LEADER’S INTRODUCTION - Please read!

LIFE ON THE FRONTLINE

WELCOME TO LIFE ON THE FRONTLINE! These notes have been adapted from the LICC’s (London Institute for Contemporary Christianity) ‘Life on the Frontline’ course. Please read them to help you get the best from each session…. LICC’s Introduction for Group Leaders Thank you for deciding to use Life on the Frontline with your group. The sessions are based on two firm beliefs: 1. that God longs for us, his people, to grow as disciples of Jesus; and 2. that as disciples, God longs to use us seven days a week wherever our everyday lives take us. Most of us spend most of our time surrounded by people who don’t know the joy of following Jesus. Our Frontlines are the places where we meet and interact with them. One of the wonderful things about being a disciple is that God takes our strengths, our personalities, our situations and uses them for his purpose. And because he loves people, he will have already used us on our Frontlines – even if we’ve not been fully aware of it. And of course he will continue to do so. It’s important that people realise that there are many ways that God will work through us; but, for that to happen, we need one another’s support and encouragement. The sessions will prompt many discussions. We hope that these will help everyone taking part to: • Recognise where their own Frontlines are • Talk about the joys and challenges of their Frontlines and be increasingly aware of what God is doing there • Begin to understand how God might use them on their Frontlines • Hear new stories of God at work in us and through us • Be encouraged to pray with real purpose for each other • Recognise how relevant the Bible is for disciples serving God on their Frontlines. How the sessions work together Each session has a common set of ingredients: 1. Film A short film introduces the core idea for the session, presents the Bible passage for group reflection and tells a true story of how this has been worked out in real life. Session 1’s film has a different format and purpose. It’s shorter and it’s fully animated. It introduces all the themes that will be explored in the rest of the sessions. It’s an ideal format to encourage the church to engage with the series together. The remaining five films are around 7-8 minutes long. 2. Discussion Notes Each session’s outline includes: • A summary of the central thought • Discussion questions including Bible reflection • A suggested focus for prayer. There are suggested timings for each session, but these are simply suggestions. We’ve tried to allow for the focused time together to last about 60mins. If you had 75 minutes you may feel a bit more relaxed – but don’t worry if you don’t have time to get through it all. Try hard to keep discussions down-to-earth and applied to your group member’s everyday situations, rather than solely theoretical or abstract. We need to connect to everyday life so that the sessions make a genuine difference to how we are living. It’s also really important to emphasise that God wants to empower and resource us for whole-life discipleship as we give time to Bible study, prayer and growing in our love of God and our understanding of his ways. There are more questions than you may get through in a session – this is deliberate and don’t worry if you don’t get through them all! Home Group members will be given a ‘Participant’s Guide’ with the questions in. This is loosely based on the LICC resource but, again, has been expanded and adapted for JPC. The ‘Leader’s Guide’ is expanded further and has suggested answers to the questions. Most of the time, what you see in italics in this guide do not appear in the Member’s Guides. In encouraging group members to talk about their Frontlines, it is easy for people to get preoccupied by the stresses and challenges of everyday life. We don’t want to minimise these. But we do want to encourage people to look at them from a different angle: in spite of the difficulties and challenges, and sometimes because of them, God is able to work in us so that we become increasingly like Jesus; at the same time he is able to work through us for the sake of others, who live without any hope in God but who face the same stresses and challenges as us.

Preparing to lead LICC has developed Living on the Frontline because they’re committed to helping Christians be fruitful in following Jesus day by day. Less than 7% of the population in the UK goes to church. Yet God has sent his people into the world to be salt and light. Christians are exactly where they need to be to serve him and to grow as disciples themselves. Often, though, they just don’t realise how much their everyday context matters to God. Or they’re not confident that God will actually use them rather than someone else. Or perhaps they feel ill-equipped for the task. Our whole lives are significant to God. Wherever we are day by day we’re in a place to make a difference. The crucial issue of effective mission in the UK will only be addressed when we embrace a radical, but simple, re-focusing of our understanding of mission. We believe that this is especially significant considering our vision for church growth, both here in Newcastle and further afield. If the church can envision and equip ‘ordinary’ men and women to make a difference wherever they are (if churches can truly become whole life disciple-making communities) then the effect, under God, in the UK could be transforming. Further reading You may wish to explore the Frontline concept in greater depth so here are some suggestions: Imagine Church (IVP) - A small group of JPC men have already read Neil Hudson’s Imagine Church which offers a lively description of how churches can change their culture so as to foster whole-life disciple-making. Leading a Whole-life Disciple-making Church (Grove) - Tracy Cotterell and Neil Hudson’s booklet also provides a brief introduction. The Great Divide (LICC) - an excellent short guide on the Sacred-Secular Divide by Mark Greene. (See Jon Teasdale for copies). LICC website - www.licc.org.uk/about-licc/vision a short film of LICC’s Executive Director Mark Greene explaining what whole-life discipleship is all about…plus many other great resources at the click of a button!

A note on Session 1 and the Billy Graham DVD Most Home Group leaders saw the Billy Graham DVD “The Cross” at the last HG Leaders Meeting. By the time you do these studies it is likely that a few of your HG members may have seen it at a Christianity Explored Taster session. However, we believe that there could be mileage in showing the DVD (30mins) to your group to try and see if there is a way you would wish to use it together, evangelistically during March.  To that end we suggest that you consider making Session 1 (25th February) more special than normal! Maybe you could start at 7.30pm, or even earlier, and share a meal together too!  Then show the Billy Graham DVD before kicking off the Life on the Frontline series.  Then in the last couple of weeks of March you may think of a way to use the Billy Graham DVD as a Home Group Easter outreach event.

