Read a scripture and sing worship songs.

• (Optional) Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. He wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator also between God and man, the man Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a ransom for all. (Philippians 2:11b; 

  ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father.

   1 Timothy 2:4-6a). 

  ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all people. 

Choose a way to cast vision for who they can become in Christ or what God can do through them by:

• a scripture that reminds them of the Father’s Heart and of the end vision.
• reflecting on the changes in their life since they started following Christ
• reminding them of what God wants to do through them.

Our vision is: “A church for every village and community, and the gospel for every person.”

Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man

³¹ Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.³² There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.

³³ After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue.³⁴ He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”).³⁵ At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

³⁶ Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.³⁷ People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes t

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

^8:1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said,² “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.³ If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

⁴ His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”

⁵ “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.

“Seven,” they replied.

⁶ He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so.⁷ They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.⁸ The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.⁹ About four thousand were present. 

Read More

Jesus prioritized the training and development of His future movement leaders. He withdraws with them north to Tyre and Sidon, out of their country, and away from the pressures of ministry. Then they travel across and back down to the foreign territory of the Decapolis on the eastern side of Lake Galilee. This is the first visit to this area since the demon-possessed man was saved and sent back to share his story with family and friends. What a contrast to the previous visit when the people asked Jesus to go away! Now, as news about Him spreads, thousands gather to hear His teaching and experience His power in their own lives. They do not even go home to eat or sleep. After 3 days, Jesus involves His team in another learning experience of His great compassion for all people and His power to provide. They learn that the witness of one transformed life can open the door to entire groups of new people. As they participate in the miraculous feeding of over 4000 people they see Jesus’ compassion for all nations.