Bible Studies
On a Mission From God
Or
“The Sent Ones”
Welcome to a bible study series about our place in this world. God has sent us into His world to fulfil a mission, a mission to bring glory to Him and be a “light to the world”. In a set of 6 studies we will look at how God has sent a variety of people as His ambassadors into a lost world. As we investigate their stories we hope to gain insights (through God’s Holy Spirit) into our place in His world and our task as ambassadors of the Gospel; the Good News of God.
As mentioned, this series is broken into a five weekly bible studies. Each study contains:
* A series of readings that would be useful to read in the week before the bible study.
* Bible study questions to complete as a group. It may be useful to answer these before your weekly bible study group.
* Some more in-depth questions that may be attempted but are certainly not essential. However, grappling with them will help you see the depth of God’s plan for our church and for you.
* A leaders’ guide to help understand the intent of the study. This is not essential, although bible study leaders will certainly find it a useful tool.
© By P.Craft for Corowa Baptist Church.
This document may be freely reprinted in part or full with acknowledgement of Corowa Baptist Church.
Study 1- Abraham’s Journey
Suggested Reading:
1. Genesis 11:27 – 13:18
2. Genesis 15:1 – 16:6
3. Genesis 17:1 – 8; 19 - 23
4. Genesis 18:1-15
5. Genesis 21:1 -20
6. Genesis 22:1-18
7. Hebrews 11:8 – 16; James 2:21
Bible Study Questions:
1. In no more than 10 dot points outline the major events in Abraham’s life.
2. God sent Abraham from Ur to Canaan as the father of a new nation. Read Genesis 11:31, Genesis 12:1-4, Genesis 12:10 and Genesis 15:1-8 and answer the following questions:
a. We are not really told why Abram and his family had to move from Ur into Canaan, especially as the people of Ur appear no less Godly than anyone else. Give your ideas why it was that God wanted to send Abram out from his own people like this.
b. Compare the verses Gen 11:31, Gen 15:7 – 9 and Acts 7:2, saying what is similar and different about the verses.
i. Explain how these verses might be reconciled when Genesis 31 says it was Terah who brought his family out of Ur while Abram (Terah’s son) moved from Haran to Canaan after God told him to move while the other verses suggest God spoke to Abraham before he left Ur. What, if any, insights might these verses give us about God’s character?
ii. Relate whether there was a problem with Abram needing assurance from God in 15:8. What effect would God’s response have had on Abram? When God calls us to act is it wrong if we need reassurance? Think about a time when this has been your experience.
iii. Outline what God promises Abram in the covenants recorded in Gen 12:1-4, Gen 15:4 and Gen 17:1-8. Consider how these promises were fulfilled in Jesus and how we are fit into these promises. (The hint is found in the counting of the stars that indicate how many offspring Abram will have). How does this encourage you?
3. If God is not acting quickly, we often think he is not acting at all. Thinking of Gen 12:1 – 3, Gen 17: 1 and Gen 21:1-5, outline how we should respond if we don’t see God fulfilling plans in our lives as we expect He should. Will God always act slowly?
4. Reviewing Gen 22, explain how Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son is similar to the way that God was willing to sacrifice His son. List the qualities did God require of Abraham. What are the qualities that you think God requires of us?
5. Reflect on the main lessons that you have learned as you read about the way that Abraham was sent by God.
Challenge Questions (optional)
1. When we read about the way that Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, we get a picture of what God was going to do with His own son; Jesus. Explain how the near sacrifice of Isaac is a picture of the cross. Outline why it is significant that God provided a ram to sacrifice instead of Isaac.
2. Detail what is significant about the events in the second half of Gen 12 where Abraham and Sarah went down to Egypt. As part of your answer think about how God directed Abraham to leave Haran while we are not told of any directions concerning Abraham going to Egypt. Does this teach us anything?
3. Look at the promises that God made in Genesis 12 and Genesis 15 that are often called the Abrahamic Covenant. Describe what God promises to do and what he expects in this covenant. Read 1 Peter 2:9 – 10 and Revelation 21:1 – 4. How is the Abrahamic Covenant being honoured today and how will it be honoured?
