Sermon Study Guides

Today we’re witnessing the greatest turning to God in history! In country after country, millions of people are turning to Jesus. We know this began at the Cross and on the Day of Pentecost, and we can look back in history and see God’s continuing work in our World. God says that He will build His Church, and nothing can stop it; The Holy Spirit will overpower Satan’s destructive plans! My experience at Bible school taught me that!

The loss of ‘mankind’s teaching’, rocked my world view, leading me to search diligently for God. I encountered a “Crisis Experience” – Enduement of Power from on high for the task ahead, a mature and deep yielding to what I call “A Bondservant moment”. A ‘calling’ from GOD is a compelling vision, purpose and direction for your life, often confirmed by other Godly individuals. I live with an ‘Isaiah 40’ mentality: They that wait upon the Lord, and dedicate my life to serving God in winning lost souls, gaining my strength from focusing on Him and awaiting His instructions and direction.

In my travels with Empower, we seek out: (1) what God is doing in His church; (2) how God structures His moves and reveal scriptures; (3) question: Why Missions; why are we giving up a life of ease and comfort? Why are we willing to be imprisoned or die for our call? I speak to national leaders and everyday national pastors because I want to know and be able to tell you – This is what Jesus was talking about at Caesarea Philippi, and to me, IS THE BACKBONE OF MISSIONS!

Our World is falling apart – experiencing increasing chaotic turmoil leading to the return of Christ. As Matthew 24 states: We will experience cultural, physical, and spiritual birth-pangs. The fear and uncertainty abounding in the world forces people to search for answers to life and death matters. Anxiety reigns, the great world religions are bankrupt and crumbling. Believers are, increasingly, ‘standing apart from the world’, providing hope/alternatives, and there is spreading and stronger ‘openness to the Gospel’. The Holy Spirit is being poured out, spiritual eyes and ears are being opened, and millions are turning to Christ!

We are witnessing a deluge of supernatural manifestations in dozens of countries experiencing revival, such as physical healing, deliverances, dreams, visions, etc. The transformation of character and inner being in the lives of new, born-again, Christians is a major catalyst to church growth. We have a vivid realization and urgency of the consequences of ‘rejecting’ Christ, resulting in Hell as our final destination; or accepting CHRIST – and Eternal Life in Heaven with Him. Believers read the Word, and are convinced of the ‘Lost state of mankind’; they’re burdened and feel the responsibility of convincing friends/relatives/others – of coming to Christ because only one thing matters: “Which road we choose: Heaven or Hell?”

Jesus came to seek and to save the lost; His mission, is ours, AND as Leonard Ravenhill once told me: “The sign of true revival is when the vision of lost souls drives you to your knees and you plead with God – Give me souls or I die.” We can ask God to direct our mission, and we can pray. Each of us can be an effective, powerful force in missions by staying at home, winning souls here locally, and also supporting God’s work around the world. It’s NOT second best to stay at home. It depends on what our LORD AND SAVIOUR calls us to do!

IN - PURSUE RELATIONSHIP

In your professional or personal life, where do you see the most evidence of "chaotic turmoil" or "deep anxiety" right now?
Have you ever gone on a mission trip? If so, what was a highlight or a life-changing experience? Alternatively, what mission story has impacted you the most, and how?

UP - PURSUE GOD

Read Matt 6:13-19 and Acts 2:17. Discuss Jesus’ statements. In what ways is the Lord fulfilling His word around the world today?
Read Matt 24:3-8 and John 7:37-38. What contrasting pictures does Jesus paint of the last days? How do you see this as an opportunity to bring the gospel, have spiritual conversations with someone, and share the hope Jesus gives?

OUT - PURSUE MISSION

Discuss Jesus’ mission in Luke 19:10 and how it is ours too. Many today are realizing that their gods are letting them down. How may you be a beacon of light in your circle of influence?
Discuss the nature of lostness, final judgment and urgency. Pray as a group to increase your vision of reaching the lost for Christ. What can you do together?

Personal Reflection

What is your "mission field"? In what ways is God prompting you to become more involved in mission? How can you step out in faith into His calling, His purpose for you?

The Word (NIV)

Matthew 16:13–19

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Acts 2:17

¹⁷ “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Matthew 24:3–8

³ As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

⁴ Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. ⁶ You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains.

John 7:37–38

³⁷ On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

Luke 19:10

¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

This Week's Writers: Asha Phillips, Mark Eckstein, Elsa Henderson, Sandi Somers, Gene & Karen Gibbs