MISSION_OF_GOD___Part_2.docx

Devotional

Day 1: Seeing God’s Mission Hidden in Plain Sight

Becoming aware of God’s mission is like suddenly noticing a certain car everywhere you go—what was once invisible is now impossible to miss. Throughout the Bible, God’s heart for the nations is not a side note but a central theme woven into every story, promise, and command. When you read Scripture with this lens, you begin to see that God’s desire is for all peoples to know Him, and that your faith is part of a much larger, global narrative.
This awareness changes how you read the Bible and how you see your own life. Instead of viewing your faith as a private journey, you are invited to recognize your place in God’s unfolding story for the world. God’s mission is not just for a select few; it is for everyone who follows Him. As you open your eyes to this reality, you’ll find yourself drawn into a deeper sense of purpose and belonging in God’s family.

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.’ God spoke to Moses and said to him, ‘I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners.’” (Exodus 6:1-4, ESV)

Reflection: As you read your Bible this week, ask God to help you notice His heart for the nations in passages you might have overlooked before. What is one verse or story you now see differently because of this perspective?

Day 2: Trusting God’s Promises Beyond What Seems Possible

God’s promises often stretch far beyond our immediate understanding or comfort zones. The promise to Abraham was given when he was old and childless, yet God’s faithfulness spanned generations and reached across nations. In the same way, God’s plans for your life may feel too big, too distant, or too impossible to grasp.
When you feel small or insignificant, remember that your story is woven into a tapestry that stretches across history. God’s faithfulness is not limited by your limitations. He invites you to trust Him, even when you cannot see how His promises will unfold. Your circumstances may seem overwhelming, but God’s purposes are always bigger than your present reality.

“‘For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal,’ declares the Lord, ‘because they have called you an outcast: “It is Zion, for whom no one cares!” Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt on its mound, and the palace shall stand where it used to be.’” (Jeremiah 30:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where God’s promises feel out of reach? How might trusting in His bigger story help you take a step of faith today?

Day 3: Shifting from Self-Focus to God’s Global Purpose

It’s easy to read Bible stories as if they’re only about personal triumphs or lessons for our individual lives. But when you zoom out, you see that God is orchestrating events to reveal His glory to the nations. The victories and deliverances in Scripture are not just about personal faith—they are about God making Himself known to the world.
This perspective shifts your focus from self-centered application to participating in God’s global mission. Your life is not just about your own growth or comfort, but about joining God in His desire to be known and worshiped by all peoples. When you see your story as part of God’s greater purpose, you are invited to live with a sense of mission and hope that reaches far beyond yourself.

“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens.” (Psalm 96:3-5, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent challenge or victory in your life. How could God use your story to point others—perhaps even those from different backgrounds—to His glory?

Day 4: Jesus—The Fulfillment of God’s Ancient Promise

The genealogy of Jesus is more than a list of names; it is a declaration that God’s promise to Abraham is fulfilled in Christ. Jesus is the ultimate blessing to the nations, offering salvation to all people, not just one group or nation. The call to make disciples of all nations is not a new idea, but the climax of God’s ancient promise.
Your faith in Jesus connects you to this mission. You are both a recipient and an agent of God’s blessing to the world. As you follow Jesus, you are invited to participate in the fulfillment of God’s promise to bless all families of the earth. This is not just a task for a few, but the calling of every believer who belongs to Christ.

“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” (Galatians 3:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you be a blessing to someone outside your usual circle today, reflecting Jesus’ heart for all nations?

Day 5: Joining God’s Mission—Your Unique Role

The story of God’s mission is still being written, and you are invited to join in. Whether you go, send, support, pray, or welcome, each of us can participate in reaching the nations. You may not be able to do everything or reach everyone, but you can do something and reach someone.
The end of the story is a great multitude from every nation worshiping together. Let’s live now in light of that future, investing our lives in what matters most to God. Ask God to show you your unique role in His mission, and take a step—however small—toward joining Him in what He is already doing in the world.

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” (Romans 12:13-16, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you can participate in God’s mission this week—by going, sending, supporting, praying, or welcoming? Take a step today.

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon**

In this sermon, we explored the overarching mission of God as revealed throughout the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Using the analogy of suddenly noticing a certain car everywhere once it’s pointed out, we learned that God’s heart for the nations is a theme woven through all of Scripture, not just a few select verses. The Abrahamic Covenant set the stage for God’s plan to bless all families of the earth, a promise that unfolds through the stories of Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel, and ultimately finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. We were challenged to zoom out from our individual perspectives and see the bigger picture: God’s relentless pursuit to gather people from every tribe, tongue, and nation into one family through Christ. The sermon concluded with a call to recognize our part in this mission—whether by going, sending, supporting, or praying—so that we might join God in what He is already doing in the world.

