Celebrate what God is doing in the world and how God calls us to share the good news with others. These guides contain sermon starters and other ideas for shaping worship services that lift up the mission of God.
How can our churches be places of refuge from the world that divides us and sees some among us as enemies of the state, enemies of morality, enemies of its own citizens? Let’s explore together our options for taking concrete action.
Esther 4:13-14, Luke 19:5-10
God is doing amazing things in our world! Look around you: God is at work in our neighborhoods around the world. Despite the tragedies of the past and present, God is in both the suffering and the life-giving moments.
We’ll explore how God works in spite of the Doctrine of Discovery, and more broadly, hatred in the name of Christ. Join us as we repent of past and present violence, and celebrate the diversity of God’s kingdom.
Luke 24:46-49; Romans 12:9-17; Acts 2:1-6, 3:25-26
Jesus shows us the importance of this quiet, still time with God is paramount when the journey is the most challenging and the demands are most numerous.
Mark 1:29-39; Psalm 46:1-3, 8-11
God’s love has the ability to transform our lives. Explore the topic of transformation through scripture and stories of individuals from areas where Mission Network workers live. May you and your congregation be inspired by God’s word and deeds.
Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:7-15; Philippians 3:4b-14; Matthew 21:33-46
In the face of injustice, the church is called to confession for where we have fallen short, and to testimony to the world about God’s way of peace, where all are treated with love and justice.
Luke 19:1-10; Philippians 2:5-8; Ephesians 2:2-10, 14-22; Galatians 3:28; Jeremiah 10:
In many ways, Jerusalem is a microcosm of our world. It is ancient, beautiful, and teeming with life. And it continues to be torn apart by violence and enmity, fueled by injustice, mistrust, and often—tragically—the misuse of sacred Scripture.
Psalm 122; Micah 4:1-4; Luke 19:41-44
Traditional mission emphasis on Matthew 28 has often focused the action at the end of the chapter with verses 18–20 and the emphasis on “go” and make disciples of all nations. Let’s sit back and read the chapter again and consider the movement within the chapter.
Psalm 32:1-8; Isaiah 1:10-20; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 11-12; Luke 19:1-10; Matthew 28:18-20
The cycles of violence that yield destruction are birthed by the powers and principalities of the world. God’s mission to bring peace and healing in the world relies on communities of men and women being faithful to Jesus and to each other, working for peace in countless ways, large and small. When these communities come together to seek God’s will, the world can be transformed.
Romans 12:1-2, 9-21
Deciding how to participate, or to participate at all, in the political process can be a spiritual exercise when pursued through prayer and in discerning communities of faith. The result of that exercise will lead followers of Jesus to different conclusions. These differences need not lead to division in the body of Christ. With our ultimate allegiance to Jesus, the church at every level can continue engaging in God’s mission of peace and reconciliation, even as we differ in how, or if, we vote.
Ephesians 4:1-6; Matthew 7:1-5; and Romans 14:10-13
