Lesson Five
Send

Pastor Ryan Story

Table of Contents

About a year ago, my family was invited to go on a vacation with my wife’s entire side of the family. While I love family, and I love spending time with everyone, having thirteen people stay in a four-bedroom house brought a bit more ire than I would have admitted. I was genuinely excited to take a week off with my wife and kids, but I was worried about the outcome. Would the non-parents in the bunch understand that children do not operate on a get-to-it-when-we-can mentality? Would my kids pester the uncles and aunt too much? Will I get any quiet time to just relax? I was in an odd spot. I was excited for the opportunity, but was nervous about going. Fast forward to the end of the week, and it was one of my family’s best vacations. There was rest, and there were times of fun and excitement. I read my Bible and many comic books. All my nervousness about going into something that was unknown was met with an amazing blessing and memory I cherish.

1. Have you ever been asked to go somewhere you didn’t want to go, but it turned out to be exactly where you needed to be?

As we continue our study in Acts, we see something that is familiar. As the Church was growing, we read: “Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” Acts 13:1-3

2. What did the Holy Spirit command the church to allow?

3. The church at Antioch fasted, prayed, and then sent their best leaders. What does that tell us about how seriously the early church took God’s calling on people? What would it look like for your Growth Community to have that same posture?

This is such an important truth for Jesus’ Church to grasp, understand, and celebrate. God doesn’t just save us to sit. He sends us to further the Gospel. Have you ever noticed there is constant movement in the church? People coming, going, staying, resting, moving here and there. While consistency is an important component to a healthy church, another healthy characteristic of the church is to see people growing in their walks with Jesus and going to places where God needs them. As we see in Acts chapter 13, Paul and Barnabas were constantly moving.

“So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.” Acts 13:4-5

“Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, ‘Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.’” Acts 13:13-15

“And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 13:48-52

4. Is there a time you felt God sending you from one spot to another? Were you hesitant at first?

5. Why is faith so essential to be obedient to God’s calling in our lives?

In 2018, I was sent from The River Church Holly to The River Church Burton. I was approached by the Elders, and they asked me if I would be willing to pray about the opportunity to become Burton’s Location Pastor. I had been the Student Pastor in Holly for five years and had been in Holly for close to ten at that point. The Holly Location was literally the second church I ever knew, and the one I “grew up” in. I loved the families, and leaving became one of the hardest things I’d done in ministry up until that point. A truth and comfort came over me. I was not leaving because I was upset, frustrated, or bored. I felt God was truly sending me elsewhere to preach the Gospel. After the decision was made to take the next step, some of the students were hurt, some didn’t understand. I remember asking a group of them, “Would you want me to stay here if you knew I was telling God no? If you knew God was opening a door and asking me to go be used, would you want me to stay?”

6. Why is it so important for us to constantly be praying for God to reveal His will for us?

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21

A healthy church does not hoard its best people. Paul and Barnabas were M.V.P.s. They were G.O.A.T.-level followers of Christ, and yet, God’s will was to send them. This is why I love that we teach Reach, Gather, Grow twice a year! The goal of the church should never be to hoard and ensure that we have the best of the best, all the while the rest of the world remains unreached, unconnected to Jesus’ Church and not growing.

7.     Paul and Barnabas were doing great things at Antioch. Why do you think God often calls people who are faithful right where they are?

While not every person is called to be sent somewhere completely different, God will also begin to move in a person’s life. He will “open doors” and direct the hearts of people to take the next steps to be used to further the Gospel with opportunities that are right in front of them. The goal of the church isn’t to keep people comfortable; it’s to send people out to further the Gospel of Jesus in a person’s home, workplace, and schools. There are times that a sending is location-altering, but then there are times that the sending is simply a willingness to be obedient to the call that Jesus has placed on every believer.

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, 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.’” Matthew 28:18-20

8. What’s the difference between being sent and just going? How does knowing God sends us change the way we feel about doing hard or scary things?

9. Where is God sending you this week?

10. The goal of the church is to see people sent to Reach others with the Gospel. What does being sent look like for you right now? Where are you being sent to share the Gospel with those around you?