The Mission of the Church

MESSAGE – Rev. Dr. Dale Thiele

The Mission of the Church 

• The Focus of the Mission
• The Scope of the Mission
• The Power of the Mission  

Questions for Further Study or Group Discussion:

1. Read Acts 1:1-11. What catches your attention in this passage? What is the significance of the word “began” in verse 1? How does it shape our reading of the book of Acts?
2. Why does Jesus tell his disciples to “wait” in verse 4? Compare this with Matthew 28:18. When is it appropriate for us to wait and to go?
3. Why do the disciples ask about the kingdom (v. 6)? In what ways do we lose focus on the mission of the church? What is the mission of the church according to Jesus?
4. We typically hear verse 8 as describing the geographic scope of the mission (i.e. “to the end of the earth”). What other scopes might be emphasized in this verse? Consider the Reflection on page 3. Are we/you being faithful to the full scope of the mission?
5. What is the “power” received from the Holy Spirit? How does this power manifest itself in our lives? 

Memory Verse of the Week:

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (ESV)