25 February 2015

SESSION 1: The Frontline Call

LIFE ON THE FRONTLINE

Key Question: What is my Frontline and why does it matter? Aim of session: To introduce the idea of the Frontline and to explore why we need to value one another’s Frontlines Bible Passage: Matthew 28:16-20 Extra Reading: The Great Commission – a sermon preached at JPC (13 Jan 2008) www.printandaudio.org.uk/r/546

INTRODUCTION Either read this through or allow people time to read it themselves (2 mins) We begin these sessions by exploring the perspective, attitude and action that comes once we take seriously the fact that Jesus is Lord of every aspect of our lives. Throughout the sessions you will hear the term Frontline used regularly, so here is a definition: Your Frontline is the place where you spend the majority of your time outside the church, where you are in contact with non-Christians. So your Frontline could be the workplace, school, home or neighbourhood − but, wherever it is, it’s the place where you are aware of people that God loves and of situations where God could use you to make a difference. Everyone is different, so no two Frontlines are identical. Some people may have difficulty in identifying their Frontline, or in seeing how God might use them there − but: • Everyone in your church community (young or old, in paid employment or not, sick or healthy) has a Frontline − and it matters! • God is at work on the Frontline, shaping us and using us. So together we need to explore how God invites us to make a difference for his Kingdom on our Frontlines – and together we need to help each other see the significance and value of where God has placed us. Imagine what it might look like in your small group if members were: • Able to identify their Frontline and knew why God has placed them there • Sent out to the places they spend their time knowing that they go there in God’s strength and with his purpose • Excited about life on their Frontline and increasingly able to identify where and how God is at work there • Able to share their struggles on the Frontline with others in similar contexts and discover new ways forward as followers of Christ • Ready to share stories about how God is using them on their Frontline and celebrating God’s work in that place...  DVD Clip Click Session 1 from main menu

(8 mins)

DVD DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (10 mins) Invite the group to share their responses to the film by asking something like: Q1. What did you make of the film? or Does Anne’s situation ring any bells for you? Don’t spend too much time on this question, use it merely as an initial reaction ‘tester’ to see whether anything from the clip stood out particularly – in either a positive or negative way! Q2. Do you think that we fall into the trap described in the DVD that “God only wants to use us in activities that are linked to church programmes”? Q3. Are church activities the most important things to get involved in? Use Q2 & Q3 to probe people’s thoughts. Whilst church activities are very important in many ways (eg building and encouraging the saints, opportunities to serve and grow) sometimes people can fall into the trap of thinking that they are all that God is interested in. We need to avoid the trap of the sacred-secular divide (the idea that some things God is more interested in and some things he is less interested in). God cares intensely about every aspect of lives and how we are living faithfully for him 24/7. Part of the point of this whole ‘Frontline’ series is help people see that while Sunday ‘gathered’ activities are very important and crucial for the Kingdom, so too are the Mon-Sat ‘scattered’ lives of each and every one of us. Furthermore, it is these ‘scattered’ environments, by their very nature and the amount of time they take up in our lives, which actually are our mission fields. Other questions to get discussion going….  Why does our everyday life not always feel very exciting?  What can get in the way of us believing that God can use our everyday situations?  What would you say to a friend who was struggling to believe that God could use them?

UNDERSTANDING YOU FRONTLINE (10 mins) ‘Where we are’ matters. Where we already are most of the time in any ordinary week is usually our ‘Frontline’ of engagement with the world. Wherever we are living/working/being/playing – this is the place where we can put effort and energy into people and projects, into ‘making a difference where we already are.’ Help people identify their own Frontlines by getting them to answer the following questions. Depending on the group this could be a solo exercise where you give folk a couple of minutes to jot down some brief answers on their own, or it could work in pairs or threes, or some groups may wish to have an open discussion about their answers. Q4. Where is your Frontline? Q5. What issues do you face there? Q6. What resources might help you? Q7. How can JPC / this Home Group help you? (Do feedback points via your Home Group Leader Coordinator!) BIBLE PASSAGE Matthew 28: The Great Commission 6

(30 mins) 17

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And 18 when they saw him they worshipped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All 19 authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, 20 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus gives the Commission in Galilee and not in Jerusalem. Look at Matthew 4:12-17. Galilee was where the disciples came from; it’s where much of the ministry of Jesus took place. It was away from Jerusalem, the centre of the Jewish faith. As far as the rest of Israel was concerned, Galilee didn’t have a particularly prestigious reputation…. Q8. Why do you think Jesus appeared to his disciples there? Does this have any application for us today? Q9. What two claims/promises does Jesus give to his disciples (v.18 and v.20)? That he has all authority and that he will be with his disciples to the end of the age. Q.13 will follow up the implications of this once we have explored more what the Great Commission actually involves. Q10. What is the basic command of the Great Commission? To make disciples – the implication being that true disciples make other disciples. The main verb in this sentence isn’t the going, baptising or teaching (they form the how) – it is the ‘making’ disciples. That is our main task as follows of Jesus. Q11. How are ‘disciple-making disciples’ told to fulfil the Great Commission? By going, baptising and teaching. Note how these are all proactive. Q12. Where does Jesus say that the Great Commission applies? ‘all nations’ ie everywhere. Naturally this includes world mission opportunities, but it also means that there is nowhere that the Great Commission does not apply. And so we need to adopt/develop our mission mind-sets. The Great Commission (going, telling, teaching) applies to every one of our north-east Frontlines. We all need to have the same approach to mission whether we are in Uganda, North Africa, Brazil or in a hospital, in school, office, retirement home …. wherever. Q13. How do the facts that the King of Kings has all authority and that he is with us always encourage you as you think about being a disciple-making disciple on your Frontline? Q14. How do we feel about the fact that most people on our Frontlines are not living for the one who has “all authority”? This is a question designed to probe how much we allow the everyday tasks of our Mon-Sat Frontlines to get in the way of our love and concern for those around us who don’t yet know Jesus. The question may lead people to think about the ways that people ignore Jesus’ authority, but I would try and keep people focused on the importance of their role in revealing the ‘one who has all authority’ to the people on their Frontlines. PRAYER (10 mins) Spend some time in prayer, particularly for each other’s Frontlines and for any issues that have arisen during the course of the study.

