Living Missionally: Sharing Faith in Everyday Life
Summary
### Summary
Over the past 30 years, I've had the privilege of traveling to various parts of the world on mission trips, including places like Singapore, Brazil, London, and Poland. One memorable trip was to Poland, where we engaged with local schools, teaching English and Texas culture, and naturally, conversations about faith and Jesus emerged. These short-term mission trips, often criticized for their limited impact, actually provide a significant boost to long-term missionaries and offer participants a chance to practice sharing their faith and testimonies.
A powerful story from a mission trip to Moscow highlighted the transformative power of these experiences. Jerry, a participant, was deeply moved by a young girl named Eugenia, who shared the same name as his daughter. This encounter led Jerry and his friend Ed to raise funds and resources to transform a dilapidated hospital into a functioning medical facility, demonstrating the profound impact of mission work.
However, the essence of mission work isn't confined to overseas trips. Jesus' Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 calls us to make disciples as we go about our daily lives. This means living missionally in our own communities—whether in Georgetown, Hutto, or even Manchester, England. It's about being intentional in our everyday interactions, seeing them as opportunities to share God's love and grace.
The story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 illustrates this beautifully. Philip, led by the Spirit, joined God where He was already at work, resulting in the eunuch's conversion and baptism. This teaches us that missional living is about being sensitive to the Spirit's leading and joining God in His work, motivated by love rather than a mere sense of duty.
To live missionally, we must start with those closest to us—our neighbors, coworkers, and classmates. By being intentional in our relationships and looking for opportunities to serve and share, we can make a significant impact. This week, I challenge you to identify one person in your life to focus on, pray for, and intentionally engage with, demonstrating God's love through your actions and words.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Power of Short-Term Missions: Short-term mission trips, though often criticized, provide a significant boost to long-term missionaries and offer participants a chance to practice sharing their faith. These trips can lead to profound personal transformation and impactful ministry, as seen in Jerry's story from Moscow. [08:54]
2. Living Missionally in Everyday Life: The Great Commission calls us to make disciples as we go about our daily lives. This means being intentional in our interactions, seeing them as opportunities to share God's love and grace, whether in our local communities or abroad. [19:58]
3. Joining God Where He is Already at Work: Like Philip in Acts 8, we should be sensitive to the Spirit's leading and join God in His work. This involves being attentive to the needs and opportunities around us, trusting that God is already at work in the lives of those we encounter. [26:18]
4. Motivated by Love, Not Duty: Missional living must be motivated by love rather than a sense of duty or obligation. Genuine love for others compels us to share the transformative power of Jesus in their lives, not just to fulfill a program or quota. [33:14]
5. Starting with Those Closest to Us: Begin missional living by focusing on those closest to you—neighbors, coworkers, and classmates. By being intentional in these relationships, praying for them, and looking for opportunities to serve and share, we can make a significant impact in our immediate circles. [36:41]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[07:12] - Dispelling Myths in Poland
[07:57] - Texas Night and Sharing Faith
[08:54] - The Impact of Short-Term Missions
[10:51] - Personal Transformation Through Missions
[11:36] - Jerry's Story in Moscow
[15:26] - Local Mission Trips
[16:24] - The Great Commission
[19:24] - Understanding "Go" in the Great Commission
[19:58] - Missional Living in Everyday Life
[24:07] - Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
[26:18] - Being Led by the Spirit
[31:51] - Joining God Where He is Already at Work
[33:14] - Motivated by Love, Not Duty
[36:41] - Starting with Those Closest to Us
[45:55] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 28:19-20
2. Acts 8:26-39
#### Observation Questions
1. What did Jesus command His disciples to do in Matthew 28:19-20?
2. How did Philip respond to the angel's instruction in Acts 8:26-27?
3. What was the Ethiopian eunuch reading when Philip approached him, and how did Philip help him understand it? [24:53]
4. What was the result of Philip's interaction with the Ethiopian eunuch? [25:36]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to "make disciples" as described in Matthew 28:19-20? How does this command apply to our daily lives?
2. How can we discern the Spirit's leading in our lives, similar to how Philip was led to the Ethiopian eunuch? [26:18]
3. Why is it important to join God where He is already at work, as illustrated by Philip's encounter with the eunuch? [31:51]
4. How does being motivated by love rather than duty change the way we approach missional living? [33:14]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20. How can you incorporate the command to "make disciples" into your daily routine?
