Have you ever wondered if your faith is more about where you sit than where you go? Jesus’ final words to His followers weren’t about having a great personal relationship with Him—they were a commission to go and make disciples. What does it look like to move from a stationary faith to one that pursues others with the same relentless love God has shown you?
Have you ever wondered if your faith is more about where you sit than where you go? Jesus’ final words to His followers weren’t about having a great personal relationship with Him—they were a commission to go and make disciples. What does it look like to move from a stationary faith to one that pursues others with the same relentless love God has shown you?
A weekly guide to carry the conversation beyond Sunday morning.
Icebreaker Question: What’s one place you’ve been “sent” in your life (a job, a mission trip, a move, a volunteer role) that ended up being more meaningful than you expected?
This week’s message challenged us to move from a “stationary faith” to one with direction and purpose. Pastor Josh used the imagery of “butt prints vs. footprints”—asking whether our faith is more about where we sit comfortably or where we’re willing to go. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 isn’t a suggestion; it’s Jesus’ final marching orders to all His followers: go and make disciples.
Context from the sermon: Pastor Josh read Matthew 28:18-20 and emphasized that Jesus commissioned His disciples to “go and make disciples”—not just have a personal relationship with Him, but to reproduce themselves spiritually in others. He asked the direct question: “Who are you intentionally leaning into so that individual or those individuals are becoming Jesus followers who go out and make other Jesus followers?”
Discussion Question: When you think about the Great Commission, do you naturally think of it as something for missionaries and pastors, or as a personal assignment for your own life? Why do you think that is?
Follow-up: Who is someone you are intentionally discipling right now? If no one comes to mind, why do you think that is?
Context from the sermon: Pastor Josh confronted the common excuse: “Some of y’all need to be confronted with the thought, ‘as soon as I get my life together, then I will go.’ None of us are ever 100% fit for his service. Ever.” He referenced the phrase, “He doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.”
Discussion Question: What areas of your life do you feel need to be “fixed” before you could serve or disciple others? How does the truth that God qualifies the called challenge that thinking?
Follow-up: Can you think of a biblical example of someone God used despite their brokenness or unpreparedness?
Context from the sermon: One of Grow Point’s core values is “unending pursuit.” Pastor Josh applied this not just to our relationship with Christ but to our pursuit of one another. He said, “Are you not thankful that God has not given up on you? Every day we give him reason to be like, ‘I’m done.’ I’m so thankful that that’s not the story of the long suffering and the patience that our Heavenly Father has with us.”
Discussion Question: Why do we sometimes give up on people when things get repetitive or difficult? How does remembering God’s patience with us change how we pursue others?
Follow-up: Is there someone in your life you’ve “given up on” that God might be calling you to re-engage with?
Context from the sermon: Todd referenced Psalm 126:5—”Those who sow with tears will harvest with shouts of joy.” He explained that sowing in tears doesn’t mean grief; it means sacrifice, purpose, and long-term commitment. He emphasized that Grow Point’s work in South Lorain is about planting and remaining, not just starting and fizzling out.
Discussion Question: What does it mean to “sow with tears” in discipleship or ministry? Have you ever experienced the joy of a harvest after a long season of faithful sowing?
Follow-up: Read Galatians 6:9 together. What encouragement does this verse offer when we’re tempted to grow weary in doing good?
Context from the sermon: Pastor Josh shared the language of “adoption” regarding South Lorain—that Grow Point has adopted Stephen DeHanis school and the South Lorain community, and adoption is “pretty much for life.” He also read 2 Timothy 1:5-7, highlighting the multi-generational faith passed from Lois to Eunice to Timothy, expressing hope for similar stories to emerge from South Lorain.
Discussion Question: What does it mean for a church to “adopt” a community? How is that different from just doing outreach or charity work?
Follow-up: Who in your life passed faith down to you? How can you be intentional about passing it to the next generation?
Context from the sermon: Thomas Paris shared how God is inviting the children of South Lorain into His family through consistent, faithful presence. He said, “It’s so unusual. Like, you would not expect this to happen… God has been preparing the community.” Tiffany talked about moving from being a “spectator” to an “active participant” and trusting God even when uncomfortable.
Discussion Question: What does “intentional presence” look like in your everyday life? Where might God be calling you to show up consistently for someone?
Follow-up: Tiffany shared about being uncomfortable because she had no control or plan. When has God called you into something uncomfortable? What did you learn?
Context from the sermon: The GrowCard question was simply: “Where is God sending you?” Pastor Josh made it clear that the Great Commission isn’t optional and isn’t only for “certain people”—it’s for everyone who follows Jesus.
Discussion Question: Take a moment of silence and ask the Holy Spirit: “Where are You sending me?” Share what comes to mind.
Follow-up: What’s one practical step you can take this week to respond to where God is sending you?
Reflection: This message wasn’t just about supporting a church plant in South Lorain—it was about each of us taking seriously the call to go and make disciples wherever God has placed us.
Action Steps to Consider:
Closing Prayer: Pray for each person in the group regarding where God is sending them. Pray for South Lorain, Stephen DeHanis, and for God to raise up more workers for the harvest. Pray for courage to move from spectators to active participants in the Great Commission.
A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.
A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.