11 March 2015

SESSION 2: The Frontline Commission

LIFE ON THE FRONTLINE

Key Question: What happens when life on our Frontline feels difficult? Aim of session: To explore God’s call to Frontline service, particularly when the Frontline seems difficult or hostile Bible Passage: Jeremiah 29:1-14

INTRODUCTION (2 mins) Hopefully the first session encouraged you to see your life as one that God wants to use for his purposes – wherever you are. When life is going relatively smoothly, knowing that you are making a difference can feel great. But what about when the going gets rough, when you don’t feel in control, when simple survival is your most pressing concern? These are the times when it’s not so much about whether God can use me this week; it feels as if it’s more about whether I can get to the end of it in one piece. What about times like these? How can we survive on our Frontline and maybe even thrive there as well? Begin by inviting group members to share any post meeting thoughts or issues since the last study.  DVD Clip Click Session 2 from main menu

(8 mins)

DVD DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (10 mins) Invite the group to share their responses to the film by asking something like: Q1. Is anyone in a similar situation to Ed? What is happening? or Do you ever think ‘If only I could be somewhere else’? It may well be that this question raises some hitherto unknown issues – be aware and don’t rush on if you as a group need to support someone struggling on their Frontline. If they want to, allow them to share it with the group. Q2. How are you trying to be good news in your everyday situations? Use this question as a way to increase each other’s understanding about the various Frontlines represented in the group. Q3. What does it mean to pray for the peace and prosperity of your Frontline? Are there any particular blessings of God for which you could pray? Q4. What could you pray that God would change? Use these questions to explore how group members can actively be praying for their Frontlines. In doing so it should also encourage general conversation about each other’s Frontlines and further inform the group about each member’s everyday situations.

BIBLE PASSAGE (35 mins) As is made clear in the film this session is based on a letter that Jeremiah sends to the Israelites living in exile. His advice to them was unexpected and, to some, unwanted. In order to get a sense of the predicament that the people of God faced: Read 2 Chronicles 36:15-21. This explains what happened when God’s people were taken into exile. Despite having a few good kings and some good reform from time to time, the people never really changed. As a result God used the Babylonian empire under Nebuchadnezzar to invade Judah, destroy Jerusalem and take the people off as captives to Babylon. Jeremiah has been left behind in Jerusalem. As you read his letter try and imagine how shocking and treasonable the command to ‘seek the peace and prosperity of Babylon’ (v.7) would sound? Jeremiah 29:1-14: Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from 2 Jerusalem to Babylon. This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the officials of Judah 3 and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metal workers had departed from Jerusalem. The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. It said: 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to 5 6 Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and

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daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into 8 exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do 9 not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord. 10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfil to you 11 my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for 12 welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to 13 14 me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

Q5. In their situation how would you have responded if you had received that letter? Q6. What do v.5-6 tell us about Jeremiah’s focus? That there is an ordinary, everyday focus to what Jeremiah is saying. Building and living in homes; planting, growing and eating; families – these are all examples of engaging in the normal activities of life. Q7. What was the mission of the exiles on their new Frontlines in Babylon? (v.7) To seek Babylon’s welfare and to pray for it! This would have been a very surprising mission. But Jeremiah is about to tell them that they are going to be there for some time, so even though it is a pagan, wicked empire it will be best for the exiles to pray for its welfare! Q8. How long were the Israelites to remain in exile? So what is the probable lie of the false prophets? (v.8-10) 70 years – so it is implied that the false prophets were saying that God would rescue them quickly. This would be encouraging the exiles to pray that God would get them out of Babylon (which in time he would) but really their focus needed to be on where God had already placed them. Would they live faithfully in that situation? Q9. In times of difficulty it is natural to hope that God will rescue us quickly. Sometimes he does. Sometimes he doesn’t. How can we help each to be hopeful when situations take a long time to change? Q10. What is the future hope for the exiles? (v.10-11) That they would return to Jerusalem after 70 years and that God’s plan (however delayed) always has a future hope. Note on verse 11. Christopher Wright states: Jeremiah 29:11 probably ranks as one of the most quoted and most claimed promises of the Bible. It is found in countless text calendars, pretty pictures and sacred ornaments. It is rightly trusted as a very precious word of assurance from God. But do we take note of its context? This is a surprising word of hope to a people who stood under God’s judgement. It is not a glib happy feeling: ‘God’s going to be nice to us all, me especially’ (we should note that the ‘you’ is plural not individual – this is primarily a promise to the people as a whole). It is rather the robust affirmation that even in and through the fires of judgement there can be hope in the grace and goodness of God. That is God’s ultimate plan and purpose. The promise stands firm. But it does not preclude or neutralise judgement. Rather it presupposes but transcends judgement.

Q11. So according to v.12-14 what is the challenge to the exiles, and by implication us, in light of our future hope? Although v.12 begins with ‘then’ it is literally translated ‘and’; the implication being that the exiles don’t have to wait until the 70 years are up to call on, seek and pray to the Lord. Likewise for us. Whatever our Frontline God wants us to talk to him and seek him with all our hearts. Yes we need to wait for our ultimate freedom and future hope, but we can call on him now – whatever difficult Frontline we may be on. We must live faithfully within a life situation that we do not like but cannot change. There is no immediate solution to our set of circumstances, but there is a way to be faithful. That is the situation here. Jeremiah is spelling out for those already in Babylon a way to be faithful even in a ‘down’ situation. God longs for us to do so much more than simply survive on our Frontlines – he wants us to thrive!

PRAYER (10 mins) Spend some time in prayer, particularly for each other’s Frontlines and for any issues that have arisen during the course of the study.

