"Live Dead" Study Guide
Newbreak’s Sermon Study Guide is an in-house resource that serves sermon-based Life Groups and/or individuals who want to reflect further on how the message contributes to their spiritual formation.
About This Sermon Series
“The world is going to hell in a handbasket,” as many commonly say. It is true that we are watching the rise of secularism reach new heights as the prevailing culture pressures Christ-followers to adapt or move to the margins of society until they are in total obscurity or extinction. The Bible refers to this kind of society as “Babylon.” We are in Babylon and we have a choice to make. Will we compromise? Will we retreat and hide? Or will we thrive? Join us as we learn what it looks like to thrive in Babylon!
About this week's sermon:
There are numerous stories coming from our global partners telling us about how the unreached are actually being reached with the life-changing message of Jesus! When we hear this we double down on our belief that we are to continue to support these partners and also that we are to live more like them in our own context as well.
Icebreakers for Life Groups
- If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?
- Have you ever been on a mission trip before? What motivated you to go? How did you see God work through your life?
Kingdom Builders at Newbreak Church is how we fund the people and projects working both to bring the life-changing gift of God's grace to their world.
Read Matthew 28:18-20
Point 1 – Have a global vision for my life and the world.
After Jesus conquered the grave by resurrecting from the dead He tells His disciples that, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” This was huge for the people who had been following Him and who had seen Him dragged before Pilate, who had seen Him beaten, bruised and then hung on a cross. This was huge for those who had seen Him buried and who had gone into hiding for the three days that Jesus was in the grave. And then suddenly He is alive again and everything He said and promised them was true! He conquered the grave and now He tells them that all of that authority has been given to Him.
Why was this so important? Because next He tells them, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Why would they be able to do this? Why should they come out of hiding and do what He was telling them to do? Why should they risk their very lives to go and tell people the good news that the Savior is alive and wants to know them and love them? Because He has the authority to make them successful in their endeavors. Paul tells the believers in Romans 8:35-37 that nothing would be able to separate them from His love and that they would be more than just successful...they would be more than conquerors.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:35-37, NIV
The most awesome part of these passages is that the command that Jesus gives to His disciples here is not just for His disciples. It’s for us, too. We get to participate in the greatest call to action the world has ever known. We get to go and tell people of the greatest, longest love story of all time, that God so loved us He gave His only Son for us. We get to be part of the story. We get to go into the world with this story. Jesus calls us to start in our towns, then branch out into neighboring areas and then to go to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). We can do this ourselves and we can fund those who are called to go further than we can to share the gospel.
Questions for Group Discussion or Personal Reflection
- What is challenging about talking about Jesus to your friends? What would overcoming this look like?
- How would your life change if your next vacation was used to share the gospel somewhere? Where would you go? Who would you want to tell about Jesus?
- Jesus’ world does not have country border lines. What does sharing the gospel look like to you in light of this truth?
Read Acts 21:7-14; Matthew 16:24-27
Point 2 – Learn to live without reservation.
In Acts 21:10, Paul was warned by a prophet named Agabus that he would be imprisoned by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. After hearing the prophetic words, and with tears in their eyes, Paul’s companions pleaded with him to stay away from Jerusalem (vs.12). They couldn’t bear the thought of losing their friend and pastor at the hands of the religious leaders of Israel. Paul’s response to their concern reflected his love and relationship with his friends. It also spoke to his commitment to Christ.
How would you describe Paul’s response to their concern in vs.13?
Nothing would stop Paul from following the leading of Christ in his life. Paul embraced a “live dead” mentality in his life. He was willing to be arrested, put on trial, and even die for his faith. That type of spontaneous and courageous response could only come from a life totally surrendered to God. He was a man transformed by Christ. What else could he do but follow in the footsteps of Christ (Matthew 16:24-27). Only God could take a man who once was involved with taking the lives of other Jesus followers and transform him into someone willing to give his life for Christ (Romans 12:1-2).
Our church supports several missionaries who live in parts of the world that aren’t friendly to the gospel. In fact, many of these countries are downright hostile to Christianity and to the sharing of the Gospel. Each day, these missionaries place their lives in the hands of God and serve their communities with love and the gospel.
God calls us to embrace this same “live dead” mentality. We are called to “go” into all the world and share the good news of Jesus with every man, woman, and child. It may be uncomfortable to share our faith with others, but we are called by God to do it. It may be unpopular to live out our convictions but God wants to help us be the light that this world needs.
Questions for Group Discussion or Personal Reflection
- What does it mean for you to “live dead” in your life today? What is one way to live totally surrendered to God in your life?
- What are the things that keep us from sharing our faith with others? What can you do to be more ready and willing to share?
- According to Matthew 16:26, Jesus asks the question, “what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” What are the things that our culture is willing to exchange for their soul? Which of those things do you feel most tempted to pursue instead of the things of Christ?