study guide

Hello friends!

We are so excited to share this Study guide with you, more importantly we are excited to
experience God’s heart together as we journey through these four studies. This guide is
designed to help you reflect on your own and in your Life Group about the Mission of our
Church, which is about ​“Empowering All People to Love + Follow Jesus.”

Each week of the teaching series ​On Mission​ we will be exploring stories from the life of Jesus
that we see this mission based upon. There are definitely far more examples from Jesus’ life
and teachings throughout the scriptures where we see this mission played out.

We believe that God has so much in store for our church as we step courageously into this next
chapter of the story He is writing through our community. Our hope and prayer is that you are
able to see your story in the light of story God has been writing since the beginning. He created
you in His image, with a purpose, and a mission in mind - what a joy it is to discover that
together.

Deeply Grateful,

Existence Church Staff Team

Your transformation requires your participation.

 
“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they 
were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.​ ​ ​And when it 
grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now 
late.​ ​ ​Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves 
something to eat.”​ ​But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to 
him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”​ ​ ​And 
he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, 
they said, “Five, and two fish.”​ ​ T​ hen he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the 
green grass.​ ​ S​ o they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.​ ​ ​And taking the five loaves 
and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave 
them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.​ ​And 
they all ate and were satisfied.​ ​ ​And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the 
fish.​ ​ ​And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.”   
Mark 6:34-44

REFLECT ON YOUR OWN:

Jesus gave thanks to God while it was still just five loaves and two fish. He was filled
with blessing and gratitude before the miracle occured. Ponder the significance of this.
Jesus even stepped out in faith, assembling the people into groups, handing out food to
the disciples before God had multiplied it. ​Jesus’ PARTICIPATION in the miracle
preceded God’s PROVISION.​ What stands out to you about this passage as it relates
to your personal life?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
DISCUSS IN YOUR GROUP:

1.) Has there been a time in your life where it felt impossible to trust God’s
provision?

2.) For you, what keeps you from taking action steps in your faith in the midst of
uncertainty?

3.) Observe the difference between the disciples’ mindset & Jesus’ mindset. Do you
tend to live in a sceptical mindset or an a trusting mindset? Which areas of your
life are easier to live into trust in God? Which are more difficult for you?

4.) Why do you think it was significant that Jesus empowered the disciples to do this
miraculous work despite the “obvious & realistic” limits they faced? How does this
challenge you in your everyday life?
 

All People Need People

 
“But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.​ ​Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All 
the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.​ T ​ he scribes and the Pharisees 
brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in their midst​ ​they said to 
him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.​ N ​ ow in the Law, *Moses 
commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”​ T ​ his they said to test him, that 
they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger 
on the ground.​ A
​ nd as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who 
is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”​ ​And once more he bent down 
and wrote on the ground.​ ​ B
​ ut when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with 
the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.​ J ​ esus stood up 
and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”​ ​ S ​ he said, “No one, 
Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
John 8:1-11

* Referring to Leviticus 20:10. Clearly Jesus would have been familiar with this law, and yet as
fully God and fully man He shows us God’s priority is restoring the dignity of His people over a
legal system bent towards punishment.

REFLECT ON YOUR OWN:

When we look at the ways of Jesus its striking that ​His sinlessness​ produced in Him an
ability to FULLY ACCEPT a woman who was condemned by the religious elite, while He
simultaneously EXPECTED HER TO GROW. In His righteousness, He called her up
instead of putting her down. Pay attention to the order in which He responds to the
accusations by the Pharisees:

● He stops to think before He speaks (bent down to write in the dirt) as they
continue to hurl questions at Him.
● He rebukes the Pharisees for condemning her (He defends Her dignity first)
giving them space to acknowledge their own sin of self-righteous pride.
● Jesus affirms her worth and value, clearly states His acceptance of her.
● Then lastly He lovingly challenges her out of her pattern of sin.

How might God be inviting you follow Jesus’ example as one who restores dignity
where the Church or Christians have marginalized people? Maybe you yourself have
felt un-welcomed or even wounded by a past Church experience. How might God be
inviting you to see Jesus’ true heart of acceptance and grace that His people are called
to model for all people?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________

DISCUSS IN YOUR GROUP:

1.) Which of Jesus’ actions from this passage stands out to you the most? How does
it challenge your view of God?

2.) Who are the people in our modern day culture who you notice are marginalized
by “church people?” In what ways do you see an opportunity for our church
and/or the Church at large to grow in acceptance of all people?

3.) In his book “Changes that Heal” Henry Cloud shares an idea that directly relates
to this passage: ​Grace + Truth + Time = Growth. ​When it comes to growing in
your relationship with God, How have you seen each of these variables at work
in your life?

