Living Missionally: Embracing Others with Intentional Love
Summary
### Summary
Today, we continued our series titled "It's Not About You" with a focus on missional living. We explored the concept of living missionally through the lens of the Apostle Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 and Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman in John 4. The essence of missional living is to become all things to all people to save some, as Paul did. This involves entering into people's stories, understanding their contexts, and reflecting Jesus in our daily interactions.
I shared a personal story about my barber, Kelly, to illustrate how building genuine relationships can lead to opportunities to share the gospel. By consistently engaging with Kelly, I was able to invite her to church, where she eventually accepted Jesus. This story underscores the importance of being intentional in our everyday interactions and seeing them as opportunities for mission.
Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well is a powerful example of missional living. Despite cultural and religious barriers, Jesus chose to go through Samaria, a place Jews typically avoided, to meet this woman. He entered into her story and pain, tore down walls, and spoke the truth in love. This encounter transformed her life and led her to share her experience with others, bringing them to Jesus.
We are called to live missionally in our own contexts, whether it's our workplace, school, or neighborhood. This means being willing to be uncomfortable, to enter into others' stories, and to share our own stories of how Jesus has transformed our lives. The church's role is not just to fill buildings but to equip believers to live out the gospel daily, impacting those around them.
### Key Takeaways
1. Missional Living Requires Intentional Relationships: Building genuine relationships with people in our daily lives can open doors for sharing the gospel. It's about being consistent and intentional in our interactions, as illustrated by the story of my barber, Kelly. By investing time and showing genuine interest, we can create opportunities for people to encounter Jesus. [05:52]
2. Entering Into Others' Stories and Pain: Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman shows the importance of entering into people's stories and understanding their pain. He chose to go through Samaria, a place Jews avoided, to meet her. This act of entering into her context and pain allowed Him to connect with her deeply and transform her life. [18:53]
3. Tearing Down Walls: Jesus tore down cultural and religious barriers to reach the Samaritan woman. We are called to do the same by breaking down the walls that separate us from others. This involves seeing people as God sees them and being willing to engage with those who are different from us. [36:04]
4. Speaking the Truth in Love: Jesus spoke the truth about the Samaritan woman's sin, but He did so in love. This approach led to her transformation and willingness to share her experience with others. We must also speak the truth in love, understanding that people are more receptive when they know we care about them. [40:13]
5. Living Missionally in Our Contexts: We are called to be missionaries in our own contexts, whether it's our workplace, school, or neighborhood. This means being willing to be uncomfortable and to see our daily interactions as opportunities for mission. The church's role is to equip believers to live out the gospel daily, impacting those around them. [22:59]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:12] - Introduction and Prayer
[02:31] - Gratitude for Volunteers
[03:36] - Story of Pastoring in Hollywood
[04:44] - Missional Living Explained
[05:52] - Story of Kelly the Barber
[10:54] - Paul's Commitment to Missional Living
[12:19] - Paul's Strategy in Mars Hill
[15:09] - Living Missionally in Our Contexts
[17:38] - Importance of Loving People
[18:53] - Jesus' Encounter with the Samaritan Woman
[22:59] - The Call to Go Through Samaria
[24:29] - The True Nature of the Church
[26:58] - Jesus Entering Into Her Pain
[31:04] - The Power of Our Stories
[36:04] - Tearing Down Walls
[40:13] - Speaking the Truth in Love
[42:02] - The Church's Mandate
[44:10] - Response and Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV)
> Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
2. John 4:1-30 (NIV)
> Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean when he says he has "become all things to all people" in 1 Corinthians 9:22?
