Losing & Finding | Compassion & Commission | Erin Johnston

When God acts and people respond differently to His action, Jesus warns that it can bring division. In this, Jesus invites us to declare the power in His name and to show up compassionately. The stakes are high, but they're worth it because He is coming to do something greater. We are the sent ones to bring Good News, not a burden. So, we pray, share, pray, share, pray, share.

Key Verses

• Matthew 10:32-42 NLT

  “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.Your enemies will be right in your own household!’“If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.“Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me.If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs.And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

• Micah 7:6 NLT

  For the son despises his father. The daughter defies her mother. The daughter-in-law defies her mother-in-law. Your enemies are right in your own household!

• Matthew 10:32-33 NLT

  “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

• Matthew 10:37-39 NLT

  “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

• Matthew 10:40-42 NLT

  “Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me.If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs.And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
  

One of the best ways to hear what God is saying right now is to look at what He has said in the Bible with a few friends. Discovery Bible Study is an easy-to-use way to hear from God, make good changes in our lives, and share with others what God is up to. Grab some friends, pick a verse or story from above, and dive deeper into this week’s message.

Recap

• Reconnect

  To begin the study, each person answers these questions:

  • What are you thankful for?

  • What is causing stress for our neighbors and people around us?

  • What can we as individuals or as a group do to help?

• Recap

  • Have someone retell the story from your previous meeting.

  • Did you live out your response from last week?

  • Did you tell anyone else about the story from last week?

DISCOVERING WHAT GOD IS SAYING

• Read and Retell the Bible Story

  • One person reads the story out loud to the group.

  • Someone else in the group retells the story in their own words as they remember it, and others fill in what’s missing.

• Read and Look

  • Read the passage again (different version if possible)

  • What does this passage say about God, Jesus, or His plan?

• Read and Look Again

  • Have 1-2 more people retell the story as if they were telling a neighbor outside their home.

  • What does this passage say about people in general?

DISCOVER WHAT GOD IS SAYING

• Consider

  • What in me needs to change to better DO what God is showing me today?

  • How will you respond to/obey this passage in a tangible, perhaps even costly ways in the next 47 hours?

  • Have someone record these for prayer time, and for the beginning of the next meeting.

SHARING WHAT GOD IS SAYING

• Praying Together

  • Take prayer requests

  • Pray together

• Share

  • Who in your life needs to hear this story?

  • Who could you invite to study the Bible like this?

Become a Partner

Every time you give in Jesus’ name, you make a difference in others AND you make a difference in your own life! Partnering together in generosity helps accomplish things together that could never be accomplished alone! You can partner together in giving today with a single gift, or schedule recurring giving using your checking account, debit, or credit card.