Day 50 of 50

READING GUIDE

• Read the devotion below.
• After days 43-50, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 7.

16 "I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. 17 I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. 18 And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.

20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. 21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:16-21 ESV)

Thank you for taking this 50-day devotional journey! God's blessings as you continue joining Jesus on His mission.

And in Finke's words, "Now go have some fun!"

Day 49 of 50

READING GUIDE

• Read Matthew 28 and the devotion below.
• After days 43-50, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 7.

"'Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'” (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV)

There is no better time than the present...as in NOW. 

As you go...while you go...through your day and week's routine, how is Jesus inviting you to join Him on His mission? And who will join you?

Day 48 of 50

READING GUIDE

• Read Matthew 27 and the devotion below.
• After days 43-50, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 7.

"And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.'” (Matthew 27:37 ESV)

In Matthew 27, what we see of Jesus...

• using very few words
• in a non-defensive posture
• loving His enemies
• sacrificing Himself so that others may know our Heavenly Father

What would you add?

Considering all of the above, what do you hear from Jesus today as it pertains to joining Him on His mission?

Day 47 of 50

READING GUIDE

• Read Matthew 26 and the devotion below.
• After days 43-50, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 7.

"'Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.'” (Matthew 26:13 ESV)

It does not say, where this gospel if proclaim in the whole world, it says is. What does this mean? By whom is the is carried out?

What of the 5 Practices do you find present in Matthew 26?

• Seeking the Kingdom
• Hearing from Jesus
• Talking with People
• Doing Good
• Ministering Through Prayer

How is God calling you to proclaim the gospel everywhere you go? What may be remembered of you in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus?

Day 46 of 50

READING GUIDE

• Read Matthew 25 and the devotion below.
• After days 43-50, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 7.

31 “'When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’" (Matthew 25:31-40 ESV)

What of the 5 Practices (maybe not all of them) do you find present in Matthew 25?

• Seeking the Kingdom
• Hearing from Jesus
• Talking with People
• Doing Good
• Ministering Through Prayer

How is Jesus calling you to do good to another?

Day 45 of 50

READING GUIDE

• Read Matthew 24 and the devotion below.
• After days 43-50, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 7.

Jesus said to His disciples, "'And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations...'" (Matthew 24:14a ESV)

What of the 5 Practices (maybe not all of them) do you find present in Matthew 24?

• Seeking the Kingdom
• Hearing from Jesus
• Talking with People
• Doing Good
• Ministering Through Prayer

How is Jesus calling you today to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom?

Day 44 of 50

READING GUIDE

• Read Matthew 23 and the devotion below.
• After days 43-50, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 7.

Jesus said to the crowd and His disciples, "'The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.'" (Matthew 23:11-12 ESV)

How does Jesus' teaching in the verse above impact one's posture in the community when joining Jesus on His mission?

What do you find of the 5 Practices in Matthew 23? Today there are no hints on where to find these. Blessings on your search!

• Seeking the Kingdom
• Hearing from Jesus
• Talking with People
• Doing Good
• Ministering Through Prayer

---------------------------------

a Joining Jesus on His Mission story...

Just last night I had the opportunity to help out with my son's park district basketball team. This wasn't something I was planning on doing until I received an email from his coach a few days ago. The coach explained in the email that there are only 8 kids on the team and that he would seek out any help from parents, especially when it came to having 10 players for scrimmages. He also shared that all of the kids on the team are from my son's school and that he and his family live in our same subdivision. Then at last night's practice I met another dad helping out who also lives in our subdivision. So I just met 2 new guys who live near me with whom I'll be doing life on a regular basis between practices and games. I'll also begin to get to know more kids from my son's school and hopefully their parents. I'm not adding something new to my schedule as I already had the time carved out to watch his practices and games. There is now simply more I can do during that time. I'm excited for this new opportunity of joining Jesus on His mission!

What about you? What story do you have to share? What opportunity may God be nudging you to join Him in? PLEASE SHARE!

Day 43 of 50

READING GUIDE

• Read Matthew 22 and the devotion below.
• After days 43-50, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 7.

“'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37b-39)

What do you glean of the 5 Practices as found in Matthew 22?