2. How did Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman break cultural and religious barriers? [18:53]
3. What was the significance of Jesus choosing to go through Samaria, according to the sermon? [18:53]
4. How did the personal story about Kelly the barber illustrate the concept of missional living? [05:52]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important for Christians to build intentional relationships as part of missional living? [05:52]
2. How does entering into others' stories and pain, as Jesus did with the Samaritan woman, help in sharing the gospel? [18:53]
3. What are some modern-day "walls" that Christians need to tear down to reach others effectively? [36:04]
4. How can speaking the truth in love, as Jesus did, lead to transformation in others' lives? [40:13]
#### Application Questions
1. Think of someone in your life with whom you can build a more intentional relationship. What steps can you take this week to engage with them more deeply? [05:52]
2. Reflect on a time when you entered into someone else's story or pain. How did that experience impact your relationship with them and your ability to share the gospel? [18:53]
3. Identify a cultural or social barrier that you find challenging to cross. What practical steps can you take to tear down that wall and connect with someone on the other side? [36:04]
4. How can you practice speaking the truth in love in your daily interactions? Think of a specific situation where you can apply this principle. [40:13]
5. Consider your workplace, school, or neighborhood. What are some ways you can live missionally in these contexts? [22:59]
6. Reflect on your own story of how Jesus has transformed your life. How can you share this story with someone who doesn't know Jesus yet? [29:38]
7. What are some practical ways your small group can support each other in living out the gospel daily? [43:12]
Devotional
Day 1: Intentional Relationships Open Doors for the Gospel
Building genuine relationships with people in our daily lives can open doors for sharing the gospel. It's about being consistent and intentional in our interactions, as illustrated by the story of Kelly the barber. By investing time and showing genuine interest, we can create opportunities for people to encounter Jesus. This requires us to be present and engaged in the lives of those around us, seeing every interaction as a potential moment to reflect Christ's love and truth. [05:52]
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (ESV): "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us."
Reflection: Think of someone in your daily life with whom you can build a more intentional relationship. How can you show genuine interest and care for them this week?
Day 2: Entering Into Others' Stories and Pain
Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman shows the importance of entering into people's stories and understanding their pain. He chose to go through Samaria, a place Jews avoided, to meet her. This act of entering into her context and pain allowed Him to connect with her deeply and transform her life. We are called to follow Jesus' example by being willing to step into the lives of others, even when it is uncomfortable or inconvenient, to offer them the hope and love of Christ. [18:53]
Galatians 6:2 (ESV): "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Reflection: Who in your life is going through a difficult time? How can you enter into their story and offer support and compassion this week?
Day 3: Tearing Down Walls
Jesus tore down cultural and religious barriers to reach the Samaritan woman. We are called to do the same by breaking down the walls that separate us from others. This involves seeing people as God sees them and being willing to engage with those who are different from us. By doing so, we can create opportunities for meaningful connections and share the transformative power of the gospel. [36:04]
Ephesians 2:14 (ESV): "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility."
Reflection: Identify a barrier that separates you from someone in your community. What steps can you take to break down that wall and build a bridge of understanding and love?
Day 4: Speaking the Truth in Love
Jesus spoke the truth about the Samaritan woman's sin, but He did so in love. This approach led to her transformation and willingness to share her experience with others. We must also speak the truth in love, understanding that people are more receptive when they know we care about them. This means being honest about the gospel and its implications while also showing compassion and empathy. [40:13]
Ephesians 4:15 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."
Reflection: Think of a difficult truth you need to share with someone. How can you communicate this truth in a way that is loving and compassionate?
Day 5: Living Missionally in Our Contexts
We are called to be missionaries in our own contexts, whether it's our workplace, school, or neighborhood. This means being willing to be uncomfortable and to see our daily interactions as opportunities for mission. The church's role is to equip believers to live out the gospel daily, impacting those around them. By embracing this calling, we can make a significant difference in the lives of those we encounter. [22:59]
Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
Reflection: Reflect on your daily routine. How can you be more intentional about living missionally in your current context? What specific actions can you take to share the love of Christ with those around you?
