Monday, April 24, 2017

Lectionary Mission Snippets - May

Mission Snippets are short statements for the church (ie.  all who believe in Jesus) to help us live out our calling to make disciples of all nations.   They are based on the Revised Common Lectionary readings for the week, with May 2017's being based on the Gospel Reading.  

Some thing to note in understanding the Mission Snippets, they are written from the perspective:

  • The Church is all Christians (not the building, the insitution, the legal identity, etc.)
  • That as God's Church we have received His Good News and know that our salvation is totally dependant on what God has done through Jesus Christ.
  • That having received God's Good News we are not called to keep it to ourselves, but God has called every Christian to be sharing His Good News.
  • They are what they are, snippets to encourage you to ask questions, to explore more, to discuss further....

May 7
John 10:1-10  
10:3 The doorkeeper opens the door for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Helping people hear Jesus
What opportunities exist for us to help people hear Jesus?
What might it take for you to help people really hear who Jesus is and what He was on about?
Is it a matter of helping people recognise Jesus' voice?

10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture.
Point people to the Jesus door
There are many options for us that appear to be offering 'life',  
Are you using the Jesus door, regularly?
What makes the Jesus door different?
How can you help people discover or choose the Jesus door?


May 14
John 14:1-14 
14:2There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you.  
God’s place is mammoth….there are many places available
How are you helping people see there is a place for them?
If there are many places, isn't likely there will be many different people?

14:6 Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Direct people to Jesus and away from other alternatives for life
The key or password to heaven is not me, I, my achievement, my tradition, my but Jesus
Does  you approach to life reflect you see Jesus as the way, the truth and the life?
How are you helping people rely solely on Jesus for life?

14:7 If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.” 
It is important for us to know Jesus –(and to know means spending regular time with Jesus) 
How are you spending time with Jesus?
What do you know about Jesus?
Are you sharing what you know about Jesus?

May 21
John 14:15-25
14:26  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.
We need to depend totally  on God’s Spirit for help
God's Spirit comes to us through God's Word and the sacraments.....are we engaging regularly with God's Word and regularly receiving His sacraments?
How are we helping others to engage regularly in God's Word and sacraments, so the Holy Spirit can work in their lives? 

14:16 Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—14:17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you. 
Don’t expect to be accepted in the general community
Are we looking to be more popular with God or the world?
Are we being truthful with each other about the challenges of being a Christian?
How do we support each other as we share the Good News, even when it is not generally popular?

14:23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him. 14:24 The person who does not love me does not obey my words. And the word you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me. 
Our lifestyle is one that reveals we love God and this means we focus on obeying His commandments
Is your lifestyle orientated towards loving God, by keeping His commandments?
How do we help people see the right perspective that keeping God's commandments is not about earning  a relationship with God, but flow from our relationship with God? 

May 28
John 17:1-11
John 17:1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you—   
Glorifying God is the purpose for Jesus and us
In looking at your life, who or what is being glorified?
What does glorifying God look like?
How do we help people glorify God?

17:2-3 just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. 17:3 Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
God’s gift to us is Jesus and eternal life
What other gifts may people be expecting from God?
What makes the gift of Jesus and eternal life different from the other gifts of God?
How are we helping people see that God is focussed on giving us the gift of Jesus and eternal life?

17:7-8  Now they understand that everything you have given me comes from you, 17:8 because I have given them the words you have given me. They accepted them and really understand that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me
Share the words and message you receive from Jesus
How are you regularly receiving and rehearing the words and messages of Jesus
What specific words and message have you received from Jesus?
How are you passing on the words and message from Jesus to the people you are interacting with?

Feel free to use these snippets for ministry and mission work in your own life and congregational life.

Prepared by Pastor Richard Schwedes richardschwedes@gmail.com

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