Jesus explains what it means to be a people sent out to join God’s mission to a world in need. From 9:35-36 why is compassion at the heart of the missional church?
2. “The missional church is individuals who are willing and ready to be Christ’s people in their own situation and place.” What is the difference between supporting the mission budget, and being missional?
3. Take turns reading Mark 14:14, Luke 7:13, Mark 1: 41, Mark 8:2, Luke 15: 20, Mark 9:26 in their contexts. For each Lifegroup member, which of these situations for which Jesus has compassion moves you most?
4. The word compassion comes from a Greek word (splachna) that lit. means “to be moved in the gut,” to be moved deeply. We may see many “needs” but may not be moved deeply by them. What are some things that really move you with compassion in our immediate situation and place?
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Fall 2008 Preaching Schedule