Onward Group Resources
Onward: Living on Mission
January 12, 2025
Objective: To understand and apply the principles of the Great Commission, the Great Commandment, and the Great Compassion in our daily lives.
Ice Breaker: “Passport to Adventure”
Materials Needed: Small slips of paper, pens, a bowl or hat.
Instructions:
- Ask each participant to write down a place they would love to visit on a slip of paper. It could be anywhere in the world.
- Collect all the slips in a bowl or hat.
- Randomly draw a slip and read the destination aloud.
- The person who wrote it shares why they chose that place and one thing they would like to do there.
- Continue until everyone has shared.
Purpose:This activity helps participants think about the broader world and opens up a conversation about missions and reaching out beyond our immediate surroundings.
Lesson Overview:
- Introduction:
– Briefly recap the sermon, focusing on the three key points: the Great Commission, the Great Commandment, and the Great Compassion.
– Emphasize the importance of living on mission, both locally and globally.
- Scripture Reading:
– Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commission)
– Matthew 22:37-39 (The Great Commandment)
– Mark 6:34 (The Great Compassion)
- Discussion Questions:
– What does it mean to you to “make disciples” in your everyday life?
– How can we better love our neighbors as ourselves in practical ways?
– Share a time when you felt compassion for someone. How did you respond?
– How can we prepare ourselves to be ready for mission opportunities, both locally and globally?
– What are some barriers you face in living out the Great Commission, and how can we overcome them together?
- Application:
– Encourage participants to think of one practical step they can take this week to live out the Great Commission, Great Commandment, or Great Compassion.
– Share these steps with the group for accountability and encouragement.
- Prayer:
– Close the session with a prayer, asking God to empower each participant to live on mission and to have a heart of compassion for others.