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.”

Warnings and Encouragements

¹ Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.² There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.³ What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

⁴ “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.⁷ Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

⁸ “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.⁹ But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.¹⁰ And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

¹¹ “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,¹² for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

Read More

• Over the last six months, Jesus has been drawing a sharp contrast between the type of leadership He expects and the type of leadership His disciples have had as a model growing up. He points out how the leaders of Israel are leading. He says this is not how leadership should be in the Kingdom. He uses the illustration of yeast that spreads through dough to make bread as an example of what to avoid. There are two types, the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of the Sadducees. The Pharisees taught one thing, but did another. The Pharisees were hypocrites. The yeast of the Sadducees is found in how they hardened their hearts against the power of God and believing the scriptures. They wrongly believed that the resurrection of the dead could not happen and that there were no angels or demons (Acts 23:8).

  ⁸ (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

  Jesus explained the error in their understanding, but the Sadducees just wanted to argue.