Week 1 - JOIN JESUS
Welcome!
Jesus calls us to join Him in mission to our circles of influence. Over 9 weeks, HARVEST will help you discover how to Join Jesus in making disciples of those around us by living a Prayer > Care > Share > Dare lifestyle.
HARVEST is a Discovery Bible Study for Contact4Impact. You could go through HARVEST on your own. You’ll get more out of it, however, if you work through it with 1 or 2 others from where you live, learn, work or play. Then, you’ll be forming a Contact4Impact Team within your natural network at the same time.
DISCOVER
Ask God to speak to you as you read His Word.
Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)
1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Have someone retell these passages in their own words.
What stands out to you in these passages?
What do these passages say about God (The Father, His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit)?
What do these passages say about people, including ourselves?
What do these passages say about the life God invites us to live?
Digging Deeper
How did Jesus describe His mission in Luke 19?
How does the story of Zacchaeus showcase Jesus’ mission?
His Mission Is Our Mission
John 20:21 (NLT)
As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.
The word mission comes from the Latin word missio which means “to send”.
What mission did the Father send Jesus on?
What mission has Jesus now sent us on?
How is our mission just the extension of Jesus’ mission?
Joining the Father
John 5:19-20 (NLT)
19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing.”
John 12:49-50 (NLT)
49 “I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”
How did Jesus’ relationship with His Father impact His mission?
Jesus didn’t pursue His mission on His own. Instead, Jesus’ mission was the fruit of His relationship with His Father. Everything Jesus said and did flowed from His relational connection with His Father. Jesus lived in partnership with the Father.
Joining the Son
Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
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.”
How does Jesus call us to join Him in mission in His first words to His disciples?
How does Jesus promise to be with us in mission in His last words to His disciples?
Once again, how is Jesus’ mission our mission?
How could the shift from doing mission on your own to joining Jesus in mission practically impact your mission to those around you? In other words, how would seeing your mission as a partnership with Jesus change your perspective and priorities?
Acts 18:9-11 (NLT)
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! 10 For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” 11 So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.
Why did Jesus have to encourage Paul?
What did Paul do in response to this encouragement?
What do you need the encouragement of Jesus’ presence for right now?
LIVE
Start using this mission prompt:
GO with Jesus
Lord, how can I join you in mission to those around me?
How would regularly praying this, not just at the beginning of your day but repeatedly throughout your day, help you stay on mission?
Keep praying this prayer and acting on what Jesus shows you?
Next Meeting
When will we meet again?
Who will facilitate that meeting?
Pray for God’s help as you seek to join Jesus in mission this coming week.
Follow-Up Bible Readings
After each group meeting, there will be 3 Bible readings to help you dig a bit deeper into what we have discussed. Here are the Bible passages you are encouraged to read this coming week: