Embracing Our Mission: The Power of Table Fellowship

 

Summary

In the heart of Rockhampton, amidst the trials and triumphs, we gather to celebrate Missions Month, a time to reflect on the call to spread the gospel. Missions have been a significant part of my journey, transitioning from pastoring in Australia to embracing the missionary life for the past 13 years. Despite the challenges, such as the COVID hiatus, the passion for missions remains unwavering. Jesus' command to "go into all the world and make disciples" is as relevant today as it was for the early church, which thrived without the resources we have now. The growth of Christianity worldwide, especially in places like Guatemala and Bangladesh, is a testament to the enduring power of the gospel.

The essence of being a missionary is rooted in the concept of being sent, as derived from the Latin word "mito" and the Greek "apostello." This calling involves leaving one's profession and often crossing cultural boundaries to share the gospel. My experiences in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have taught me the beauty of embracing new cultures and the joy of sharing God's love across different backgrounds. The challenges of adapting to new environments are outweighed by the fulfillment of living out God's call.

Central to our mission is the practice of table fellowship, a tradition deeply embedded in the early church. The breaking of bread, as seen in Acts 2:42, was not just a ritual but a means of building community and sharing the gospel. Jesus exemplified this by dining with sinners and using meals as a platform for ministry. In our fast-paced world, we must reclaim the table as a place of connection, restoration, and discipleship. Meals offer a unique opportunity to engage with both believers and non-believers, fostering relationships that reflect the love and grace of Christ.

As we consider our role in missions, whether locally or globally, let us remember that the call to make disciples is not limited to a select few. We are all missionaries in our own right, called to share the gospel through relational connections. The table, a simple yet profound setting, can become our most effective missional tool. Let us embrace this opportunity to be hospitable, to share meals, and to create spaces where the love of God can be experienced and shared.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Call to Missions: Missions are a divine calling to spread the gospel across cultures and nations. This calling involves leaving one's comfort zone and embracing new environments to share God's love. The growth of Christianity worldwide, despite challenges, is a testament to the power of this mission. [02:56]

2. Understanding the Missionary Role: Being a missionary involves a unique calling to leave one's profession and often cross cultural boundaries. This role is distinct yet accessible to all who feel the call to share the gospel, whether locally or globally. [07:54]

3. The Power of Table Fellowship: The early church's practice of breaking bread was central to their community and mission. Meals offer a unique opportunity to connect with others, share the gospel, and build relationships that reflect Christ's love. [16:40]

4. Embracing Cultural Differences: Missionary work often involves adapting to new cultures and environments. Embracing these differences enriches our understanding and ability to share the gospel effectively. [12:10]

5. Hospitality as a Missional Tool: Creating a welcoming space around our tables can be one of the most effective ways to share the gospel. Hospitality allows us to connect with both believers and non-believers, fostering relationships that reflect God's grace. [38:29]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:50] - Introduction to Missions Month
- [02:04] - The Early Church and Missions
- [02:56] - Global Growth of Christianity
- [03:53] - Faith in Guatemala and Beyond
- [04:58] - The Missionary Calling
- [06:45] - The First Missionary Journey
- [07:54] - Who is a Missionary?
- [11:07] - Embracing New Cultures
- [12:10] - Challenges and Joys of Missionary Work
- [12:58] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- [16:40] - The Importance of Table Fellowship
- [23:40] - Breaking Bread in the Early Church
- [29:50] - Jesus' Example of Table Fellowship
- [38:29] - Hospitality as a Missional Practice

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Missions Month

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commission)
2. Acts 2:42 (The Early Church's Practices)
3. Acts 13:2-3 (The Sending of Barnabas and Saul)

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the significance of Jesus' command to "go into all the world and make disciples" as mentioned in the sermon? [00:50]

2. How did the early church practice table fellowship, and why was it important for their community and mission? [16:40]

3. What are some examples given in the sermon of the growth of Christianity in different parts of the world? [02:56]

4. How does the sermon describe the role and challenges of a missionary, particularly in adapting to new cultures? [12:10]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of being "sent" as a missionary relate to the idea of leaving one's comfort zone and embracing new environments? [06:45]

2. In what ways does the practice of table fellowship serve as a tool for discipleship and community building, according to the sermon? [23:40]

3. How does the sermon suggest that embracing cultural differences can enhance the effectiveness of sharing the gospel? [12:58]

4. What does the sermon imply about the role of hospitality in missions, and how can it be a powerful tool for sharing the gospel? [38:29]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life. Have you ever felt a call to missions, whether locally or globally? How might you respond to that call? [00:50]

2. Consider your current environment. How can you practice table fellowship in your daily life to foster community and share the gospel? [16:40]

3. Think about a cultural difference you have encountered. How did you respond, and how might you embrace such differences to share God's love more effectively? [12:10]

4. Identify a non-believer in your life. How can you create a welcoming space around your table to share a meal and engage in meaningful conversation with them? [27:39]

5. Reflect on the idea of being a missionary in your own right. What steps can you take to share the gospel through relational connections in your community? [07:54]

6. How can you incorporate the practice of hospitality into your routine to create opportunities for discipleship and connection? [38:29]

7. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you rely on the Holy Spirit as your ministry partner in making disciples? [16:40]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing the Call to Missions
The call to missions is a divine invitation to step beyond our comfort zones and engage with the world in sharing the gospel. This calling is not just for a select few but is a universal mandate for all believers. It involves a willingness to leave familiar surroundings and embrace new environments, cultures, and people. The growth of Christianity worldwide, despite numerous challenges, is a testament to the enduring power of this mission. As we reflect on this call, we are reminded that the gospel's transformative power transcends cultural and geographical boundaries, urging us to participate actively in God's work. [02:56]

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one step you can take today to step out of your comfort zone and share the gospel with someone from a different cultural background?


Day 2: Understanding the Missionary Role
Being a missionary involves a unique calling that often requires leaving one's profession and crossing cultural boundaries. This role is distinct yet accessible to all who feel the call to share the gospel, whether locally or globally. The essence of being a missionary is rooted in the concept of being sent, as derived from the Latin word "mito" and the Greek "apostello." This calling involves a deep commitment to sharing God's love across different backgrounds and adapting to new environments. The challenges of missionary work are outweighed by the fulfillment of living out God's call and witnessing the transformative power of the gospel in diverse settings. [07:54]

"And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'" (Romans 10:15, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your current profession or daily activities. How can you incorporate a missionary mindset into your everyday life, sharing the gospel with those around you?


Day 3: The Power of Table Fellowship
The early church's practice of breaking bread was central to their community and mission. Meals offer a unique opportunity to connect with others, share the gospel, and build relationships that reflect Christ's love. In our fast-paced world, reclaiming the table as a place of connection, restoration, and discipleship is crucial. Jesus exemplified this by dining with sinners and using meals as a platform for ministry. By inviting others to share a meal, we create spaces where the love of God can be experienced and shared, fostering relationships that reflect His grace. [16:40]

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42, ESV)

Reflection: Who can you invite to your table this week to share a meal and engage in meaningful conversation about faith and life?


Day 4: Embracing Cultural Differences
Missionary work often involves adapting to new cultures and environments. Embracing these differences enriches our understanding and ability to share the gospel effectively. By stepping into new cultural contexts, we learn to appreciate the beauty of diversity and the unique ways God is at work in different communities. This openness to cultural differences allows us to communicate the gospel in ways that resonate with people's hearts and minds, fostering deeper connections and understanding. [12:10]

"For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them." (1 Corinthians 9:19, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a cultural difference you have encountered recently. How can you embrace and learn from this difference to better share the gospel with others?


Day 5: Hospitality as a Missional Tool
Creating a welcoming space around our tables can be one of the most effective ways to share the gospel. Hospitality allows us to connect with both believers and non-believers, fostering relationships that reflect God's grace. By opening our homes and hearts to others, we create opportunities for meaningful conversations and the sharing of God's love. This simple yet profound act of hospitality can become a powerful missional tool, inviting others to experience the warmth and acceptance of Christ's community. [38:29]

"Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." (Romans 12:13, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally practice hospitality this week, creating a space where others can experience the love and grace of God?

