Why is this important?
Every disciple should know their mission field. Go, and as you go, make disciples is a fair assertion from the Great Commission. So as we are going, we need to look up and look around to see who God would have us disciple unto salvation and unto obedience so they too can make disciples.
Develop a Personal Acts 1:8 Strategy
There are plenty of models to create a personal awareness of who you know that needs to know Christ and be in a Small Group. The 3151 challenge is a great tool, Concentric Circles of Concern, or FRAN (Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors) are also useful. Assisting people to discover their Acts 1:8 mission field and sharing it with their group has been helpful to numerous people.
Jerusalem
These are people who reside in your heart: family and very close friends.
Judea
These are people who reside in your community. Get to know your neighbors by being a good neighbor.
Samaria
These are people who are discovered at places that you go; work, businesses, restaurants, schools, ball fields, or any other place that you go on a consistent basis.
Ends of the Earth
These are people you discover as you move about in other venues of life; airports, other cities, social networks, events, and other areas that are not necessarily part of your routine or traditional ways to encounter people. Ask God to keep you aware of people that you meet as you are going through life.
Give group members an Acts 1:8 card to help them discover their mission field, and then work as a group to finds ways to connect these people to Christ, the church, and your group.
Daniel Edmonds is a State Missionary and the director of the Office of Sunday School & Discipleship for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
facebook.com/SundaySchoolandDiscipleship/
Twitter: @DedmondsDaniel
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