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Eating Together
Please refer to the conversation cards sheet above.
Dwelling Together
Matthew 10:1-20 (NIV)
1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. 9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
What are the areas of life that the disciples are sent to minister to?
What are the recurring themes in the readings?
What is the main idea at the heart of these readings?
Is there something you feel called to after reading this, and if so what is it?
Learning Together
Planning for a Mission Event
What three things would you like to see as the result of a mission event?
What questions should we be asking?
- What do I know about my church?
- What do I know about my community?
- What further avenues of exploration do these questions throw up?
- Time for research
Main activity: Planning a mission event.
Having spent some time thinking about these areas, the group will now start to think about what a mission event to their area might look like. The group will need to think about the following areas:
- What is the timetable they are trying to fill. Is it an evening, day, or weekend?
- When the event/events will take place within that timetable.
- What different types of event will be going on as part of the overall mission?
- How do each of the events connect with the church and the gospel?
- What training, if any, will be needed for those helping at the event?
- Have all those leading/helping done the required Safeguarding training?
- Have you carried out a risk assessment?
- Have you allocated responsibilities?
- Do you have a budget? What is it?
- Do you need to buy/create resources?
- Does everyone know when they need to be there and their role?
Reviewing
- What would be success for the event?
- How will you record successes / new opportunities?
- How would you record things that need further action? i.e. Prayer requests pastoral concerns.
- How will you reflect theologically?
- Make sure pre-event that you have the means to record what you need to.
Praying together
Using your map ask God to help them focus their minds on Him and what He wants to say to them.
When it feels right, pray over their map for:
- Areas where God is already at work.
- Areas where God wants the Church to join in with Him.
- Areas where there is darkness that the Church can help in driving away.