MISSION FOCUS Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. NOTE FOR LEADERS This document is a series discussion guide, and thus will eventually be comprised of three parts. With each week, another section will be added. This allows groups to go back and reflect on the first few weeks material instead of skipping it. It is intended to be used as a discussion guide, rather than a curriculum. As small group leaders, please feel free to lead through the topic as most appropriate for your group. HOUSEKEEPING Things going at the moment: Upcoming Prayer and Response Nights: o Mission: Wednesday 7 June 7:00pm Tri-Church Summit Weekend: No Sunday worship service this week. Upcoming Members Meetings: Sunday 11 June & 18 June.
A NEW SEASON Our genuine and prayerful hope is that this series would be a powerful time of refocussing on and recommitting to a central vision as a church. Because we have so many new faces in our family, we feel we need to re-lay the foundations and develop this new shared commitment and vision. We picture this as being a Bible-open, Elder-lead yet collaborative process, which is hugely interactive and cooperative, and which encourages the whole church to participate through using and developing their individual gifts and passions. We hope to cultivate this with an emphasis on: praying for one another; praying and dreaming for the future of EBC together; confessing our own weakness, fear and sin; and worshipping and giving thanks to God We have developed the basic direction and structure which has been drawn from the unmissable biblical testimony for what the church is. The first conviction is that we are Gospel-Centred: Jesus Changes Lives. The three themes that hang from this first one are: Discipleship: Life with Jesus Community: Life with Others Discipleship: Life with Jesus Gospel- Centred: Mission: Life with Purpose You will have noticed the emphasis on response after the sermons, with a number of response spaces around our building. These are to help our individual reflection on personal application and Community: Life with Others Jesus Changes Lives Mission: Life with Purpose response to God. It will help us consider questions like: What does this look like for me? What does it look like for me to commit to this part of God s plan at Enoggera? What opportunities do we have here together? What is God leading us into? We will also be asking you to share testimonies in our worship services of what this means for you through the process. Finally, we are also be holding extra evening prayer and worship sessions, to provide another space to pray for one another, and to dream, pray and brainstorm for the future together. We are incredibly excited for this new season and eager to see what God is going to do in our midst. Please consider what it might look like for you to join in listening to God s voice as part of our church body, and committing to our future together.
#1 MULTIPLICATION REFLECT This is a time to generate some discussion by reflecting on the ideas in this week s message. Some ideas include: Ask the group to debrief for those who have missed the sermons on Sunday What stood out? Do you have any questions? Were there any special moments of clarity where God spoke to you clearly? DISCUSSION This week we started our last Gospel Centred theme: Mission. Kyllum began with a summary of the history of salvation and the spread of the gospel, from the Creation account in Genesis, through the growth of the early church as recorded in Acts, and then a historical account of the growth of the Church around the globe until a congregation was planted at Enoggera nearly 150 years ago. Let s continue with some focused discussion around the big ideas of this week s topic. Have you ever reflected on how your involvement in the Church is part of a grand historical sweep? What impact does this realisation have on you? DIG INTO THE WORD Kyllum then brought us the powerful and personal challenge found in the great commission (Matt 28:18-20). 18 And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in [b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. The commission was broken down into four components. INDICATIVE: WHAT IS TRUE? 18 And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. This is what is true. I am God. As God I have all power, I have all authority. I do what I will and my will is for you. We often talk about what we have been told to do (the Great Commission), but it is important to start by reflecting on who has commissioned us.
