Joining Jesus on His Mission - 1

 

Adult Bible Class

September 21, 2025

How’s Jesus Messing With You?

Around your tables, take a moment to tell people how Jesus is messing with you. Finke says that the idea behind this question is to think about, “How’s Jesus been trying to get your attention lately? What’s he been showing you? What’s he been stirring in you? How has he made you uncomfortable with your status quo?” – p. 20

Three challenges in this exercise:

-        Identifying something.

-        Being brief – there are a bunch of others who need to share.

-        Listening

What is the idea that underpins this question, “How’s Jesus messing with you?”

 

Why is that idea important for mission?

 

John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” How might this passage help us think about mission work?

 

What is Jesus up to?

 

In 2014, Finke wrote, “Something is coming to a close and something new is coming upon us. And Jesus wants us to pay attention. … Because he intends for us to join him.” – p. 21

The U.S. has shifted from a Christian culture to post-Christian to pre-Christian. In effect, this makes the U.S. one of the largest mission fields in the world.

-        What is the downside of this shift?

-        What is the upside?

Who Is My Neighbor?

“We may not know the people yet or know them well, but for a variety of reasons these people are regularly within our vicinity.” – Finke, p. 27

“Jesus is inviting me to join him on his mission. He does not give me a mission to do for him. Jesus is on a mission and he invites me to come with him.” – Finke, p. 30

What was helpful about Finke’s experience growing apples as we consider coming with Jesus on his mission?

How does that match up with our understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit as it is explained in the Small Catechism?

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.

This is most certainly true.

“Some are resisting, some are ignoring, and some are oblivious. But don’t miss this: some are ready.” – Finke, p. 34

“What are the early steps people are ready for?” – p. 35

Three Simple Questions

1.      What’s Jesus already up to?

2.      Who are the people around me?

3.      What are they almost ready for?

Key Takeaways?

 

Next Week

Start memorizing/meditating on this passage: Then [Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” – Matthew 9:37-38