Day 5 of 50

READING GUIDE:

• Read today's devotion below.
• During days 1-7 (at your own pace) read chapters 1 and 2 from Joining Jesus on His Mission.
• After days 1-7, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 1.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)

You’re familiar with the verse, right? Not everyone in the world is. Certainly not football fans who, almost 3 years ago, watched Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL AFC wildcard playoff game. By the next morning, John 3:16 was ranked as the top-searched item on Google. Maybe we all need to be reminded of this verse and its significance. Maybe our eyes need to be reopened to the world and all of the neighborhoods we live in as we go about His mission.

Finke in chapter 2 refers to a neighborhood “as any network of people to which we have regular access...obviously the ‘neighborhoods’ where we live qualify as do the ‘neighborhoods’ of our workplaces and schools...but there are many other ‘neighborhoods’ in which we regularly find ourselves. For instance, some of us have access to recreation leagues, yoga classes or craft beer clubs. Some of us are band parents or soccer moms, or we routinely wait with other dads as our daughters finish up dance classes. Some of us volunteer with community revitalization groups or social service agencies...Some of us are at country clubs, community centers or the Y.” The list goes on.

So what neighborhoods do you live in?

A few days ago you were asked to list and pray for those in your life who do not-yet-know Jesus. Today make a list of your various neighborhoods. Maybe through this activity more people for whom to pray for will come to mind--people you never thought of praying for before. Maybe your sensitivity for the significance of John 3:16, God’s love for the whole world, will grow in your heart and mind as you go about Jesus’ mission.