We are approaching
the end of our series introducing the next two-year initiative. However, this
is just the beginning of what God is going to do over the next two years as we
seek to grow deeper: deeper in our connection to Christ, deeper in our
commitment to Christ, deeper in our Christian community, and finally, deeper in
our individual commission to the world as Christ’ disciples. The ultimate proof
that we’ve started to grow deeper with Jesus is that you want to take Jesus to
the world around you.
Opening Questions:
- When is the last time you personally shared the gospel with someone?
- Do you believe that sharing the gospel is the responsibility of every
person or just some?
The Point
Christians living
on mission is a natural occurrence for those who are connected and committed to
Christ.
Matthew
28:18-20
“And Jesus came and
said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go
therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that
I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Discussion:
What does it mean that Christ now has all authority in heaven and on earth?
How has He proven this reality? What does it mean for my everyday life that He has all authority?
Have you ever considered that Christ has promised to be with you always? How would your everyday life change if you considered that in every moment Christ is with you?
The mission is to “go, baptize, and teach.” What does that look like for us in our daily lives?
How can you intentionally start pursuing the Great Commission right now?
How can we use the group to hold one another accountable for living on mission?
Teacher Notes:
The
mission is to “go, baptize, and teach.”
What does that look
like for us in our daily lives?
We are to go –
whether it is next door or to another country – and make disciples. It is not
an option, but a command to all who call Jesus “Lord.” We are not all evangelists
in the formal sense, but we have all received gifts that we can use to help
fulfill the Great Commission. As we obey, we have comfort in the knowledge that
Jesus is always with us.
Why don’t
we share the message more?
Four Obstacles to
Evangelism
1. Lack of
Gospel Knowledge: How many times have you heard the gospel in a sermon, book, or
conversation? If you’ve been a Christian, even for a short time, you have
likely heard the gospel hundreds of times. Yet, many of us still struggle to
articulate the truths of the gospel in a simple, and intelligible way. Could
you share the essential message of the gospel in sixty seconds, right now?
2. Apathy: Some of us just
don’t care that much about lost people. We wouldn’t ever say it, but our
priorities and lives reveal it. We make no time to interact and engage with
those who don’t know Christ. We have long stopped praying for lost people in
our neighborhoods and workplaces. We have no non-Christian friends, and barely
any ties. Lost people are a low priority. When was the last time you invited
someone into your home who did not know Christ?
3. Fear: What will others
think of me? What if they don’t like me or my family? Some are paralyzed by the
thought of being disliked, marginalized, laughed at, or openly mocked. We’re
afraid we’ll lose business or get passed up for that promotion. What if talking
about Christ makes seeing my neighbors awkward? What if they lump me together
with that Westboro Baptist Church-cult?
4. Lack of
Compassion: We lack compassion for the lost. We have long forgotten what it was like
to live without hope, lost and apart from Christ. We just don’t care that much.
(Remember Jonah – Ninevah) We might say we care, but we rarely cry out to God
for the salvation of our lost neighbors, and coworkers. Paul’s compassion in
Romans 9:3 is utterly foreign to us – he said: “I could wish that I myself were
accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers.”
Four
Steps to Sharing More
1. Pray
Together for the Lost
As Christians are
gathered in small groups, we ought to make it a priority to pray for the lost
in addition to our normal prayer concerns. In Acts 4:23–31, after Peter and
John are released from prison, the disciples gather to pray for God to give
them boldness to speak His word. If the early church needed to pray for greater
evangelistic zeal and boldness, how much more do we need to pray in our
gatherings?
One way to do this
in our small group setting is to conclude our study with this question: What
truths did we learn about God and who can we share this with in our spheres of
influence this week?
2. Recall
the Gospel Together
In 2 Timothy
2:8–13, Paul reminds Timothy of the truth of the gospel to encourage him to
press on and be faithful to the message that has been entrusted to him. We need
this reminder too!
Much of this
happens as we recall His truths — week to week in small groups — we remind one
another that God’s mission is to save sinners through the work of His Son
Jesus.
3. Apply the
Gospel Together
In Galatians
2:11–14, Paul tells Peter that his conduct and behavior is not in accord with
the gospel. We need this too - we need fellow Christians who will tell us that
it’s not okay to not care about the lost. This attitude is not in accord with
the gospel.
Evangelism is a measure
of our spiritual maturity. For many, knowledge does not translate to fruits of
the Spirit — into love for fellow believers, or serving others, or sacrificial
giving, or evangelism. Together in small groups we help one another become more
like Christ by being faithful disciple-making disciples.
4. Prove the
Power of the Gospel Together
This is all about
believing in the sufficiency of the gospel. If we don’t believe we will never
share it boldly and simply. But, if we do truly believe that God’s word does
the work of conversion through the power of His Holy Spirit, we will share the
simple truth of the gospel.
With fellow
believers, we must remind each other of the sufficiency of God’s word to do His
work for His purposes.
We
Overcome Obstacles Together, Not Alone
What’s
the Point
Christians living
on mission is a natural occurrence for those who are connected and committed to
Christ.
How can we
intentionally start pursuing the Great Commission right now?
Who in your life needs to know Jesus?
Conclusion
It is God’s power
and grace that saves people, not our efforts.
We should pray for
them, witness to them, and live the Christian life in front of them.
It is God who gives
the increase.
(1 Corinthians 3:6)
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