weird:’message’series’devotional’ week’3’–’weird:’mission

Weird: Message Series Devotional

Week 3 – Weird: Mission

Provided by South Ridge Church

Many times, our culture invites us to fit in with others. We’re to fit in with other religious beliefs, or other’s views on parenting or sexuality. But in all things, God calls us to be weird in good way. He calls us to stand out.

This week, take the opportunity each day to read about how God calls each of us to be weird (different in a good way.)

Weird: Mission – Day 1 of 5

Nick: “Did you ever think that…oh, never mind.”

Jordan: “What is it?”

Nick: “I don’t need to say it. Really.”

Jordan: “Really, it’s OK.”

Nick: “I just sometimes feel like, maybe we were made to be part of something bigger.”

Jordan: “Are you saying this job isn’t everything you hoped it would be? Because of all the other companies I’ve worked for, I think I could retire from this one.”

Nick: “No, it’s not that at all. I mean, sure, I like my job and all. And I agree that I could retire from here, too. But every day is the same thing. Wake up. Get the kids off to school. Come here and meet with clients. Go home. And then get up the next day and do it all over again. I suppose we are making a difference and all, but I just wonder if I could be doing something that would provide more meaning and purpose, ya know?”

Jordan: “Sorry. I’m not sure I do know. What else is there?”

Nick: “Well, you go to the same church as my family, right?”

Jordan: “Yeah, we’ve been attending for years. We really like it there.”

Nick: “The message from this weekend is really sticking with me. The pastor talked about living out our faith intentionally, and relationally with others.”

Jordan: “Yeah…what’s your point?”

Nick: “It just doesn’t seem like we do that. You and I. Our families. I mean, what do we do to intentionally live out our faith around others.”

Jordan: “I understood the point of the message. But I also know that this is the real world. We can’t really talk about our faith with others. Remember Michael?”

Nick: “Oh yeah, whatever happened to him, anyway?”

Jordan: “They fired him. He kept going on and on about his faith. Apparently somebody filed a complaint. I mean it’s one thing to be nice to people, or invite them to a special church event or something like that. But we can’t go around just openly talking about Jesus all the time.”

Nick: “Maybe it’s not that we can’t talk about our faith with others. Maybe we just need to figure out how to live out our faith more intentionally around others.”

Jordan: “How?”

Nick: “That’s exactly what I’m trying to figure out. Like I said, I feel like we’re supposed to be …no, I feel that we are part of something bigger. But I’m just not sure how to be intentional about it.”

Jordan: “Well, if you ever figure it out, feel free to let me know. Gotta run. But we’ll catch up again soon, alright?”

Nick: “Sure. I suppose we will.”

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Be honest. Do you get up every day and take the opportunity to think through how to live out your faith around others? Do you go into each and every day with the intention of living out the Gospel?

Some may read through these questions and say, “Of course I do.” While others may think, “I’m honestly not sure what it means to intentionally live out the Gospel.”

To intentionally live out the Gospel means to do your very best to see every person you interact with in the same way Jesus sees them. To see their hurts, struggles and fears. To love and encourage them, considering their own needs as more important than your own (Philippians 2:3-‐4).

As you begin this week, take time to evaluate the people you interact with the most. Some will be immediate family. Others will be colleagues, or other parents out on the soccer field. How can you be intentional about living out the Gospel around them throughout the week?

Read: Philippians 1:20-‐2:4

Question to Consider:

• In your own words, what do you think it means to intentionally live out the Gospel? Do you know of any scripture passages that support this?

• How can you be intentional about living out the Gospel this week? Take the opportunity to write down your answer, and look at it each and every morning throughout the week.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I simply pray today that You will give me wisdom and insight as to how I may better live intentionally for You each and every day. Amen.

Weird: Mission – Day 2 of 5:

Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t always mean you need to pack your bags and move to some remote country on the African continent, hoping to share the message of Jesus with those who barely have access to food and water, let alone a local church. Yes, God may call some into full time missionary work, and it’s possible you’re one of them! But most people will continue to work in the same job and enjoy the same hobbies, year after year.

This doesn’t mean we are to keep what we believe hidden from others. Instead, we are to relate with others, befriending them in such a way that they see and hear our faith in action on a regular basis. We don’t do this to receive recognition and accolades. We do it so that God receives the recognition.

