Living on Mission: The Value of Community
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, church! Today, we embark on a new series called "Trust the Process," focusing on our Discipleship Pathway, which includes church, community, and core. This week, we delve into the importance of the local church gathering. The church is not just a place we attend; it’s a community where we grow and live out our mission. The early church treated their gatherings as essential steps in their faith journey, not as a menu of options. Our strategy for growth isn't about attracting crowds but about each of us realizing that we are sent people, living our lives on mission for God.
We explored the story of Harry Winston and the Hope Diamond to illustrate the immense value of what we've been entrusted with—the gospel of Christ. Just as the mailman felt the weight and privilege of delivering the Hope Diamond, we should feel the same about sharing the gospel. The early church in Acts 1 provides a model for us. Jesus instructed His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before embarking on their mission, emphasizing the importance of being empowered by the Spirit.
The early church was characterized by active participation; there were no spectators. Every believer was a missionary, living out their faith daily. This is our calling too. We must live on mission, seeing our everyday interactions as opportunities to share the gospel. Our gatherings are crucial because they refill and equip us to go out and live on mission. Sundays are not the point but the push that propels us into our week, filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to act.
We also discussed the importance of witnessing. Witnessing isn't about having all the answers but about pointing out God's goodness, love, mercy, and protection in our lives. As we head into this week, let's be intentional about living on mission, seeing our interactions as opportunities to bear witness to the gospel.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Church as a Community and Mission Field: The church is not just a place to attend but a community where we grow and live out our mission. Each member is a sent person, called to live on mission for God. This perspective shifts our focus from merely attending services to actively participating in God's work. [26:43]
2. The Value of the Gospel: Just as the mailman felt the weight and privilege of delivering the Hope Diamond, we should feel the same about sharing the gospel. The gospel is the most valuable thing we've been entrusted with, and it should change how we live, act, and interact with others. [32:26]
3. Empowerment by the Holy Spirit: Jesus instructed His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before starting their mission. This teaches us the importance of being empowered by the Spirit in our mission. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot effectively live out our calling. [35:20]
4. Active Participation in the Church: The early church had no spectators; every believer was an active participant. We are called to the same level of engagement, living on mission daily. Our gatherings are crucial for refilling and equipping us to go out and live on mission. [38:37]
5. Witnessing as Pointing to God's Work: Witnessing isn't about having all the answers but about pointing out God's goodness, love, mercy, and protection in our lives. We are called to bear witness to what we've seen God do, not to be prosecuting attorneys who need to be right. [45:24]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[24:00] - Introduction to "Trust the Process"
[24:22] - The Importance of Church
[25:36] - You Are Sent
[27:10] - The Early Church Model
[27:57] - The Story of Harry Winston and the Hope Diamond
[30:07] - The Weight of the Gospel
[32:26] - Valuing Our Mission
[34:12] - Acts 1: The Early Church's Mission
[36:00] - Waiting for the Holy Spirit
[38:37] - Active Participation in the Early Church
[42:34] - Witnessing: Pointing to God's Work
[47:02] - Jesus' Ascension and Our Mission
[48:31] - The Importance of Gathering
[51:19] - Practical Steps for Valuing the Gospel
[55:10] - Equipping the Saints for Ministry
[56:17] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Acts 1:4-8 (NIV): "On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' Then they gathered around him and asked him, 'Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?' He said to them: 'It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'"
### Observation Questions
1. What command did Jesus give to His disciples in Acts 1:4-5? How did He describe the coming event? ([34:12])
2. According to Acts 1:8, what will the disciples receive, and what will they become as a result? ([37:00])
3. How did the early church view their gatherings, and what was their approach to participation? ([38:37])
4. What analogy did the pastor use to describe the value of the gospel, and how does it relate to our mission? ([32:26])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus instructed His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before starting their mission? How does this apply to us today? ([35:20])
2. How does viewing the church as a community and mission field change our approach to attending services and participating in church activities? ([26:43])
3. In what ways does the empowerment of the Holy Spirit enable believers to live out their calling effectively? ([37:00])
4. How can witnessing be more about pointing to God's work in our lives rather than having all the answers? ([45:24])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current involvement in church activities. How can you shift from being a spectator to an active participant in the mission of the church? ([38:37])
2. Think about a recent interaction where you had the opportunity to share the gospel. How did you feel about the value of the message you were sharing? How can you cultivate a deeper appreciation for the gospel's worth? ([32:26])
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. How can you seek this empowerment in your daily walk? ([35:20])
4. Consider your daily interactions. How can you be more intentional about seeing them as opportunities to bear witness to the gospel? ([39:08])
5. Witnessing isn't about having all the answers. Think of a situation where you can simply point out God's goodness, love, mercy, or protection. How will you approach this opportunity differently? ([45:24])
6. How can you plan, prepare, and pray to ensure that your Sundays are a time of refilling and equipping for the week ahead? What specific steps will you take to make this a priority? ([52:45])
7. Reflect on the idea that the church needs you and you need the church. How can you contribute to the community and mission of your local church in a meaningful way? ([51:49])
Devotional
Day 1: The Church as a Community and Mission Field
The church is not just a place to attend but a community where we grow and live out our mission. Each member is a sent person, called to live on mission for God. This perspective shifts our focus from merely attending services to actively participating in God's work. The early church treated their gatherings as essential steps in their faith journey, not as a menu of options. Our strategy for growth isn't about attracting crowds but about each of us realizing that we are sent people, living our lives on mission for God. [26:43]
Acts 2:42-47 (ESV): "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."
