​ICEBREAKER
Where in this country or world have you seen the most beautiful places or people? Describe what you experienced.

DISCUSSION

1. Have you listened to all three messages from this series?
2. Have you reviewed the web page set up on the church's website for this series? Perhaps consider watching the two Bible Project videos from that page together during your group and talk about them.
3. What are some insights from this Sunday's message, this series, or the resources from the webpage that you have really appreciated?
4. How do these insights change our perspective on God's vision and our mission as the church?
5. Are there any concepts or statements that you don't quite understand? 

MISSION

1. Our church's past mission statements are below.
   1. With Pastor Tim: The vision of First Covenant Church is to be actively missional, connecting people of all ages to the transformative power of Jesus Christ and to each other.  Living out this vision will challenge us to better reach those who do not yet know Christ while remaining faithful to those already in the body of Christ.
   2. With Pastor Marc: Our Vision: CONNECT to God, CONNECT to one another, CONNECT to the world.
      At First Covenant Church, we seek to CONNECT TO GOD by worshiping together and engaging in heartfelt prayer, to CONNECT TO ONE ANOTHER by deepening our relationships in small groups, and to CONNECT TO THE WORLD by preaching Christ through intentionally meeting needs in our community and around the world.
   3. The mission statement we're considering as a church now with Pastor Jim is below. It seeks to express the heart of these past statements in simple, memorable, and general terms that appeals to a broad spectrum of people, ignites curiosity, and fosters hope.
      "Our mission is 'Bringing People to Jesus and Heaven to Earth.'"
   4. You can read and watch more about this on our website—"Bringing People to Jesus and Heaven to Earth."
2. What are your thoughts about this statement?

APPLICATION

1. How are we as a church bringing people to Jesus? How are you bringing people to Jesus?
   Announcement: Consider attending the "Sharing the Gospel" Worskshop on October 13, 4-6PM with George Gabrielson, Chris Ball, and Anthony Mason.
   
2. How are we as a church bringing heaven to earth? Think about ...
   
   1. Our ministries and projects
   2. Our missional partnerships
   3. Our worship services
   4. The culture of our community

PRAYER
Take time to ask for personal prayer requests. Then pray for our church's efforts to fulfill this mission of "Bringing People to Jesus and Heaven to Earth" followed by the other prayer requests.

CONTINUE THINKING ABOUT "BRINGING HEAVEN TO EARTH"
You can read and watch more on our webpage titled "Bringing People to Jesus and Heaven to Earth." You can find it on the website under "Teachings" and the title of this series. There are some short videos and a podcast series from the Bible Project, some past sermons, and some book recommendations.

ICEBREAKER
Where in this country or world have you seen the most beautiful places or people? Describe what you experienced.

DISCUSSION

1. What are some insights from this Sunday's message that you really appreciated?
2. How do these insights change our perspective on God's vision and our mission as the church?
3. Heaven is the dwelling place of God. God desires to have his dwelling among us, thus bringing heaven to earth.
   How does God dwelling among us bring "heaven to earth"?
   Here's a summary. Read through this if you think it would be helpful for your group's discussion.
   
   1. It started in the Garden of Eden. God walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. Heaven and earth were united.
   2. Because of sin, heaven and earth were divided.
   3. God consecrated the Tabernacle and Temple and made his dwelling there. (Exodus 29:44-46)
   4. God commanded the people of Israel to obey his commands, to be holy as he is holy, and he would make his dwelling with them. (Leviticus 26:3, 11-12) But people disobeyed and God brought the exile.
   5. The prophets of Israel prophesied that with the coming of the Messiah, God would make his dwelling with us. (Ezekiel 37:24, 26-28)
   6. Jesus — The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:1-14)
      1. Jesus preached the good news that the kingdom of God had arrived on earth in him. (Mark 1:15; Matthew 4:23​)
      2. Jesus taught his disciples to pray "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:9-10​)
   7. Holy Spirit
      1. Jesus "breathed" on his disciples and they received his spirit, making his dwelling within them. (John 20:21-22​)
      2. Paul taught us that we are the "temple of the Holy Spirit," God's dwelling within us. (2 Corinthians 6:16)
   8. New Heaven and New Earth
      1. One day, God will restore his vision and bring the new heaven and new earth. (Revelation 21:1-4)
      2. Until then we continue our work of bring people to Jesus and heaven to earth through our faithfulness, holiness, and pursuit of God's kingdom. (Romans 8:18, 25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:58​)
4. Heaven is filled with God's holiness and God desires that his holiness to fills us, as well. How does this holiness in us bring "heaven to earth"?
5. Heaven is where true peace is experienced and God desires that we experience this peace now on earth.
   
   1. In what ways does our faith in Christ give us peace?
      
   2. In what ways do we as Christians bring peace to earth and, therefore, "heaven to earth"?
6. How does a better understanding of the rapture and "apocalypse" help with understanding God's desire for "heaven on earth"?
   
