WEEK 6 | THE CALL
THE CALL
Throughout His ministry, Jesus was able to have meaningful interactions with those around Him. Rarely did Jesus leave people the same way that he found them and he did that by offering a call or a challenge. If we are sent as Jesus was sent, it’s important to understand the nature and purpose of this call, as it is the same call that we offer today.
THE QUESTION : WHAT DID JESUS CALL PEOPLE TO?
Mark 1:14–15 (ESV) — 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
REPENTANCE
While we often think of repentance in terms of our actions, the word repent literally means “a change of mind.” This change of mind refers to an individual choosing to acknowledge that the things we try to place our trust, hope, and security in are futile. This also becomes a universal call, as we are all being transformed into the image of Christ.
In light of this, Jesus’ call to repentance becomes something much more significant than pointing out behavior that needs to change; it becomes a call to change our minds about what we choose to put our hope and trust in; and an opportunity to see the world the way that God sees it. While this change of mind should lead to a transformed life, changing behavior is not the focus or goal when Jesus calls us to repent; a transformed mind is.
BY CONDUCTING CHANGE
Matt 16:16-21 — 16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what
good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ “ 20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
In this story, Jesus was able to see right into the heart of this man. This meant that he was able to see the very thing that this man loved most, even above his desire to enter into eternal life. In identifying this, Christ was able to show him the flaw in his thinking that was holding him back from being able to truly follow him.
What does this passage expose in this man’s life? What does this say about him?
Why do you think Jesus asked the man to sell his possessions? Why do you think he didn’t ask everyone who wanted to follow him to do the same?
Why do you think this man is unwilling to sell his possessions? What do you think he gets from his wealth?
What would repentance look like for this wealthy man? How do you think that Jesus was calling this man to that?
Spend some time thinking seriously about things in your life that provide you with security, make you feel loved, or give you purpose other than God. Spend some time journaling about them.? Would you consider these things you need to change? Why or why not?
God did not have a universal response for everyone to sell their possessions in order to follow him. What do you think he would ask you to change if you asked him the same question?
BELIEF
Upon acknowledging the false hope found in other things, Jesus calls us to truly believe in the message of the gospel. With a changed mind toward the things we have placed our hope in, we are able to understand and accept the truth of who God is, and what Christ has done. This belief is a choice to believe the whole truth of the Gospel of Christ and what it means for us, which is a transformed understanding of life and a renewed hope that is only found in Christ. Jesus pushes us, and challenges us to believe the truth, even when it’s difficult to hear or understand.
BY ILLUMINATING TRUTH
John 3:1-11 — 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that
I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.
Jesus always brought truth into the lives of the people around Him. Whether it’s by challenging someone’s beliefs, their heart, or their actions, no one who had an encounter with Christ was the same as they were before. In this example, Jesus’ explanation of a new birth challenged Nicodemus’ beliefs, and changed his perspective on spiritual life. Jesus made a clear declaration of truth, and gave Nicodemus a choice to believe and accept it.
How do you think that Jesus’ description challenged Nicodemus’ thinking? Why do you think it’s so hard for him to understand?
How do you think this encounter with Jesus illuminated the truth to Nicodemus? Do you think he understood what Jesus was trying to say?
How was this challenge an opportunity for Nicodemus to believe the gospel?
Think of a time in your life when Jesus exposed something that was difficult to believe. How did that happen and how did you respond?
How do you think Jesus would respond if he were talking to you today? Is there something in your life that is difficult for you to believe right now?
THE EXCUSE : I DON’T WANT TO OFFEND OR EMBARRASS PEOPLE
“What if they think I’m pushy?”
“What if they say no?”
“What if this ruins our friendship?”
“What if they think I’m weird?”
“I don’t want them to think they’re my project.”
Can you relate to any of these feelings? No matter how we try to justify not speaking the truth to those around us, they are often characterized by one thing: fear.
Our fear when it comes to speaking the truth often stems from a fear of judgment
or misunderstanding. Because of this, we often hold back for the sake of preserving friendships, or to avoid having difficult conversations. In this, we are also afraid that the people around us will misinterpret or distort our motivations for friendship and love, making them a sort of spiritual project.
THE HOPE : THE OFFER IS LIFE
John 10:10 (ESV) — The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 20:31 (ESV) — but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the THE CHRIST…
John 10:10 highlights the purpose of the mission and message of Christ, which is simply to bring life where it doesn’t exist. In that statement, we can rest in the power of the message itself, and not worry about our own misunderstanding or judgment.
In what ways has the message of the gospel brought life into your own story? How does this reflect the way that you share the message with others?
Do you believe that the message of the gospel is the message of life? In what ways?
