Key Thought: God longs for His church to be a “going” community – reaching people where they live, work, and play with the good news of salvation.

Jesus on Community Outreach – July 30, 2016

1. Have a volunteer read Luke 10:25-28.

Image © Lars Justinen Goodsalt.com

a. Ask class members to share a thought on what is the most important point in this text is.
b. How do we love our neighbor as ourselves?
c. Personal Application : What factors might be hindering you from seeing and helping other people in need? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “How does your community view Seventh-day Adventists? Are we known as a people who love and care for others?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Matthew 5:13.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. Since salt is a flavoring and preservative to be “sprinkled” on other things, how then do we apply Jesus’ statement about us being the salt of the earth?
c. Personal Application : Does your presence and interaction with others influence them in any ways? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “If your church would close down tomorrow, would the community notice or miss it in any way?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read John 4:34-38.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What are the different steps needed in reaching souls indicated here?
c. Personal Application: What can we do to remove rocks and thorns and soften hard ground in presenting the gospel? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your neighbors states, “Many in the church think that God will send people to them, when the commission is not to stay and sit, but to go. What is your church doing to reach out into the community and help those in need? How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Matthew 10:5-10.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why did Jesus send the disciples into the towns and villages without any resources?
c. Personal Application : How do we mingle with the world to do them good without being caught up in the world and become part of the problem? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing  virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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