25 March 15

SESSION 3: The Frontline Community

LIFE ON THE FRONTLINE

Key Question: How do all our various church activities equip us for our lives when we are apart? Aim of session: To explore the role of the gathered church community in equipping, supporting and sustaining whole-life disciples on the Frontline. Bible Passage: Colossians 3:12-17

INTRODUCTION (5 mins) As the above aim states, the hope of this session will be to explore how scattered disciples are grown through gathered disciple-making communities. We need to draw biblical support, wisdom and courage from one another so we are fully equipped to serve God on our Frontlines. Amongst other things this means that we need to learn how to be attentive to God’s voice when we are together and when we are apart; we need to remind one another that we are called to be on our Frontlines; we need to remind each other of the reality of God’s grace in our lives and the need for us to engage in his mission; and we need to not only listen to each other talk about the things that we find difficult – but we also need to be kept accountable. Begin by asking one or both of the following questions? Q1. How has JPC helped you live faithfully as a disciple of Jesus? What aspects have been particularly helpful? Q2. What can we do as a group to encourage one another to talk openly about our Frontline challenges and experiences (positive or negative)?  DVD Clip Click Session 3 from main menu

(8 mins)

DVD DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (10 mins) Invite the group to share their responses to the film by asking something like: Q3. What did you make of Alice, Pat and Shirley’s story? It may well be that the DVD raises one or two concerns – 1. Who can lead a service and what was the nature of the service in the sheltered accommodation? 2. Was Neil saying that the church shouldn’t protect itself? (High hedge illustration) Don’t raise these, but if your group mentions them in their responses and in order to avoid getting side-tracked I’d mention something along the lines of 1. All Christians are called to minister (small m) to those who God puts in our path. There is a difference between small informal gatherings and official meetings of an established church. 2. Neil isn’t saying that the church is not about protecting the flock, but the point is made about the hedge (read wall) not in the context of truth and error, but in our visibility to the world. In other words the hedge needs to be high and strong enough to keep wolves and false teachers out, but low enough for the people of God to be visible to the world and therefore make a difference in it. Anyway – as I say don’t get side-tracked by these potential points! The following questions are designed to turn the conversation from the DVD to member’s own situations…. Q4. In what ways would you like to be bold on your Frontline? Q5. How can we help each other be involved in God’s wider purposes in the wider world? In the DVD example the ladies discovered they could work together on the Care Home Frontline. Ensure the group appreciate that sometimes we share Frontlines and sometimes we are on our own!

BIBLE PASSAGE (40 mins) In the DVD Neil reads Colossians from the Message, which is a paraphrase. For the purposes of study though we will return to the more accurate ESV translation! In Colossians 3 Paul encourages Christians to have Christ and ‘the things above’ as both their focus and priority. (v.1-4). He uses the first few verses to link the argument in Chapter 2 (against false teachers who advocate ascetism as the way of life for believers) with the true way of life for believers. In a way Paul is arguing against some ethereal, remote, monastic existence for Christians and saying that we need to be involved in the thick of it, but not as we once were (v.5-11). Rather, he goes on explain what it looks like to live as whole-life disciples (v.12-17). It is these qualities that will help us cultivate authentic gathered whole-life communities. And whilst Paul’s implicit focus is admittedly on the gathered church here, in just a few more verses time he will deal explicitly with the implications of our visibility to the outside world. (3:22 on, esp 4:3-6).

So what we have here are instructions to the ‘gathered’ (Home Groups and Sundays) designed to equip us live as the ‘scattered’ (Frontlines) and thereby help us live authentically as whole-life disciples! Read Colossians 3:1-17 but explain that we will mainly focus in on verses 9-17. 3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Q6. What do you understand by the phrase ‘Christ is all and in all’ (v.11)? ‘Christ is all’ = Christ is all that matters – compare with v.1-4. He is our focus and priority in all things. ‘in all’ = Christ in us is sufficient for every need for whole-life discipleship. Q7. Contrast v.8 and v.12 – what spiritual reality is Paul highlighting here? Regeneration! When we become Christians there is a change of identity that must be backed up by a change of behaviour. True that behavioural change is not always instantaneous and is never perfect this side of glory, but nonetheless change there must be. Q8. According to v.9 what is an absolute given for those who ‘have been raised with Christ’? Truthfulness – ‘Do not lie to one another’. Dick Lucas, in his BST commentary, say this: “The appeals for open truthfulness with one another, and for a spirit of forgiveness and mutual tolerance, sharply demonstrate Paul’s concern for unity in the local church, a concern which governs all that he writes from verse 9 to verse 17. Miss this, and we read the paragraph in vain.” (Lucas BST p.152) Q9. How does Paul’s description of the Colossians (and you by implication) as “God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved” help you to be bold? Paul uses these words deliberately as they were special titles used of Israel in the OT. They described God’s people as his possession. In the NT they are used of Jesus. Paul is highlighting our similarity to Christ. The fact that we are addressed in a similar way is both a privilege and a motivation to behave in a Christ-like way. In addition some may reflect on God’s sovereignty in choosing us and therefore being in control of all our circumstances. God’s sovereignty can be a wonderfully supportive doctrine to encourage our boldness! Q10. According to v.12ff what have we been chosen for? To put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience and love. To live a new life in Christ. Q11. Practising gratitude is a repeated theme here (v.15-17). Why is it so important for us to be grateful people? To be an ungrateful Christian is surely an affront to God. At best ingratitude reveals a spiritual amnesia about what God has done for us in Christ, at worst it may show that we have misunderstood salvation. If we are to share with one another the benefits of God’s mercy towards us through the cross of Christ, then we should live without any hatred, contempt or ingratitude to each other in our hearts. (v.13 as the Lord has forgiven you…..)

Note on v15 from the New Bible Commentary: “This verse has been a favourite with Christians for it is claimed that Christ’s peace will act as a kind of unique umpire within our hearts, giving us some private and inward peace of the soul when we need guidance or help in making a decision. But the ‘peace of Christ’ does not refer to a private and inward peace of the soul. Instead it is the peace he embodies and brings (cf John 14:27) and is equivalent to salvation. Further, it is not a question of Christ’s peace ‘acting as an umpire’. Rather the verb means to ‘rule’ [where a paraphrase lets us down!]; Christ himself, who is the Lord of peace (cf Eph 2:14; 2 Thes 3:16), is to be present and ruling in their midst. He is to control every area of their lives as they relate to one another. Since the Colossians are said to have been called into this peace (through the gospel), then it must also describe the realm or sphere in which they, as members of Christ’s body, now live.” Q12. How can we help one another become grateful people? This question is designed to elicit subjective practical answers, but Colossians 3 provides some objective spiritual truths as well:  Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly (v.16)  Singing thankful praise to God (v.16)  Put Christ first (v.17 and v.1-4 again)

PRAYER (10 mins) Spend some time in prayer, particularly for each other’s Frontlines and for any issues that have arisen during the course of the study. Give the group time to share in twos or threes the basics of their Frontlines and how they want to serve God there. Encourage each member to pray for one other member in the group over the next fortnight.

