Matt Beaney
- Jul 15, 2021
- 4 min read

#394 - WHEN THEY SAW HIM - (15/7/21)

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series I’m taking a different approach to these devotionals. I want to us work harder at searching the scriptures for ourselves. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily’ method below to help us with this. It’s well worth the hard work involved!

TODAY’S TEXT

“‘Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

I’ve included my reflections on today’s text below. However, I encourage you to pray and spend time reflecting (writing can be helpful) using the 5 questions below before reading my thoughts.

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

MY REFLECTIONS

1. †GOSPEL

Jesus came and restored these weak and failing disciples. He took the initiative to arrange to meet and restore them. He has taken the initiative to redeem, call, restore and bring us to a place of worship.

2. UP

Some thoughts about God from this text: God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is one God in three persons. He is to be worshipped and obeyed.

He wants to meet with us regularly so that we can be restored, learn and worship.

He has promised to be with us ‘to the very end of the age’.

3. IN

Jesus calls us disciples. We are His apprentices. This text reflects what should happen every time that we meet together:

We see Him in the Spirit.

We worship Him.

Doubters are considered.

We are restored.

We remember and submit to His authority.

We are recalled to our commission to make disciples of all nations.

We baptise people.

We remember His name and nature.

We go out with the awareness of His presence with us.

“Lord Jesus, I’m sorry for my often low expectations of church life. May this meeting with you on the mountain be our experience when we meet as a church.”

4. OUT

We are commissioned to make disciples of all nations.

“Lord Jesus, help to obey this in the way that you want me to obey this. Who do you want me to help to see you for the first time? Who do you want me to help to grow in their faith?”

5. DO?

Here are a few examples of application that I’ve come up with:

‘When they saw Him’ everything changed. A true meeting with Jesus restores and recommissions. An application could be to give time to meeting Jesus in word, prayer, and worship with others or privately. How about fasting?

One could set a period of time or set a specific repeated time to read, meditate and pray out of this Great Commission.

A response could be to write, pray and then act on a list of believers and non-believers that you want to help.

This text is a strong trinitarian reference. Perhaps you might like to study this subject.

It was the eleven disciples, together, who met with Jesus. An application could be to prayerfully examine our attachments to Christian friends and the church…

HEAR - Pray about how the Holy Spirit might want you to respond.

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series we are going to take a different approach to learning from the Bible together. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily Method’ together (Gospel, Up, In, Out, Do) - you will have to do all the work!

1. Icebreaker - How has God spoken to you from the Bible this week? (During this LEARNING TO HEAR series, we are seeking to develop a culture of listening to God out of His word)

2. Select a text of scripture. (You could use the text from Sunday’s message or something of your choice.)

3. Read and recall. (Read the text and ask each person in the group to put it into their own words.)

4. Please go through these questions together:

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray and share (if it’s appropriate) about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

5. SIV - Finally, it would be helpful to talk and pray about how we are doing in regard to Serve, Invest and Invite. Do you have any encouraging stories or any plans in this regard? How do you want to pray in regard to our mission?

#394 - WHEN THEY SAW HIM - (15/7/21)

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series I’m taking a different approach to these devotionals. I want to us work harder at searching the scriptures for ourselves. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily’ method below to help us with this. It’s well worth the hard work involved!

TODAY’S TEXT

I’ve included my reflections on today’s text below. However, I encourage you to pray and spend time reflecting (writing can be helpful) using the 5 questions below before reading my thoughts.

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

MY REFLECTIONS

1. †GOSPEL

Jesus came and restored these weak and failing disciples. He took the initiative to arrange to meet and restore them. He has taken the initiative to redeem, call, restore and bring us to a place of worship.

2. UP

Some thoughts about God from this text: God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is one God in three persons. He is to be worshipped and obeyed.

He wants to meet with us regularly so that we can be restored, learn and worship.

He has promised to be with us ‘to the very end of the age’.

3. IN

Jesus calls us disciples. We are His apprentices. This text reflects what should happen every time that we meet together:

We see Him in the Spirit.

We worship Him.

Doubters are considered.

We are restored.

We remember and submit to His authority.

We are recalled to our commission to make disciples of all nations.

We baptise people.

We remember His name and nature.

We go out with the awareness of His presence with us.

4. OUT

We are commissioned to make disciples of all nations.

5. DO?

Here are a few examples of application that I’ve come up with:

‘When they saw Him’ everything changed. A true meeting with Jesus restores and recommissions. An application could be to give time to meeting Jesus in word, prayer, and worship with others or privately. How about fasting?

One could set a period of time or set a specific repeated time to read, meditate and pray out of this Great Commission.

A response could be to write, pray and then act on a list of believers and non-believers that you want to help.

This text is a strong trinitarian reference. Perhaps you might like to study this subject.

It was the eleven disciples, together, who met with Jesus. An application could be to prayerfully examine our attachments to Christian friends and the church…

HEAR - Pray about how the Holy Spirit might want you to respond.

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series we are going to take a different approach to learning from the Bible together. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily Method’ together (Gospel, Up, In, Out, Do) - you will have to do all the work!

1. Icebreaker - How has God spoken to you from the Bible this week? (During this LEARNING TO HEAR series, we are seeking to develop a culture of listening to God out of His word)

2. Select a text of scripture. (You could use the text from Sunday’s message or something of your choice.)

3. Read and recall. (Read the text and ask each person in the group to put it into their own words.)

4. Please go through these questions together:

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray and share (if it’s appropriate) about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

5. SIV - Finally, it would be helpful to talk and pray about how we are doing in regard to Serve, Invest and Invite. Do you have any encouraging stories or any plans in this regard? How do you want to pray in regard to our mission?

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