Leaders Notes:
A General Guide to Abraham:
Abraham lived quite an eventful and long life. Although it should be noted that there were often long gaps between the many events that punctuated Abraham’s life. These gaps are condensed in the biblical narrative which often causes people to miss just how patient Abraham had to be while he waited for God to keep His word. For example, it took 25 years for Isaac to be born after God promised Abraham and Sarah a son. There is a deep lesson for all of us in this.
Major events in Abraham’s life included: His move from Ur with his family and extended family; The covenant promise made by God; Arrival in the land of Canaan and his travels through the land; The famine and consequent trip to Egypt where he tried to deceive pharaoh about his wife; return to Canaan and the settling of Lot near Sodom while Abraham lived further West; Abraham’s rescue of Lot; The covenant being affirmed; The attempt of Abraham to speed up the coming of God’s promised by having a son with the slave girl Hagar – a sin that would have far reaching consequences for Israel; The visit of the angels; The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; The birth of Isaac and the testing of Abraham through the near sacrifice of Isaac.
When answering these questions we might consider the following things. There was no immediate reason that Abraham and his family should move. God can be found anywhere and at anytime. So why was God so adamant? Partly Abraham proved his faith by hearing God and doing what God called him to do. Also, an important part of the promise to Abraham was the idea of God’s people, living in God’s place under His rule and providing a blessing to the world. This Old Testament Kingdom that started with Abraham was a picture of what God’s real, heavenly kingdom will look like. So it was important to move God’s people to where God wanted to gather them. We know that when Abraham reached Canaan he called on the name of the Lord. But later on, when God talks to Abraham after rescuing Lot, Abraham seems to have some doubts about God’s promise. This is not surprising as it was taking God so long to produce the promised heir. God was not affronted by Abraham’s response but instead works to reassure him and so build up his faith.
Now it is not always the case that God will be slow in fulfilling His promises. Some things happen immediately, some take a while and some seem to take a lifetime. The problem is ours, not God’s with how quickly he keeps His vows (see 2 Peter 3:8-9).
Study 2- Joseph & Ester: Different Paths
Suggested Reading:
1. Genesis 37: 1-36
2. Genesis 39:1 – 42:38
3. Genesis 43:15
4. Genesis 44:14 – 45:7
5. Genesis 47:1 – 12
6. Esther 1:1 – 10:3
Bible Study Questions:
1. Read Genesis 37:1-8 and answer the following:
a. List the things that Joseph did that caused resentment between him and his brothers.
b. Why are these events important in the context of the story of Joseph?
c. State whether Joseph was being Godly in his actions.
2. Read Genesis 39:2 – 4, 6, 9, 21 – 23 and answer the following:
a. List the similarities between Joseph’s experience in Potiphar’s house and in the prison
b. Think about whether or not Joseph would have been happy in the circumstances that he found himself in. Describe how Joseph seems to have reacted to his circumstances. When you find yourself in unpleasant circumstances what is your response to the situation and how does it compare to Joseph’s attitude?
3. Read Genesis 40:8 – 12a. Outline what God was teaching Joseph through his experiences of being a slave in Potiphar’s house and being a prisoner. What does this teach us about the experiences we have throughout our lives?
4. Consider Genesis 37:9 – 10 and Genesis 45:7 – 8. Describe how Joseph’s attitude has changed from the beginning of the narrative to its end. Think about how long it took for God’s revelation to Joseph to be fulfilled; why do you think it took so long?
5. Read Esther 2:8 – 10 & 14. Describe the situation that Esther faced in as recorded in these passages. In these circumstances would it seem obvious to Esther that God was caring for her and her people?
6. Read Esther 4:10 – 17. Describe from these passages whether Esther felt in control of her situation. What was her response to her apparent powerlessness and what can we learn from this?
7. Read Psalm 20:7 – 8. Describe how the book of Esther illustrates the truth of these verses.
8. Reflect on two important lessons that these narratives teach us.
Challenge Questions (optional)
1. Early in the account of Joseph we read about two dreams that he had that were revelations from God (Genesis 37:5 – 11). Think about whether it always right to tell others about revelations that you have from God.
2. From the evidence provided in Genesis 37 and 41, approximately how many years must have elapsed between Joseph being sold and his identity being revealed to his brothers? Speculate on when Joseph realised that God had “sent” him to Egypt to save his family. During the years between being sold into slavery and meeting his brothers again, is it likely that Joseph would have realised that God was working His plan to make His revelation to Joseph come to pass and saving His chosen people? Will we always realise that we are being sent on a mission by God before it is almost over?
