Strengthening Your Grip - Jared McCormick
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class began with the teacher asking the congregation to define missions, leading to a lively conversation that connected the Great Commission to everyday acts of love and service. Participants offered definitions ranging from global evangelism to a local outreach event planned for June 12, stressing the importance of having a clear objective and purpose. Scripture references such as Matthew 28, Mark 16:15, 2 Corinthians 5:18, 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 1, and 1 John 2:2 were highlighted as foundational texts for mission work. The teacher then turned the focus to Isaiah 6, guiding the group through the prophet’s vision, the cleansing of his lips, and God’s call, “Whom shall I send?” illustrating how God's commissioning applies to every believer. The class concluded that missions are not limited to distant lands but begin in our immediate surroundings—neighbors, coworkers, and community members. By understanding that any heart without Jesus is a mission field and every heart with Him makes us missionaries, participants were encouraged to respond to God’s call with both local and global initiatives. Practical steps and a reminder to keep hearing, seeing, and obeying were given as a call to ongoing, faithful mission living.
Key Scriptures
And I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim: each had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!' And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said, 'Woe is me! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!' Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said, 'Behold, this has touched your lips; and your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.' And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am; send me.'
But 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.