Reflection: Did being reminded of the authority of God in Jesus words change how you viewed the discussion about the Great Commission? How do you draw upon the fact that God has all authority over, and a will for, your life? Are there any changes you could make to how you respond to these facts, and what would this look like in your day to day life? IMPERATIVE: WHAT ARE WE TO DO, IN LIGHT OF WHAT IS TRUE? 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, Go better understood as as you are going, literally means as you go about your ordinary everyday life. So what we are told is imperative is not to go, we are already doing that in everyday life. Rather, we are commissioned to make disciples. As Kyllum emphasised, this is not something that one super spiritual, super knowledgeable, super equipped pastor does, this is what we all do. WE ALL GO. AND WE GO TOGETHER!!! You see mission is not something we do. Missionary is something we are. Because we are sent ones of God, we live as such. And we are sent to all nations. Every interaction we have is an opportunity to make a disciple. Reflection: How have you previously understood the Great Commission? Is the emphasis on making disciples, rather than the going, familiar or does this bring new understanding to you? How does this understanding confirm or change your attitude to being on mission for God? INSTRUCTION: HOW TO DO WHAT WE ARE TO DO, IN LIGHT OF WHAT IS TRUE baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. Notice that baptism and teaching go hand in hand here. The goal is not to just dunk people in water and say, sweet you re good to go. Real discipleship involves a public declaration of faith (baptism), and an understanding (teaching/learning) and outworking (observing) of Jesus teachings the truth of the Gospel. Reflection: Real discipling involves relationship. Can you see how the family of God works as a community to draw others into relationship with Jesus? And then within that family new disciples are taught and express their faith? How does this understanding impact those who claim to have a faith but are not part of a faith community? Can you see how all members of the family of God are not only called, but are able to contribute to the mission of making new disciples? Do you have a confidence in this calling, or do you have doubts about your ability in this regard? How might your doubts be challenged by a proper understanding of this passage? Can you think of someone who you have been reluctant to engage with regarding the gospel? How might you resolve to take steps to be more intentional in sharing your faith with them?
INSURANCE: HOW WHAT WE ARE TO DO WILL BE DONE REGARDLESS And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Many individuals and many churches do not get on the missional journey of making disciples and planting churches because they are afraid they can t do it. THEY CAN T That s why the command is sandwiched between Jesus declaring his own power and his own presence. God can and God will and he has always done it through ordinary people who place their faith in him. In other words you GROW as you GO!!! It s as you get on the missional journey of going that God does his best work of growing. Reflection: Are you prepared to engage with the challenge of trusting God as you obey his command to make disciples, as you go? Do you understand the potential impact your obedience in this regard can have for the eternal destination of any or many individuals to whom you would be bold enough to declare the Gospel? What individuals or opportunities can you pray for right now in this regard? What doubts, insecurities, and hesitations do you have that you can hand over to God in prayer? CONCLUSION: In parting, Kyllum challenged us with: Enoggera Baptist Part of your mission, your mandate, your purpose, given to you by God before you even came into existence is to plant more churches so that the gospel would be spread and disciples made. You need to make more disciples, you need to equip more leaders, you need to install more elders and you need to send more planters. WHY? Because more people need Jesus. More people in our culture do not know the truth about the true and living God. We need to saturate our city, our state our nation with the gospel. AND THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL IS MORE THAN JESUS DOING SOMETHING FOR US!!! HE HAS PROMISED TO DO SOMETHING IN US AND THROUGH US. AS WE GO HE SAVES. AS WE GO, HE BRINGS FORGIVENESS, RECONCILIATION. AS WE GO, HE RESTORES, HE TRANSFORMS, HE HEALS. AS WE GO HIS POWER AND HIS PRESENCE DO WHAT ONLY HE CAN DO. PRAY Pray through the three areas we have set up in our church auditorium. Redemption: Pray repentance as a group seek forgiveness where we have not reflected the love of God well to the world in our love for one another. Thank Jesus for his provision for our failures in his grace. Needs: Pray for the needs of each other. Thank Jesus for all that he has done in each other s lives recently. Pray for the resources to live our this distinctive gospel community well for his glory. Hope: Pray for a renewed vision of Him and His gospel at the centre of our lives and our community. Pray for the future of our church in grasping these things.
