Living as Active Participants in God's Mission
Summary
In our journey through life, we are called to be more than mere recipients of God's grace; we are to be active participants in His divine mission. As believers, we are graced not only to receive but to partake in the glory of God's work, to be instruments in His Kingdom. This understanding propels us into a lifestyle of constant ministry, transforming our everyday interactions into opportunities for divine encounters. We are the church scattered, living testimonies of God's love and power in every place we go.
Today, we are reminded of the power of God to command the lame to walk, to call hearts to repentance, and to draw souls to Himself. We give thanks for His goodness, His mightiness, and His wondrous works. We recognize His sovereignty in all aspects of life, including the miraculous and the mundane, such as the intervention in medical crises like that of our brother Chris, who is currently receiving care. We praise God for modern medicine and His providential hand in our lives.
As we prepare to go out into the world, we are charged to be ambassadors for Christ, carrying the message of reconciliation to all. We are made righteous through Christ, and it is our mission to live out this truth daily. We are equipped to share His story with the world, to use our gifts and talents for His glory in our communities.
Reflecting on Acts chapter 3, we see the apostles Peter and John encounter a lame man at the temple gate. This man, known and loved by his community, sought only maintenance through alms. Yet, Peter and John offered him something far greater than silver and gold; they offered him healing in the name of Jesus Christ. This miracle transformed not only the man's life but also impacted the surrounding community, leading them to awe and wonder at the work of God.
We are reminded that God's mission can happen at any time and any place. Our lives are not confined to the walls of a church building; we are the church, living on mission wherever we are. Our training and upbringing may have taught us to compartmentalize our spiritual lives, but the Holy Spirit goes with us into the world, guiding us to seize divine opportunities for ministry.
As we embrace a life on mission, we become conduits for people to experience the tangible power of God. We are called to look beyond maintenance and to live by faith in the transformative power of Christ. When we introduce the people we love to the God we love, we build a church that reflects the awe-inspiring work of the Lord.
Key Takeaways:
- God has called us to be active participants in His Kingdom, transforming our daily lives into a ministry that reflects His love and power. We are the church in motion, carrying the message of reconciliation to the world. [49:33]
- Miracles, like the healing of the lame man by Peter and John, remind us that God's power is not confined to the past but is active and present in our lives today. We must live expectantly, ready to witness and be part of God's wondrous works. [51:14]
- Our mission field is not limited to structured church activities; it encompasses every moment and place in our lives. We are called to be attentive to the Holy Spirit's leading, ready to act on divine appointments at any time. [43:04]
- As conduits of God's tangible power, we are to look beyond mere maintenance of the status quo and seek to be instruments of transformative healing and grace in the lives of those around us. [56:05]
- Introducing people to the God we love may disrupt our comfort zones, but it leads to a church that truly reflects the awe and wonder of Christ's work. We must be willing to embrace change for the sake of the mission. [01:03:20]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Acts 3:1-10
#### Observation Questions
1. What did Peter and John offer the lame man at the temple gate instead of silver and gold? ([31:40])
2. How did the community react when they saw the lame man walking and praising God? ([32:15])
3. What was the significance of Peter and John going to the temple at The Hour of Prayer? ([44:52])
4. How did the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers to seize divine opportunities for ministry? ([55:29])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Peter and John chose to offer healing in the name of Jesus rather than giving alms? What does this tell us about their understanding of ministry? ([31:40])
2. How does the reaction of the community to the healing of the lame man reflect the power of God’s work in our lives today? ([32:15])
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our daily lives can be transformed into opportunities for divine encounters? ([55:29])
4. How does the story of the lame man at the temple gate challenge our understanding of what it means to live by faith and not just seek maintenance? ([57:07])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt called to act on a divine opportunity. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? How can you be more attentive to such opportunities in the future? ([55:29])
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of being active participants in God’s Kingdom. What are some practical ways you can transform your daily interactions into ministry opportunities? ([49:33])
3. How can you live expectantly, ready to witness and be part of God’s wondrous works, as exemplified by the healing of the lame man? ([51:14])
4. Think about your current mission field. How can you be more intentional in carrying the message of reconciliation to those around you? ([43:04])
5. The sermon mentioned that introducing people to the God we love may disrupt our comfort zones. Can you identify a specific area in your life where you need to step out of your comfort zone for the sake of the mission? ([01:03:20])
6. How can you use your gifts and talents for God’s glory in your community? Share one specific action you can take this week to live out this calling. ([49:33])
7. Reflect on the story of the lame man and the apostles. How can you look beyond mere maintenance in your spiritual life and seek transformative healing and grace for yourself and others? ([56:05])
Devotional
Day 1: Active Participation in God's Kingdom
God has not called His followers to passivity but to active engagement in His divine mission. This active participation means that every believer is an integral part of God's plan, and daily life becomes a platform for ministry. Each interaction is an opportunity to demonstrate God's love and power, to be a living testimony of the transformative work of Christ. This is not a passive reception of blessings but an active sharing of them, a lifestyle that reflects the reality of the Kingdom of God in every action and word.