   1. We don't get "caught up to meet the Lord" and stay there. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) We return with him to the earth. 
      
   2. God doesn't want to destroy the earth. He wants to restore the earth. (2 Peter 3:6-7)
      
7. One day God will finish the work of bringing heaven to earth (Revelation 21:1-4) and those of us who have been faithful in following Jesus will be able to enjoy that day with him.
   
   1. How does knowing this give us hope today?
   2. How does knowing this inspire us to press on despite our present struggles? (Romans 8:18, 25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:58)

MISSION

1. Our church's past mission statements are below.
   1. With Pastor Tim: The vision of First Covenant Church is to be actively missional, connecting people of all ages to the transformative power of Jesus Christ and to each other.  Living out this vision will challenge us to better reach those who do not yet know Christ while remaining faithful to those already in the body of Christ.
   2. With Pastor Marc: Our Vision: CONNECT to God, CONNECT to one another, CONNECT to the world.
      At First Covenant Church, we seek to CONNECT TO GOD by worshiping together and engaging in heartfelt prayer, to CONNECT TO ONE ANOTHER by deepening our relationships in small groups, and to CONNECT TO THE WORLD by preaching Christ through intentionally meeting needs in our community and around the world.
   3. The mission statement we're considering as a church now with Pastor Jim is below. It seeks to express the heart of the past statements in simple, memorable, and general terms that appeals to a broad spectrum of people, ignites curiosity, and fosters hope.
      "Our mission is 'Bringing People to Jesus and Heaven to Earth.'"
   4. You can read and watch more about this on our website—"Bringing People to Jesus and Heaven to Earth."
      
2. What are your thoughts about this statement?

PRAYER
Take time to ask for personal prayer requests. Then pray for our church's efforts to fulfill this mission of bringing "heaven to earth" followed by the other prayer requests.

CONTINUE THINKING ABOUT "BRINGING HEAVEN TO EARTH"
You can read and watch more on our webpage titled "Bringing People to Jesus and Heaven to Earth." You can find it on the website under "Teachings" and the title of this series. There are some short videos and a podcast series from the Bible Project, some past sermons, and some book recommendations.

ICEBREAKER
Do you have a favorite doctor, dentist, chiropractor, hairstylist, contractor, or some other specialist that you just love and tend to refer others to? Who is it and why do you like them? 

DISCUSSION

1. Pastor Jim shared how some tendencies some churches have as their sense of mission. They are below. What tends to be the mission of each one?
   1. Social Club Church
   2. Hospital Church
   3. Life Skills Center Church
   4. Soul-Saving Church
   5. Are there any others you can think of?
2. Our church's past mission statements are below.
   1. With Pastor Tim: The vision of First Covenant Church is to be actively missional, connecting people of all ages to the transformative power of Jesus Christ and to each other.  Living out this vision will challenge us to better reach those who do not yet know Christ while remaining faithful to those already in the body of Christ.
   2. With Pastor Marc: Our Vision: CONNECT to God, CONNECT to one another, CONNECT to the world.
      At First Covenant Church, we seek to CONNECT TO GOD by worshiping together and engaging in heartfelt prayer, to CONNECT TO ONE ANOTHER by deepening our relationships in small groups, and to CONNECT TO THE WORLD by preaching Christ through intentionally meeting needs in our community and around the world.
   3. The mission statement we're considering as a church now is below. It seeks to express the heart of the past statements in simple, memorable, more general terms.
      "Our mission is 'Bringing People to Jesus and Heaven to Earth.'"
3. Read John 1:35-42a.
   1. What was it about Jesus that enamored the two disciples so much that they followed him immediately and spent the entire day with him?
   2. Notice Andrew immediately told his brother Simon about Jesus and brought him to Jesus. Why would he do that?
4. How does bringing people to Jesus help them find their real purpose in life? (Notice that Simon is the original name of Peter, the disciple whom Jesus made the leader of the church after his resurrection.)
5. How does bringing people to Jesus help them make sense of the world around them?
6. How does bringing people to Jesus help them find hope and healing?

APPLICATION

1. What can you do to bring people to Jesus? (conversation, offer to pray, offer to help, be there for them, invite to church, ask about their faith, etc.)
2. What can you do to support First Covenant Church's mission of "bringing people to Jesus"? (giving financially to support the general budget so we can increase ministries and staffing, volunteer in ministries and church events, etc.)​
3. What do you think of using the statement "Bringing people to Jesus" as the first half of mission statement?

PRAYER
Take time to ask for personal prayer requests. Then pray for our church's efforts to fulfill this mission of bringing people to Jesus followed by the other prayer requests.

START THINKING ABOUT "BRINGING HEAVEN TO EARTH"
To get ready for next week's discussing about "bringing heaven to earth" go to Pastor Jim's teaching page. You can find it on the website under "Teachings" and the title of this series. There are some short videos and a podcast series from the Bible Project, some past sermons, and some book recommendations.