Sending Path · Business as Mission · Lesson 7: Who Sends You, and Who Cares for You
This lesson in one sentence: The Holy Spirit calls, the church confirms, the church sends; those who are sent give account, and need care all along the way. The Learning Map only walks people to the church door.
Timing (about 60 minutes)
- Opening5 min
- Read Together10 min
- Practice Together15 min
- Discussion20 min
- This Week5 min
- Pray for One Another5 min
Opening
The most important decision you have made—did you make it alone, or did someone make it with you?
Read Together
1Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 13:1–3 · WEB
26From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. 27When they had arrived and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.
Acts 14:26–27 · WEB
5Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers. 6They have testified about your love before the assembly. You will do well to send them forward on their journey in a way worthy of God, 7because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
3 John 5–8 · WEB
Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 13:3 · WEB
Practice Together
Each person draws their own ‘sending and care’ map: who sends me, who works alongside me, who prays for me, to whom I give account. Then swap with a partner and help each other think: for the empty box, whom could you go and find?
Discussion
- “when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” (Acts 13:3)—even Paul did not decide on his own. Why do people who run a business and support themselves need the church to send them all the more?
- When Paul came back, “they reported all the things that God had done with them.” (Acts 14:27) To whom will you give account?
- “that we may be fellow workers for the truth” (3 John 8)—how can those who stay at home become fellow workers with those who go?
This Week
This week, arrange to talk with your pastor or small group leader: share what you have been thinking about in this course, and ask, ‘Which path do you think I am suited to?’
Each person says which pastor or small group leader they plan to arrange to talk with this week.
Closing
Read Acts 13:2–3 together. The leader prays for each person’s next step.
Tips for the leader
- This is the last session of the course. Someone may share a desire to go: the leader does not assess, does not push, and does not pour cold water on it; as the lesson says, invite them to talk with their pastor.
- The group does not discuss where exactly to go or how to get in, and does not pass round any prayer letters from workers abroad.
- You could agree that the whole group will pray for a worker abroad whom you know and who is willing to be prayed for—using only the name and requests they have agreed to share.
General principles for leaders
- The leader is not a teacher but someone who walks alongside everyone.
- Give everyone a chance to speak; with someone who talks a lot, you can gently say, ‘Let’s also hear from friends who haven’t spoken yet.’
- Don’t rush to give answers. If someone is silent, wait a few more seconds.
- For a question you can’t answer, you can say, ‘I don’t know either; let’s look it up together,’ and note it down for next time.
- What is said in the group stays in the group.
- At the opening, the leader can give their own answer first, showing that it can be simple and honest.