• Seeking the Kingdom (Matthew 22:1-14)
• Hearing from Jesus (all of Matthew 22)
• Talking with People (Matthew 22:15-26)
• Doing Good (Matthew 22:34-44)
• Ministering Through Prayer (Matthew 22:34-44)

Day 42 of 50

READING GUIDE

• Read today's devotion below and Matthew 21.
• During days 36-42 (at your own pace) read chapter 19 from Joining Jesus on His Mission.
• After days 36-42, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 6.

"And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'” (Matthew 21:9 ESV)

The Hebrew word for Hosanaa, Hhoshiah nnah, means “Save now!” What does this say about the urgency of Jesus' mission to save those...

who do not yet know Him, 

who are lost in sin,

who are addicted to things that would harm them (and those around them),

who are broken, 

who have never known grace, 

who have been abused, 

who have been persecuted, 

who have been bullied, 

who have received no mercy, 

and so on? 

What does the urgency of "Save now" say to you as you join Jesus on His mission?

In the last days of this 50-day journey, we will continue looking to Jesus and His mission. We'll look deeply into his last days as found in Matthew 22-28. We will hear from Him. After each day's readings, we will then ask ourselves, "What do I think Jesus wants me to do now?"

Day 41 of 50

READING GUIDE:

• Read today's devotion below and Matthew 20.
• During days 36-42 (at your own pace) read chapter 19 from Joining Jesus on His Mission.
• After days 36-42, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 6.

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up..." (1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV)

While joining Jesus on His mission, it is very easy to get discouraged. We desire to see people clearly cross the finish line--come to know Jesus, be baptized. God, however, may be using us in very needed ways while folks take spiritual steps preceding their confession of Him as Lord and Savior. Because of our discouragement, we can quickly give up. This is why we need each other for encouragement and for building one another up.

Finke shares some stories near the end of chapter 19. Based on their circumstances and personal make up, who do you most relate to?

• Stephen - the somewhat introvert, idealist, who "likes to think things out and see things go according to plan."
• Sam - the amateur tattoo-artist, introvert ex-marine who is out of the country more days for work than he is home in the States.
• Mary Ann and Jason - "underemployed, and struggling to make financial ends meet," but who are "ready to rethink a lot of things in their life and learn how to look for what Jesus was doing in their life."

What does a missional community mean for each of these individuals? From what you read, how were they encouraged and built up by the members of their community? What is this saying to you?

-----------

What do you learn of the 5 Practices in Matthew 20?

• Seeking the Kingdom (Matthew 20:1-16)
• Hearing from Jesus (all of Matthew 20)
• Talking with People (Matthew 20:20-34)
• Doing Good (Matthew 20:20-34)
• Ministering Through Prayer (Matthew 20:29-34)

Day 40 of 50

READING GUIDE:

• Read today's devotion below and Matthew 19.
• During days 36-42 (at your own pace) read chapter 19 from Joining Jesus on His Mission.
• After days 36-42, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 6.

42 "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42,46-47 ESV)

What elements of starting strong and remaining strong as a community--which joined Jesus on His mission--do you find in Acts 2?

Let's look at the reverse side of things...

As Finke shares in chapter 19, "As I coach missional communities, it is not unusual for a group to start strong, but then begin to fade after a season. The reasons for this are predictable:

• They stop meeting regularly. When we stop meeting regularly, we stop receiving the support, encouragement, insight and accountability we need to stay on the adventure with Jesus.
• The missional stories start to become general and redundant...It is usually because we have stopped being intentional about putting the 5 Practices into play in our daily lives.
• Even with the 5 Practices in play, it seems like not much is happening kingdom-wise. When this happens it is often because prayer has become less important in our group time."

What are ways to counteract the potential slide for your group from continuing to join Jesus on His mission together?

What are you hearing from Jesus today in Matthew 19?

Day 39 of 50

READING GUIDE:

• Read today's devotion below and Matthew 18.
• During days 36-42 (at your own pace) read chapter 19 from Joining Jesus on His Mission.
• After days 36-42, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 6.

Jesus said to His disciples, 10 “'See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.'" (Matthew 18:10-14 ESV)

We are almost three-quarters through this 50-day journey. Just for a reminder, as seen in Matthew 18:10-14, how does Jesus feel about those who are lost--who do not yet know Him? How important is it for us to join Jesus on His mission?

