09.16.07
Small Group Plan - September 16, 2007
“As You Are Going”
Small Group Plan
September 16, 2007
Dear Group Leader…
We call it the Great Commission, and we usually translate it:
“Go Into All The World …”
But since Mark’s verb is a participle, some have translated it:
“As You Are Going Into All The World …”
Can you see the difference? “As you are going.” “As you are living. “ “As you are working.” “As you attend class.” “As you shop, drive, learn, eat, play or walk.” The place is here, in your own country, in your own city, in your own neighborhood.
This was one of the underlying themes in Randy Harris’ message from Sunday morning. We don’t have to leave the country to respond to the Great Commission. We can walk across the street or across the office. We don’t have to have special training or learn another language. We can begin with genuine friendship and prayerfully watch for God to open the doors.
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· What was your definition of “evangelism” growing up?
· Has it changed or matured over the years? How and why?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT … SALVATION
1 Corinthians 3:6
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
· What is the “seed” that we plant?
· How can we plant it among our friends and neighbors?
· How does “watering” following “planting”?
· What happens to the whole process when we assume God’s role with the seed and determine to “make it grow” ourselves?
Colossians 4:2-6
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
· What would happen to you if you prayed for your neighbors on a daily basis?
· How would you describe an “open door” (Vs. 3)? What does it look like?
· How can our “action” (Vs. 5) invalidate our “conversation” (Vs. 6)?
· On the other hand, how can the two work together?
· What is “gracious conversation” (Vs. 6) and why is it so important?
Mark 16:15-16
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
· What does “preaching” (Vs. 15) mean for the Christian who doesn’t speak to an audience each Sunday? How is it done?
· We are to give the “good news” to others, but what exactly is it?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· What does “sharing your faith” mean to you now?
· Describe the purest evangelistic attitude or heart that you know?
· What is most likely to hold you back from sharing your faith?
· What about this study has spoken the most to you? Explain.
As a group, close by listing the evangelistic attitudes that you need most and then take them to God in prayer.