3. Considering the lives of both Joseph and Esther, read Romans 8:35 – 39 and 2 Corinthians 12:7 – 9. How do the lives of these biblical heroes illustrate the truths of these verses. Explain how it is possible for both truths to be true when we have been sent by God to do a task.
Leaders Notes:
A General Guide to Questions on Joseph and Esther:
As we read the story of Joseph it is striking how we see him grow and change. As a young man neither he nor his father showed very much wisdom. He deeply annoyed his brothers by “telling tales” about them to his father, which was made worse by the obvious fact that Joseph was their father’s favourite son. Then, very unwisely, Joseph revealed to his family the two dreams that he had that suggested he would end up ruling over them one day. This would have been especially provoking in a society where the eldest son was considered to be the next head of the family while Joseph was the baby brother. In the end the resent of his elder brothers exploded into real action and Joseph was sold off as a slave. So Joseph’s foolishness (unwise actions) provoked his brothers into a highly sinful response that led ultimately to Joseph (a” nobody” Jew) becoming one of the most powerful people in the world.
At Potiphar’s house, and in prison, Joseph was used by God. In both cases he served those in authority faithfully to the point where he trusted with overseeing the day to day running of Potiphar’s residence and the Prison. Obviously Joseph fulfilled his role well as it is recorded that Potiphar and the Chief Jailer were able to leave everything to him and simply enjoy a carefree life. Despite this, in both cases there were bitter disappointments for Joseph in his treatment at the hands of Potiphar’s wife and the cupbearer. In all these circumstances God was teaching Joseph reliance on Him, patience, wisdom, administration skills, the ability to interpret dreams and probably other things as well.
As we travel through the narrative we see Joseph change from a brash and foolish young man (who may have been both spoiled and arrogant as well) into a skilful and wise administrator in a powerful kingdom. In his youth he reported the wrong things his brothers did while at the end he shows love and complete forgiveness to his brothers. It is obvious that he learned to serve God humbly rather than boastfully parade what God showed him, like he did as a youth.
Esther is an unusual book because God is never mentioned in it. However, it is clear from the narrative that God was working through his plan and was active in saving His people. Once again the person he chose to act through was an unlikely hero. Esther was a young woman in a patriarchal society. Conscripted into the Imperial Harem she became a palace concubine. Although it was possible for a concubine to gain some influence in court, generally their position was fairly weak. For a young Jewish woman being forced into serving the needs of a foreign ruler as a concubine could hardly have seemed like a Godly activity or an act of Godly blessing. It is hard to imagine her feelings as she was selected, trained and then sent to the king. I n every circumstance Esther had to accept a position of weakness and a dependence on God to see her through.
Study 3- Isaiah & Jonah: Different Responses
Suggested Reading:
1. Isaiah 1:1 – 2:22
2. Isaiah 6:1 - 13
3. Isaiah 8:1 – 9:7
4. Isaiah 49:1 – 7;53:1 – 12; 66:22 - 24
5. Jonah 1:1 – 4:10
Bible Study Questions:
1. Read Isaiah 1:4, 7 – 13, 21 – 23. Describe the sort of society that Isaiah was living in at the time of his ministry. Consider how Isaiah’s society compares with ours’.
2. Read Isaiah Chapter 6.
a. Compare and contrast the description of God in verse 3 with Isaiah’s self assessment in verse 5.
b. Explain why Isaiah was so profoundly distressed meeting God; consider Exodus 33:20 & James 1:26 when answering this question.
c. Describe what happens after Isaiah’s confession and consider how this reflects the experience of all Christians.
d. At the end of the chapter Isaiah volunteers to act as God’s messenger and as a result he is sent out on an unpromising mission. How is it that his audience can hear but not understand and can have calloused hearts? If you knew God was sending you on such a difficult (hopeless?) task, how would you feel?
3. Isaiah is told that his message will fall on “deaf ears” as he tells of God’s coming judgement on His people. Yet he wrote such amazing passages as Isaiah 53 and 66:22-24. When were these passages fulfilled? What can we learn about our own mission as ambassadors for God from these passages in Isaiah?
