"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." - Acts 1:8

Episode 11: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-11-a-church-with-no-mission/id1694064788?i=1000626682439

Episode 12: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-12-the-missional-church/id1694064788?i=1000627448104

The Importance of Mission

• What is the Biblical mission of the Church?
• In the "Beyond the Breakwater" illustration, what takes place in the harbor of a mission church?
• In the "Beyond the Breakwater" illustration, what takes place beyond the breakwater?
• Why are both important?

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." - Acts 1:8

Episode 8: https://beyond-the-breakwater-62714ddb.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-8-what-is-pier-ministry

Episode 9: https://beyond-the-breakwater-62714ddb.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-9-beyond-the-border-part-one

Episode 10: https://beyond-the-breakwater-62714ddb.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-10-beyond-the-border-part-two

Beyond the Border

• What is the difference between assisting and doing and why does that difference matter?
• How are local efforts to reach those in need similar to overeseas mission work?
• How can short-term overseas mission trips help us to do a better job of going beyond the breakwater?

Preview these episodes below for next week:

Episode 11: https://beyond-the-breakwater-62714ddb.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-11-a-church-with-no-mission

Episode 12: https://beyond-the-breakwater-62714ddb.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-12-the-missional-church

Beyond The Breakwater How to (Not) Help Others, Episodes 5, 6 & 7

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." - Acts 1:8

Episode 5: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-5-the-dangers-of-a-handout/id1694064788?i=1000622124690

Episode 6: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-6-the-giving-dilemma/id1694064788?i=1000622909334

Episode 7: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-7-american-history-social-dilemmas/id1694064788?i=1000623664587

How to (Not) Help Others

• How has American compassion for the poor actually contributed to the rise in poverty?
• What is the difference between "good charity" and "bad charity"?
• How do we distinguish between emergency needs and assistance? And how do we transition from one to the other?

Preview these episodes below for next week:

Episode 8: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-8-what-is-pier-ministry/id1694064788?i=1000624375681

Episode 9: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-9-beyond-the-border-part-one/id1694064788?i=1000625114399

Episode 10: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-10-beyond-the-border-part-two/id1694064788?i=1000625918500

Beyond the Breakwater A.L.I.C.E. Episodes 3 & 4

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." - Acts 1:8

Episode 3: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-3-poverty-alice-and-above/id1694064788?i=1000620512535

Episode 4: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-4-a-l-i-c-e/id1694064788?i=1000621374978

Who is A.L.I.C.E.?

• Who is A.L.I.C.E. and how does that impact our approach to charity?
• How can we recognize the different needs of those in poverty, A.L.I.C.E., and those beyond A.L.I.C.E. so that our efforts to serve are meeting their needs and not our own?
• What do we currently do that we might need to change in order to serve our neighbors?

Episode 5: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-5-the-dangers-of-a-handout/id1694064788?i=1000622124690

Episode 6: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-6-the-giving-dilemma/id1694064788?i=1000622909334

Episode 7: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-7-american-history-social-dilemmas/id1694064788?i=1000623664587

Beyond the Breakwater Introduction Episodes 1 & 2

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." - Acts 1:8

Episode 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-1-introduction/id1694064788?i=1000618130572

Episode 2: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-2-what-does-beyond-the-breakwater-mean/id1694064788?i=1000619114273

Introduction to Episodes 1 & 2

• How do ships, harbors, and breakwaters help us understand the mission of the church?
• Why do so many congregations stay in the "harbor" and never venture beyond the breakwater?
• What areas of community need are we addressing? What others in our community can we address both individually and as a congregation?

Preview these episodes below for next week:

Episode 3: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-3-poverty-alice-and-above/id1694064788?i=1000620512535

Episode 4: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-4-a-l-i-c-e/id1694064788?i=1000621374978

The Seven Signs of Christ in John's Gospel

"These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." –John 20:31

The Seventh Sign: Raising Lazarus From the Dead (John 11:1-45)

• Jesus did not rush to heal Lazarus when he was ill – this last sign would be greater than the ones that had come before.
• The signs had now become so clear and far-reaching that the plot to kill Jesus reaches its crescendo – it even includes the plot to kill Lazarus to lessen the sign.
• Martha's initial comfort came from the promised resurrection on the last day. The resurrection of Lazarus further strengthens that confidence and the assurance that the final resurrection is by the grace and power of Jesus Christ.

The Seven Signs of Christ in John's Gospel

"These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." –John 20:31

The Sixth Sign: Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind (John 9:1-40)

• Although sin is the foundation cause of all tragedy and trials in this life, there is not always a specific sin that leads to a particular struggle.
• Even after the healing, there are those who refuse to believe in Jesus or even acknowledge the miracles He performed.
• The blind see (literally and figuratively) and those who can see are blind and do not see (figuratively).

The Seven Signs of Christ in John's Gospel

"These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." –John 20:31

The Fifth Sign: Walking on Water (John 6:16-21)

• The darkness is both literal and figurative as the disciples still do not fully understand who Jesus is.
• The disciples' fear comes from a lack of control. Jesus demonstrates who is always and only in control.
• The walking on water would have brought to mind Moses and the parting of the Red Sea.
• Jesus not only has the power to walk on water, but as soon as He gets into the boat, the waters calm so they can immediately get to the other side.

The Seven Signs of Christ in John's Gospel

"These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."

–John 20:31

The Fourth Sign: Feeding the 5,000 (John 6:1-15)

• "Testing" is not to see if Philip got it right, but to strengthen his faith (see the purpose of John's Gospel in John 20:31)
• The usual human approaches made the issue seem impossible
• Jesus does big things with very little
• The reason Jesus has started small is seen in the people's response, wanting to make Him king

The Seven Signs of Christ in John's Gospel

"These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."

–John 20:31

The Third Sign: Healing a Paralyzed Man (John 5:1-15)

• 38 years of paralysis of body also led to paralysis of motivation
• The healing is once again by the power of Jesus' words (5:8-9)
• Like the first two signs, word only gets out about what has happened by the testimony of one or few witnesses (5:15)