Missions

Every Christian has the unmitigated right to know they are loved by God. As We serve a “missionary God” – one who left Heaven to come down to earth in a form of the man, Jesus Christ, to reach people with the Gospel of forgiveness and reconciliation. Christ himself demonstrated this mission by crossing the local regional, cultural and socio-economic boundaries to reach one person with the good news. This resulted in a whole community coming to know the Messiah (“the anointed one”, that is Christ). Yet many Christians today are reluctant to follow this example of sharing the gospel with others from a different culture or background. Jesus in his interaction with the Samaritan woman demonstrates that this is possible and important. What can we learn from this story?.

Read: John 4:7-42

Discuss

• 1. Have you ever been on a cross-cultural mission trip before? Share this experience and what you learnt from it. How did this change your perspective on life and faith?
  2. Jesus discerned the spiritual hunger of the Samaritan woman and steered the conversation to that of “living” water. What is this water that Jesus is referring to and why will a person not thirst again? Refer to John 7:38.
  3. Have you had a conversation with a pre-Christian before about a daily need or incident which led into a conversation about Jesus? Share this with the group. What other examples of everyday conversations with friends or relatives which could potentially be steered to that about being a follower of Jesus?
  4. Read verse 42. Why were the disciple surprised to see Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman? Have you intentionally related the Gospel to people from a different culture, religion, social status (e.g. refugees, homeless) which is vastly different from yours? If so, what did you learn from this experience?
  5. Jesus reminded his disciples, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” How is this also true today?
  6. Jesus eventually revealed that he is the Messiah. Why was the Samaritan woman convinced which led her to also tell her whole community? What does this teach us about the possible impact of leading someone to Christ? See also Acts 16:29-34. How has your own salvation impacted your family?

Respond

Jesus’s final instruction to this disciples was to “Go and make disciples of all nations…. ” (Matthew 28”19a.). Revelations 7:9 also confirms that eventually this will happen as multitudes “ from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne (of God)”. What does this mean to you personally and practically? How can we pray, give or go? Note: If the Life Group would like to invite a missionary to share in a meeting, please contact our International Ministries Pastor, Daron Himstedt (daron.himstedt@crossway.org.au) who can assist you with this.

Missions – Part 2

God’s mission to share the gospel is at the core of every believer’s role as a disciple. Jesus gave us the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19, calling us to “make disciples of all nations.” This mission also requires the support of others, as shown in Luke 8:1-3, reminding us that God’s work involves both action and support from ordinary people. Everyone gets to play. Whether you are called to support others or to serve directly, God equips each of us to fulfill His calling. We just need to recognize that calling and be willing to say “yes.”

Read Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 8:1-3

Discuss

1. Understanding the Call: Read Matt 28:19-20. What does Jesus mean when He commands us to “make disciples of all nations”? How can we interpret this in our current context? Does this apply to every believer?
2. The Importance of Prayer: Why is prayer essential in mission work? How can prayer impact both the missionaries and those they serve? How can we as a sending church best pray for our international workers?
3. Giving Support: Read Luke 8:1-3. How do the women’s contributions exemplify the role of financial and material support in mission work? What are some practical ways we, as a life group, can support our International Workers today?
4. Personal Engagement: How can you personally “go” in your local community or beyond? What steps can you take to actively participate in mission work? What calling has God placed on you that you need to simply say Yes to?
5. The Role of Community: How can our church come together to support our Local, National and International mission efforts? What are some effective ways to collaborate as a Life Group in this area?
6. Long-term Commitment: Mission work can be a long-term commitment. How can we cultivate a lifestyle that consistently supports missions through prayer, giving, and going?

Respond

As we reflect on the call to mission, consider the following applications:

1. Consider: as a Life group adopting an International Worker(s) to prayer for, support and encourage, and even have them come and share at Life group when they are next home.
2. Commit to Pray: Set aside time each week to pray specifically for our International missionaries, and the communities they serve. Consider creating a prayer list or journal to track your prayers. Sign up for our Missions Newsletter.( Below) Evaluat
3. Your Giving: Reflect on your financial contributions. Are there missionaries or workers whom you can support financially either as a group or as an individual? Consider setting up a recurring donation or participating in fundraising efforts.
4. Identify Your “Go”: Think about local national, or international mission opportunities that excite you. Whether it’s volunteering at Lifecare, participating in a mission trip, reading the Bible with a person of Peace, or simply sharing your faith with friends, identify one specific action you can take this month to “go.”

In embracing our call to mission work, may we become vibrant vessels of God’s love, faithfully praying, giving, and going to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world.
What is One step that you will take this week in this area?

Scan on the QR code here and sign up for the International Workers Newsletter, or one of the other numerous options to Pray Give Go.

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