4.) When you think about the people you choose to spend time with, do they tend to
be people who are “like you” or “unlike you?” What would be a practical way for
you to take a “relational risk” by investing in a friendship that stretches your
comfort zone?
God’s love is free, it costs you nothing. Following Jesus will cost you something.

 
“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and 
Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.​ ​And he said to them, 
“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of *men.”​ ​Immediately they left their nets and followed 
him.​ ​ A
​ nd going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John 
his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”  Matthew 4:18-22

* In verse 19, ​The Greek word ​anthropoi​ refers here to both men and women 
 

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you 
love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to 
him, “Feed my lambs.”​ ​He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” 
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”​ ​ H ​ e 
said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because 
he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know 
everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.​ ​ T
​ ruly, truly, I say to 
you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but 
when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you 
where you do not want to go.”​ (​ This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify 
God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” John 21:15-19

* The significance of Jesus asking Peter three times “Do you love me?” is directly related to the
three times Peter denied Jesus leading up to the crucifixion in John 18:15-23
 

REFLECT ON YOUR OWN:

Spiritual formation (maturing in our faith) requires us to follow Jesus into the unknown
and often unglamourous work of serving others. “Following Jesus” is not just a response
to a one time salvation invitation, but is a journey for every season of our lives.
Likewise, “Following Jesus” can’t be disconnected from Love. In fact, It is impossible to
Love Jesus without loving the people He died for.​ ​Learning to love and follow Jesus is
the adventure of a lifetime, and will indeed take a lifetime of sacrificially pouring out our
love to Him and His people.
As we see played out in the life of Peter, he had moments of epic failure as a follower of
Jesus, He denied Jesus three times, often misspoke, and didn’t fully trust Jesus at other
times. However, we see in John 21 that Jesus continues to give Him opportunities to
learn from mistakes, and be included once again in His mission of building God’s
kingdom on earth. Jesus is about full restoration, even in our worst failures. Just like
Peter, our lives are also restored as we fight for the restoration of others. Might God be
inviting us to experience His love in a deeper way as we love and care for His people?

____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________

DISCUSS IN YOUR GROUP:

1.) Describe a time when loving someone or something felt costly to you?

2.) In Matthew 4:18-22 -- the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, we see the invitation to
His disciples to “Follow me”... What did they lose? What did they gain?

3.) When you think of your relationship with God, what is something you “gave up” or
are currently learning to “give up” from your old way of life in order to follow
Jesus?

4.) In John 21:15-19 Jesus sets up a healing conversation for Peter to restate his
allegiance to Jesus after his three denials of Him. Jesus restores Peter’s
understanding that “Loving Him” is about feeding and caring for others - and
being willing to go where you don’t want to go, even to the point of death… How
does this challenge your ideas of what it means to glorify God with your life?
What would you do if you knew God was for you?

“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to
the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet
Isaiah* was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in
the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been
fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:16-21

* Referring to Isaiah 61:1-2 

 
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.​ ​So we 
have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever 
abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”  1 John 4:15-16 
 
 

REFLECT ON YOUR OWN:

What we read in Luke 4 is a powerful moment in the life and ministry of Jesus. This was
the first moment when Jesus states His identity as the Son of God. This moment
catalyzes Jesus’ public ministry, making it clear what His mission on earth was. This
was also a revolutionary statement Jesus made that God’s love was for the poor, the
blind, the oppressed… for everyone. This is the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus.

Jesus came to earth to live a perfect sinless life, to show us what God’s love looked like
in human form. He died on the cross for a crime He didn’t commit - taking the sins of the
world upon Himself. Then He rose again three days later, conquering sin and death, His
resurrected life serving as an invitation to anyone to follow Him and enter into an eternal
relationship with God. Jesus made a way for us to be saved from the oppression,
blindness and poverty of our own sin and shame. We needed a rescuer, a savior, a love
powerful enough to forgive us and save us. We needed Jesus.

A love so bold requires a response, God does not force His love on anyone - but He
invites everyone into an eternal relationship with Him. Reflect on your heart’s posture
towards Jesus’ invitation to a new life in Him.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________

DISCUSS IN YOUR GROUP:

1.) When was the first time that the message of Jesus became clear to you? Are you
still exploring what a relationship with Jesus is all about?

2.) If you consider yourself a follower of Jesus (a Christian) how has the mission of
Jesus’ life affected the mission of your life?

3.) How does it make you feel to hear that God is FOR you? Do you believe that it’s
true, or are there moments it’s difficult to believe? What would you to if you knew
God was for you?

4.) Are there people in your life who need to know that God is for them too? How
might God have uniquely positioned you in their life to help them experience
God’s love? What is a practical way you can show them this week that they
matter to you and they matter to God?