4. Read Jonah 1:1 – 3. Explain why Jonah was sent to Nineveh and why he didn’t want to go. Have there been times when God has told you to do something or go somewhere and you didn’t want to do so? You may like to share with the group your experience. What did you learn from your situation?
5. Read Jonah’s prayer in chapter 2. Describe whether it is surprising that God would answer a prayer like this by saving Jonah? Consider the fact that Jonah was in active rebellion (sin) when he prayed. Describe the significance of verses 8 and 9.
6. Read Jonah 4:1 – 4.
a. Contrast the attitudes of God and Jonah.
b. Despite being a respected prophet, outline whether Jonah learned anything from his experiences. In answering this consider 2 kings 14:25.
7. Discuss how willing you are to be sent by God in ways you don’t want to serve.
Challenge Questions (optional)
1. In Isaiah 6 we read of the “conversion” and commissioning of Isaiah as a prophet of God. Describe how Isaiah’s experience is the same as all Christians whose lives have been genuinely transformed through an encounter with God. Discuss whether it is true to say that just as Isaiah was sent as God’s representative after his encounter, every Christian is sent as God’s representative.
2. Explain how it was possible for Holy God to forgive both Isaiah and Nineveh when all they did was confess that they were guilty of their crime?
3. Explain whether God’s sending us makes the task we face easy. If we face opposition and difficulty in our ministry or mission does it necessarily mean we should abandon our work? How can we discern when God is blessing us through hardship and when he is warning us?
4. Describe how much of Jonah’s response to God’s call was the result of pride. What evidence do you have for your answer? Evaluate how does our pride effect our responsive to and relationship with God.
Leaders Notes:
A General Guide to Questions on Isaiah:
One of the striking things about the book of Isaiah is its background setting. Isaiah spoke to a people that thought of themselves as “God’s Chosen People”. They had God’s Law handed down to them by Moses. The temple dominated their spiritual life and they felt that God would always love them and bless them. Despite all this, the first chapter of the book laments the fact that Judah was behaving in the same way as the people of Sodom, the same behaviour that brought God’s judgement on that city. Even though He set up the system of worship for Judah, God was sick of worship that did not have any sincerity. People worshipped God with the words but lived as though God had no relevance to them.
In one of the most memorable passages in the bible, Isaiah goes to the temple to meet God, and to his total amazement God is actually there! This encounter contrasts God’s absolutely moral holiness with Isaiah’s sinful moral state. Isaiah recognises this and confesses his sinfulness and instead of being judged, as unrepentant Judah would be, God forgives him. In response Isaiah volunteers to act as God’s messenger, taking a message that would be unpopular and ignored. How can this happen. Well imagine going to a university lecture on quantum mechanics. You could hear the individual words and understand what most of them meant, but the lecture would probably make no sense to you at all. You would be hearing and not understanding. In a sense, that is what the people of Judah felt like hearing Isaiah. The only difference is that the people should have been able to understand what Isaiah was saying.
Jonah was sent as a prophet to a traditional enemy of the Jewish nation. This partly explains Jonahs reluctance to accept God’s call. He would have been pleased to see Nineveh judged by God, rather than being warned and possibly saved from coming judgement. Consequently Jonah decided to run from God and His mission. Many people of this era believed that a nation’s god could only act inside that nation’s boundaries. It seems that Jonah may have adhered to this idea, hence his willingness to try and run away. God very quickly disproved that idea. It is significant that in Jonah’s prayer, he was able to talk about God’s grace and salvation, even though he was stuck in a fish.
There are obvious contrasts between Jonah and God in this narrative. God is not only the God of justice and judgement; He is also the universal God of grace, forgiveness and salvation. Jonah, on the other hand, was ungracious and unforgiving, even though he had experienced these aspects of God’s character directly.
Study 4- Jesus: God’s Mission
Suggested Reading:
1. Philippians 2:1 - 18
2. Matthew 16:13 – 17:13
3. Luke 4:1 - 30
4. John 4:1 – 5: 47
5. John 3:1 - 21
Bible Study Questions:
Jesus had a strong sense of being sent and of his mission on Earth. The language of mission permeates his language as recorded in the bible. Look at the passages and answer the questions thinking about how Jesus was sent into the world.