8 April 15

EASTER SPECIAL: Surveying the Cross on the Frontline

Key Issue: Surveying the Cross of Christ Aim of session: To remind ourselves of the real meaning of Easter Bible Passage: Luke 23:32-49 INTRODUCTION (5 mins) The real meaning of Easter often gets buried by all the chocolate commercialism - so this week we take a break from the main Frontline series and dip into Luke’s Gospel to remind ourselves of what this time of year is all about. However, in doing so we’ll still consider how we can survey the Cross on our Frontlines. In this Easter Special we will look specifically at the death of Jesus on the cross. We remember that event on Good Friday. Yet many are puzzled why Christians describe that day as ‘good’ - surely it was tragic not good? Tonight’s passage says otherwise and explains why that day was not only good, it was also the best and most important day in human history. Read on and learn again all about the wondrous cross of Jesus Christ... BIBLE PASSAGE Read Luke 23:32-49 32

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Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his 34 left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his 35 garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him 36 save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering 37 38 him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and 40 us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of 41 condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done 42 43 nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” The Death of Jesus 44 45 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the 46 sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, 47 said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the 48 centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating 49 their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(45 mins)

Q1. What do people on your Frontline (both Christians and non-Christians) think about Jesus’ death on the cross? Obviously Christians and non-Christians have very different views of the cross. Christians who have come to terms with what Jesus’ death means are grateful and have it as the focus of their faith. Non-Christians are split in their view of the cross. Some are baffled, one person who did Christianity Explored at JPC needed to have why Jesus' death was good explained repeatedly. Others are revolted by the cross - that God needed a sacrifice for sins is hard for some to accept. Others still (perhaps the majority) simply do not think anything of the cross. Q2. Looking over v32-43 what are the similarities and differences between the two criminals executed with Jesus? On the surface these two men are very similar indeed - they are both guilty, they are both under a judgement and they are both facing imminent death because of their guilt. However, as you read this passage you become aware of a profound difference between them - their reaction to Jesus. One of them is hostile and insulting, the other recognises who Jesus is (see more below) and demonstrates a desire to be accepted by him. These two are a small picture of the whole of humanity - we are all guilty, under judgement and facing death because of our guilt. They are also a picture of two possible reactions to Jesus. It is worth asking your group whether they recognise these two criminals as a reflection of humanity.

Q3. What are the key elements in the criminal’s ‘confession’ in v40-42? These verses are a great example of what coming to faith in Jesus Christ involves. The first element is that he recognises God’s authority and his guilt; (“Don’t you fear God...We are punished justly...” 40, 41). Secondly he recognises who Jesus is - that he is an innocent man being put to death (“But this man has done nothing wrong” 41). Then thirdly he appeals to Jesus’ mercy and not his own merit (“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” 42). The three elements can be summed up as: admitting his guilt; believing in Jesus and coming to Jesus for forgiveness. Q4. How is v43 an encouragement to you? How do you live your life in the light of it? The repentant criminal is as guilty as they come but Jesus’ mercy is sufficient. He could not earn salvation. We are no less guilty than that man and so this little conversation can give Christians who have admitted, believed and come to Jesus great assurance of their acceptance by God. That man was promised paradise when he died - so are we if we rely on Jesus’ mercy. What impact should that have on our lives? We should have assurance and be certain of our salvation and our future. That assurance should then have an impact on how we live our lives. Our confidence in Christ should lead to a desire to serve him and to a godly life. Q5. Get into smaller groups and work out what light the verses below shed on the meaning of the darkness and the curtain in v44-46? Some additional questions have been provided to help you work out what the verses are saying. • Amos 8:9, Isaiah 13:9-10 - Looking over the whole of Amos 8/Isaiah 13 what ‘day’ are these verses talking about? These verses refer to the day of judgement when God would punish all those who rebelled against him. In both passages the day of God’s wrath is marked by sun being darkened. Jesus was executed in the middle of the day (the sixth hour was what we call midday) and the sun was darkened - indicating that God’s wrath was being poured out there and then. • Exodus 26:31-33, Hebrews 9:3 - What was the significance of the Most Holy Place? The Most Holy Place was where the Lord dwelt under the old covenant. It was separated from the rest of the Temple by a thick curtain. Only the Chief Priest was allowed in there once a year. The curtain signified the separation between man and God caused by sin and that sinful man could never enter into the presence of the holy God. Q6. What do these two events teach us about Jesus’ death on the cross? How does this make Jesus’ promise to the criminal in v43 possible? These two events teach us very important things about Jesus’ death. The darkness tells us that Jesus was being punished by God for sin when he was on the cross, despite the fact that he was innocent (as the converted criminal noted). The tearing of the curtain tells us that Jesus was being punished to open up the way between God and sinful man and that Jesus’ death bought free access to God’s presence for everyone who came through Him. The problem of sin, that has separated God and man since the earliest days of creation, was dealt with when Jesus died. Q7. Look at v47-49. What reactions are found there? Which do you share? There are 3 reactions. First, there is belief - the Centurion (v47) was the only one who could clearly see what had happened on the cross that day. This is an early sign of the creation of an international church! Second, there was sorrow but no response (v48) - the people who had earlier been mocking and insulting Jesus realised something remarkable (and a miscarriage of justice) had happened (“they beat their breasts”) but walked away unchanged. Third, there were Jesus’ friends who stood at a distance and remained uninvolved (v49). These are three familiar reactions and we can expect them on our Frontlines when we proclaim the truth of the cross. Q8. What does this passage teach us about: • the purpose of Jesus’ death? Jesus death was to take the punishment from God for the sinfulness of human beings and open the way for sinful people to enter the presence of God. • the nature of true Christian faith? The repentant criminal is a reminder that a true Christian is aware of their sinfulness, believes that Jesus’ death is sufficient for their forgiveness and comes to Jesus Christ for forgiveness. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone and not by works. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Jesus’ words to him on the cross are also a reminder that Christians can have absolute confidence in their salvation. PRAYER (10 mins) Spend some time in prayer, for each other’s needs and for our ability to proclaim the truth about Good Friday on our Frontlines.

