“Understanding Christmas as Mission”
John 20:21
December 27, 2015
I.
My journey in missions
A. God’s plan to build His Church
B. The Church as missional outpost
C. Households as missional bases
D. The Church ministering to persecuted and displaced brothers and sisters through other
local churches.
II.
My journey on mission – Kazakhstan/Ukraine report
III.
What is your mission?
Page 1 of 2
“Understanding Christmas as Mission”
John 20:21
December 27, 2015
Discussion Questions:
1) When you think of Christmas, what are the most significant memories for you? What
connection do your memories have with home or coming home? What is the loneliest
Christmas you ever had? Please tell the story.
2) What do you think Christmas was like for Jesus? Was it coming home or leaving home? What
did Jesus leave, and what did he come to? What do you think about Christmas as a mission trip
for Jesus? Have you ever thought of Christmas that way?
3) Which is more important, preaching the gospel to those living in spiritual darkness, or living out
the Gospel through compassionate engagement with those who are suffering? If you grew up
engaged with a faith community growing up, which of these two did they emphasize? What do
you hear more of here at Calvary?
4) The millennial generation emphasizes justice. Previous generations tended to emphasize
preaching the gospel over justice. Which way do you see the pendulum swinging now? What
should balance look like? How do you avoid, on the one hand, excesses of preaching the gospel
while ignoring the very things Jesus paid attention to and, on the other hand, sacrificing the
gospel to run good humanitarian programs?
5) What would you say the role of church planting is in missions? Is this optional or mandatory?
What did Jesus mean when he said He will build his Church? Was He thinking of local
assemblies or an abstract universal Church that may or may not gather anywhere?
6) What is your relationship with missions? How do you interact with what God is doing regionally
and globally? Is it ok for a Christian to opt out of God’s larger purposes and plans? What is your
mission?
7) What keeps you and/or others from engaging in God’s plan to build his church here and around
the world?
Page 2 of 2