THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 10:9-15

Main Themes: God's Call; Practical Instructions for Building God's Kingdom; Discipleship
(See background information below.)

Guide for Crossroads Community Group:

1. Welcome: Read the purpose of your group:

   Our goal is to grow as disciples of Jesus and to make disciples of other people by inviting them to our group. Each person here has the potential to start and be the leader of a new group and multiply God's kingdom.

2. Worship: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Show a video with the lyrics, such as Lead Me to the Cross.

3. Review:

   1. What has God been telling you this week in your personal time with Him?
   2. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?
   3. Who did you share what you learned last week with?
   4. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

4. Opening Question: Are you good at following instructions? How would you rate yourself on a scale of 1-10?

5. Introduction: Read the background information below.

6. Word: Read Matthew 10:9-15 aloud together. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story — keep at it until everyone knows the story.)

   1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?
   2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.
   3. What are the details?
   4. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

7. Discussion: Discuss the questions below together.

8. Application: For these questions, you may want to divide into two groups for males and females.

9. Prayer Time:

   • Pray for an empty chair, representing new people you want to join the group. Think of specific people to pray for by name.

   • Divide into two groups for males and females to pray for the needs of the members of the group.

10. For Next Time:

    • Assign group members who are ready to do different parts of the next meeting as you prepare them (opening question; prayer time; read background info; lead group).

    • Ask each person the name of someone they will invite to the group for next week.
      

Background Information

Jesus has now gathered 12 followers. They are Jesus’ disciples, which means they are learning from Him by watching Him and receiving instructions. Now Jesus sends them out so they can learn by doing.

Notice the sequence:
1. Jesus calls people to be His followers.
2. Jesus gives His authority to the people He calls.
3. Jesus tells them to go out to find, reach, and restore lost and broken people.

Now Jesus gives them practical instructions on how to do what He called them to do. He gives 3 basic instructions in these verses. In order to understand the instructions, we must understand the culture at the time of Jesus and learn the basic principles to then apply to our context or culture.

In Jesus' time, travelers who came to a town or city did not stay at the local Hampton Inn (there were not many inns or hotels). Instead that culture had a very high value on showing hospitality to strangers. So a traveler would be in a town and perhaps waiting at the town gate or the marketplace, and a resident of the town would invite him to spend the night in their home. This was the expected practice (Hebrews 13:2). Today that practice does not exist. However, the basic principle is that we should show hospitality to people we do not know. By showing hospitality to people we do not know, we will have the opportunity to tell them the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. There are many ways we can show hospitality to others today in our culture.

There are 3 basic instructions in theses verses:
1. Rely on God to provide what you need — Verses 9-10
2. Show hospitality to others — Verses 11-13
3. Our responsibility to tell others the message of salvation in Jesus and their responsibility to choose to accept or reject.

Key Verse: Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person (person open to Jesus). Verse 11

THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 10:9-15

Discussion Questions

1. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?

2. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?

3. What do you learn about people from the story?

4. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

5. What will you take away from this discussion?

6. What will you do with what you have learned? (make sure everyone answers this)

7. As a result of this study, what do you need to stop doing?

8. As a result of this study, what do you need to start doing?

Commitment — Obedience — Application

1. Jesus taught you this today because someone in your life needs to hear it. With whom in your circle of relationships will you share what you have learned through this study?

2. What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study?