Lesson 9 Review: Mission to the Powerful

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26, NKJV).

God is concerned about the salvation of the rich and the powerful as He is for that of the weak and the needy. The Bible tells of people who were rich and powerful, and how God used them to be a blessing to the nations: Abraham, Isaac, Job, Solomon, and Joseph. This week’s lesson explores God’s mission to the rich and powerful.

What evidence can we find in Sunday’s lesson that God cares about the wealthy and powerful and the weak and needy?

The biblical account of Nebuchadnezzar, who came to his senses and acknowledged the Creator God, shows that God cares about the wealthy and powerful, as well as the weak and needy.

What can we learn from the story of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4?

First, God uses committed believers, such as Daniel, as a bridge to reach powerful unbelievers. Second, God can directly intervene in the witnessing in order to reach powerful unbelievers.

What were the two unusual requests Naaman made after God healed him of leprosy?

First, he asked to take two mules of earth from Israel back to Syria for the purpose of worshipping the living God showing that pagan influences still held sway over his thinking to a degree, because he intended to worship God on Israelite soil. Second, he resolved to serve only the God of heaven, though he realizes that doing such may not be easy in his idolatrous nation, where he performed duties to his earthly king, hence, he asked for pardon when he bows down to Rimmon.

What principle should be borne in the mind of those who labor for souls?

‘God leads new converts on step by step, and knows the appropriate moment in which to call for a reform in a certain matter. This principle ought always to be borne in mind by those who labor for the salvation of souls.’

How did Jesus impact the life of the learned: Nicodemus?

God knew the heart of Nicodemus, Nicodemus was powerful, wealthy and a respected leader but, he still had needs. He came to Jesus by night because Jesus’ teachings had convicted him, and Jesus provided the need he lacked.

What evidence do we see that Nicodemus was impacted by Jesus?

Nicodemus sought to protect Jesus when He was alive and even after Jesus’ death, he sought to honor Him still (John 7:43-52 and John 19:39).

What other reason do we find in Wednesday’s lesson that God’s mission is to the rich too?

The rich and poor face the same fate: the grave. This means that the rich are in desperate need of salvation as is anyone else. Money cannot buy salvation, it comes as a gift, offered freely by Jesus to whomever will claim it by faith.

What contrast do we find in Wednesday’s lesson?

The rich young ruler when asked to sell his properties and give to the poor to get eternal life, went away sorrowful (Matthew 19:16-22), but Zacchaeus responded to Jesus in a way that, unfortunately, the rich young ruler didn’t. Zacchaeus was convicted by Jesus and knew that he had to make some changes in his life, especially as it related to his wealth, he gave to the poor and restored anything he had acquired by false accusation.

How does Thursday’s lesson explain the ministry to the powerful?

It is better not to pursue the powerful people, let them come to you. Powerful people will seek to partner with genuine ministry because they want to be part of something good that is changing the lives of people and in so doing they can get the help they need without publicly disclosing their needs. The second phase is to begin genuine ministry as an avenue for the rich and powerful to be part of God’s ministry. Like Joseph of Arimathea, God has used and will continue to use the rich for his purposes.

In Conclusion,

The rich and powerful are in need of salvation as anyone else, hence, we have a mission to them as well. I pray that, by God’s grace we be able to reach out to the rich and powerful, in Jesus’ name.

Lesson 8 Review: Mission to the Needy

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’ ” (Matthew 25:40, NKJV).

God uses others to help us, or He uses us to help others. By helping others in need, we are modeling the ministry of Jesus Christ. We are to draw close to strangers as the Bible instructs and by winning their confidence we can find better ways of helping them find Jesus. Helping is the central part of what it means to be a Christian and what the mission must include.

What lesson can we draw from this story of the paralytic in the Gospels about mission and ministry?

God is calling us to be like the friends of the paralytic-to lead the needy to Jesus Christ. This work requires faith, action, patience, and a willingness, if need be, to be unconventional.

How does Jesus demonstrate how to help the helpless?

First, we become their friends; then we learn about their needs; and finally, we lead them to Jesus, who is the only One who can help them. The men in the story of the paralytic did this, we are to do likewise.

What is the five-step process of Jesus’ method to minister, especially to those in need?

‘First, we must mingle with the helpless, spend time getting to know them, and understand their needs with the intention of doing good for them.’

‘Second, we need to show sympathy.’

‘The third step is to minister to their needs.’

‘The fourth step is winning their confidence.’

‘The last step is to help lead them to Jesus, an act that requires faith from both you and the one whom you help.’

What is the gospel’s message to us concerning immigrants and refugees?

Jesus was a refugee in Egypt because His earthly parents had to flee Bethlehem, so refugees and immigrants among us indeed need our help. The gospel calls us to get out of our ethnic, national, and cultural comfort zones and to reach out to those in need, even immigrants and refugees, regardless of how different from us they might be. Begin with prayer, then seek information on immigrants and refugees.

What are the principles of being Jesus’ helper?

We are to meet the needs of people purely because they need help, even though we don’t know when or if they will accept Jesus. However, reaching them for Jesus is the foundation of mission. One who wants to help must have the goal of showing selfless love towards them, understanding their needs first before trying to help them. The need may be more than money or physical things.

