091 | How can we keep being sent as Jesus was sent?

For the greatest impact, invite a few others to go through this Anchor Group study with you.

⌘ Space to Belong | 5-10 minutes

Connect with one another with an ice-breaker.

🚗 Have you ever run out of gas or charge in your car? What did you learn from the experience?

⌘ Space to Believe | 10-15 minutes

Read and reflect on the scripture.

John 20:19–22 (NIV) 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

What stands out to you? Is there anything new for you to believe or obey?

Other Scriptures referenced in message: John 1:1, John 15:1-17, Matthew 5:14-16, Luke 4:1, Ephesians 5:8-20

⌘ Space to Become | 10-15 minutes

A. Familiarize yourself with the sermon.

Paul Durbin’s message challenges us to consider how we, as followers of Jesus, can continue being sent like He was sent. In John 20:21, Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” The word “AS” points to the manner of Jesus’s mission and reminds us to reflect His example in how we live and love. Paul outlines four key actions to keep living missionally: Show Up (incarnate Jesus’s love), Slow Down (embrace God’s timing), Get Close (prioritize personal relationships), and Stay Charged (stay spiritually full to avoid burnout). As we head into the new year, we are invited to embody Jesus's sent-ness in our daily lives.

(See the bottom of this note for a full sermon outline).

B. Discuss one or more of the following questions.

What does "showing up” look like in your context this next year?
- Paul explained that Jesus "showed up" by becoming incarnate—physically present in our world—and we are called to imitate this.
- How can you "show up" in meaningful ways for your family, workplace, or community in 2024? What are practical steps you can take to make your faith tangible and present?
Why is slowing down an important part of being “sent”?
- Rushing often prioritizes tasks over people—and Jesus consistently took time to wait, reflect, and minister at God’s pace (e.g. staying two days before visiting Lazarus).
- Where in your life might you need to slow down to stay in sync with God’s timing? Have you experienced burnout from rushing?
How can you “get close” and invest in personal relationships that reflect Jesus?
- Paul pointed out that Jesus impacted individuals (e.g., Zacchaeus, his disciples) far more than He tried to impress the crowds.
- Who are the "ones" in your life—friends, neighbors, coworkers, or family members—who might need deeper connection and intentional effort from you this year?
What steps do you take to stay spiritually “charged” when life depletes you?
- Just as Paul shared about “range anxiety” with his electric car, we can’t give spiritually on an empty tank. Jesus began His ministry “full of the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1).
- What helps you stay close to God and stay full of the Spirit’s strength throughout the week? What might you incorporate more intentionally into your rhythm of life?
How will you live as “sent” by Jesus in the new year?
- John 20:21 reminds us that we are all sent like Jesus—not to live passively, but missionally.
- What’s one specific way you sense God calling you to be “sent” in 2024? How can the group pray for or support you as you step into this calling?