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One to Another in Christ: Week 6, ♥ A “Good Sam” Fall Focus 2013 — October 20
Theme
When Jesus sends us out these two things are true; there are important things for us to learn and there are lives that we are sent to touch in Jesus’ name. Jesus has a strategy and method in his approach to reaching the towns and villages that are along his way. What strategies and methods might we learn from Jesus for our ministry at Good Sam? How can we better equip ourselves to be sent out by Jesus for the sake of the Gospel?
Prayer
Oh Lord, You have called us to be yours and established us in community and faith. You also send us out to share the joy and gifts that you give in – the peace of your presence. Help us to always carry with us your abiding presence as a gift to others.
Lesson
Luke 9:1-6 Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
Luke 10:1-17 Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two
Bible Study
1) What are the disciples of Jesus to take with them and what not to take with them? Why?
how might this change their experience out there in the world?
2) Why do you think Jesus sent his followers out two by two? What wisdom is there in Jesus sending his followers out two by two?
3) Why does he send them ahead of him to the towns he intends to pass through?
Why go ahead to where Jesus is going? Why does Jesus not just go and show his disciples how to do it?
4) What is the basic message they are to take with them?
5) How would you describe Jesus vision for how to be with those in the towns to which they are sent?
6) Why send out the 12 Disciples first and then the seventy others?
7) What can we learn from this teaching activity of Jesus with his disciples about how to better do our work as a congregation?
8) Where is Good Sam, set and ready for going out together to be with (live with) our neighbors?
9) Where is Jesus sending us out ahead of where he is going?
10) Where in our community life are we almost ready or have potential to come together in order to go out?
11) What lessons do you imagine are out there for us to learn?
12) What lives do you think Jesus is hoping to send us out to touch?
Sermon from Good Sam from October 20, 2013
[wpvideo 0HgXljp5]
Objectives
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See ourselves as ones whom Jesus is sending out ahead of where he is going.
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Looking together at the ministry of Good Sam in light of Jesus’ sending us out.
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Glean some of Jesus’ wisdom about going out into the world and applying it to how we do ministry at Good Sam.
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Think about what resources Jesus would have us take (or not take) with us out into the world and what partnerships would Jesus have build as we go out into the world around us.
Action Step
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Take someone with you and go to a community gathering spot (bus stop, restaurant, concert, etc.) and seek to be a blessing and bring the peace of Jesus. Be open to praying with others and discover how people respond to this activity of Jesus through you. Share with each other and someone else what you discovered.
Devotion
“Is there anything about which we could be in prayer for you today?” We asked, standing on their front door step. Part of me was hoping we wouldn’t have the door slammed in our faces. Part of me hoped they would hear the open, honest interest in our question. We had no other agenda, but to be a blessing.
It was a middle aged woman who answered the door. She seemed a bit curious, perhaps even a bit concerned about who we were – knocking at her door. We told her we were from the new church staring in the neighborhood and simply want to know if we could pray with her about anything. Her lips trembled a bit, her eyes slightly watered and she said, “I can’t believe it. I just heard this morning from my doctor the results of my CAT scan. There is a tumor in my brain…. no one has ever come to my door asking simply to pray with me. Yes, we could pray!”
I wondered if we had simply stumbles upon her or if we were indeed send by God to her door. I think she was beginning to hope that perhaps God did care about what was happening to her and that we were the beginning sign that God was in this experience. I myself hoped that this was true. And so we prayed. We also invited her to worship if we could be any further blessing to her.
I guess I hope to better learn how to see myself as a vessel through which God might work, as it is pleasing to God. Since that day, it is so much more a joy to think about how I might be open to be a blessing to strangers who pass before me. I do have to learn to much more quickly say, “can we pray for you about anything?”
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