Main Thought
People love 2 Corinthians 5:21, which tells us that Jesus took our sin and enabled us to become the righteousness of God. The beautiful truths of this scripture apply to everyone who follows Jesus! But what about the scriptures leading up to that beautiful declaration? It is there we discover that God gave the “Ministry of Reconciliation” to all of His people. We’re like ambassadors who have the opportunity to extend the good news about Jesus on God’s behalf. This responsibility also applies to everyone who follows Jesus. There’s no escaping our calling as ambassadors for Christ! But this isn’t an obligation to escape from; it’s an opportunity to be excited by. The Leper who met Jesus in (Matthew 8 and Mark 1) couldn’t help but share his story of transformation at the hands of Jesus. If Jesus has transformed something in you, or in your life, then you have a story to share too.
Main Passages
'And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.' - Mark 1:40-45
'All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.' - 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Discussion Questions
God calls everyone who has been touched or transformed by Jesus to spread His good news to others. Why do you think God calls us to do this?
What’s one of your favorite things about Jesus? (It could be a passage, a teaching, a testimony, an aspect of His character, an apologetic fact, a theological truth, etc.)
Is there someone in your life who might be blessed or encouraged to hear you share your answer to the previous question? If so, who?