What vital point does Thursday’s lesson make?

The needs never end, we should do what we can, when we can to help. Jesus helped those who could not help themselves. Sometimes, Jesus went to them, and sometimes they came to Him as in the story of the paralytic in Luke 5. Irrespective of gender, color, race, or nationalism, we should never relent in helping the needy.

In Conclusion,

We are to offer help to those in need as to the Lord, without expecting anything in return, knowing that God rewards those who help the needy. I pray that, by God’s grace, we help whenever we have to, in Jesus’ name.

Lesson 7 Review: Mission to My Neighbor

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “He answered, ‘ “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”; and, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ’ ” (Luke 10:27, NIV).

God wants to love Him and to love others as well. Doing this requires a conscious effort, or else our love will only be superficial. This week we will be learning how this lesson can be applied in our lives.

What was the lawyer’s question and the intention behind asking the question?

The lawyer in Luke 10 asked, “ ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ ”. The intention was to test Jesus Christ.

What is the only other option in contrast to eternal death that makes this question crucial?

In contrast to eternal life is eternal death. This question is so crucial that, despite the bad intention, Jesus had to take advantage of it to reach souls.

 What are we to do when tested with questions as was Jesus?

We simply need to minister to others in the best we can, regardless of their deepest motives.

What do Matthew 26:56, Acts 17:11, 1 Corinthians 15:3, and 2 Timothy 3:16 help us understand Jesus’ response to the lawyer in Luke 10:26?

We are to do our best to search the Scriptures (the Word of God), instead of just listening to what others have to tell us. In the Word, we can find all the truth there.

What are we to do in essence to inherit eternal life?

If we are to inherit eternal life, we must do what we know is right and not just know it. We are to show our faith by our works. If we love God, we will read His Word, we will pray, we will keep His commandments, and we will be obedient to His voice “with all our heart.”

What is the underlying principle of God’s government in heaven and earth?

Love.

Why is love important?

It is evidence that we believe in God. Without love, we can’t inherit eternal life.

“ ‘Who is my neighbor?’ ”

Our neighbor is not just one living next to you or one from the same faith. Our neighbor is every person who needs our help, everyone who is the property of God.

In Conclusion,

Our mission to our neighbor is to show love. When love is the underlying principle, the message is already preached. I pray that, by God’s grace, we show love to Him and to others, in Jesus’ name.

Lesson 6 Review: Motivation and Preparation for Mission

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “ ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me’ ” (Luke 24:44, NKJV).

‘Whether in “pretense or in truth,” Christ is preached-and that is what mattered to Paul. Ideally, though, our motives for preaching Christ, for mission, for reaching others with good news, should be out of love, and out of truth-and not from selfish ambition, envy, or strife.’ This week’s lesson will give us some motivations for preaching Christ and preparing for preaching Christ.

What motivation is mentioned in Sunday’s lesson?

The motivation pointed out in Sunday’s lesson concerns letting others know about what Jesus has done. This alone is enough to motivate others. Like Peter, the people shared may not accept it at first, but later. However, to share our experience with Jesus, we need such experience. We can’t share what we do not have.

What element should we use to sustain our experiences with Jesus?

Our experiences with Jesus can only be sustained with the foundation of His word, including the prophecies that point to the history and events leading up to, and including, the first and second advents of Christ. Jesus Christ, even after showing His pierced hands and side, turned the people to the Word of God for them to understand why He needed to die and be resurrected.

What motivation is mentioned in Monday’s lesson?

The Word of God.

How did the disciples of Jesus prepare as they waited for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?

First, Luke says they continued in united prayer and supplication. Secondly, they prepared logistically for their mission, they made a replacement for Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus.

What motivations are pointed out in Tuesday’s lesson?

Knowing Jesus’ mission inspires us to unite in Prayer, encouraging each other, organizing, aligning with God’s priority-the saving of the lost, both on a personal and church level, and planning for the mission.

What motivation is pointed out in Wednesday’s lesson?

Working together, in harmony with the Holy Spirit, these followers of Jesus preached repentance and forgiveness of sins-even for those who may have been directly involved in the crucifixion of Jesus! That’s the power of the gospel. This is the motivation, the power of Jesus Christ to save the sinner.

What other thing does Wednesday’s lesson point out?

Our gifts or blessings are not merely for our selfish desires. They are meant for others, to carry out God’s mission.

How does Acts 2 end?

Acts 2 ends with a beautiful picture, with the idea that these newly baptized believers became part of the group as equals propagating love and God’s mission.

What was the core function of the early Christian church?

Discipleship.

How were new members added to the early church discipled?

First, they continued to be taught by the apostle’s doctrine and fellowship. They learned the application of the truth in their relationship as a group. They were under the supervision and leadership of the spiritually mature and grounded apostles.

What motivation is mentioned in Thursday’s lesson?

Motivation comes from seeing others and the reality of their experience with Christ.

In Conclusion,

There are a lot of motivations to prepare one for God's mission, but it all comes down to whether we want to be motivated or not. I pray that God helps us to make the right choice in partaking in God’s mission in Jesus’ name.