In a recent small group meeting I attended, we went around and shared our missional stories. We heard a story of one being very intentional in meeting his neighbors. We heard stories from a couple members on the challenges of seeking the Kingdom during a busy work day. We heard a story of one regularly offering the words "God bless you" when encountering strangers. We heard of conversations one has with a co-worker who does not believe in God. We listened to each other. We learned from each other. We encouraged each other to continue being about Jesus' mission.

I can only speak for myself, but I know hearing such missional stories brings more to the surface the missional values found in Scripture which in turn move me to practice living missionally and I know, from the Word and the Spirit's lead, more stories will be produced.

Finke says it well in chapter 19, "...when we hear each other tell our stories about how we saw God working last week, it inspires us do the same. Not only are we inspired, we gain insights and tools for how to do it. When we hear each other's stories about talking with people, we recognize how close we have been to being able to have a similar story. When we hear each other's stories about struggling, we realize we're not the only ones who struggle and we can help each other re-engage the missional adventure."

What about you? Are you a part of a group, a missional community, processing these things together? If not, how may God use you to form one?

Day 38 of 50

READING GUIDE:

• Read today's devotion below and Matthew 17.
• During days 36-42 (at your own pace) read chapter 19 from Joining Jesus on His Mission.
• After days 36-42, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 6.

GATHER - "And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves." (Matthew 17:1 ESV)

GO - "And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to [Jesus]..." (Matthew 17:14a ESV)

GATHER - "As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them..." (Matthew 17:22a ESV)

GO - "When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter..." (Matthew 14:24a ESV)

Finke shares in chapter 19, "Throughout time, the rhythm of God's people has been to gather and then go, to come together for worship and Bible teaching and then go out for life and mission, to gather for word and sacrament and then scatter into the harvest fields." Look at the pattern of gather and go in Matthew 17.

What advantages, for you personally, do you find in this cycle of gathering and going? How are you experiencing this cycle in your life? Where are you finding interruptions to this cycle? What needs to happen to keep this cycle moving fluidly?

Day 37 of 50

READING GUIDE:

• Read today's devotion below and Matthew 16.
• During days 36-42 (at your own pace) read chapter 19 from Joining Jesus on His Mission.
• After days 36-42, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 6.

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another..." (Hebrews 10:24-25a ESV)

Finke in chapter 19 defines a missional community as such, "A smaller group of people who gather regularly in order to support each other as they learn to seek, recognize and respond to what Jesus is doing around them every day as he carries out his redemptive mission."

What elements of this definition do you find in Jesus' missional community (His disciples) as read about in Matthew 16?

How does Finke's definition of a missional community compare with the small group and/or ministry team of which you are a participant? How could your small group or ministry team take on the characteristics of a missional community? What first step would be necessary for this to happen? How and when will you and your group/team take this first step?

Just one idea - how about adding a missional and/or outreach discussion time to your next meeting? At St. Paul/Aurora, as part of our small group studies which complement weekend sermons, an outreach component is included in each week's study. Check them out and feel free to re-purpose for your needs. No need to cite us! A unique outreach discussion is included each week's study.

Day 36 of 50

READING GUIDE:

• Read today's devotion below and Matthew 15.
• During days 36-42 (at your own pace) read chapter 19 from Joining Jesus on His Mission.
• After days 36-42, meet with your small group and follow the back-of-the-book discussion guide for SESSION 6.

32 "Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 'I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.' 33 And the disciples said to him, 'Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?' 34 And Jesus said to them, 'How many loaves do you have?' They said, 'Seven, and a few small fish.' 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children." (Matthew 15:32-38 ESV)

Finke titles chapter 19 - "With a Little Help From My Friends." It is about the importance of encouraging one another as we join Jesus on His mission. We will dig into chapter 19 this week, but to start things off, let's look at Jesus and His not only words of encouragement but His acts of encouragement.

In the above text, we read about Jesus feeding the four thousand plus. When faced with a hungry crowd, Jesus' disciples asked, "Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?" 

WHAT?!?!?! 

Take a peek at the preceding chapter. Didn't Jesus just feed a larger crowd not too long ago from five loaves and two fish? 

How soon we forget the amazing work of Jesus in our lives. And yet despite (and probably because of) our forgetfulness, He continues to pour on the blessings and encouragement into and onto us so that we may move forward in our work for His kingdom.

What does this teach you about the importance of encouraging one another as we reach our communities with the love of Jesus?