Lesson 13 Review: The End of God’s Mission

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God…?” (2 Peter 3:11, 12, NKJV).

The book of Revelation fills the mind with scenes of the end. The epicenter of the book deals with the cosmic conflict between Christ and Satan, however, it ends with Jesus’ return to deliver His children from the destruction that awaits the devil and unrepentant sinners. The Revelation is a missionary book focused on a missionary God who is calling us to be a missionary church. Everyone ultimately has to make a choice for or against God.

In what ways do we see evidence that the book of Revelation is focused on God’s mission in the last days?

The first verses reveal that Jesus is the source of Revelation. Revelation 1:4, 5 alludes to all Three Members of the Godhead, who are working unitedly to save human beings. The Father is the eternal one who was and is and is to come, the Holy Spirit, who is working powerfully among the first-century churches, is named and John recalls the status of Jesus Christ-the “faithful witness,” “the firstborn of the dead” (Rev. 1:5, NRSV), who possesses legal ownership of this planet. God has victory over Satan, our Creator’s shed blood washes away our guilt and shame. We also find the urgency of mission in Revelation 1:7: Jesus is coming, and the nations will mourn because they are lost.

What does God’s salvation offer?

God’s salvation offers a new and honorable status because God’s image is restored in us, beyond simply dragging perishing people to safety.

What then does the Book of Revelation open with?

The book of Revelation opens, then with God’s mission for human beings.

What is the message in Revelation 14:6-12?

The message, in a real sense, is the mission. The world needs to be warned about what is coming upon it, and every person will be forced to make a choice, a choice for either life or death.

What is central to the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14?

“the everlasting gospel” (rev. 14:6, NKJV) and the worship of the Creator appearing in the depiction of the saints: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12, NKJV).

What is our special calling and mission?

To proclaim to a lost world, the hope found in the “everlasting gospel,” as well as to warn the world of what will one day come upon it knowing that we are either for or against Christ.

What is simply the “present truth” (2 Pet. 1:12)?

The Great Commission, and in many ways the three angels’ messages, with a call to “every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Rev. 14:6, NKJV), is simply the “present truth” (2 Pet. 1:12) expression of the Great Commission.

What does Tuesday’s lesson teach us about how God treats every group of people?

Everyone will be judged based on how much they did or didn’t understand (Rom. 2:11-16). There will be only two groups, those who submitted to the authority of Satan through religious and political institutions as shown in Revelation 13 and 17, and those who have fully submitted to Jesus Christ, whose faith is made manifest by their keeping “the commandments of God” (Rev. 14:12).

What, really is success in mission?

While we think of many baptisms, big churches and rapid growth rates as success in mission, our focus is to be on the process; God’s focus will be on the growth. The object of God’s mission is saving the lost in every people group on earth by making them disciples of Jesus who are involved in His mission. Hence success in mission results in making disciples of Jesus.

What are the qualities of the disciples of Jesus?

Disciples of Jesus are pure, remaining loyal to Jesus as a pure bride would to her betrothed. This prevents them from being led astray, they recognize that they are imperfect, requiring God’s cleansing grace and mercy, hence they are open to correction and instruction from other believers.

What are some of the qualities of the new earth?

Death and sin will be gone, Satan and his wickedness will be destroyed. We will meet our loving Savior and reunite with loved ones. And the new earth will be populated with representatives from every ethnicity and language.

What metrics does the General Conference Mission Board of Seventh-day Adventist use to determine whether a people group is reached and unreached?

A “reached people group” is one that has adequate numbers and resources to witness effectively to the rest of the group without requiring outside assistance. An “unreached people group” is one that has no indigenous community of believing Adventists with adequate numbers and resources to witness effectively to their own group without assistance from outside their culture.

What is expected of every local church and conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church?

Every local church and conference must determine the people groups in their community who need to be reached and invest in God’s mission of making disciples in all people groups, hastening our Savior’s return and, in the end, living with them in the new heaven and new earth that is promised to us here.

In Conclusion,

The re-creation and restoration of the earth is the climax or end of God’s mission. I pray that God helps us to make disciples who will be part of this new earth in Jesus’ name.

Lesson 12 Review: Esther and Mordecai

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “ ‘I will give you as light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth’ ” (Isa. 49:6, NRSV).

The Book of Esther contains one of the most inspiring accounts of “cross-cultural ministry” in the Bible. Esther, Mordecai and their fellow Jews were living in the capital of the Persian Empire, Susa. Esther became Queen, Mordecai became prominent, and they witnessed for the truth even in a foreign environment. This story in the Book of Esther shows how God’s people, even in foreign environments, can witness for truth.

What important points can we draw from Sunday’s lesson?

For those who are determined to be faithful, even the most unfavorable environment cannot keep them from obedience.

What could be part of the reason why Esther was chosen to be presented to the king?

Their position and where they lived got them immersed in the Persian culture.

What could be the possible reason why Mordecai gave Esther a command not to reveal her people or family?

As aliens in a foreign culture and religion that could be hostile, the Jews were wise in keeping silent about their family and people.

 Why did Mordecai not kneel before Haman?

Mordecai is a faithful Jew who is not willing to pay homage to a descendant of Agag and Amalekite, enemies of his people since the Exodus (Deut. 25:19), or worship anyone but the Lord.