2. Think about a time when you felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? How can you be more attentive to the Spirit's leading in the future? [26:18]
3. Identify one person in your life who you feel God is calling you to engage with missionally. What specific steps can you take this week to show them God's love? [36:41]
4. How can you be more intentional in your interactions with neighbors, coworkers, or classmates to create opportunities for sharing your faith? [37:31]
5. Reflect on the story of Jerry and Ed in Moscow. How can you be more proactive in addressing the needs you see around you, even if it requires significant personal sacrifice? [13:42]
6. What are some practical ways you can start living missionally in your community, similar to the idea of a "mission trip" to Georgetown or Hutto? [15:26]
7. How can you ensure that your motivation for sharing the gospel is rooted in genuine love for others rather than a sense of duty or obligation? [33:14]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Short-Term Missions
Short-term mission trips, though often criticized for their limited duration, can have a profound impact on both the participants and the communities they serve. These trips provide a significant boost to long-term missionaries by offering additional hands and resources, and they also give participants a chance to practice sharing their faith in a real-world context. The story of Jerry in Moscow, who was moved to transform a dilapidated hospital into a functioning medical facility, exemplifies the transformative power of these experiences. Such missions can lead to personal growth and impactful ministry, demonstrating that even short-term efforts can yield long-term benefits. [08:54]
Isaiah 6:8 (ESV): "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'"
Reflection: Think of a recent opportunity you had to serve others, whether locally or abroad. How did this experience impact your faith and your perspective on mission work?
Day 2: Living Missionally in Everyday Life
The Great Commission calls us to make disciples as we go about our daily lives, not just on special mission trips. This means being intentional in our interactions, seeing them as opportunities to share God's love and grace. Whether in our local communities or abroad, living missionally involves a mindset shift where every encounter is viewed as a chance to reflect Christ. By integrating this perspective into our daily routines, we can make a significant impact on those around us, fulfilling the Great Commission in our everyday lives. [19:58]
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: Identify one routine activity in your daily life where you can be more intentional about sharing God's love. How can you transform this activity into a missional opportunity?
Day 3: Joining God Where He is Already at Work
Like Philip in Acts 8, we should be sensitive to the Spirit's leading and join God in His work. This involves being attentive to the needs and opportunities around us, trusting that God is already at work in the lives of those we encounter. By being open to the Spirit's guidance, we can participate in God's redemptive plan, witnessing the transformative power of the Gospel in real-time. This approach requires a heart attuned to God's movements and a willingness to step out in faith, even when the path is not entirely clear. [26:18]
Acts 8:29-31 (ESV): "And the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go over and join this chariot.' So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' And he said, 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit to act. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? How can you be more attentive to the Spirit's leading in the future?
Day 4: Motivated by Love, Not Duty
Missional living must be motivated by love rather than a sense of duty or obligation. Genuine love for others compels us to share the transformative power of Jesus in their lives, not just to fulfill a program or quota. When our actions are driven by love, they resonate more deeply and authentically with those we seek to serve. This love reflects the heart of Christ, who calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves, making our mission efforts more impactful and meaningful. [33:14]
1 John 4:19-21 (ESV): "We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."
Reflection: Reflect on your motivations for serving others. Are they driven by love or a sense of obligation? How can you cultivate a heart of genuine love in your missional efforts?
Day 5: Starting with Those Closest to Us
Begin missional living by focusing on those closest to you—neighbors, coworkers, and classmates. By being intentional in these relationships, praying for them, and looking for opportunities to serve and share, we can make a significant impact in our immediate circles. This approach aligns with the Great Commission's call to make disciples as we go about our daily lives, starting with the people God has already placed in our paths. By investing in these relationships, we can create a ripple effect of God's love and grace in our communities. [36:41]
Mark 5:19 (ESV): "And he did not permit him but said to him, 'Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.'"
Reflection: Identify one person in your immediate circle who may need to experience God's love. How can you intentionally engage with them this week, demonstrating God's love through your actions and words?
Quotes
1. "When you go to share love, the love of God with people, when you go to meet people's needs, when you go to let people know who Jesus is and what he's done in your life, it's like the spirit of God. Does. It's something in you that changes you. And almost every person I've ever met that's gone on a mission trip somewhere has come back different. Some ways, it's just a new perspective on life. Sometimes it's radically different." [10:51] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "But when you go on mission to tell people of Jesus, to meet needs, to love people, to share grace, God does something in you. But here's where the disconnect is. The disconnect is when we think of missions, we think of going someplace. We think of going to Poland or I've got to go to Mexico or I'm going to go someplace else. Now imagine if that was actually the plan. Like if the only way we would like, we go to other countries and we share with people. And the only way people where we live hear Jesus of other people from other countries come." [14:29] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "What if we had a mission trip this week to Georgetown, Texas? What if we had one to Salado and Jarrell and Hutto and Round Rock, where people who come to City Church live? We're online right now. There's people I know tonight, this morning, that are watching from Leander. I know there's people who watch from Colleen. I know there's people who watch weekly from Manchester, England, right? Well, what if we were on a mission trip to Georgetown, Hutto, Jarrell, Salado, Round Rock, Colleen, Leander, Manchester, England, this