#2 THE MISSIONAL LIFE REFLECT This is a time to generate some discussion by reflecting on the ideas in this week s message. Some ideas include: Ask the group to debrief for those who have missed the sermons on Sunday What stood out? Do you have any questions? Were there any special moments of clarity where God spoke to you clearly? DISCUSSION Let s continue with some focused discussion around the big ideas of this week s topic. What difference do you think having a sense of purpose has in a human life? DIG INTO THE WORD RECAP! THE BIG PICTURE Before getting into this week s topic on the missional life, let s cast our minds back to what we have said already earlier in the series. God has a mission: We begin with the great truth that God has a grand purpose at work in the universe. He has been moving throughout history, even before history began, putting into motion the great plan of redemption. His love moves Him to seek and to save the lost. Hear this: God has a mission! God has invited us in on his mission: The profound privilege that becomes true for the Christian is that God invites us to join Him in what He is doing in this world! We are invited to join the work of redemption in this world. For the believer, every day is go-to-work-with-dad day. God has equipped us for that mission: Finally, there is a problem with this plan. That is, us. You and I. We make such imperfect ambassadors for Christ. God however, has a plan to deal with our great problem. He gives us the great answer. God gives us the promise of his very presence through his Holy Spirit, empowering us for all that he has called us to! SHARE: How does this change how we see our day to day lives?
THE COME AND SEE LIFE When someone first meets Jesus and realises who he truly is, there is a natural impulse to want to share that discovery. John 1:35-50 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, Behold, the Lamb of God! 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, What are you seeking? And they said to him, Rabbi (which means Teacher), where are you staying? 39 He said to them, Come and you will see. So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, We have found the Messiah (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas (which means Peter). 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, Follow me. 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46 Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit! 48 Nathanael said to him, How do you know me? Jesus answered him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. 49 Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! 50 Jesus answered him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these. 51 And he said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. ANALYZE: What is it exactly about Jesus that drove them to share? What should we make of this? (Leaders note: John the Baptist, Andrew and Phillip all testify specifically that Jesus is the saviour: whether through calling him the Lamb of God, the Messiah or Christ, or the one promised in the Scriptures.) FOUR MARKS OF THE COME AND SEE LIFE L.E.G.S. Walk the Walk These four marks describe some of the characteristics and commitments of a life lived with purpose. The first two are about relationship, and the second two are about gospel living. Consider each one and share your thoughts.
Listen Being ready not just to speak, but to hear. If we are only concerned with what we are about to say instead of striving to truly understand who we are speaking to, we will miss out on great opportunities for the gospel. Eat Food is about relationship and the chief opportunity we have in life to connect. If we aren t eating with people who need to know about Jesus, chances are we don t have much of a deep relationship with them. Give Living out our faith before the world is a powerful thing. When we treat our money, time and resources as an opportunity to bless, we are living our gospel values. Serve Much like give, the call to serve is one to follow the footsteps of Jesus and live the selfsacrificial life. I know of one church/group that commit to these marks weekly, in other words, they commit as a community to eat with people 3 times a week, and give/serve in some way 3 times a week. Then at small group each week, they report back and keep each other accountable and encouraged! PRAY SHARE: Which of these practical marks do you think your life is missing? SHARE: How can we support one another better in this? DREAM: What would it look like if everyone in our church lived lives committed to being on mission? What would change? SHARE: How does the gospel itself overcome our objections to sharing it? How does it address our fears and feelings of inadequacy? LOOKING FORWARD: What does it look like for us to commit to this part of God s plan at Enoggera? What is God leading us into? Pray through the three areas we have set up in our church auditorium. Redemption: Pray repentance as a group seek forgiveness where we have not reflected the love of God well to the world in our love for one another. Thank Jesus for his provision for our failures in his grace. Needs: Pray for the needs of each other. Thank Jesus for all that he has done in each other s lives recently. Pray for the resources to live out the call to mission. Hope: Pray for a renewed vision of Him and His gospel at the centre of our lives. Pray for the future of our church in grasping this