22 April 15

SESSION 4: The Frontline Concern

LIFE ON THE FRONTLINE

Key Question: How do you know what to do on your Frontline? Aim of session: To explore how we can become attentive to God’s voice in the places where we are day by day Bible Passage: Acts 3:1-10

INTRODUCTION Throughout these sessions we have been stressing that God wants to use us to make a difference where we are. The intention is to help group members know that wherever they are, God can use them to make a difference for him. But this all leads to an obvious question: What does God want me to do? It’s a good and right question to ask, but it can paralyse some people. Some can be so uncertain, or they can be so convinced that one false move might take them out of the scope of God’s plan, that they do …nothing. Sometimes listening to other people’s stories doesn’t help either. ‘Success’ stories can be intimidating, leading to a response rather like this: ‘It’s okay for you. But try walking just one mile in my shoes and you wouldn’t feel so confident.’ In this session we want to try and help the group remember (or understand for the first time) that God can use us wherever we are and whatever situation we are in and that living a life of faith simply means faithfully responding to whatever is placed in front of us day by day. How has the praying for each other’s Frontline been going over the last fortnight? Are there any stories to tell?

 DVD Clip Click Session 4 from main menu

(8 mins)

DVD DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (10 mins) Having watched the film ask: Q1. In a world of so many competing demands, what might prevent you seeing the needs that are around you? Q2. What are the biggest causes of distraction that you face? What can you do about them?

BIBLE PASSAGE (35 mins) The story of the lame man is the first account of a miraculous healing in the book of Acts. Following the miracle of Pentecost many more miracles are described in Acts, but none in quite so much detail as this. In Acts the actions of the apostles are often followed by an explanation of what God is doing. ie word and deed very much go together for the early Christians. As we have seen Luke sets the scene as a very ordinary day… Read Acts 3:1-10 2

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful 3 Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he 4 5 asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he 6 fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and 7 walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were 8 made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking 9 10 and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Q3. Why do you think Luke records this encounter in so much detail? One commentator suggests that the reason was that it completed the message given at Pentecost. “The miraculous speaking in foreign languages validated the apostles’ witness that Jesus of Nazareth was risen from the dead; but Peter’s sermon contained no explicit promise of anybody else’s resurrection (though it prompted us to think upon those lines)…That part of the gospel however, is now presented, first by the restoration to perfect physical soundness of a congenitally lame man, and then by Peter’s exposition of the implications of the resurrection and exaltation of Christ for the hope of the restoration of all things.” (Gooding 1988) (This comes next in v.11-26 which we didn’t read. Consider doing so if you think it will help your group).

Q4. What is ironic about the beggar’s state and place? Peter and John meet the lame beggar on their Frontline. What is ironic is that the lame man (a societal outcast in many ways) has been left at the Beautiful Gate. Here was a beggar right outside the temple, who should have been looked after by God’s covenant people. Instead he is left daily to beg for help. Peter and John in many ways simply faithfully respond to whom God puts in their way.

Q5. What does Luke emphasis in v.7-9 about the beggar? Why? That he walked (3 times) and that his healing was instantaneous. This is a remarkable sign of creative restoration – where there was previously non-existent muscle tissue, now it was there, the brain was instantly able to do what it had never done before (coordinate limbs). Just as God had accredited Jesus witness through miracles, he was now doing the same for the apostles and their message about Jesus. The apostolic gospel needs no new approval from God. The historically validated healing of this man was God’s accreditation of the gospel then and it remains so today. This only serves to improve our confidence in the gospel on our Frontlines.

Q6. Some commentators say that Peter and John distinguish between the lame beggar’s ‘felt’ needs (money) and his real need (healing). How do you distinguish between the two? A question designed to probe our understanding of the relationship between what we say and do. Will we back up our beliefs (the ultimate need of the healing of salvation) with actions that proclaim that truth? Or do we tend to acquiesce to responding more to felt needs? Of course both are necessary, but problems arise when Jesus isn’t proclaimed! If not much response to this move on to…

Commenting on this miracle, the preacher and theologian John Stott put it this way, ‘the power was Jesus’, but the hand was Peter’s.’ Peter shows a readiness to respond in a new way to what must have been a very ordinary moment: a beggar asking for money. The difference comes from the confidence in Jesus’ power and purpose.

Q7. What do you think gives Peter this confidence? You may wish to think about other episodes from Peter’s life. But as with all the disciples, Peter’s confidence is from God the Holy Spirit’s power at work in him.

This passage presents a challenge for us to view ourselves as people who will boldly take hold of the opportunities on our Frontlines to confess Christ as Lord. Gently drive this challenge home though these two questions: Q8. Is my Frontline boldness marked by similar everyday opportunism? Q9. Like Paul in Romans 1:16 we can say we are not ashamed of the gospel. How do we show our lack of shame?

A final question to ask or leave group members thinking about. Q10. What would help you to be able to take more notice of what God is doing on your Frontline?

Prayer Spend some time in prayer, particularly for each other’s Frontlines in response to Q10.

(10mins)

6 May 15

SESSION 5: The Frontline Cry

LIFE ON THE FRONTLINE

Key Question: How does our Frontline shape our prayers? Aim of session: To explore the Lord’s Prayer and how it can connect God’s purposes with ours on the Frontline Bible Passage: Matthew 6:9-13 Further Reading: The Lord’s Prayer Sermon Series at JPC http://printandaudio.org.uk/app/search/resources/series/136

INTRODUCTION (5 mins) The God whom we worship is above all things, but he is not distant. He is in relationship with us as we pray together as his family. But he is also holy. The world may act as if God’s reputation is in tatters, but he is not thrown by this. We long for the day when the whole earth cries, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty; the whole earth is filled with his glory.’ But until then, we bow the knee and watch for the signs of this glory – in our everyday world. On the Frontline we are called to do something highly subversive. In the midst of people who think they are in charge of their own destinies, we pray that God’s purposes will be done − that the whole world will be filled with his glory. In this session we’ll look more closely at the Lord’s Prayer, exploring the ways in which it inspires us to live differently on the Frontline. Invite comments from group members on how prayer affects their awareness of opportunities for God to use them. Are there any stories that people could share of what has happened?  DVD Clip Click Session 5 from main menu

(8 mins)

DVD DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (10 mins) Having watched the film ask: Q1. Which aspects of your Frontline form the main focus of your prayers? Q2. If our prayers reveal what we think is most important, what do ours suggest about life on the Frontline? Q3. One day all people will see God’s reign. In the meantime, what can we do to ensure that our everyday behaviour on our Frontlines points to the fact that we believe God reigns over the whole world? For example, would we worry less? How would we plan things? What would be our priorities? How would we react to uncertainty or unexpected circumstances? BIBLE PASSAGE Read Matthew 6:5-13

(35 mins)

5

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their 6 reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in 7 secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty 8 phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, 9 for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

At first sight it seems that the Lord’s Prayer falls into two parts: Matthew 6: 9-10 focuses on God’s glory and activity in the world. Verses 11-13 relate to the realities of our lives: daily needs, relationships, temptations, dangers and threats. Q4. In our prayers do we tend to concentrate on just one of these sections? If so, why? If we are honest many of us probably find ourselves drawn to praying v.11-13 way more than v.9-10. Gently tease out that this is due to our selfishness. Jesus’ prayer is such a practical help as it gives us a structure and guide on which to direct our praying - focusing on God and who he is, as well as our own needs.

Look again at the introductory verse from v.5. Q5. What is the motivation of the hypocrite’s prayer? Image – that they may be seen by others. So they are motivated by what people think of them – and they want people to think well of them. Jesus instructs his disciples not to fall into the same trap by telling them to pray in secret. Clearly, private prayer is on show here. We need to guard against applying this with the same kind of legalistic literalism that Jesus is condemning! We must pray, first and foremost, out of a genuine love for God not self. Q6. Can you think of any ways that you ‘heap up empty phrases’ (v.7) when you pray? Basically any kind of prayer with the mouth that fails to engage the brain is guilty of doing something similar. Q7. Why should disciples not do this? Really the answers to these two questions reveal an awful lot about what kind of God we think we worship. If we think our God is someone who is always checking our performance to see if we have made the grade, we will be prone to strive to impress him by the type and amount of our prayers. However, if we see him primarily as a Father who loves his children and knows our needs, then our communication with him will be more relaxed and genuine. But of course this could lead to the objection that Q8 addresses…. Q8. If God knows what we need (v.8) why do we bother to pray? Maybe a couple of quotes may help. Firstly, Calvin: “Believers do not pray with the view of informing God about things unknown to him, or exciting him to do his duty, or of urging him as though he were reluctant. On the contrary, they pray in order that they may arouse themselves to seek him, that they may exercise their faith in meditating on his promises, that they may relieve themselves from their anxieties by pouring them into his bosom; in a word, that they may declare that from him alone they hope and expect, both for themselves and for others, all good things.” If that one is too long, try this one from Luther (!): “By our praying…we are instructing ourselves more than we are him.” But of course don’t forget, that in some way we don’t fully understand, our engaging with God in prayer can change things too as we partner with God in his work (see 1 Cor 3:5-9, Phil 1:19, Col 4:2-4 and 1 Tim 2:1-2). Q9. What does the Lord’s Prayer reveal about God and our relationship to him? He is personal, loving and powerful. Our identity is directly connected to God’s action for us. We are not defined by what we do, or what we have done. If we are part of God’s family, it means we are to reflect the family likeness and work in the family business on our Frontlines. You could again explore what that looks like on a day to-day basis? Q10. What do you think it means for the Lord’s name to be hallowed or revered as holy? How can you hallow it on your Frontline? We need to remember that God’s name is already holy, we are simply praying that it may be treated as such. There are many practical implications of this on our Frontlines. The most obvious being – will we accept blasphemy? But it goes deeper than this too – will we work to see God truly honoured in the world today? Try and tease out what this means practically on people’s Frontlines. Q11. What do you think Jesus means when he prays about bread? Why is it daily? At its most basic Jesus is talking about what we need, not what we want. This does therefore include literal bread (as we need to eat!) and spiritual food and Holy Communion. ‘Daily’ highlights our continual need to rely and trust on our heavenly Father for everything. We need to be utterly dependent on God for all that happens on our Frontlines. Q12. Why is God’s forgiveness of us linked to our forgiveness of those who have wronged us? We need to be careful that people don’t think that their forgiving others earns them their own forgiveness. That said, our Father will not forgive us if we refuse to forgive others. John Stott says: “God forgives only the penitent and…one of the chief evidences of true penitence is a forgiving spirit. Once our eyes have been opened to the enormity of our offence against God, the injuries which others have done to us appear by comparison extremely trifling. If, on the other hand, we have an exaggerated view of the offences of others, it proves that we have minimised our own.” Gently probe whether or not there are any issues of forgiveness for people on their Frontlines? If you do so it may be best to give people a few moments of introspective reflection rather than discussion! Q13. What temptations do you face on your Frontline? Don’t force people to answer. But if they want to open up allow them time to do so. PRAYER (10 mins) Spend some time using the Lord’s Prayer as a guide to pray for God’s name to be hallowed and each other’s needs to be met on our Frontlines.

20 May 15

SESSION 6: The Frontline Commitment

LIFE ON THE FRONTLINE

Key Question: How can we sustain our commitment to one another on the Frontline? Aim of session: To explore the implications of letting the Frontline shape our life together as a group or community Bible Passage: Acts 4:23-31 Further Reading: Sermon at http://printandaudio.org.uk/app/search/resources/bible-book/acts/bible-chapter/4/resource/597/title/the-prayer

INTRODUCTION (5 mins) What does a good church-based small group look like? Is it about just turning up? - Enjoying being together? - Sharing deeply? - Being open and honest? In this final session, we explore what happens when we bring the Frontline, with all its challenges and opportunities, into the life of our group, by sharing ‘in here’ what happens ‘out there’. Yet, letting the outside in is a tricky business. It challenges our normal patterns and routines and we run the risk of discomfort. But if we are to focus seriously on the Frontline in our group, this is the risk we must take. And in so doing it causes us as a group to ask ourselves a few hard questions: How can we avoid becoming so comfortable as a group that we don’t really help one another with our real issues? What do we need to do to ensure a culture that helps us to grow, rather than a cosy ‘culture of niceness’? Some groups develop a ‘culture of disclosure’ (where we are happy to share the issues we face) without moving on to a ‘culture of accountability’ (where with one another’s support we resist old patterns of behaviour, ‘own’ important issues and are committed to doing something about them). How can we ensure that our group blends both of these cultures? We explore these questions in this session as we begin to look at how we can support one another on our various Frontlines after these studies have finished. How aware have you been over the past few weeks of God at work on your frontline? What does a good home group community look like? Notice whether most of your responses are about the quality of relationships that are enjoyed. This is important, but are the relationships seen to be the means by which we are changed? Or are they for their own sake? What is the balance of mission and discipleship? It’d be great to feed this back to your Home Group Co-ordinator or Jonathan Redfearn.  DVD Clip Click Session 6 from main menu

(8 mins)

DVD DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (5 mins) Having watched the film ask: Q1. Have you had experiences of the ‘inside’ life of a church changing because of the ‘outside’ activities of its people?

BIBLE PASSAGE (35 mins) The film looked at the impact on the Jerusalem church of the beggar’s healing and Peter & John’s imprisonment. Read Acts 4:23-41 23

When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders 24 had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign 25 Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28 both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your 29 hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to 30 your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, 31 and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Q2. How did the church respond to the issue on Peter and John’s frontline (threats / persecution)? The church appealed to God through prayer. They reminded themselves i) that God is the sovereign Lord of all (v.24) and ii) of God’s word in Scripture. In this case they were reminded that there are those who will stand and plot against the Lord and his anointed (Psalm 2). Q3. What is the significance of them calling God ‘Sovereign Lord’? Nothing is outside his control. Try and emphasise just how comforting this truth is for the believer. However boring, mundane, difficult or dangerous our Frontlines are, nothing happens to us that is outside of God’s control. In a way the disciples are putting into practice what they learned from Jesus about how to pray (see last session). They praise God first by reminding themselves of who he is…the God of complete sovereignty (v.24), creation (v.24), revelation (v.25) and history (v.26-28)! Q4. What does the disciples’ prayer in v.24-30 teach us about... a. …our use of Scripture in prayer Very often the bible gives examples of prayer sustained by scripture. This is a good pattern to replicate on our Frontlines. Not only can we use Scripture effectively in our praise and adoration (eg Rev 4:8, 1 Tim 1:7, countless Psalms, 1 Kings 19:15, Ephesians 1), but we can also use it to lead our confession (eg Psalm 51, 1 John 1:5-10, Psalm 139:23-24), encourage our thankfulness (eg Psalm 9:1-2, Col 4:2, 2 Cor 5:17) and lead our supplications (eg Phil 4:6, 1 Tim 2:1, Luke 12:22-34). b. …how to pray together for our Frontlines? Notice how the early church prayed. Firstly, they prayed together (v.24). Secondly, they did not ask God to remove the issues on their Frontlines, rather they asked for help to deal with them (v.29ff). Their prayer also teaches us to pray for boldness (v.29) in how we speak God’s word. They don’t look for ways out of their primary mission field or task – but rather pray that whatever happens they would continue to be bold in speaking the word. Q5. What does ‘speaking God’s word with boldness’ look like on our Frontlines? Boldness is not reckless impulsiveness. Biblical boldness could be described as wisdom and courage. Courage to press on through our fears, and wisdom to work out what is right in each situation and then do it! On our Frontlines we need to pray for the Holy Spirit’s power to give us courage. We need to look for opportunities to talk about Jesus. Encourage discussion on what this looks like on specific Frontlines. Q6. How was the disciples’ prayer answered? Positively! v.31 the place was shaken, filled with the Holy Spirit & they continued to speak God’s word with boldness! Q7. Hostility, trouble, persecution and dissatisfaction are very real on our Frontlines. How does v.31 encourage us as we face such things? God will answer prayers that are in accordance with his plans. His ‘will’ will be done! Q8. Are there any people on your Frontline with enough authority over you to pressure you not to proclaim Christ as the exclusive Saviour and Lord of all? A question designed to make people think about the implications of those in authority over us being averse to the gospel. How far we are willing to daily take up our crosses to follow Jesus? Gently encourage people to face up to any opposition or persecution by trusting in the Sovereignty of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. We must reject the position that is popularly advocated by some Christians in response to pressure not to proclaim Christ; which is that ‘silence, letting my life do the talking, serves God best on a hostile Frontline.’ God the Holy Spirit does not empower his people to silence! SERIES CONCLUDING QUESTIONS (5 mins) Q9. How helpful have you found this Frontline series – has it made a difference? Q10. Are there any things you can identify that you need to do or change to ensure you continue to live as a whole-life disciple? Just a couple of reflective questions at the end of the series to prompt a few ‘what next’ thoughts!! Again please feedback to your Home Group coordinator. PRAYER (10 mins) Spend some time in prayer, particularly for our continued understanding of, and effectiveness on, our frontlines.