The Workers are Few and Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
Discuss It – Matthew 9:35-38, 10:1-8
- In what situations do you tend to feel compassion?
- What missionaries do you know personally?
- What do you pray about on a regular basis?
- What was the main message that Jesus was preaching? (9:35)
- What did Jesus end up doing in this place? (9:36) What took him away from preaching?
- Does it seem like the harvest is plentiful these days? (9:37)
- What activity or responsibility absolutely terrifies you?
- Why do you think certain people are antagonistic to the gospel?
- How do we explain Jesus telling them not to go to the Gentiles, but to the lost sheep of Israel?
Apply It
- For what non-Christians do you feel compassion?
- How would you describe the spiritual and moral state of the majority of the people in our society?
- Who are the non-Christians in your circles of influence?
- What can you do to help people see their need for Christ?
- What skills, gifts, abilities, or talents can you use to help others come to Christ?
- What barriers stand in the way of people you know listening to the gospel?
- What can you do to overcome your friends’ and neighbors’ objections or reservations about following Jesus?
- Where specifically do you think Jesus wants you to minister?
- What things act as security blankets in your life and keep you from stepping out in faith?
- How do you react when someone makes jokes about your faith or when people treat you harshly?
- What warnings or encouragements do you need to hear from Jesus in order to go out and represent him?
- What might Jesus be asking you to give up (or not take with you) to show compassion to others, or be evangelistic?