HELPFUL NOTES (FROM ESV STUDY BIBLE) John 1:19 2:11 John the Baptist s Witness and the First Week of Jesus Ministry. This introductory section of John s Gospel narrates the course of the first week of Jesus ministry. He is hailed by John the Baptist as God s lamb (1:29, 36), is followed by his first disciples (1:37 51), and performs his first sign turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana (2:1 11). John 1:29 Cf. v. 36. Jesus, by his sacrifice, fulfills the symbolism of the Passover lamb and other OT sacrifices (Lev. 1:1 5:19; 1 Cor. 5:7; Eph. 5:2; Heb. 10:1 14). Deliverance through the blood of a lamb prefigured the coming of Jesus as the Lamb of God to obtain final salvation for God s people through his death, which in turn redeemed them from death, sin, and Satan (Col. 1:13 14; Heb. 2:14 15). See also Isa. 53:7 and other OT passages about sacrifices for sins (Gen. 22:8; Lev. 14:25; 16:15 22). This lamb imagery will later culminate in John s vision of Jesus as the apocalyptic warrior Lamb who will bring judgment and universal victory (Rev. 5:6 13; 7:17; 21:22 23; 22:1 3). Takes away the sin of the world refers to Jesus sacrificial, substitutionary death and his appeasement of the divine wrath by way of atonement for sin (his propitiation; cf. Rom. 3:25; Heb. 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 4:10). John 1:36 Lamb of God. See note on v. 29. John 1:40 One of the two was Andrew. The name of the other disciple is not stated. Most likely, he was John the son of Zebedee. John 1:41 The terms Messiah (Hb.) and Christ (Gk.) both mean anointed (usually by God). In the NT and early Judaism, Messiah is a summary term that gathers up many strands of OT expectations about a coming anointed one who would lead and teach and save God s people, especially the great King and Savior in the line of David whom the OT promised (see, e.g., 2 Sam. 7:5 16; Ps. 110:1 4; Isa. 9:6 7). John 1:42 Cephas is an Aramaic word meaning rock (cf. Matt. 16:16 18; cf. also note on John 1:38). In Bible times, God frequently changed people s names to indicate their special calling, as was the case with Abram (Abraham) and Jacob (Israel); see Gen. 17:5; 32:28. John 1:45 Nathanael is also mentioned in 21:2. Nathanael may be the personal name of Bartholomew (Bar-Tholomaios, son of Tholomaios ), who is linked with Philip in all three Synoptic lists of apostles (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14). The Law and the prophets commonly referred to the Jewish Scriptures (i.e., the OT) in their entirety (e.g., Matt. 5:17; 7:12). John 1:46 Nazareth. Not mentioned in the OT, Nazareth was a small town of no more than 2,000 people in Jesus day. John 1:48 I saw you. Jesus here displays supernatural knowledge, thus identifying himself as the Messiah. John 1:49 Son of God designates Jesus as the Messiah predicted in the OT (2 Sam. 7:14; Ps. 2:7). King of Israel likewise is an OT designation for the Messiah (e.g., Zeph. 3:15). The two terms are also found side by side in Matt. 27:42 43.
John 1:51 Truly, truly, I say to you is a solemn affirmation stressing the authoritative nature and importance of Jesus pronouncements. The expression is found 25 times in this Gospel. The two references to you here are plural. See heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending recalls the story of Jacob in Genesis 28 (see esp. v. 12). Jesus will be a greater way of access to God than the heavenly ladder on which angels travelled between God and Jacob (Gen. 28:12; cf. Heb. 10:19 20), and wherever Jesus is, that place will become the New Bethel where God is revealed. Jesus is not merely a son of man (an ordinary male human being), but he repeatedly (over 80 times in the Gospels) calls himself the Son of Man, suggesting the greatest, most notable son of man of all time. The Son of Man is thus a messianic title that refers back to the mysterious, human-divine figure of one like a son of man in Dan. 7:13 14, one who would be given rule over all the nations of the earth forever (cf. Matt. 26:64). The Son of Man will be lifted up by being crucified, will provide divine revelation (6:27), and will act with end-time authority (5:27; 9:39).