You Were Made for a Mission
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. In this week’s study, understand that there is no such thing as a non-serving Christian. God planned in advance what he wanted you to do with your life. What matters in life is not how long you live but how you live. What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of your life.
In the same way you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. (John 17:17)
“Your ministry is in the _______________. Your mission is in the _______________. Your ministry is to believers. Your mission is to unbelievers.”
The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me – to tell people the Good News about God’s grace. (Acts 20:24)
Two Parts of Your Life Mission
God expects me to _______________ people to Jesus.
“Aside from your character, the only thing you will take to heaven with you is the people you have brought to Jesus Christ. Is anybody going to be in heaven because of you?”
This week’s memory verse: Work at bringing others to Christ. (2 Timothy 4:5b) “Build a bridge to the people in your life by finding something in common with them.”
Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him. (1 Corinthians 9:22b)
God expects me to _______________ people to Jesus.
Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone. (Mark 16:15)
You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Act 1:8b)
- Jerusalem = your own city
- Judea = your region
- Samaria = people culturally different from you, but who live in the same area
- Ends of the earth = everybody else
What is our motivation for bringing and going.
We do it because it’s our _______________.
Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater. (Luke 12:48b)
We do it because we’ve been given _______________.
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:18-19a)
[God’s] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known. (Ephesians 3:10)
We do it because of history’s _______________.
I have a plan for the whole earth, for my mighty power reaches throughout the world. The Lord Almighty has spoken – who can change his plans? (Isaiah 14:26-27a)
The Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
Five Global Giants
- _______________
- _______________
- _______________
- _______________
- _______________
The Peace Plan
- P _______________
- E _______________
- A _______________
- C _______________
- E _______________
“The PEACE Plan is a grassroots, church-to-church strategy. It’s about all believers in every church doing all of the things Jesus told us to do in the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s about churches partnering with churches to take on the global giants in their communities. It’s about turning an audience into an army, consumers into contributors, and spectators into participators. Only the church has the manpower, the willpower, and the Holy Spirit’s power to do what is otherwise impossible. Jesus has called us, commanded us, and commissioned us to do it. The question is, will you do it? The Great Commission is for every follower of Jesus Christ.”
Send us around the world with the news of your saving power and your eternal plan for all mankind. (Psalm 67:2)
[God] does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives. (2 Peter 3:9b)
Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live. (Mark 8:35)
Questions for Group Discussion or Personal Reflection
- What new insight did you gain from the video segment? What idea really grabbed hold of you?
- Who is the person most responsible for introducing you to Jesus Christ? How did it happen?
- What are some obstacles to fulfilling our mission in the world? (i.e. what keeps us from it)
- What are some activities you enjoy doing? How could you invite and include other persons who are not yet believers to join you? Do any persons immediately come to mind? Who are they?
- Read the following verses and then discuss what they teach us about sharing Christ with others, especially folks you just thought of in the previous question.
- Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:5-6)
- Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)
- What is our “Jerusalem?” Where is our “Judea?” Who lives in our “Samaria?”
- How could we initiate and carry out a PEACE Plan of our own at LHUMC? What “global giants” could we tackle right here in our local area? What ministries would be involved? Who would be our target audience(s)? What effect might it have?
- Have you ever gone on a volunteer-in-missions team? How did the experience affect you?
- Do we really believe that folks will perish and go to hell without Christ? What evidence shows that we do? What difference would it make if we really believed and then acted like it?
- Our memory verse this week is 2 Timothy 4:5, “Work at bringing others to Christ.” How will you work to bring others to the Lord? Specifically, what will you commit to do locally and globally to share Christ? Pray for that work to be productive and fruitful. Give to make it happen. Go!
- What have you learned about God’s purpose for your life during this What on Earth Am I Here For campaign? What are you going to do differently as a result? Talk about specific things you will do to fulfill God’s five callings: worship, fellowship, discipleship, service, mission.
Assignments
- Memorize 2 Timothy 4:5b.
- Read Days 36-42 of The Purpose Driven Life. Pick your favorite quote and share it.
- Pray daily for yourself, group members, and church.
- Visit Purpose Driven and read for daily inspiration.