MISSIONAL COMMUNITY QUESTIONS 

1. Read Ephesians 3:7-13. If possible, listen to the sermon again.

2. Looking back over your notes from this weeks sermon what was the most important truth from God's Word? Was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged you, or confused you? Any questions?

3. Read 2 Corinthians 11:21-33. Then read Philippians 3:4-14.
Think back on your own testimony. Recount times where you may have doubted but in retrospect you now know that God was, in fact, “working all things together for your good and his glory.” Share your stories with the group.

4. Paul makes clear that it is only by GRACE that he is who he is and doing what he is for Christ. This is what made him not only willing but joyful in suffering. But we also see that this is what made him bold. He knew the truth, the new covenant in Christ, and therefore could not be silent. Is this true for you? Has experiencing God’s grace made you gracious, compassionate, and bold?

How so? If not, confess this to your brothers and sisters. BUT do not just confess. Tell us how we, as the church, the imperfect bride, help you in your desire and motivation to do so?

5. Find other scriptures to share with the group that emphasizes just how important the church is to God. How does it make God look to others if we do not also make it seem this important? How can we fight against this drift in our daily/weekly lives?

6. (From last week) Read Romans 8:17-18, @ Timothy 2:3, Philippians 3:10.
Now reconcile those truths with Matthew 11:28-30 and Ephesians 3:13.

7. Find other scriptures about suffering to share with the group. Now see if you can find any that tell us to avoid, grumble, or throw a pity party about suffering for Christ’s sake? Why does God set it up this way?

Pastor’s Note:
We know there are probably sufferings and struggles that are affecting the people of Mission that we may not have any idea about. We want to fervently encourage you to bring those to us as your pastors and let us walk with you, cry with you, counsel you, and help you in whatever way we can. That is what it means to be the church.

We hear people all the time say ‘I thought about talking to you but I didn’t want to bother you.’ As one of your pastors speaking for all three of us…please bother us…because it is no bother. We want to live out the command we see in 1 Peter 5:1-3 “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
We love you. We want to walk with you, even and especially when it is messy and difficult.

ADDITIONAL STUDY:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/silent-suffering/
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/will-god-ever-give-us-more-than-we-can-handle