"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
Reflection: How can you turn a routine interaction today into an opportunity to reflect God's love?
Day 2: Expectancy of God's Present Power
The miraculous is not a relic of the past but a present reality in the life of a believer. The healing of the lame man by Peter and John is a testament to the active power of God that continues to work in the world today. Believers are called to live with an expectancy of God's power, ready to witness and participate in His wondrous works. This expectancy transforms the way one approaches life, always on the lookout for God's hand at work, even in the most ordinary circumstances.
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 (ESV)
Reflection: What miracle are you trusting God to perform in your life or in the life of someone you know? [51:14]
Day 3: Mission Beyond Church Walls
The mission field of a Christian is not confined to church activities or buildings; it is wherever life happens. This understanding calls for a readiness to respond to the Holy Spirit's prompting at any moment, recognizing that divine appointments can occur in the most unexpected places and times. The believer's life is a continuous mission, with every place being a potential ground for ministry and every moment an opportunity to serve God's purpose.
"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" - Mark 16:15 (ESV)
Reflection: Where is one place you frequent where you can be more intentional about living out your faith? [43:04]
Day 4: Instruments of Transformative Healing
Christians are called to be more than maintainers of the status quo; they are to be agents of change, instruments of transformative healing and grace. This means looking beyond the surface needs of those around us and addressing deeper spiritual and emotional wounds with the healing power of Christ. It is a call to faith in action, to be part of the transformative work that God desires to do in the lives of individuals and communities.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." - Acts 1:8 (ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you help someone experience the transformative power of Christ this week? [56:05]
Day 5: Embracing Change for the Mission
Introducing people to God often requires stepping out of comfort zones and embracing change. This willingness to be disrupted for the sake of the mission leads to a church that reflects the true awe and wonder of Christ's work. It is about being open to the new things God is doing and being willing to adapt for the purpose of sharing the love of God with others.
"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." - Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)
Reflection: What change might God be asking you to make in order to better serve His mission? [01:03:20]
Quotes
- "You are the church scattered and over the next five weeks we want to equip you... to live with a constant Ministry mentality that results in an everyday Ministry Lifestyle." [01:08:10] (Download | )
- "We live on Mission everywhere we go. The church, when we lean in the provision that God has given us, it forces us to have a message of redemption that we have." [38:02] (Download | )
- "The gifts, the talents and abilities you have, God wants to use those in the community around us... You're Made for More." [41:58] (Download | )
- "The Holy Spirit goes with you, you don't put him in a locker here and then pick him up when you come back to the game. No, he goes with you into this world." [55:29] (Download | )
- "A life on mission is a conduit for people to experience the tangible power of God... we are conduits for this, not just something that we talk about." [56:05] (Download | )
- "We don't settle for maintenance, we live by faith into the miracle of our transformed life... Silver and Gold Have I not, but this I give to you in the name of Jesus Christ." [59:28] (Download | )
- "Often we come into another worship service not expecting a spirit of God to move... but watch what happens in this worship service." [58:52] (Download | )
- "It's the name of Jesus Christ that's more powerful than anything... when that was spoken, what happens to this man is not a ho-hum day at the temple." [01:00:06] (Download | )
- "Anytime a renegade heart Bound for eternity without Jesus Christ accepts him as Lord and Savior, it's a miracle. Look at it with those eyes." [01:02:02] (Download | )
- "You're not made for more than just to survive in this life, you're made to thrive in this life because of the abundance of what God gives us each and every day." [57:07] (Download | )
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