Living Missionally: Following Jesus in Everyday Life
Summary
In today's gathering, I expressed my deep gratitude to the congregation for their unwavering support and partnership in missions over the years. This partnership has been instrumental in spreading the gospel and igniting a spiritual fire in places like Switzerland, where only a small percentage of the population currently professes faith in Jesus. Our mission is to bring gospel access to those who have none, to be a spark that ignites a nation for Christ, one heart at a time. This mission is not just about meeting needs but about following Jesus and living missionally, a call that extends to every believer, regardless of their vocation.
Living on mission means participating in God's grand plan of restoration and renewal, a plan that has been unfolding since the beginning of time. The gospel is the good news that God has come near to restore all of creation through Jesus. This is not just a message for pastors or missionaries but for every follower of Christ. It involves making Jesus the most precious thing in our lives and being willing to follow Him wherever He leads. This requires a deep commitment, as illustrated in Luke 14, where Jesus speaks about counting the cost of discipleship.
I shared personal stories of how God has been working in our lives and ministry, even when plans don't go as expected. Our inability to live in Switzerland due to visa issues has not stopped us from seeing God's work unfold. Through prayer and discipleship, we are witnessing the gospel take root in places like the Domlesch Valley. This journey has taught us that while plans may fail, Jesus remains the most beautiful and precious, and following Him is the ultimate goal.
I encouraged everyone to consider what it means to live missionally in their own context, to ask Jesus, "What's next?" and to be open to His leading. This involves a willingness to let go of everything else and make Jesus the center of our lives. As we do this, we become part of God's restoration work, bringing His presence and love to those around us.
Key Takeaways:
- Gospel Access and Mission: The need for gospel access is critical, especially in places like Switzerland, where a small percentage of the population knows Jesus. Our mission is to bring the gospel to those who have no access, emphasizing that all people are lost until they come to the cross of Jesus. This mission is not about following needs but following Jesus, who calls us to live missionally. [45:02]
- Living on Mission: Living on mission means participating in God's plan of restoration and renewal, a plan that has been unfolding since creation. The gospel is the good news that God has come near to restore all of creation through Jesus. This call is for every believer, not just pastors or missionaries, and involves making Jesus the most precious thing in our lives. [49:40]
- Counting the Cost of Discipleship: Jesus calls us to count the cost of discipleship, as illustrated in Luke 14. This involves making Him the most valuable and beautiful thing in our lives, above all else. It requires a willingness to let go of everything else and follow Him wholeheartedly, even when plans fail. [56:23]
- Following Jesus in Everyday Life: Following Jesus involves asking Him, "What's next?" and being open to His leading in our everyday lives. This requires humility and a willingness to trust His plan, even when it doesn't make sense. By doing so, we become part of His restoration work, bringing His presence and love to those around us. [01:06:34]
- The Artichoke Analogy: Life is like an artichoke, where layers are stripped away to reveal what's truly at the center. As we age, we lose things, but this process helps us see what is truly important. Jesus invites us to lose everything for His sake now, so we can live an abundant life on mission with Him, rather than having things taken away later. [01:13:37]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Gratitude for Mission Support
- [01:30] - Mission in Switzerland
- [03:00] - Gospel Access and Need
- [05:00] - Following Jesus, Not Needs
- [07:00] - Living on Mission
- [09:00] - Understanding the Gospel
- [11:00] - Counting the Cost of Discipleship
- [13:00] - Making Jesus the Most Precious
- [15:00] - Personal Stories of Mission
- [17:00] - Asking "What's Next?"
