Five Mission Practices
1.
Seeking the Kingdom
The Kingdom of God has come … and is coming … into our world
and our community.
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“How is God messin’ with you?”
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We look for the kingdom at work in the lives of
people.
o
What might that look like?
o
What is the biggest challenge when we look for
the kingdom?
John 3:27 says, “A person cannot receive even one
thing unless it is given him from heaven.” What does this teach us
about seeking the kingdom as we wonder how God is messing with people?
Proverbs 16:9 says, “In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.” What does this passage reveal about our
efforts to share our faith?
What about coincidences?
2.
Hearing from Jesus
How do we get to know Jesus?
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John 1:14
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John 20:31
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Romans 10:17
Finding time to listen
Finke’s Tips
1.
In the morning – “It is better to tune your
instrument before the concert begins rather than after it it has concluded.”
2.
Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes, ears, and
heart. – The Holy Spirit is the Great Teacher of the Church.
3.
Don’t read to get through. – Quantity and
quality are not the same thing.
4.
Don’t settle for “studying about” what Jesus
said and did. Ask him, “What would you have me believe and do as a result of
your words today?”
On Ramps
This is a resource that I worked on with Pr. Ben Meyer from
Hope Lutheran Church, Sunbury - https://oh.lcms.org/president-office/resources
What does Finke mean when he says that Jesus moves us beyond
information to transformation?
3.
Talking with People
“Jesus can do more with two people who are talking to each
other than he can with two people who are successfully ignoring each other.” –
p. 111
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This statement seems obvious. Why might it be an
important point?
Who has God placed in your proximity?
Why might listening be more important than talking?
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Notice that I am not saying we don’t talk at
all, but listening is essential to this.
Matthew 9:36 – When Jesus saw the crowds, he had
________________ on them …”
Evangelism and Consolation
Extroverts and Introverts?
4.
Doing Good
Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus to do _______ _______, which God prepared in advance for us to
do.”
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What do the words in italics emphasize about our
evangelistic efforts?
Planned vs. Spontaneous
We weren’t planning it, but we were looking for it. And so
we recognized the opportunity when it arrived to bless someone with a word of
hope, an act of kindness, an attitude of grace, a little time, or a little
help.” – p. 119
Planting Seeds vs. Doing the Mighty Works
Two Errors
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I can do everything.
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I can do nothing.
“Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at
once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our
reach. Any small thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist
some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely.” – Clarissa
Pinkola Estes; poet, psychoanalyst, and post-trauma expert.
For Whom?
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Random acts of kindness for strangers?
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Intentional and consistent good for people
regularly in our lives?
What about good done for us?
FACTA NON VERBA
In it important that people see Jesus in us before the hear
about Jesus from us. – p. 121
A pragmatic thought
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How do we treat the people who serve us?
Especially those who serve us regularly?
5.
Ministering through Prayer
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
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James 5:16
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What if you took the moment to pray?
A Model from THE Model
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.”
Thy Kingdom
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“I have found a prayer spoken out loud on behalf
of a person right to the King of the kingdom is a simple way to help them
experience the reality of the kingdom being present.” – p. 126
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Eugene Peterson – Subversive Ministry – Just
whispering, “God.”
o
Your presence is the presence of God’s kingdom.
Thy Will
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Asking for God to do his good and gracious will.
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Physical
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Spiritual
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Unknown.
An Example
“Dear Jesus, you already know my friend here has found out
his wife has cancer. We’re scared. We invite you into our trouble. We ask you
to heal her and help us to trust you as you work out your plan for her life.
Amen.” – p. 127
Other Ways to Practice a Ministry of Prayer
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Take part of your regular prayer time to focus
on prayer for your neighbors.
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Focus in on the Lord’s Prayer as an opportunity
to invite the kingdom and God’s will into your neighborhood, workplace, or
school.
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Matthew 9:37
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Pray for the Spirit to show you what you need to
see as you encounter the people he places in your life.
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Pray for your spouse (and children) – bonus
points for praying out loud with them!
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Do a prayer walk in the neighborhood.
“Do I Have Time for This?”
Matthew 28:19
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