Mission Workshop 2: Passion for the Harvest

50 Days of Mission IN HIS STEPS 2021

Workshop 2: Passion for the Harvest Share with one person about a time in your life when you knew your soul was on fire with passion for God and His mission. Describe the fruit that came from that experience.

Thinking about particular groups of people who do not know Christ yet, or particular needs in this broken world, what is one burden you sense that breaks the heart of God and you are willing to allow it to break your heart as well?

I. Understanding an Acts 1:8 Strategy In Acts 1:8, just before his ascension, Jesus promised that his followers would receive power to be his “witnesses” in “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

1. Where A. Acts 1:8 outlines a geographic strategy: •

Jerusalem: My neighborhood or town

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Judea: My metropolitan area, region or state

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Samaria: Other regions or states

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Ends of the Earth: Other nations, nearby and around the globe

B. Discuss: Why is it important for Jesus’s followers to reach all four parts of this strategy? Do you believe some are only called to one area, or is every Christian is called to participate in reaching all four in some way?

2. Who A. Acts 1:8 also outlines a cultural strategy • Jerusalem: People just like me, those of my own culture and language • Judea: People similar to me, those of a different subculture • Samaria: The marginalized or rejected, people I would rather not engage with in my natural culture; sometimes with different dialects of the same language • Ends of the Earth: People of completely different cultures and/or languages B. The original word for “nations” in the Great Commission is “ethné,” meaning any people group with shared values and traditions, not necessarily a political unit C. Discuss: Why is it important for Jesus’s followers to reach all four parts of this strategy? Do you believe some are only called to one area, or is every Christian is called to participate in reaching all four in some way?

3. How A. Sometimes we find that God has already equipped us with experiences, traits, skills and abilities that enable us to reach a certain group of people.

B. Other times we find that God has given us a burden to reach a certain group, but we must develop the skills and qualities needed to reach them.

C. Discuss: What are some of the gifts God has given you that would enable you to reach people in one of these four areas? What skills do you need to develop further in order to extend your reach to all four areas in some way?

4. With Whom A. Biblical mission is almost never done alone.

• We need others in order to witness to Christ’s love in community (the witness of how we treat one another).

• We need others to fill in the gaps of our weak areas because we are all gifted differently.

• We need others because of the cultural experiences and perspectives they bring.

• We need others so that we create partnerships rather than competition with those who are trying to reach the same area, group, or need.

B. Discuss: Who am I already partnering with in ministry? In what ways do I need to be more intentional in asking others to join me in a new vision God has given? In what ways do I need to be more humble in being willing to join the work others have already begun rather than doing my own thing?

II. Strategy Worksheet Where does God want me to go? (Specific places, ministry opportunities, visions) Jerusalem Judea Samaria Ends of the Earth

Who is God calling me to reach? (people groups, least evangelized, hidden groups, neglected) Jerusalem Judea Samaria Ends of the Earth

How can I effectively reach out to these people? (strategies, resources, skills) Jerusalem Judea Samaria

Ends of the Earth

With whom is God leading me to partner? (who is interested, who is already there, has resources) Jerusalem Judea Samaria Ends of the Earth