Quotes



And I want to just talk a little bit about missions and then focus a little bit later in the message about how we can, you know, prepare our hearts at this time for our future, whether it be here in Australia or beyond Australia. God has something for us to do. So, you know, God, Jesus gave this great instruction just before he went back to heaven. He said, go into all the world and make disciples. [00:01:12]

And the book of Acts is a story of church planting. It's a story where people like Peter and Paul and others went to new locations where there were no churches and began to make disciples. and I've recently read some history about that. They were all pretty small churches in those days, mostly meeting in houses, a lot of them led by women, praise the Lord, girls. [00:02:04]

There were more lady pastors in those days than men. The men were out working, earning the money, and the girls were at home talking the gospel over the back fence and pastoring the people. You know, they did the best they could. There were no church buildings for the first 300 years. There were no denominations, no Bible schools. But, you know, with the resources they had, they did an incredible job. [00:02:29]

So the root word missionary, where does it come from? Well, it's actually from a Latin word, mito, which means I send. Of course, the Bible is not written in Latin, but written in Hebrew and Greek. And in the Greek New Testament, the word apostello, apostello, has the idea of being sent. We get the word apostle, of course, from that. From it comes the word apostle, which means sent one. [00:05:42]

And there's two things that set that apart. And I'm not saying you're not all missionaries. I believe we aren't all missionaries. We're not all missionaries. Because we're all sent out. But the unique job of perhaps going to another culture is a unique missionary calling. And there's two things that set those missionary people apart. And the first, of course, is that they probably leave their profession and become a full -time missionary. [00:08:12]

But God has placed us there. We've got some great friends in both countries and doing what God has called us to do. But, you know, the adjustment is you have to, to adjust to a new culture, you know, when you're doing missionary work. And I believe that God will speak to people, even in this congregation today, about missionary work. When you get Pastor John here next weekend, he'll be waving the flag saying, come on, where's the new missionaries? [00:13:02]

i don't feel like i've sacrificed anything i love what i do i love being in those countries sure there's challenges the heat the traffic you know the disease all that stuff it's a challenge but i don't hate it i love what i'm doing that's why i keep doing it and i want to say that you know if god calls you to another nation he'll give you a love for it it won't be like you're they're under sufferance and under duress all the time you will love what god has called you to do [00:13:47]

to we find a just a quick snapshot of the activities of the the first church you know Jesus had said to them go into all the world and make disciples but he didn't give them a lot of detail and here we find that this is their interpretation of how they should go into all the world and preach the gospel so on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 it begins with the coming of the Holy Spirit and here's a good point to remember Jesus told his followers he said don't go out and start making disciples until you receive the Holy Spirit can I say to us all here this morning the Holy Spirit is our ministry partner you cannot make disciples without the work of the Holy Spirit in your life without his partnership you know so he said specifically to them don't start this job until you receive the Holy Spirit [00:16:40]

I reckon this is the core of making disciples this is the core of the church these are the four things that you and I need to devote ourselves to and whether we're serving God here or overseas nothing will change these are the four activities and I only want to talk about one of them this morning one of them of course is your fellowship I think we understand that hanging out with other believers it's a good thing to do you know some people don't think it's important but I like to I like to hang out with other Christians I think it's great fellowship is important and it seems like they were meeting daily from house to house I don't think everybody was meeting every day but there was something happening in some house every day of the week where people were gathering together also there was prayers and I think we understand that clearly enough that you know we need to be a people of prayer prayer needs to be a foundation of what we do praying for the lost praying that God would send workers into the the harvest field then of course it talks about the the apostle's doctrine I talked a little bit about this yesterday at the district meeting you know how that you know there was no resources written or recorded back in those days it was all worded word of mouth, you know, just chatting between themselves. So when you went to one of these house meetings and they were, you know, following the apostles teaching, they didn't have anything written down. The New Testament has not been written. There is no copies of the Old Testament available unless you go to the synagogue. There's one there. The printing press is not invented for another 1400 years. So there's no books, there's no studies, there's no podcast, there's no DVDs, there's nothing. [00:18:52]

And we know that in the early church, his history tells us that they gathered to have meals. We know that, you know, when Jesus instituted the last supper or the communion service, it was in fact a meal. And during that meal, Jesus just picked up bread off the table, picked up the cup off the table, blessed it and said, you know, when you gather in this manner, remember me. [00:23:24]

So I believe that recovering table fellowship as a spiritual discipline would mean reconnecting with some of the important aspects of the life and ministry of Jesus, because he made that such an important part of what he did. And there's a beautiful example of how Jesus actually used meals. I'll just share this example with you. It's in John Chapter 21. [00:29:50]

In other words, you know, it's an experience of heaven when you sit down with a godly person and have a meal with him. So I believe that meals are a great place to connect, to come into relationship, not only with Christian people, but also with unbelievers. And I think we need to recover the importance of gathering with people around our tables for the purpose of enjoying a meal and sharing the gift of God's grace with other people. I think that our meal tables can be the most missional places we have in our domain. [00:32:40]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
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