Read: Matthew 9:9-‐13,10:32-‐33, 12:46-‐50

Questions to Consider:

• What types of people did Jesus take specific opportunities to relate with? • What, specifically, did he did do to relate with them? • Think of one or two people you struggle to relate with. What do you think makes

your relationship with them so difficult? • What specifically, can you do to better relate with them throughout the week?

Month? Year? • If someone asked you what God has called you to do and/or where He’s called you to

go, how would you answer?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that there are people in my life that I have a hard time relating with in a positive way. But I know that You have called me to live intentionally for You, and live with others relationally in a way that points people directly to You. Today I want to pray specifically for those I struggle to relate with. I pray that You will continue to help me see them as people created in Your image, and that You will provide me the wisdom to know how to love them in the same ways You do. I pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.


Some passages of Scripture are more challenging to apply than others. Take Philippians 2:5-‐11 for example. It begins with, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” The passage goes on and provides two specific actions Jesus did in which you are to follow His example.

First, Jesus emptied Himself. He gave up everything that He was, and instead became a servant of all. He gave up His power. He gave up His authority. He gave up His privilege. He gave up His honor.

Second, Jesus humbled Himself. It seems odd that the passage would first say that Jesus emptied Himself, and then He humbled Himself. But Jesus wasn’t fully able to humble Himself until after He emptied Himself. Once He gave up all of His privileges, only then He was able to show what true humility looks like.

Read: Philippians 2:5-‐11, 2 Corinthians 5:18-‐21


• How would you have defined humility yesterday? Is how you would define it today any different?

• What is one thing that prevents you from having the same attitude that Christ Jesus had?

• What do you think it means to be an ambassador of Christ?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I confess that some days I am a long way off from being an ambassador for You in everything I do. But today, my sincere desire is to empty myself. I give You my pride. I give You my power. I give You my honor. I give You my everything. Thank You for being with me and for setting the example for me, and continue to provide me with wisdom so that I may be an ambassador for You each and every day. Amen.


The New Testament makes one thing abundantly clear; every follower of Jesus is to share the Gospel message with others. But it makes something else clear, too. Every follower of Jesus is to continually share the Gospel message with themselves on a regular basis, too.

For example, Paul wrote to Christians in Rome that he was looking forward to preaching the Gospel to them (Romans 1:15). They already had faith in Jesus, but Paul knew they needed to continually hear the Gospel message themselves. In fact, many of Paul’s letters focus on specific Gospel truths. Truths he knew God’s people needed to hear on a daily basis.

Read: Ephesians 2

Questions to consider:

• If somebody asked you to define the Gospel, what would you say? • What are at least five truths of the Gospel you think you need to hear on a daily basis? • What will you do in order to remind yourself of these truths on a daily basis?

Prayer:

Father, I recognize that I need Your Gospel to permeate every aspect of my being. I know that I sometimes feel guilt and shame, and I forget that Jesus has done everything that needed to be done to make me righteous (Romans 5:19). I also recognize that I sometimes feel unholy, but I know that You have done everything that needed to be done to make me holy (Hebrews 10:10). So, today, I simply pray that You will continue to remind me of Your Gospel truths, so that I may continually live freely in them. I praise You, today, for everything You have done! Amen.


A church building is just that, a building. It’s a tool used as a place of worship for Christians, and also used to serve the community as a whole.

The church, however, isn’t just a building. The church is a group of people. The church is one body. The church is holy. And the church has a mission – to reach others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

At the end of His time on earth, Jesus said, “…go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

It wasn’t a suggestion. Nor a simple recommendation. He commanded it. “…GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS…”

Read: Matthew 28:18-‐20


• What do you think it means to make disciples? • Why do you think Jesus gave this command to the disciples as a group? • How can you best follow-‐through on this command?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I just want to take the opportunity to close out this week by praising You for all You’ve done in my life! Specifically, I thank You for ____________________________.

I also want to pray for this weekend’s ministry project, “The Church Has Left the Building.” As South Ridge Church leaves the confines of our building, I pray that You will continually provide us opportunities to be the church to our community. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

weird:’message’series’devotional’ week’3’–’weird:’mission

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