Mission Here and There

May-June 2024

Those who study carefully the storyline of God’s activity as communicated in the bible often reach a conclusion expressed something like this: ‘The church does not have a mission – God’s mission has a church.’  Whilst this makes sense to most modern missiologists, most Christians aren’t missiologists!  Many ‘regular’ churchgoers still view mission as one function or an activity of local churches rather than as the purpose of the church’s very being.  And this activity is frequently understood as something which takes place ‘over there’, distinct from most of what we do ‘over here’ in daily church-life. 

However, the bible teaches us that our entire present Christian existence is missionary, and the church is missionary in its very nature.  All of life has been reconfigured for us as people through whom God is at work in his mission.  This involves us at all times and in all places in which we live, with a vision that includes allGod has made.  Failing to live out this commission would be failing to exist as Christians and as a church. 

In this learning series we will listen, discuss, and act to be people engaged together, partnering with the living God who is in mission ‘here and there’.  This renewed life is relevant and achievable for every one of us whatever our circumstances.  We know this because it is the call of God to us, which he enables us to fulfill by his Spirit’s presence in us.  So in such faith as faithfulness, we will be inspired by one another, provoked to try new ways to live in mission.  We will be given opportunities to invest some of the resources God has given us in his kingdom mission locally and globally.  All of us are invited to take concrete practical actions, engaging in partnership in this, our shared life ‘here and there’.

Life Group Discussion Starters

  • 1.    Read Acts 1:1-9 and 2:1-41.  What do you think Luke is highlighting for his readers?

    2.    When talking with others about Jesus (when they don’t as yet follow him)

    a.      what do you find hard?

    b.      what (if anything) has helped make it easier?

    c.      what mistakes do you think we should avoid?

    d.      what should be our aim and expectation?

    3.    How do you feel about speaking to others about Jesus, and speaking about your own faith in him? 

    4.    Read 1 Peter 3:15-16.  What might you do to help yourself to keep becoming more comfortable and proficient in this?

    1. Read Matthew 10:16-33.  What stands out to you in this passage?

    2. (This question is partly for fun, but serious too!) If you were to be persecuted for following Jesus, rate from 1-5, in your opinion, the most ‘OK’ (1) to the worst (5) form of suffering:
      - Rejected by family/friends or knowing they are ‘judging’ you all the time
      - Put in prison for 5-10 years with regular physical torture unless you deny your faith
      - Death sentence in a month
      - Loss of your job (which you really like)
      - Be on guard/secretive all the time about your faith and meeting with other believers (if they exist) knowing that you could be reported or arrested anytime

    Briefly share your ratings with your group.

    1.  Share some examples of how you (or other Christians) in Sydney/Australia may feel like you are a “sheep among wolves” when it comes to being a follower of Jesus.  These can be personal experiences, stories you’ve heard from friends, or potential situations.

    2. Thinking of other Christians or missionaries who live and serve in persecuted countries, how can you and/or GBC be supporting and learning from them?

    3. If God were to call you to serve Him in a setting or country that you know you would be persecuted for believing in Jesus and sharing your faith with others, how would you feel? What sorts of things might you have to wrestle with, think through and plan wisely to help you to obey that calling?

    Your response to this question is quite likely what missionaries have to wrestle with prior to going out to the mission field (and in an ongoing way).  Can you see why we really need to pray for them? Spend some time in your group to pray for them but also for each other as we all need faith to follow and obey Jesus in our different circumstances.

  •  1.    Read 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (you might compare 1 Thess 4:9-12; 5:12-15; 2 Thess 1:11; 2:16-17; 3:6-13).  How does Paul connect the call to relationship with God to how we live daily life in all its tasks?

    2. Can you identify in yourself ways you separate your faith from daily work (paid and unpaid)? What are the consequences of this? 

    3. What did you notice in Steph's talk about how she responds to needs in the world as part of God's mission here and there?

    4. What things does she hope will result from her actions? How is this instructive as an approach to mission?

    5. How can you become more outward looking in life as you follow Jesus?

    6. How might we in our church community help each other live out our vocation in all its aspects as integral mission?

  • 1.      Read Matthew 4:17–23.  What do you see in this passage about Jesus’ mission, him calling people to himself, and sending them in his mission?

    2.      How can you be active by using your time, skills and opportunities in mending now?

    3.      How can you working alongside others in fishing now, and where might you do it?

    4.      How might the call to be a mender shape the choices you make about your future?

    5.      What questions, challenges, or obstacles do you have in responding to Jesus’ call to follow him in mission?

    6.      In what ways can we support, encourage, or participate with one another in our particular occupations to work as co-menders?

  • 1.    Read Is 1:17 and Matt 25:37-40.  What stands out to you about God, our world, and mission, in these passages?

    2.    Why is justice, with a particular focus on the poor, at the heart of God’s missional activity?

    3.    What might a church active in such mission look like in our context, and how might we need to change for this to become reality?

    4.    How might you focus your own discipleship on doing justice and caring for the poor in your own daily life?

    5.    What would help resource you (and us) to better partner with others in prayer, acting, and giving in mission?  What practical steps can you take in this direction now?

    6.    What insights, challenges, or encouragements have impacted you from this series on Mission: here and there?

More reading materials

For additional reading in relation to this series

Skylands 5x5x5 Prayer ↓
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Ephesians: Crafting a Unified Faith
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Shaping Our Way