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Key Takeaways

1. Awareness Changes Everything Just as noticing a certain car makes you see it everywhere, becoming aware of God’s mission in Scripture transforms how you read the Bible and view your life. The story of God’s pursuit of the nations is not hidden; it’s been there all along, waiting for us to notice. This awareness invites us to see our faith as part of a much larger, global narrative. When we read Scripture with this lens, we realize that God’s heart beats for all peoples, not just for us individually.
2. God’s Promises Are Bigger Than Our Circumstances The Abrahamic Covenant was given to a man well past childbearing years, and its fulfillment spanned generations and nations. God’s promises often outsize our immediate understanding and comfort zones, challenging us to trust Him beyond what seems possible. Our personal stories are woven into a tapestry that stretches across history, reminding us that God’s faithfulness is not limited by our limitations. When we feel small or insignificant, we can remember that God’s plans are always bigger than our present reality.
3. Zooming Out Reveals God’s Greater Purpose It’s easy to read Bible stories as if they’re only about personal triumphs or lessons for our individual lives. But when we zoom out, we see that God is orchestrating events to reveal His glory to the nations. David’s victory over Goliath, Daniel’s deliverance from the lions, and the Exodus are not just about personal faith—they are about God making Himself known to the world. This perspective shifts our focus from self-centered application to participating in God’s global mission.
4. Jesus Is the Fulfillment and Center of God’s Mission The genealogy of Jesus in Matthew is not a boring list, but a powerful declaration that God’s promise to Abraham is fulfilled in Christ. Jesus is the ultimate blessing to the nations, offering salvation to all people, not just one ethnic group or nation. The call to make disciples of all nations is not a new idea, but the climax of God’s ancient promise. Our faith in Jesus connects us to this mission, making us both recipients and agents of God’s blessing to the world.
5. Every Believer Has a Role in God’s Mission The story of God’s mission is still being written, and we are invited to join in. Whether we go, send, support, pray, or welcome, each of us can participate in reaching the nations. We may not be able to do everything or reach everyone, but we can do something and reach someone. The end of the story is a great multitude from every nation worshiping together—let’s live now in light of that future, investing our lives in what matters most to God.

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Mission of God**

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### Bible Reading

- **Genesis 12:1-3**
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

- **1 Samuel 17:46-47**
“This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand… that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear.”

- **Revelation 7:9-10**
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

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### Observation Questions

In Genesis 12:1-3, what does God promise to Abraham, and who is included in the scope of this promise?
According to 1 Samuel 17:46-47, what reason does David give for God’s deliverance in his battle with Goliath?
In Revelation 7:9-10, what do you notice about the diversity of the people gathered before God’s throne?
From the sermon, what analogy was used to help us understand how awareness changes the way we see God’s mission in the Bible?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does God’s promise to Abraham go beyond just blessing Abraham’s immediate family? What does this reveal about God’s heart?
How does David’s perspective in his fight with Goliath challenge the way people usually read Bible stories about personal victory?
What does the vision in Revelation 7:9-10 tell us about the ultimate goal of God’s mission? How does this shape our understanding of what God is doing in the world?
The sermon mentioned that God’s promises are often “bigger than our circumstances.” How might this truth affect the way someone views their own life and struggles?

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### Application Questions

The sermon used the example of noticing a certain car everywhere once you’re aware of it. How might becoming more aware of God’s mission change the way you read the Bible or see your daily life? Can you think of a recent time when you noticed God at work in a place you hadn’t before?
God’s promise to Abraham was fulfilled over generations, not instantly. Is there a promise or hope you’re holding onto that feels impossible right now? How does Abraham’s story encourage you to trust God’s timing?
The sermon challenged us to “zoom out” and see the bigger picture of God’s mission. Are there areas in your life where you tend to focus only on your own needs or struggles? What would it look like to see those situations as part of God’s bigger story?
Jesus is described as the fulfillment of God’s promise to bless all nations. How does knowing this affect the way you think about people from different backgrounds, cultures, or countries?
The end of the story is a great multitude from every nation worshiping together. What is one practical way you can participate in God’s mission—whether by going, sending, supporting, praying, or welcoming—this month?
The sermon said, “You can’t do everything, but you can do something.” Who is one person in your life right now that you could reach out to with God’s love or the message of Jesus?
The pastor shared a personal story about language barriers with his grandma, but rejoiced that the gospel reached both of them. Is there someone in your life who seems “far” from you—maybe because of language, culture, or background? What is one step you could take to build a bridge or share God’s love with them?

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Sermon Quotes

When you start looking for something, you begin to see it everywhere. In the same way, once you realize God’s mission to reach all nations, you’ll see it woven throughout the entire story of Scripture—from Genesis to Revelation.

The stories of the Bible go beyond me and my situation. If we never zoom out, we fail to see that God is often up to something so much bigger than just you or the character in that story.

God’s promise to Abraham wasn’t just about blessing one nation—it was about drawing people from every tribe, tongue, and nation into one family under God as Father.

The mission of God is not just about rescuing people from their struggles, but about displaying His salvation and glory to the nations so that all may know the kind of God He is.

Salvation comes to the nations not just by knowing about God, but by actually knowing God personally through Jesus—the ultimate blessing promised to Abraham’s descendants.

Jesus is the hero of the story. Trust in Jesus, and you’ll be saved. Call upon Jesus’ name, and you will be truly blessed.

The story ends when we, the church, understand the mission of God and get on board with what He is doing in this world—whether it’s going, sending, supporting, praying, welcoming, or equipping.

Those who had been scattered because of sin to different tribes, tongues, and nations in Genesis will be gathered together as one people again one day, under one God, singing together in one tongue in Revelation.

You can’t do everything, but you can do something. You can’t go everywhere, but you can go somewhere. You can’t reach everyone, but you can reach someone. Now that we see what God is doing, let’s join him.

One day, people from every nation, tribe, and language will stand together, united in worship, crying out with one voice: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

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