Living Mission-Minded: Embracing Our Purpose in Christ
Summary
### Summary
Today, we celebrated the beautiful act of baptism, an outward expression of an inward transformation. Baptism is a public declaration that we belong to Jesus, but it is not what saves us; salvation comes through repentance and giving our lives to Jesus. We also introduced a new series called "Mission Minded," focusing on the idea that each of us is created on purpose and with a purpose. We explored the story of Matthew, a tax collector who was despised by his community but chosen by Jesus to follow Him. This choice changed Matthew's life forever, illustrating that no one is beyond the reach of God's call.
We discussed the importance of living a mission-minded life, understanding that God has a specific mission for each of us. Without a mission, we drift through life aimlessly, but with a mission, we have direction and purpose. We were created for mission, and this is part of our spiritual DNA. Over the next few weeks, we will dive deeper into questions like what our mission is, why it is important, and who it is for.
We also emphasized that being mission-minded means using our unique gifts and positions in life to further God's kingdom. Whether you are a businessperson, teacher, doctor, or stay-at-home parent, God has placed you where you are for a reason. We must ask ourselves how we can use our current circumstances to serve His mission.
Finally, we looked at how Matthew immediately began to live mission-minded by inviting his friends, including other tax collectors and sinners, to meet Jesus. This shows that our homes, resources, and even our relationships should be used to further God's mission. We are called to stand out, not conform to the world, and live for the approval of Jesus alone.
### Key Takeaways
1. Baptism as an Outward Expression: Baptism is a public declaration of our faith in Jesus and our commitment to follow Him. It symbolizes our transformation and obedience to Jesus' command, but it is not what saves us. Salvation comes through repentance and giving our lives to Jesus. [19:52]
2. Living Mission-Minded: We are all created on purpose and with a purpose. Living mission-minded means understanding that God has a specific mission for each of us. Without a mission, we drift aimlessly, but with a mission, we have direction and purpose. [29:43]
3. Using Our Gifts for God's Kingdom: God has given each of us unique gifts and placed us in specific positions for a reason. Whether in business, education, healthcare, or at home, we must ask how we can use our circumstances to serve His mission. [39:45]
4. Inviting Others to Meet Jesus: Like Matthew, we should use our homes, resources, and relationships to introduce others to Jesus. Our lives should be a tool for God's mission, showing love and hospitality to those around us. [53:44]
5. Standing Out for Jesus: We are not made to fit in with the world but to stand out and be different. Our lives should reflect our mission-minded focus, living for the approval of Jesus alone and not conforming to the patterns of this world. [01:03:30]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[19:52] - Introduction to Baptism
[20:40] - Baptism of Damon
[21:15] - Prayer for Damon
[21:46] - Baptism of Abigail
[22:32] - Jesus Understands Us
[27:29] - New Series Introduction
[28:12] - Story of Matthew
[29:43] - Mission Minded
[30:19] - Living on Mission
[31:05] - Navigating Life with Purpose
[32:01] - Created for Mission
[33:42] - Matthew 9:9-13
[34:25] - Jesus Calls Matthew
[35:37] - Matthew's Transformation
[39:45] - Using Our Gifts
[42:04] - Living Mission-Minded
[45:47] - Following Jesus
[53:44] - Inviting Others to Meet Jesus
[01:03:30] - Standing Out for Jesus
[01:10:16] - Call to Follow Jesus
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Matthew 9:9-13: "As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. 'Follow me,' he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?' On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'"
### Observation Questions
1. What was Matthew's occupation before Jesus called him to follow Him? ([28:54])
2. How did Matthew respond to Jesus' invitation to follow Him? ([35:37])
3. Who did Matthew invite to his house after he decided to follow Jesus? ([53:09])
4. What was the Pharisees' reaction to Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners? ([59:44])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose Matthew, a tax collector, to follow Him despite his social status? ([36:37])
2. How does the story of Matthew illustrate the concept of living a mission-minded life? ([29:43])
3. What does Jesus' statement, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick," reveal about His mission? ([01:07:31])
4. How can the act of inviting others to meet Jesus, as Matthew did, be applied in our current context? ([53:44])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life. Have you ever felt unworthy or disqualified from God's call like Matthew might have? How did you respond to those feelings? ([37:57])
2. What unique gifts or positions has God given you, and how can you use them to further His kingdom? ([39:45])
3. Think about your current circumstances. How can you use your home, resources, or relationships to introduce others to Jesus, similar to how Matthew used his house? ([53:44])
4. Are there areas in your life where you are conforming to the world rather than standing out for Jesus? How can you change that? ([01:03:30])
5. How can you live more intentionally, expecting God to use you in your daily life? What steps can you take to be more mission-minded? ([42:54])
6. Have you ever faced criticism or judgment for your faith like Matthew did from the Pharisees? How did you handle it, and what can you learn from Matthew's example? ([59:44])
7. Identify one person in your life who needs to hear about Jesus. What specific action can you take this week to share your faith with them? ([53:44])
Devotional
Day 1: Baptism as a Public Declaration
Baptism is a significant act of obedience and public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ. It symbolizes an inward transformation and commitment to follow Jesus. While baptism itself does not save, it is a powerful outward expression of the salvation that comes through repentance and giving one's life to Jesus. This act of obedience is a testimony to others of the transformative power of Jesus in one's life. It is a moment of celebration and a public acknowledgment of one's faith journey. [19:52]
Romans 6:3-4 (ESV): "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
Reflection: Think about your own baptism or the moment you decided to follow Jesus. How can you share your testimony with someone this week to encourage them in their faith journey?