Reflection: How can you shift your mindset from merely attending church to actively participating in God's mission? What specific steps can you take this week to engage more deeply with your church community?
Day 2: The Value of the Gospel
Just as the mailman felt the weight and privilege of delivering the Hope Diamond, we should feel the same about sharing the gospel. The gospel is the most valuable thing we've been entrusted with, and it should change how we live, act, and interact with others. The early church in Acts 1 provides a model for us. Jesus instructed His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before embarking on their mission, emphasizing the importance of being empowered by the Spirit. [32:26]
2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV): "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."
Reflection: Do you feel the weight and privilege of sharing the gospel in your daily life? How can you remind yourself of the immense value of the gospel in your interactions this week?
Day 3: Empowerment by the Holy Spirit
Jesus instructed His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before starting their mission. This teaches us the importance of being empowered by the Spirit in our mission. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot effectively live out our calling. The early church was characterized by active participation; there were no spectators. Every believer was a missionary, living out their faith daily. This is our calling too. [35:20]
Acts 1:8 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Are you relying on the Holy Spirit to empower your daily mission? What steps can you take to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and strength in your life this week?
Day 4: Active Participation in the Church
The early church had no spectators; every believer was an active participant. We are called to the same level of engagement, living on mission daily. Our gatherings are crucial for refilling and equipping us to go out and live on mission. Sundays are not the point but the push that propels us into our week, filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to act. [38:37]
Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV): "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."
Reflection: How can you move from being a spectator to an active participant in your church? What specific actions can you take to engage more fully in the mission of your church this week?
Day 5: Witnessing as Pointing to God's Work
Witnessing isn't about having all the answers but about pointing out God's goodness, love, mercy, and protection in our lives. We are called to bear witness to what we've seen God do, not to be prosecuting attorneys who need to be right. As we head into this week, let's be intentional about living on mission, seeing our interactions as opportunities to bear witness to the gospel. [45:24]
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."
Reflection: Think of a recent experience where you saw God's goodness in your life. How can you share this experience with someone this week to point them to God's work?
Quotes
1. "Our strategy is you. And you realizing that you are a sent person, that you are meant to live your life on mission for him. And our strategy is you. Your life is our tool and the gospel is the goal for us. So when we say the reason why we want you to be here, want you to get, is because there's something really valuable about you living life on mission. You seeing yourself as a sent person is the goal for us." [26:43] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Listen, you're meant to live on mission in the same capacity. You have a responsibility because what you have been entrusted with is far too valuable to not share. So as you go into your work this week, you have to go into it with the mindset of living on mission. You have to go into school this week, guys, as you start school as living different than what everyone else lives. You should look different than what all of the other kids. You should act, you should talk, you should think differently than what everyone else is because what you've been entrusted with is the most valuable thing on the earth." [39:08] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "How can we expect our community to believe in a God they can't see when a church they can see doesn't seem to like them, to love them, or at the very least to care about them at all? So how can we expect our community to believe a God that loves them that they can't see when the church they can see doesn't seem to care about them at all? Listen, what we've been entrusted with changes how we live. It changes how we interact every single day with the people that God brings into our lives." [42:12] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The early church, you were an everyday disciple. It was a sink or swim. That was what your role was. You didn't have the opportunity to come in and sit and like some things that you liked to do, and then I don't like to do those things. You were a missionary from day one. Listen, you're meant to live on mission in the same capacity. You have a responsibility because what you have been entrusted with is far too valuable to not share." [38:37] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Listen, the catapult for growth in the early church was those weekly gatherings for them. No doubt about that but it wasn't in the way that you think. It was a push. It was not the point. They didn't just come and sit and hear someone speak on God's word and sing some songs. It was the push. It was not the point. It was a refilling. It was an equipping of the saints for them to go out on mission because every single member was a missionary at that point. They lived on mission. It was the push that they needed not the point of their week." [50:19] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "The only time you see God in his fullness is when you see God interacting in other people's lives. The only time see that, the reason why you need to see the church and the church needs you is because the only time we can worship him in his fullness is when we are in the presence of his family. Because you see all of his glory through what is the mosaic of his people. You get to see how he worked in that person's life on Thursday and you get to see how he worked in this person's life on Wednesday and you get to see how this person was prayed for on Friday and God moved in their life and you see all these different things but you only see that when we come together corporately and we worship him in his fullness." [51:34] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Ministry is like archaeology. Ephesians 4 says that my role and the staff's role here at the church is to equip you the saints for the work of ministry. Shocker you didn't know that did you? Like this is my job. Now my job as a follower of Christ is to do the same thing but like my primary role is to equip you the saints for the work of ministry. Listen ministry is primary it's like archaeology it's primarily unearthing what God has where God is already working. You ever seen them where they're like like brushing stuff off and you're like oh there is something there. That's what ministry is. We're just trying to unearth where God is already working and then we try to step into that and say God how can I help in this situation?" [55:10] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Listen, you may say like yeah I don't need like I don't need the corporate worship thing that much but here's what I would tell you. Like that vision that mission for us at Crossroads means we lock arms together. you may not need that but the person next to you might need you locked armed with them and they may need you to help push forward. we find in Jesus' life over and over and over again is it's never about him. It's never about us. It's about who else we can bring with us on the journey." [01:03:00] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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