week? What if instead of one mission trip overseas, which we will do those and we'll talk about why, but what if we were on 300 mission trips this week everywhere we went? That's not as crazy as it sounds. That's actually God's plan." [15:26] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "As you go to school, as you go to work, as you go to whatever restaurant you might go to right after church this morning, as you go to the football game, as you go, wherever you're going, disciple nations. Now, as you're going, you really have one nation disciple. It's ours. It's the people around you, right? So it's as you go. And that's what we mean by missional living. It's living on mission. Wherever you go. That's why when I said, hey, imagine us having a mission trip to Georgetown, Gerald, Salado, Manchester, Leander. That's what God has called us to do. You're going on a mission trip tomorrow. Actually, that's not true. You're going on a mission trip in about 30 minutes when you walk out this door. Tomorrow as well. But where you go, God has placed you around people that he loves. And so we've got to start thinking missionally." [19:58] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Philip was simply being led by the Spirit of God, right? Philip, it says in the very first verse, an angel showed up. That's, that's pretty cool. That's, that's the Spirit of God showing up in a cool way, sending an angel. I haven't had that experience. But the angel says, hey, today, Philip, you're headed down this road. I need you to go that direction. Go south towards God. Philip starts walking that direction. And as Philip is walking that direction, he knows God is up to something. And so he's now looking. Why is God sending me here? God? God, what is my assignment? And he's actively, I would assume the scripture doesn't say this, praying. Lord, where am I? Where am I going? And what am I doing? And his eyes are open and he's looking." [26:18] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Missional living has to be motivated by love and not evangelism. Listen, if you grew up in the church, if you were a church person in the 80s or 90s or 2000s, man, you got some work to do. We broke it for you. Because we turned evangelism in the church. We turned the church into ministries. We turned them into programs. And we said, hey, come and memorize this and then go knock on doors and regurgitate this memory thing you've memorized. And people are going to pray and accept Jesus and you're going to fill out a card and then fantastic. And we come back and we go, four people met Jesus. Where are those four people? I don't know. They're at their house. But they prayed and accepted Jesus. That's not the plan. Jesus didn't say, hey, take some cards and knock on doors and pray a prayer and fill it out. He says, disciple nations, teach them everything I've taught you. Lead them to be baptized to begin that faith journey." [33:14] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Your neighbors. And we just talked about them. The people who literally live next door to you. Like we live in a world where like we can pull into our driveway, shut the garage door, get out and never know our neighbors. God has put you in a place, a time and place for a reason. You're surrounded by people that Jesus loves for you to love them. Now, if you live on ten acres, you've got a little bit of a problem there. So you've got to go to on ramp number two. Co-workers. Like God's students. That's your classmates. Like students, like you sit in four or five classes a day at a table with people or in desks with people all around you. Who out of all those classes, adults, all those co-workers that you see, who is the person that God is going, hey, that is, I see God moving and God pulling me towards them. And God keeps nudging me towards that person to love them well, to invite them to church with me. Because I want them to know Jesus. I want them to have life change." [37:31] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Here's some other people. Like you're talking about, hey, who are these people? It could be if you're a parent, you've got kids and they play sports. You've got parents all around you. Of kids that play sports with your kids. You've got kids in band in high school. You've got other band parents. Your kids' friends' parents. Here it is. This is it. I put it on the screen. Literally anyone you see on a regular basis could be your missional living. I tell the story a lot when I talk about this. Because I talk about everyday rhythms a lot of places. Even travel to some churches and talk about it. It's just institutional for us. That lady, she was late 80s. I was in a classroom. And there was about 10 senior adult women. And they were like 70s, 80s, 90s. And we were talking about missional living to retired widows. They were all widows. And so I asked because they're like, who is our missional living when I'm retired in my 90s? And I said, do any of y'all go like to the salon regularly? And I laughed out loud because all of them pointed to one lady. She does. And so I used her as an example in her 80s. I said, how often do you go to the salon? She goes, I go every Thursday." [38:09] (71 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "So here was kind of we developed her missional living intentional thing. Every Thursday when she goes to the salon, she has the same hair stylist. She just asked, how can I pray for you this week? And we're talking about it. I said, you might go in and sit down and go, how can I pray for you this week? And the hair stylist goes, you can't. Oh, I don't even believe in God. And you go the next Thursday because you see her every Thursday. Hey, how can I pray for you this week? Anything? Nope. I don't believe in God. Week three, week four, week five, week six, week seven, week eight. You know what's going to happen about week 12, week 13? Some storm's going to come into her life. And you're going to walk in and before you sit down to ask, how can I pray for you? She's going to go, I got something. Right? Because you've been intentional in loving her well, living missionally. And all of a sudden for the next 30, 45 minutes, you get to talk about what's going on in her life and what Jesus can do. People you see just regularly every day. That's who they are." [39:23] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "If you haven't caught on yet, they're basically the same next steps we've said the last two weeks. Pick one. Don't overwhelm yourself. Just pick one. Doesn't have to be one neighbor and one coworker, one classmate. Just one. One person. Lord, who is the one person? And then write it down on the plan. Who's the one thing? Write it down. And then here's your third next step. Just be intentional. What will you do? Praying for that person is a no-brainer. And then let the Lord lean into speaking to you and go, this is what I'm going to do with that one person God's placed on my heart." [40:40] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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