- [19:00] - The Artichoke Analogy
- [21:00] - Invitation to Live Missionally
- [23:00] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 14:25-33
- Colossians 1:19-20
- Mark 8:35
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Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 14:25-33, what does Jesus say about the cost of discipleship, and how does He illustrate this concept? [52:04]
2. According to the sermon, what is the current spiritual landscape in Switzerland, and why is gospel access so critical there? [45:02]
3. How does the speaker describe the concept of "living on mission," and what biblical foundation does he provide for this lifestyle? [49:40]
4. What analogy does the speaker use to describe the process of losing things in life, and what is its significance in the context of following Jesus? [01:13:37]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to make Jesus the most precious thing in one's life, and how does this relate to the idea of counting the cost of discipleship? [56:23]
2. How does the speaker's experience with visa issues in Switzerland illustrate the idea of following Jesus rather than just meeting needs? [01:01:05]
3. In what ways does the speaker suggest that living missionally involves participating in God's plan of restoration and renewal? [49:40]
4. How does the artichoke analogy help us understand the process of spiritual growth and the importance of having Jesus at the center of our lives? [01:13:37]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Is Jesus the most precious thing to you? What might be competing for that place, and how can you address it? [56:23]
2. Consider your current context: What does living missionally look like for you, and how can you be more intentional about it in your daily life? [49:40]
3. Have you ever experienced a situation where your plans fell apart, but you saw God working through it? How did that impact your faith and understanding of following Jesus? [01:01:05]
4. The speaker encourages asking Jesus, "What's next?" in our lives. What is one area where you need to seek His guidance, and how will you make space to listen for His direction? [01:06:34]
5. Think about the relationships in your life: How can you be a source of gospel access to those around you, especially those who may not know Jesus? [45:02]
6. Reflect on the artichoke analogy: What are some "leaves" in your life that you might need to let go of to reveal Jesus at the center? How can you begin this process? [01:13:37]
7. How can you support and partner with others in your community or church to live missionally and bring the gospel to those who have no access? [45:02]
Devotional
Sure, here is the 5-day devotional based on the provided sermon summary:
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Day 1: Bringing Gospel Access to the Unreached
The mission to bring gospel access to those who have none is a call to ignite a spiritual fire in places where faith in Jesus is scarce. This mission is not about merely addressing needs but about following Jesus and living missionally. It is a call that extends to every believer, regardless of their vocation. In places like Switzerland, where only a small percentage of the population professes faith in Jesus, the need for gospel access is critical. Our mission is to bring the gospel to those who have no access, emphasizing that all people are lost until they come to the cross of Jesus. This mission is not about following needs but following Jesus, who calls us to live missionally. [45:02]
"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" (Psalm 96:3, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life or community lacks access to the gospel, and how can you be a part of bringing Jesus to them today?
Day 2: Participating in God's Restoration Plan
Living on mission means participating in God's grand plan of restoration and renewal, a plan that has been unfolding since the beginning of time. The gospel is the good news that God has come near to restore all of creation through Jesus. This call is for every believer, not just pastors or missionaries, and involves making Jesus the most precious thing in our lives. It requires a deep commitment to follow Him wherever He leads, trusting in His plan for restoration. [49:40]
"And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Also he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'" (Revelation 21:5, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in God's restoration work in your community or environment today?
Day 3: Counting the Cost of Discipleship
Jesus calls us to count the cost of discipleship, as illustrated in Luke 14. This involves making Him the most valuable and beautiful thing in our lives, above all else. It requires a willingness to let go of everything else and follow Him wholeheartedly, even when plans fail. This deep commitment to discipleship is not just about what we gain but also about what we are willing to lose for the sake of following Jesus. [56:23]
"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27, ESV)
Reflection: What is one thing you are holding onto that might be hindering your full commitment to following Jesus, and how can you begin to let it go today?
Day 4: Following Jesus in Everyday Life
Following Jesus involves asking Him, "What's next?" and being open to His leading in our everyday lives. This requires humility and a willingness to trust His plan, even when it doesn't make sense. By doing so, we become part of His restoration work, bringing His presence and love to those around us. It is about making Jesus the center of our lives and being willing to follow Him wherever He leads. [01:06:34]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to ask Jesus, "What's next?" and how can you be open to His leading today?
Day 5: Embracing the Artichoke Analogy
Life is like an artichoke, where layers are stripped away to reveal what's truly at the center. As we age, we lose things, but this process helps us see what is truly important. Jesus invites us to lose everything for His sake now, so we can live an abundant life on mission with Him, rather than having things taken away later. This analogy encourages us to focus on what truly matters and to make Jesus the center of our lives. [01:13:37]
"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25, ESV)
Reflection: What layers in your life need to be stripped away to reveal Jesus at the center, and how can you begin this process today?
