Are the Fields Still White?
OPENING THOUGHT
When sea turtles hatch and begin their journey towards the ocean, they use the brightest light to guide them to their new home. For the longest time, the brightest light these baby turtles would see was the moon, bringing them towards the horizon and to the ocean. However, in recent years, scientists have had to start helping baby turtles find their way to the ocean, because of the distraction of artificial lights on and near the beaches.
When it comes to our outreach as a church, we face something like these turtles. We are distracted. We focus on something that isn’t good for us, the people and culture around us that aren’t turning towards God. But we are told to focus on spreading God’s word to those who haven’t heard it yet. Let’s see how God’s word can help us shift our focus back on the people that need to hear the Gospel.
EXPLORING GOD’S WORD
Matthew 28:16-20
What is the command that Jesus is giving his people in this passage?
Are we doing this as the church today? If we are, what are the ways in which we do this?
Why is it so important that we do this?
Would Jesus give us this task if we were not equipped to complete it?
1 Corinthians 3:6-7
According to this passage, what is our job as we go out to spread the word of God?
Is the job emphasized here the job we emphasize for ourselves today?
Do we blame ourselves when we don’t see the seed we planted grow?
How do we overcome the fear of these seeds not growing?
Matthew 13:24-30
How does this parable relate to our mission as Christians today?
Do we focus on the good seeds or the weeds that are growing around us today?
What perspective does this parable encourage us to keep?
Matthew 10:12-15
What is Jesus reminding the apostles of in this passage?
What does this tell us about how we should react when we don’t see the growth in people that we would like to?
How do we become better at shaking the dust off our feet and moving on to the next person or group of people that need to hear the Gospel?