1. Read Matthew 16:13 – 28.
a. There are a variety of opinions expressed in this passage about who Jesus is. List some opinions that people today have about who Jesus is and try to explain why there is such a range of opinions.
b. From this passage explain what Jesus was sent to do while on Earth.
c. How does the rebuke of verse 23 show that Jesus understands that he was sent by God? How should we show a similar attitude in our lives?
2. Read Luke 4:1 – 21.
a. God through His spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to allow him to be tested by the devil. Describe why God would do this to His son and whether or not we are likely to face similar circumstances.
b. Describe what the devil was trying to do when he was tempting Jesus and outline how Jesus defended himself from the temptation.
3. Read John 4:32 – 38 and John 5:19 - 30.
a. In John 4 Jesus says that God sent him to “finish His work”. Describe
what this means. In what way does Jesus send us to finish his work?
b. In the passage in John 5, Jesus continually refers to the fact that he has been sent by the Father. Outline why God sent Jesus using the references in this passage. Reflect on how your answers apply to your own life.
4. Read John 3: 16 – 23. God sent his son into the world. Explain why He did using this passage. What does it mean that He did not send Jesus to condemn the world when we know he will return to judge the world? What does this mean to you?
Challenge Questions (optional)
1. There are always two sides to being sent on a job or mission. Someone has to do the sending or commissioning while someone has to willingly go and fulfil the mission. Reading the passage from Philippians 2, describe how Jesus completely fulfils the role of a ready and willing worker who is able to fulfil the mission he is sent on. Describe why it was necessary for Jesus to show humility and why it is necessary for us to show the same humility.
2. Read John 5:18 – 23. In it Jesus says that he only does what he sees the Father doing. Explain why this was absolutely necessary for Jesus to complete his mission. Think carefully about how our actions compare with Jesus’ in this case.
3. Explain how Jesus’ statement in John 5:30 apply to you. Consider how well you fulfil this statement and outline how we know moment by moment what we must do to seek God’s will.
Leaders Notes:
A General Guide to Questions on Jesus:
There are a very wide range of opinions about who Jesus is. From the absolutely false claim by Richard Dawkins that Jesus did not even exist (see J. Dickinson “Jesus, A Short Life “), through ideas that he was a simple itinerant teacher or perhaps a prophet, a philosopher or Jewish sect leader, there are many ideas circulating about who he was (is). Finally, of course, there is the truth that Jesus is the only son of God, sent to redeem the world from its indebtedness through sin. The wide range of opinions comes from the fact that a poor man from a Roman backwater has radically affected society and people. Secular historians note that people firmly believed that Jesus was a miracle worker and that they believed he rose from the dead. They don’t try to explain this, they merely accept that is what the historic record shows. So how do we explain this Jesus phenomena? If people can’t accept his claims then they have to explain him away in some other way.
From the passages we can see that Jesus saw his mission was to fulfil God’s will for him, and that involved his dying on a cross as a substitutionary, redeeming sacrifice. He was sent with this purpose in mind and anything that distracted him from it needed to be dealt with. One of the interesting times when Jesus was confronted with a challenge to abandon his mission was when the spirit sent him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. It is obvious from the passage that God led Jesus into this period of tempting. Do we know why, not really! Except that it shows Jesus faithfulness, strength, submission and determination to “fulfil all righteousness”; as he said was his aim when he was baptised.
In this case Jesus was being tempted to take the easy way out. Basically the devil was suggesting to Jesus that rather than dying on the cross that he could “cop out” and still “have it all”. All that Jesus had to do was listen to the devil and follow whatever he suggested. Jesus saw through this deception and countered all the devil’s moved with God’s word.
Part of Jesus mission was to finish God’s work. When sin corrupted creation, God immediately announced His intention to fix the problem. In Genesis 3 there is a reference to a human overcoming the devil and his work. Later God clearly indicated His intention to set up His people, in His place under His rule in Genesis 12. God always had a plan of saving humanity from its rebellion. This was the work that Jesus has to finish. He was the one who was going to crush the serpents head and pay the price for rebellion.