Have you ever found yourself minimizing the message of the gospel as if you were just trying to prove your point? How would your message change if you were to rest in the fact that the gospel is the message of the one true source of life?
The apostle Paul says that some will hear the Gospel of Christ and say that it has the aroma of life and others will say that it has the aroma of death. It is not up to us to decide.
THE CHALLENGE : CALL PEOPLE LIKE JESUS DID
Because of the life in the message of the gospel, Jesus called people to repent and believe. Although it wasn’t always easy to challenge people’s beliefs, he did so by calling them to change their thinking and exposing them to the truth found in the message of the gospel. As we are called in the same manner as Jesus, our charge is the same. Christ calls us to expose the things that people put their trust in, and shine the light of the gospel into their lives.
CALL PEOPLE TO REPENT
When we talk about repentance. We don’t just mean that we are trying to get people to admit that they are sinners. We are calling people out on the falseness of their gods, the futility of the lies that they believe, their need to turn from their current pattern of thinking, perceiving, worshipping and living to faith in the Gospel of God. We are exposing the empty cisterns that people have placed their hope in (Jeremiah 2:13).
I met with a guy who thought that if he could catch a break in his career and get to
the point where he could really support his family and do what he loved for his career, that everything would be great. Calling him to repentance required that I call him on the emptiness of that lie. I asked him, do you really think that you will be happy and satisfied and fulfilled if you get that promotion you are talking about? Look at those who are higher up than you on the food chain, do they seem to have that peace and security that you are longing for? You must turn from that pattern of thinking, to something that is real and lasting. Chasing a career is futile, but Jesus offers water that he says will never leave
us thirsty. What would it be like if you believed that was true? He said, “I wish that were true.” I said, “It is.”
BY BEING SALT
Matthew 5:13 (ESV) — “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? “
In this verse, Jesus calls His people the salt of the earth. Salt, as a preservative, draws the moisture out of meat, killing the bacteria that can make the food spoil quickly. Similarly, God’s people are an active part of drawing out the things that are hindering the spiritual growth of others by identifying them and exposing them for what they are. This has to be done so the truth of the gospel can bring life and health.
How do you think that God wants to use you as salt in the lives of those around you?
Has God ever used you as an agent of change in the life of someone else? How did your interactions draw the truth out in that situation?
Christ doesn’t ask his followers to be salt; he says that they are salt. Why do you think this is important? In what ways do you think we can lose our saltiness?
Think of the people on your LIVING ON MISSION list... if they want to turn to God, what lies do they need to repent of?
CALL PEOPLE TO BELIEVE
When we call people to belief, we are not just asking them to believe that Jesus paid the penalty for their sins. We are asking them to place their faith in the authority of the King and to imagine life under the rule of God as a subject of his kingdom. If God is who he says that he is, what does that mean for me?
We are not calling people to live out Christian values, to attend church, to fix their lives and families. We are calling people to believe God at his word. The sin of Adam and Eve was rooted in unbelief. The sins of Israel were rooted in unbelief.
How can you call people to believe in the Good News about the rule and reign of God?
BY BEING LIGHT
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV) — 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father…
Inherent in the call to be the light of the world is the image of bringing light into dark places. In this, we can be active in both exposing the dark places where people do not believe and illuminating the truth. This is an active part of spiritual growth, and it gives people the opportunity to choose to believe the truth of Christ.
How do you think that you could be used to bring light into the lives of those around you?
Do you think that this call applies to your actions and attitude, as well as your words? Why or why not?
How do you think the call to repentance and belief are related? Can you have one without the other?
Christ doesn’t ask His followers to be light, but he commands them to let their light shine before others. Why do you think he puts it that way? How do you think we could hide our light?
Think of those on your MULTIPLY list... if they want to follow God, what do they need to believe? Where will they truly find life?
THE ASSIGNMENT :
Hopefully as you’ve been praying for and meeting with the people that God has put in your life, you have begun to build some meaningful friendships. Spend some time in prayer this week considering what the next step is for someone that you have met with. Pray for what being the salt and light in their lives looks like and think about how you can begin to challenge them spiritually.
As you do that, take a chance and try to invite them to do something spiritually focused. It doesn’t have to be a big deal; it could be anything from a simple prayer in the moment to an invitation to read and discuss the Bible together. Whatever it is, pray that the Holy Spirit would use you to point to the truth in their life as you begin to do something that is focused on spiritual growth and health.
If they say no, don’t be discouraged. That doesn’t mean that you can no longer be friends, it just means that they aren’t at the point yet where they can recognize the truth of the gospel in the context of their own lives. Remember, in the above example from Matthew 16, Jesus presented a challenge to the young ruler, and the ruler walked away from it. Sometimes, people just aren’t ready for the call to change or to believe something that’s difficult to understand.