Small group discussion questions for the week of November 22, 2009, based on the sermon “Missional Living” from the “What, Why, & How” series.

Theme: Missional living is about spreading the Gospel by adapting to our context, demonstrating real care, and going in community with other believers.

Introduction: When we hear the word “evangelizing” what do we usually think of?  How do those actions/ concepts compare with this definition:

“A missionary is somebody who relationally takes the unchanging gospel into a culture for the cause of Christ, understands people in that culture, learns the questions of that culture, understands the worldview of that culture, and begins a church in that culture that proclaims the unchanging truths of Scripture in the changing cultural context. In the same way, a church that is ‘missional’ views itself as a missionary to its culture, filled with ambassadors for Christ who take the gospel into every sphere of society. We don’t simply need evangelistic churches, but rather ‘missional’ churches.”

~Luke Simmons, article used by permission

Questions:

1. Read 1 Cor 9:19-23. How many times does Paul say “I became”? Why does he say he did this?  In what ways is he adapting to the context being a servant (v. 19)?  Is it our culture’s responsibility to adapt to us or our responsibility to adapt to culture?

2. How does Jesus model and empower this adaption? (Philippians 2:5-8)

3. What are some ways we can adapt to our context without compromising the Gospel? (John 17:11, 15, 18)

4. What does I Thessalonians 2:8 tell us Paul did to demonstrate real care? How does sharing our life open up opportunities to share the Gospel?

5. To what kind of people did Jesus extend care and compassion?

6. Read Luke 15:1-2, 7:34. Why were these things said about Jesus?  Were they true?  Who said them?  Should we be willing to live with similar accusations?

7. 1 Peter was written to Christian communities scattered throughout several regions (1:1). Read 1 Peter 3:15. What would provoke people to ask Christians about the “hope” that is in them?

8. How could living life “in community” with other Christians, in the company of non-Christians be a primary way of spreading the Gospel? What are some ways you might do this?

9. What do you think of the quote, “Every Christian is a paid missionary, we just get our check routed in different ways”? (Luke Simmons)

10. Might holding a party for people on your street be a means of adapting to context? How would it demonstrate care for unbelievers and aid growth in community with other Christians?

11. What kinds of activities could you undertake as a small group to pursue missional life?

Small group discussion questions for the week of November 15, 2009, based on the sermon “The Great Commission” from the What, Why, & How series.

Theme: The church exists to proclaim the Gospel in order to bring God glory.  Therefore, our mission is the great commission.

Introduction:

• List some things the church is to do.
• Discuss whether any of these things should be top priority. If so, what?
• Read John 20:19-21, Matt 28:16-21, Luke 24:44-49 and Acts 1:8, in that order. Try to imagine you are hearing/reading these words for the first time.

Questions:

1. What do each of the above passages reveal about the great commission? (note how each passage builds on the one previous).

2. What do you think of this quote?

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church.  Worship is.  Missions exists because worship doesn’t.  Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man.  When this age is over, & the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more.  It is a temporary necessity.”

~John Piper in “Let the Nations be Glad: The Supremacy of God in Missions”

3. The entirety of history is flowing toward Revelation 7:9 – are you/we participating in this stream or standing on the sidelines?

4. We are called to be faithful to the Gospel Message while adapting to be faithful Gospel messengers in our context (1 Cor 9:19-23) – what specifically might that mean here in Hillsboro?

5. How does the Gospel itself empower us to proclaim the Gospel?

6. Imagine you have been called to a foreign country to share the Gospel and ask yourself these questions:

• How would you approach secular employment?
• What standard of living would you expect as pioneer missionaries?
• What would you spend your time doing?
• What opportunities would you be looking for?
• What would your prayers be like?
• What would you be trying to do with your friends?
• What kind of team would you want around you?

7. Recall the two kinds of military chaplains Mike mentioned in his message – which chaplain do you think had the most effective ministry among the Marines and why?  Which chaplain best describes us?

Questions & sermon prepared by Mike Hanafee.