Study 5- Disciples: Sent by Jesus
Suggested Reading:
1. Mark 6:6 – 13, Luke 9:1 - 9
2. Luke 22
3. Luke 10:1 - 24
4. John 17
5. Acts 1
Bible Study Questions:
1. Read Mark 6:6 – 13 and Luke 9: 1 – 9 and answer these questions:
a. In these accounts of a temporary mission by the twelve disciples, some very necessary things occurred. List what was necessary before the disciples could begin their mission and explain why they were necessary.
b. Discuss why the disciples were sent out in pairs on this mission and why they were told not to take anything with them.
c. Describe what the purpose of this mission was. Is this the same mission that we are called to?
d. Discuss whether the disciples should have expected success in everything they did on their missionary trip. What was “success” for them and what is success for us?
2. Read Luke 10: 1 – 24.
a. Compare this mission with the mission of the twelve disciples we read about in Luke 9 and Mark 6.
b. Describe what the returning disciples were excited about and how Jesus responded to their excitement. Why did Jesus tell them to rejoice about their names being in the book of life? How does this reflect our aims for our work?
3. Read John 17:17 -18. In this passage Jesus sends out his disciples in the same way that he was sent out by his Father. Describe what Jesus asks for his disciples in order that they can be sent out. What will be the result of their work?
4. Read Acts 1:8, the passage sometimes called the great commission. State what was necessary before the disciples could begin their mission work. State what is the essence of the mission they were sent on.
5. Discuss whether we have the same mission as the missions that Jesus sent his disciples on.
Challenge Questions (optional)
1. In Luke 10 Jesus tells the people he is sending out on a mission that they are sent out as “lambs amongst wolves”. Interpret what Jesus meant by this phrase. In what ways does it apply to us today?
2. In John 17 Jesus prayers about his disciples being sent in the same way that Jesus had been sent by the Father. Describe what this means and how it helps us understand what the disciples were being sent to do.
3. In the great commission in Acts where were the disciples supposed to go? When we think about mission we often think either locally (eg Corowa) or globally (eg missions to Russia). Describe whether this perspective matches the perspective of the great commission.
Leaders Notes:
A General Guide to Questions on the Sending out of the Disciples
In the readings for this study we see how Jesus sent various groups of disciples out on missionary service for him. We have to remember that despite the fact that when we talk about disciples we are normally only referring to an “inner circle” of twelve men, we do know that large crowds of disciples followed Jesus. Some of these disciples were closer to Jesus while others were just there to make up the numbers. So we find that Jesus sent out groups of followers whom he has chosen, although we are not told why in these texts.
Before any disciple could go on such a missionary journey there were a few things that were necessary. Firstly the people involved had to be real followers of Jesus (make what you will of the fact that Judas Iscariot was probably part of both groups). Secondly, they had to be called by Jesus to go out and represent him. It was important that they know what Jesus’ message was and they had to be willing to go.
Often we are told that the disciples were sent out in pairs so that they would not be left to face the mission work alone. It meant that they could look after and support each other in their work. As it says in the Old Testament it is better when two people work together because if one stumbles the other can help him up. However, there is probably another important reason and that has to do with Jewish culture. The disciples were to be witnesses to Jesus in what they did and what they said. However, Jews believed that it took two or three witnesses to establish the truth of a matter. By having two disciples they could confirm each other’s witness and so make it trustworthy in the eyes of the hearers. So basically their mission was to be a witness to Jesus; telling and showing the towns that they went to that everyone is a sinner and needs to repent and follow Jesus. They also showed God’s compassion toward His people. All of the missionary trips in this section shared a common purpose and pattern.
In praying for his disciples in Chapter 17 of John, Jesus says some deeply interesting things. One of the interesting things he asks for them, before stating that they were being sent out just as Jesus had been, is that they be sanctified in God’s truth. Now to sanctify is to make pure or holy. So Jesus is asking that his disciple become more Christlike through the truth of the Gospel. That means that they will think, act and talk in the way that Jesus did so that people could be drawn to God and into His kingdom.
With the “Great Commission” we are told that before the disciples can commence their work they must wait. That is essentially so that God can anoint them with His spirit so that they will be ready for the work they have been given.
Study 5- The Sent Church
Suggested Reading:
1. Philippians 1:1 - 22
2. Philippians 3:1 - 21
3. 2 Timothy 3:15 – 4:8
4. Matthew 5:1 - 14
5. Romans 10:8 - 15
Bible Study Questions:
1. Read Philippians 1:1 – 11 and answer the following:
a. Paul commends the Philippians church. Describe the things that they are praised for and explain why they are being praised for these things.
b. Paul mentions that this church is working in partnership for the gospel. Outline what churches can do to be partners in the gospel. How does being a partner relate to our being sent into the world?
