Part One Part Two
Part One
If you sit down and read the Bible from cover to cover you will find many themes. But if you look for one theme that encompasses them all you’ll find one that stands out above all others. It is God’s heart for everyone to know Him. God wants each and every person to hear the Gospel. God wants none to perish. We can develop God’s heart for people as well. Why? It is through us that he wants the message to get out.
Discover
Read
Daniel 3:1-30. To help get a good understanding of the passage, try to describe what is happening or being said in your own words. Take a moment to reflect and note down what stands out as important, significant or meaningful to you. What does this passage tell us about God? What does this passage tell us about people? How does this passage change how we live?
Discuss
1. When people discover God for the first time, what seems to happen?
2. What does it mean to have God’s heart for people? Consider 2 Peter 3:9 and 1 Timothy 2:4.
3. Read Romans 10:9-15. What is the process for sharing God and his love?
4. If you heard that a further 6781 people groups (nations) are still to hear about Jesus, what could you do? If only 4% of missionaries went to 88% of those peoples who have never heard, what would you want to see changed?
5. Can you think of other verses of Scripture you have read from both OT and NT that express God’s heart for the nations? Please share with each other.
Respond
Israel was to point the way to God for all other nations. Jesus came to ultimately become the only way to God. Paul went on to proclaim this message and live the kind of life worthy of our imitation. Take a moment now to prayerfully ask Jesus if there are any current rhythms of your life that need to change so the message of Jesus is taken to all peoples. Ask Him now to do so. Take time to pray for each other.
Part Two
A driving theme throughout the Scriptures is God’s heart that every person would know Him. The movement to reach the world that Jesus launched was spearheaded by His first disciples. On the day of Pentecost they were transformed from people who worried and doubted into people with an incredible boldness. There were no excuses, only obedience. In many ways, this sums up the character of every good disciple: a life of obedience to what God would have them be and do.
Discover
Read Acts 4:23-31. To help get a good understanding of the passage, try to describe what is happening or being said in your own words. Take a moment to reflect and note down what stands out as important, significant or meaningful to you. What does this passage tell us about God? What does this passage tell us about people? How does this passage change how we live?
Discuss
1. What does the reassurance we find in Mark 16:20 that all of God’s disciples have mean to you? Discuss.
2. Persecution happens every day in many parts of the world. What would you pray if you were being persecuted? Please share with each other.
3. “If you don’t do Acts 1:8 you get Acts 8:1.” Discuss in light of Acts 8:4 and God’s heart.
4. We tend to shy away from being bold. We tend to play down our role in seeing our world and “the ends of the earth” witnessed to. What could you do to be bolder? What could you do to see the gospel taken to all parts of the world?
Respond
You are part of God’s plan in seeing the nations reached with the gospel. You, as a disciple, are God’s hand in mission. Take this opportunity together to pray for people you know who are doing cross-cultural mission work. When you have prayed, take time to write an encouraging email or letter to them. Outline what you prayed for and commit to praying for them again next week.
Watch full sermons – Missions 2015