Quotes
1. "But God has called us to be a spark in Switzerland. Um, to ignite a country on fire for Jesus, one heart at a time, one disciple at a time till the whole country burns bright for Jesus. And so what, what we do there is we do look for those disciples that want to be discipled. Those that are already Christians and those that aren't Christians yet. I'm just going to throw this out there. When did Peter become a disciple of Jesus? Was it before or after he was a Christian? I just want to throw that out there. I'll just let that sit." ([00:42:51] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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2. "God's called us to those smaller places, to those places where there might be a church steeple, there might be a church there, but it's a museum, and it's not the living, breathing body of Christ there, and so God has called us to go to those places, even in the smaller towns, so that they can have access to the gospel, so that they can see what the body of Christ really is supposed to be." ([00:43:53] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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3. "The issue here in Switzerland is, gospel access. And gospel access means that this red bead here doesn't have anybody close by who knows Jesus. They don't have a friend of a friend of a friend who's experienced the life -changing power of Christ. So, they don't have gospel access. Now, sure, there might be a church somewhere around, but people in Switzerland, people in Europe, in general, they're not looking to the church for answers anymore. They're a Christian context. It's after, after Christianity. Christianity has been there. They've seen it. They've been there. They don't want anything to do with it, for the most part, until they really get to meet somebody who is a follower of Jesus. And they say, wait, you're not strange. And you're, like, really a real person. And you love Jesus? What?" ([00:45:37] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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4. "We don't follow the need. There's a lot of need, but if we're following the need, we're going to be running around like chickens with their heads cut off. We're going to be like, oh, there's that need over there. There's that thing that needs to be looked at. That's that person there or that issue or that cause. We follow Jesus and that's what I want to talk to you today in this missional life that he has called us to." ([00:47:37] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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5. "Living on mission is that there is this, this plan that Jesus has been working on, that God in, in, in, in his sovereignty has been working on from Genesis chapter 1, when the Spirit was hovering over the waters. He's been working on this plan, and it continues through the ages, and now we get to be a part of it as well. This plan is, Jesus will call it the, the kingdom of heaven, the, the kingdom coming to earth, and Jesus explained it in many different ways, but we, we hear about it as the gospel as well, and the gospel, I'll give you maybe a sort of a different perspective on it, maybe a different definition for it, because I don't know, for me, for many years, if somebody were to ask me, what is the gospel? I was just like, I don't know, I mean, like, Jesus died, and we get to go to heaven. And, and there's, there's that part of it, but there's so much more that Jesus didn't talk about, but I, so I had a hard time putting handles on it. Like, what is this good news that Jesus was proclaiming? That's what, that's what gospel means, and I would say it this way. This is, this is something that probably people on the street would be able to understand too. Sometimes they get freaked out by the whole blood thing, and a guy dying on a cross, and they're like, that's pretty gross. Like, what is that, you know? So in this definition, Jesus and everything that he's done is in there, but I'll just give it to you." ([00:48:14] (85 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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6. "God has come near to restore and renew all of creation through the work of Jesus on our behalf. God has come near. He's Emmanuel, right? God in the flesh, dwelling among us. Some people say, man, I just wish that God would, like, from a bullhorn from heaven, just open up the sky and say, hey, I am God, believe in me, follow me. And if, if God would just do that, we'd, I would follow him. I would do it, you know? I would do it. I would do it. I would do it. I would do it. I would, like, why can't you just make it clear?" ([00:49:40] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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7. "God has been doing this plan throughout all of history, making it very clear through Jesus and now you and I are invited to live in bringing God close to people and restoring and renewing all of creation. We're following him in this. We're living missionally. We're living in his mission. Is that clear? Is that clear that that is what I'm talking about when I say living on mission?" ([00:52:04] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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8. "And I'm not talking about just for, you know, pastors. and missionaries and stuff like I'm talking every single person that says Jesus is my Lord you get this invitation to live missionally with God you maybe you're a teacher maybe you're in the health care system maybe you're in construction whatever it is he has called you and said you get to live in this and I have a very specific way for you to make this plan known through your life and Jesus talks about this in Luke chapter 14 I'd like to to be in there and just to to read that Luke chapter 14 25 through 33 and Jesus gives us sort of an analogy of what this missional living could look like or or sort of what we what we should consider before living missionally with him and I would ask if we could all stand to our feet and we in honor of God's word I'm just going to read the passage here and then you can you can sit back down again there's two reasons for this one is that you're sort of falling asleep and and this sort of helps you wake up uh that other one is that we get to honor God's word for sure all right I'm going to read this here now great crowds accompanied Jesus and he turned and said to them if anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters yes even his own life he cannot be my disciple whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple for which of you desiring to build a tower does not first sit down and count the cost whether he has enough to complete it otherwise when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish all who see it begin to mock him saying this man began to build and was not able to finish see two things here that we need to consider before following Christ before living on this mission and maybe you've been following Jesus for a long time and I hope today is a reconsideration of is am I doing that is that happening in my life" ([00:52:30] (127 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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9. "I think that Jesus talks about this because as we're living on mission, we can get really caught up in the plan, in the, in the, the goal, you know? A little secret about missionaries, you know, is we're coming here and, and speaking to you and saying, this is what the vision that God has placed on my heart. We're telling that to you in all truth, in sincerity and integrity. It almost always falls apart though, okay? We get to the field and we get into situations and we get into a culture that we've never been in before and it just doesn't work the way that we thought. Now, God sometimes brings that around and makes it even more beautiful than what we thought, but the plan is going to fall apart." ([01:00:20] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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10. "Jesus is the most beautiful. You keep going, because he's the prize. He's the goal. Amen? Amen. Amen. Second thing, will you follow him? Will you follow him? It says here, whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. If we're not going to follow him, there's no reason to get started following him. Like, okay, right, wow, it's really mind -blowing there, but that's what he's saying here. You need to follow me. Now, what we get to ask Jesus is a beautiful question, and we can ask it constantly to him, because he's walking right beside us, or in front of us, or behind us, wherever. He's all, he's right." ([01:04:58] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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