Day 2: Living with Purpose
Living mission-minded means recognizing that God has created each of us with a specific purpose. Without a clear mission, we can easily drift through life without direction. However, understanding that we are created on purpose and with a purpose gives us a sense of direction and fulfillment. It is essential to seek God's guidance to understand our unique mission and to live intentionally, using our gifts and talents to further His kingdom. [29:43]
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: Reflect on your current life circumstances. How can you align your daily activities and decisions with the mission God has for you?
Day 3: Utilizing Our Unique Gifts
God has endowed each of us with unique gifts and placed us in specific positions for a reason. Whether you are in business, education, healthcare, or at home, your role is significant in God's kingdom. It is crucial to recognize and utilize these gifts to serve His mission. By doing so, we can make a meaningful impact in our spheres of influence and contribute to the advancement of God's kingdom. [39:45]
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Reflection: Identify one unique gift or talent you have. How can you use this gift to serve others and further God's mission this week?
Day 4: Inviting Others to Jesus
Like Matthew, who invited his friends to meet Jesus, we are called to use our homes, resources, and relationships to introduce others to Jesus. Our lives should be a reflection of God's love and hospitality, creating opportunities for others to encounter Jesus. By being intentional in our interactions and extending invitations, we can play a significant role in leading others to Christ. [53:44]
Luke 5:29-32 (ESV): "And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?' And Jesus answered them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.'"
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who does not know Jesus. How can you create an opportunity to introduce them to Jesus this week?
Day 5: Standing Out for Jesus
As followers of Christ, we are called to stand out and be different from the world. Our lives should reflect our mission-minded focus, living for the approval of Jesus alone and not conforming to the patterns of this world. This means making choices that honor God, even when they go against societal norms. By living distinctively, we can be a light in the darkness and draw others to Christ. [01:03:30]
Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you tempted to conform to the world? How can you make a conscious effort to stand out for Jesus in those areas this week?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "I believe that every single one of us was made on purpose and with a purpose. If you've come here long enough, you've heard me say that all the time. We were made on purpose and with a purpose. As a matter of fact, look at your neighbor and say, you're made on purpose. With a purpose." [29:43] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The truth is we all want our lives to matter. Like we all want our lives to count for something, right? Like if you would imagine us being sailors navigating through life without a clear mission, we have no direction. Without a mission, we have no destination. Without a mission, what we do is we find ourselves just drifting through life." [31:05] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we live for something bigger than ourselves, what happens is there's a sense of fulfillment, of completeness that actually triggers within us. I'm going to tell you why that happens. That happens because we were created for mission. It's part of our DNA. We weren't created to just live and just kind of drift through this world. We were created for God and by God, on purpose and with a purpose." [32:01] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You weren't made to fit in. Your job is not to be approved. Or lifted up by the world. It shouldn't matter what the world likes. It shouldn't matter where the world is going. It shouldn't matter if the world approves of what you're doing or how you're living or how you're raising your kids. That doesn't matter. What matters is that you live on mission and you're following Jesus." [01:02:50] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The truth is we have no idea the impact God wants to make in our lives and through our lives. In the same way that Matthew had no idea what Jesus had in store for him when he was sitting at that tax collector's booth. And Jesus walked up and said, follow me. He had no idea the decision he was making to get up and move and become missions minded that he would one day be a part of changing the world." [01:09:15] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "If you give your life to Jesus, his mission becomes your mission. We're all called to live mission-minded, thinking, making decisions, knowing that our lives are made on purpose and with a purpose. And since we're called and we're supposed to live on mission, then guess what? We got to ask ourselves some pretty big questions, deeper questions." [39:45] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "What would happen if all of a sudden we started seeing our jobs as if it was a calling from God? Our jobs, what we spend our time doing, our gifts, our talents, whatever it is. But what if we started thinking like, God, you gave me this because you have a purpose and a reason for it." [42:04] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Being a disciple isn't about doing things for God. It's actually about being with God. That's the whole point of it. So you're like, man, well, Pastor Mike, you're telling us to be mission-minded. It sounds like you're telling us to be about doing stuff. No, no, no. The way you can do this, let me explain it like this. When you're with God, we start to understand his heart and his calling for us." [47:05] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Matthew goes from being a despised tax collector that's full of shame and full of guilt to all of a sudden being a follower of Jesus who experiences grace and freedom like no one else had understood. He becomes a follower of Jesus that ultimately is chosen to be one of the ones. He becomes one of the ones to write the gospel. How insane is that?" [01:08:12] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Matthew sees this house as not just a place to live, but a place to get people to gather for Jesus as a tool, right? And that's what I'm telling you, that you and I need to use our resources. Our possessions, even our finances, and say, God, how can you use this for your kingdom?" [57:09] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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