2. Look at Philippians 3:13 – 21 and consider the following questions:
a. We are told to be imitators of Paul. Describe what this means and how we are to imitate him.
b. Outline what causes a deep emotional response from Paul in this passage. What does it mean by “enemies of the cross ... whose god is their belly”? Describe in detail what our response to these enemies of the cross should be.
3. Read Timothy 3:15 – 4:5 and answer the following:
a. According to this passage, what is one of the main tools that God provides to the church to enable us to serve him? Describe how we are to effectively serve God in world that “will not listen”
4. Read Matthew 5:13 – 16. Thinking about what salt does and how we use
light, describe what it means for us and for the church to be salt and light. Referring to Matthew 5:1 – 12 describe how we and consequently the church are to be salt and light to our community.
5. Read Romans 10:8 – 16. State what is necessary for salvation. Describe what is necessary for people to come to the point of confession and belief. Describe what the church’s role is in this process and how it relates to us being sent by God.
Challenge Questions (optional)
1. The Old Testament law outlines how Israel was to live as a holy nation devoted to God. Their national life was to be a witness to the rest of the Earth about the goodness of God. In the famous “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5 – 8, Jesus re-interprets God’s law for the new Israel, the church of Christ. Survey this section of the bible and describe how Jesus interprets the mission of His church to the world.
2. Read the parable in Luke 14:15 – 24. In the parable the ruler tells his servants to compel outsiders to come to the feast. How does this command relate to us and the church? How can we compel people to enter into the feast; the Kingdom of God?
Leaders Notes:
A General Guide to Questions on the Church of God
When Paul prays for the Philippian Church he is thankful for a number of things. Primarily, however, he is thankful for their partnership in the work of the gospel. By this Paul is mainly referring to their financial and prayer support of his work in church planting throughout the Eastern Roman Empire. There are several reasons why their partnership was important. By supporting Paul the Philippian Church was using the resources that God had given them to further his kingdom. It showed good stewardship and a deep concern for the spread of the gospel. God had transformed His people to share His concerns; think Romans 12:1 – 3. It also shows a good understanding of the way that God gifts people in many and various ways to serve the church. Some are teachers and preachers while others offer hospitality. So Paul was appointed to plant churches and others were provided to support him. This passage demonstrates, amongst other things, that part of the role of the church is to support extended mission work across the region and indeed the world!
The second passage in Philippians is a complex passage that covers many themes. It is part of discussion comparing faith in Christ with justification through the Old Testament Law. Essentially Paul claims that he is completely qualified to know which is superior, which is the way to find peace and acceptance with God. Paul tells us plainly that nothing compares to knowing Jesus and serving him. Indeed Paul reflects how he is straining and striving like an athlete to finish his life faithfully serving Jesus. In this passage he considers those who don’t know Jesus, those who are enemies of the cross. That is what the enemies of the cross are, people who do not know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Thinking about their plight moves Paul to tears, an example we would do well to follow. He talks about how people have their stomach as their god. What this means is that they are governed largely by physical need. Food, drink and comfort dominate their actions and their lives. Does this seem to reflect our own society?
When Paul wrote to Timothy he outlines the importance of God’s word to Timothy’s work for God. Timothy is told how God’s word is useful in teaching, preaching, correcting and explaining. To use the Word effectively means that we have to know what it says and how God intends for us to use it. That takes time and effort. Being familiar with His word means we are equipped to answer people who have questions about God or who want to challenge our faith.
Jesus plainly tells us that we are not to be hidden away. Individually and as a church we are to be salt and light to our society. This passage is often preached on and most people have a reasonable understanding of what it means for us. Salt is a preservative while light reveals what is around in the dark. So we help keep our society Godly and show our society what is good and what is dangerous. We are the way that God “talks” to our society about what it should be like.
In our final reading we see that salvation comes through confessing with our lips that Jesus is Lord and thoroughly believing it with our hearts. But Paul makes the point that people cannot believe unless they are presented with the gospel of Christ. And that, says Paul, is the responsibility of the church.
On a Mission From God Jan 2010
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