Battleship Part 3 – On a Mission

This Sunday, Simon Lace brings us the latest of our short video talks. Once you have watched the video, we encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.

To listen to the talk click here.
 
Reading:

Matthew chapter 28, verses 16 to 20 (NLT)
16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
 
Matthew chapter 25, verses 31 to 46 (NLT)
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his 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 creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”




Prayer & Reflection

Our Father in heaven, holy and glorious is Your name. Thank you for giving us authority and a mission to spread your Kingdom on Earth.

Give us all we need Father. Help us to obey You, and to express Your love, by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Forgive our sins, oh God, and deliver us from temptation. Make us more like Your beloved Son, Jesus, in our love for You and our love for people. Help us fulfil our purpose and set about our mission to reach people and make disciples, in the name of Jesus.

Amen.



Questions to Consider

1. Think about the difference between “purpose” and “mission”. At EBC we say we have a purpose, we exist, “to love God, love people, and grow together to become more like Jesus”, and a mission of “reaching people, making disciples”. As you think about this, what can you ask God to help you do better - and is there anything you can try to do better at?

2. Jesus seems to say that, whether people call Him “Lord” or not, He will separate people into those who help the poor, the hungry, the lowly and needy… and those who do not. What do you make of this? Are you on the lookout for people to help? How can you show love to people this week?

3. Is there a person, or a group of people, you can intentionally try to baptise - “dip, dunk or immerse” - in God’s love, through what you say and do? Who are they? Write their names down and pray about how to reach them.
 
4. Are you open about telling people you are a Christian – and is that a good thing, or might it be a bad thing? Any areas you need to watch and change, as an Ambassador of Jesus?
 
5. Take some time to think about, and to write down, what you see as your purpose in life, and what things you are on a mission to accomplish during your all-too-brief time on Earth. Does loving God and people feature on the list? What about reaching out to people and making disciples?

6. Re-read the passages above and say the prayer again.

7. As a “priesthood of all believers” do you know you have been given authority, by Jesus, to be a “priest” to those you are around? Reflect on this – what special gifts, abilities and personality has God given you and how might you use these things, under His authority, to help build His Kingdom?