Quotes
1. "Missional living is not you going to Ecuador for three weeks and spending $2,800. That is a short-term missions trip, but we are missionaries where we are at. God calls us to be missional where we were at. If we would begin to see our cities, if we would begin to see our workplace, if we would begin to see life through that lens and through that scope, it would change the trajectory of people's lives in a way that you could have never thought and only imagined." [10:54] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Where is God calling you? Let's just be real. Let's start off with the collective. Planning a church in downtown is not cute. Cute is if we planted a church on the west side. Cute is if we planted one in the southwest. Cute is not saying, let me go to a city that looks like the apocalypse already happened. Plan a church downtown in hopes that they revitalize it by opening one more coffee shop. Let me open it in a place where families probably don't want to bring their teenagers to youth in the area. Let me open it in a place where restaurants aren't open on Sundays, but let me open a church in the central part of Bakersfield where people can come from the north, from the east, from the south, from the west." [20:11] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Far too long we've been waiting for people to come to the church instead of taking the church to the people. Let me tell you what the true nature of the church is. The true nature of the church is for the saints, not the ain'ts. The church was established for followers of Jesus. But we've validated the church to being the full evangelism pipeline of the world. That the church should be the place that's reaching all sorts of unchurched people. Yes and no. I think the church should be the place where you bring the unchurched person that you led to the Lord to come into this place and grow in a relationship with Jesus." [22:59] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus never puts up any red tape to come to him. The only red thing that Jesus ever put up was his blood on the cross. And when he said, come to me, all who are weary, and burdened, and I shall give you rest. May we, the church, us, you, I, collectively, individually, may we be a movement that tears the religious walls down. May we be a movement that tears down the barriers that exist between us and the unchurched. May we breathe a bridge that gaps the spirit of God and a deathly life that he can relay his love and call back into life." [37:17] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I think that a lot of us, we're ashamed of being Christians. We're afraid. You're ashamed with your friends. So you dumb yourself down every time you get back with the old homies. You got, you feel now like you got to conform to stupidity in order to reach stupidity. Because you're ashamed. You're afraid. Oh, I'm a Christian. Are you? The Bible says that we are to be unashamed. Romans 1 16. I'm ashamed of the gospel message. Why are we ashamed of the very thing that saved our soul from hell?" [32:23] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "I believe that Jesus wants to move like he's never moved before. But my problem is that we're praying for revival. Revival is when the church awakens and there's three services and you fly somebody from the Midwest and they speak with an accent. I don't know. I'm like, God, do you think that the very people that are praying for revival are actually the people that are the answer to revival? I believe he's saying yes. Because I think revival will happen when we stop praying for it and we start living in it and being it." [39:17] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "I believe that if you're at the collective, this is your church. You are a believer of Jesus Christ. This is your church. Then you have a mandate and a responsibility. You have a mandate and a responsibility to live out the gospel. You have a mandate and a responsibility to live missionally. Because I believe not through my sermons, not through my altar call, but through your life and your words and your testimony, many will come to know Jesus." [43:12] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Missional living is one of our values, and I want you to completely understand what it really means theologically, because it's easy to say, go live missionally, but not practically understand what it means. Yesterday, I said, last week, I said that this text that I read should mean nothing to you if you don't love people. I said, I can't even talk about missional living until you learn about the love that you ought to have for your missional God and people." [17:38] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Jesus made the decision to enter into her story. He made the decision. I'm going to get my hands dirty. I'm going to dive into the depth of this woman's story. I'm going to connect my life in this moment to this woman's story. I'm going to connect with her and I'm going to go a little bit deeper. Not only did Jesus enter into her story, but Jesus entered into her pain." [25:45] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "You have a story. You have a story of deliverance. You've had a test and now you have a testimony. How do I share Jesus with people? How do I read? It's your story. When you make the decision to enter into someone's story for the long haul, for the long game, when you choose to connect yourself to people and do life with them through the thick and through the thin in the hopes that they would come to know Jesus one day, you have a story. And God wants to use your story to introduce his story in order to make a whole story." [28:14] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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