Called Beyond The Walls (Week 5)

Preacher: Stephen Scott

Worship:
As you start your time together this week, listen to “King of Kings” by Hillsong Worship. Let the words serve as a reminder of what Jesus did for us on the cross. As you reflect on these words, remember that Jesus came to offer reconciliation to God for everybody.

Check-in:
Sunday’s message challenged us to move beyond the walls of the church building in order for us to truly be the Kingdom in motion. Is there any way that you struggle to move your faith beyond the walls of the church?

Synopsis of message:
Sunday’s message centres on the theme of living out Christian purpose beyond the church building. It challenges believers to carry God’s presence and mission into their everyday environments – workplaces, campuses and communities – by recognising that every place, person and position has divine purpose.

Using the story of Jesus calling Levi the tax collector (who later became Matthew), Stephen illustrates how Jesus met people in their everyday context, not just in synagogues (Luke 5:27–31). From this illustration, we were given three important points:

1. Every Place Has Purpose: God can meet people anywhere, and the church’s mission must extend beyond Sundays and church buildings.
2. Every Person Has Purpose: No one is beyond redemption. Jesus chose Levi, a despised tax collector, proving that God sees people not for who they are now, but for who they can become.
3. Your Position Has Purpose: Whatever your current job or season, you are placed there intentionally by God to be a light and represent Christ.

The message urges Christians to live missionally by:

• Pray on purpose: Prayer is powerful, and we know that God hears our prayers (1 John 5:14). We are called to actively pray for others, not to merely promise to do so.
• Remember that Jesus is the purpose: His mission is now our mission (2 Corinthians 5:15). When this becomes true for us, we start to view people differently (i.e. through the lens of God’s love).
• Live in purpose: On Pentecost Sunday, God empowered early believers with the Holy Spirit, giving them their purpose: reconciling the world back to God (Acts 1:8). In the same way, we are empowered to live out this same purpose when we gather every Sunday.

Discussion Questions:

1. Pray on purpose
   • The message highlights praying “on purpose”. Who are 2–3 people that you can begin praying for consistently this week?
   • What difference might it make if you stopped and prayed with someone in the moment rather than saying “I’ll pray for you”?
2. Remember that Jesus is the purpose
   • Think about where you spend most of your time during the week. How might God be calling you to bring His presence into that space?
   • How can you intentionally recognise God’s presence in your daily environments (e.g. school, work, home)?
3. Live in purpose
   • How does knowing that the Holy Spirit empowers you to be a witness change how you live your faith outside of Sunday services?

Check-out:
How can you commit to living “beyond the walls” this week? Share one practical action step.

Additional Resources:

• Read: Luke 5:27–31
• Optional Devotional: “The Power of Pentecost” (YouVersion)