Eyes to SeeSample

We’ve spent the last five weeks learning more about poverty and gaining a biblical understanding of how to respond. This week, we’ll explore what all of this means for our lives. We’ll ask God to use us to reflect the love and light that Jesus offers this world. We’ll discuss, pray and commit to taking a first step. We’ll ask God to guide us on how He would have us move forward.

The Bible tells us that God has uniquely equipped us with gifts and passions to build His Kingdom—to be “on mission” right where we are. Now that we’ve seen poverty for what it really is, we want to lean into those unique gifts and passions to see how God calls us to respond to poverty. God is redeeming this broken world. The Bible shows us that there will be a day when poverty will be gone forever. And as we live in the tension between what is and what is to be, God calls us to be a part of His redeeming work.

Reflect:

• Why do we only see people who go far away to “do missions” as missionaries? What passages in the Bible show us that we are all called to be missionaries right where we are?
• What does it mean in Isaiah 58:10 to “spend yourself” on behalf of the hungry?
• When responding to poverty and injustice gets overwhelming and discouraging, what encouragement can we find in Isaiah 58:8-12?
• What do you find the most challenging or the most difficult to understand about living in the tension between what is—our broken world—and what is to come—Jesus making all things new, as we read in Revelation 21?

Respond:

• What gifts and passions has God equipped you with? What gifts and passions do you see in the other members of your group? What steps must you take to be more familiar with the unique ways God has gifted you to contribute to the Kingdom?
• What issues are you incredibly passionate about? How can you engage deeper with this issue and better understand the needs?

Pray:

God, we praise You for uniquely creating each of us to respond to Your children's needs, contribute to the Body of Christ, and build up Your Kingdom. Guide us as we discover how You’ve uniquely given us gifts and passions to use for the good of others. Give us wisdom, courage, humility, and strength as we reflect Your love to the world. Thank You for how You’ve taught and shaped us throughout this journey. Remind us of what we’ve learned in this journey when we need it most. Thank You for all the ways You redeem the brokenness in this world. May You walk with us as we commit to living our lives in a tangible way that reflects Your love to the world. Amen.