Once we have the message it is time for our mission.
As children, most of us enjoyed connect-the-dot activity books. In the simplest books you could tell the end result before you drew a single line—a duck, a puppy, a tree…pretty basic stuff. For older kids, the objects became more complex. As you looked at the page of all you saw was a bunch of numbered dots, but you had no idea what you would discover until you had taken a pencil or marker and connected them all.
The fun of a connect-the-dots experience is the “aha!” moment. At some point, when enough of the dots have been joined by lines, you can see the finished product. Something that was unclear comes into focus.
As we read chapter 29 of The Story, things are becoming clear. God is connecting the dots! His plan to bring us back to himself has been realized in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Now, the message of hope was being spread all over the world, particularly through the apostle Paul, who had an intentional commitment to communicate this wonderful message of Jesus.
The question is: Can we connect the dots to the modern world? Do we see that Paul’s mission is really the mission of Jesus for every generation? When we do, we learn that it is our mission…right where God has placed us today.
Think of some ways that you, your family, or your church family are seeking to fulfill God’s mission to bring the love and message of Jesus to your community and the world.
The above is taken from The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story, page 187.
1. What spiritual battles might we face as we seek to bring the message and hope of Jesus to our world? How can we resist and overcome?
2. The church is a body, and every member is a specific part with a specific function (1 Corinthians 12; The Story, pgs. 426 – 427). What is one spiritual gift God has given you and how are you developing it and using it for his glory?
3. How would you describe the balance between being “led by the Spirit” and being “led by good sense” in Paul’s ministry?
4. How was Paul’s ministry similar to the ministry of Jesus? In what ways are they different? What accounts for the differences?
5. What differences do you find in Paul’s message to the Jews in the synagogue (The Story, pgs. 338 – 339) as compared to his message to the Gentiles (The Story, pgs. 340 and 342)? What applications might we make today for reaching different people groups with the same gospel?
6. According to Paul’s letter to the Galatians, does freedom from the law grant freedom to sin (The Story, pgs. 355 – 357; Galatians 5:13 – 26)? What are some results of living by the Spirit?
ReplyDeletePoint to ponder…
Once we have the message it is time for our mission.
As children, most of us enjoyed connect-the-dot activity books. In the simplest books you could tell the end result before you drew a single line—a duck, a puppy, a tree…pretty basic stuff. For older kids, the objects became more complex. As you looked at the page of all you saw was a bunch of numbered dots, but you had no idea what you would discover until you had taken a pencil or marker and connected them all.
The fun of a connect-the-dots experience is the “aha!” moment. At some point, when enough of the dots have been joined by lines, you can see the finished product. Something that was unclear comes into focus.
As we read chapter 29 of The Story, things are becoming clear. God is connecting the dots! His plan to bring us back to himself has been realized in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Now, the message of hope was being spread all over the world, particularly through the apostle Paul, who had an intentional commitment to communicate this wonderful message of Jesus.
The question is: Can we connect the dots to the modern world? Do we see that Paul’s mission is really the mission of Jesus for every generation? When we do, we learn that it is our mission…right where God has placed us today.
Think of some ways that you, your family, or your church family are seeking to fulfill God’s mission to bring the love and message of Jesus to your community and the world.
The above is taken from The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story, page 187.
ReplyDeleteQuestions to consider…
1. What spiritual battles might we face as we seek to bring the message and hope of Jesus to our world? How can we resist and overcome?
2. The church is a body, and every member is a specific part with a specific function (1 Corinthians 12; The Story, pgs. 426 – 427). What is one spiritual gift God has given you and how are you developing it and using it for his glory?
3. How would you describe the balance between being “led by the Spirit” and being “led by good sense” in Paul’s ministry?
4. How was Paul’s ministry similar to the ministry of Jesus? In what ways are they different? What accounts for the differences?
5. What differences do you find in Paul’s message to the Jews in the synagogue (The Story, pgs. 338 – 339) as compared to his message to the Gentiles (The Story, pgs. 340 and 342)? What applications might we make today for reaching different people groups with the same gospel?
6. According to Paul’s letter to the Galatians, does freedom from the law grant freedom to sin (The Story, pgs. 355 – 357; Galatians 5:13 – 26)? What are some results of living by the Spirit?