SENT DISCIPLE: ON MISSION

God’s love is extravagant, unending, and personal. No matter how many times we hear it, we need to be reminded: God loves us, even in our worst moments. This love is not just a theological idea, but a living reality that should erase our doubts and give us bold confidence every day. We are called to live in the assurance of this love, not just for ourselves, but as people sent on a mission. Just as a garden needs tending, our faith and our church need intentional care and action, not passivity or leaving it to “the professionals.” Jesus never called us to be average or to settle for decline; He called us to greater things, to be disciples who make disciples, to be on mission in every part of our lives.

The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 reveals the very heart of God. Both sons in the story are lost in different ways—one through rebellion, the other through religious pride. Yet the father’s response to both is generous, gracious, and restorative. The younger son’s awakening comes through the consequences of his choices, leading him to repentance and a longing to return home, even if only as a servant. But the father runs to him, embraces him in his filth, and restores him fully as a son. The older son, though outwardly obedient, is asleep to the father’s love, trapped in pride and legalism. The father’s love is not based on performance, but on relationship and identity.

This is the mission Jesus gives to us: to seek the lost, to awaken hearts to the love and grace of God, every day, everywhere, everyone. The mission is not finished; it is transferred to us. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to reach the “one” God puts in our path, to care for one as if we could care for all. The church is not about religious pride or self-righteousness, but about celebrating every person who comes home to the Father. Our calling is to experience God’s grace deeply, to let it awaken us, and to pass it on—making disciples who make disciples, living as a community marked by love, restoration, and joy.

Key Takeaways

- God’s love is relentless and personal, meeting us in our deepest mess and restoring us as beloved children. Even when we feel unworthy or “stinketh,” the Father runs to embrace us, not waiting for us to clean ourselves up. His grace is greater than our failures, and our identity as His children is never revoked by our sin. [57:12]

- Both rebellion and religious pride can keep our hearts asleep to God’s love. The prodigal son’s outward sin and the older brother’s inward legalism are equally lost states, but only the one who awakens to the Father’s goodness finds true restoration. We must guard against both forms of lostness, seeking continual awakening to God’s grace. [47:29]

- The mission Jesus gives is not finished; it is ongoing and entrusted to every believer. We are not called to be passive spectators or to leave the work to “professionals,” but to live as sent people—on mission in every area of life, empowered by the authority and presence of Christ. [32:21]

- God’s heart is for the “one”—the individual who is lost, hurting, or far from home. If we each focus on reaching just one person with the love and grace we have received, God will multiply the impact far beyond what we can imagine. The mission is not about numbers, but about loving each person as God does. [01:01:24]

- Experiencing and sharing God’s grace is the core of our faith and community. We are not called to religious perfection, but to be people who know, feel, and extend the love and grace of God. This grace frees us from fear of failure and empowers us to live joyfully, welcoming others into the same embrace we have received. [01:04:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Opening Prayer and Love of God
[02:10] - Introduction and Church Family Move
[03:30] - The Sprinkler Analogy: Overwhelm and Inaction
[06:00] - Faith Paralysis and the “Leave it to the Professionals” Trap
[08:00] - God’s Vision for His Church: Not Average, But Greater
[10:00] - The Joy and Mission of Easter
[13:00] - Jesus Transfers the Mission to Us
[15:00] - Discipleship: From Watching to Being Sent
[18:00] - The Great Commission and the Power of the Spirit
[20:00] - Our Church’s Mission: Awakening Hearts Every Day
[22:00] - The Prodigal Son: Lostness and Awakening
[27:00] - The Father’s Gracious Response
[32:00] - Restoration, Joy, and the Heart of God
[36:00] - The Mission for the One
[39:00] - The Danger of Religious Pride
[42:00] - Experiencing and Extending Grace
[45:00] - Next Steps and Closing Prayer
[48:00] - Announcements and Opportunities to Connect