As You Are Going

In one paragraph

Nick Stern, First Baptist's technology and communications director, shared stories and lessons from two pilgrimages he made along the Camino de Santiago, in Spain and Portugal. The walks became unexpected mission trips, and he wove those experiences together with a straightforward challenge to the congregation: verbalize your faith. The message drew on Romans 10:14, 1 Samuel 15:22, John 14:6, 1...

Read together

1. 1 Thessalonians 4 mentioned briefly at the opening as the basis for being caught up to be with the Lord forever, before the first hymn
2. Matthew 5:8 quoted as 'blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God' and attributed to Jesus in Matthew five eight, used as a prayer song
3. Romans 10:14 quoted to make the point that faith must be verbalized: how can they hear without someone preaching
4. 1 Samuel 15:22 quoted on the topic of obedience: obedience is better than sacrifice, submission better than offering the fat of rams
5. John 14:6 quoted to argue that following Jesus is an all-in proposition: I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me
6. 1 John 4 cited as the location of the phrase God is love, noted it appears two or three times there, and that the book addresses false Gnostic teaching
7. 1 John 5:3-5 quoted to show that love for God means keeping His commandments, and that only the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world
8. 1 Peter 5:6-8 quoted on laying down burdens: humble yourselves, casting all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you
9. Matthew 28:19 quoted as the Great Commission, noting it can also be translated as you are going, used to encourage witnessing wherever people already are

Talk about it

1. Nick mentioned that the quote 'preach the gospel at all times, when necessary use words' is often used as a way to avoid actually speaking our faith out loud. What holds you back from verbalizing what you believe to people in your everyday life?
2. Nick described obedience as the topic people on the Camino wanted to talk about most, and pointed to 1 Samuel 15:22 where Samuel says obedience is better than sacrifice. In what ways do we substitute visible sacrifice or generosity for the harder work of actual obedience?
3. Nick talked about people he met on the trail who wanted to mix Jesus with Buddhism, Eastern philosophy, and other ideas, a kind of build-your-own religion. How do you respond when someone you know takes that approach, and what would you say to them?
4. Nick shared that laying down burdens is something he struggles with personally, and described carrying a stone across Spain and leaving it at the Cruz de Ferro as a symbol of giving something to God. What does it actually look like in your daily life to cast your anxiety on God as 1 Peter 5 describes?
5. Nick baptized a stranger named Anders in a river along the trail, and said he is not ordained and has no special degree, but he said yes when the opportunity came. What would it take for you to say yes to a moment like that, and is there someone specific in your life right now you could be praying for or inviting to hear the gospel?