READ
This week’s message was about the primary purpose of Jesus’s mission here on earth, and the call that is central to everything we do as a church.
Luke 19:10
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you...
While the church is made up of people who are “found,” its purpose is all about people who are “lost.” When we lose sight of this, our focus gravitates inward. We start to focus on our own experiences, our own preferences, and our own comfort. This is what happened in Antioch, when Christians began to insist that Gentiles must be circumcised in order to be saved. They longed for the spiritual journey of the Gentiles to look like their own. Ultimately, it was determined that past practices were not beneficial to the process of bringing people to know Jesus. These religious requirements only served as obstacles, making it difficult for people to be saved. Their personal preferences stood in conflict with the mission of the church, and the church leaders did not allow these preferences to stand in the way.
Regarding the issue of whether or now Gentiles should be required to undergo circumcision, James said this...
Acts 15:19
"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
DISCUSS
What are your personal preferences when it comes to church? If our services and events were designed around your own personal tastes, how would we do things differently?
When you talk about the church, do you find yourself discussing the mission of the church and how we are to bring people to know Jesus? Or are you more likely to discuss your own preferences regarding the way we do things?
Acts 15:19
"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
Do you think that there are things that we do (individually or corporately) that make it difficult for people to turn to God?
Do you feel that your own focus is more about the mission of the church, or your own preferences?
If you feel that your focus could use a shift, what can you do to make that happen?
PRAY
PRAY FOR YOUR LIFE GROUP
Pray that we will have a focus that is more about the mission of the church than our own preferences.
PRAY FOR FCC & OUR COMMUNITY
The Fourth of July is approaching. Pray that as we use this opportunity to serve our community, people will be drawn to the church and to Jesus.
PRAY FOR OUR GLOBAL PARTNERS
Spend a few moments in prayer praising God for the successful trip of our FCC high school global connection team to Chile last week. Praise God for the positive relationships that were built and for the Chilean church to continue to remain encouraged from our two teams this summer. Pray for the pastor and his family with Ibero American ministries, that they’d feel encouraged and equipped to continued guiding their church community in El Monte, Chile.