How did Mordecai respond to the King’s servants by the gate who asked Mordecai why he transgressed the king’s command?

He witnessed to them about his faith. He let them know that he was a Jew. He had the opportunity to explain that as a worshipper of God who created heavens and the earth, he could not worship any sinful human being.

How else do we see the results of Mordecai’s witnessing before the day of Purim?

If, before Mordecai transgressed the king’s command, Haman, along with the king’s servants by the gate and everyone in the province didn’t know about Mordecai’s faith, they knew about the faith of Mordecai and his people as a result of not worshipping Haman.

What can we learn from Wednesday’s lesson?

Mordecai’s faith sought to awaken Esther’s faith by appealing to her love for her people with words in Esther 4:13, 14 – “…Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’ ” (NKJV). This appeal led her to not hesitate putting her life on the line – “…And if I perish, I perish’ ” (Esther 4:16, NIV).

Esther along with other Jews knew that without God Esther would not succeed, so they accompanied their fasting with prayer.

What do we learn about God’s actions?

God’s actions can take the appearance of normal, natural events, and if we don’t pay careful attention to them, we will not notice God’s presence.

What was the result of Esther’s effort?

The miracle of Purim is hidden, disguised in apparently natural events. Though the law to destroy the Jews was not reversed, a new law was written to allow the Jews to defend themselves. God worked through these events to reveal Himself to the Persians and bring lost souls to the knowledge of Him. And the result? “Many people of other nationalities became Jews” (Esther 8:17, NIV). This day, Purim became a yearly time in remembrance and celebration of their victory.

In Conclusion,

By being faithful, Esther and Mordecai were able to witness in a foreign environment of their faith. We too, should not let the environment determine our faithfulness to God, at all times we must hold on to the faith that we profess. I pray that God strengthens us to be faithful irrespective of the environment in Jesus’ name. 

Lesson 11 Review: Mission to the Unreached: Part 2

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour” (Matthew 15:28, NKJV).

55 percent of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and that should grow (if time should last) to 68 percent by 2050. Yet, many of God’s people act as Jonah did when called to witness to a city: for whatever reason, they flee from the task. When here, Jesus not only ministered to the cities of Israel but ministered to foreign nations as well which include Tyre and Sidon, we should too.

Why did Jesus lead His disciples from Galilee to these pagan places?

Jesus led His disciples to the pagan places to teach them lessons that would help prepare them for their calling to help reach all people groups, including urbanities.

What is the brief history of Sidonites, Amorites, Perrizites, Jebusites, Hivites, people of Lebanon and others in Sunday’s lesson?

They have a long history of idolatry; they were reserved to test the children of Israel. Solomon had relationships with these pagan people, and he made a treaty with Hiram king of Tyre, He loved many pagan wives and children.

What is the message to Adventist Urban missionaries?

Health and environmental challenges, high cost of living, racism, bigotry, nationalism and constraints on religious freedom and expression and other challenges face the Adventist urban missionary. Nevertheless, we must work for the cities.

What lesson can we learn from Monday’s lesson?

Jesus was moved with compassion for the people, he saw their need and was moved with compassion for them. We too, should pray for a heart like Jesus’ to be moved with compassion over our fellow brethren. According to Mathew 4:25, the multitudes following Jesus came from Galilee, from the ten city-states of the Decapolis to the east, from Jerusalem and from Judea to the South, but besides Samaria, the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, part of Phoenicia, along the Mediterranean Sea and northwest of Galilee was missing among the multitudes that follow Jesus, now we see why Jesus went seeking for them. We too, Christ’s followers seek the multitudes in need of the message of salvation where they are.

What do bible scholars believe about the gospel of Matthew and Mark in Tuesday’s lesson?

Bible scholars believe that the Gospel of Matthew had been written specifically for a Jewish audience, and that Mark was written with primarily a Gentile audience in mind.

What are the distinctions in the description of Matthew 15 and Mark 7?

While Matthew describes this mother using her nationality or race: Canaanite, Mark is led by the Holy Spirit to use additional terms to describe this mother as “a Greek” or “a Gentile” and further says, she is “a Syro-Phoenician by birth” or “a Syrian of Phoenicia”.

What are the various reactions the audience of Mathew 15 and Mark 7 would give?

Matthew’s audience will see this mother as a despised heathen coming from the fact that the Jewish people has even before then seen the Canaanites as an idol-worshipping whose evil lifestyle and practices had long been a stumbling block to them. Mark’s audience would identify with this woman, “a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth” (NKJV), a beloved mother concerned about the fate of her daughter and wanted Jesus to heal her irrespective of the mother’s ethnic and national background.

How did Christ respond to the woman’s request and why?

Christ first received this woman as the Jews would have done to show His disciples the cold and heartless manner the Jews would treat such a case, then He showed His disciples the compassionate manner in which He would have them deal with such distress, by subsequently granting her request.

What questions stem from Wednesday’s lesson concerning Peter’s vision of unclean animals and the story of Tyre and Sidon?

What lessons did the disciples learn from this field trip that related also to Peter’s vision? How can we apply these to our lives today and to Christ’s last-day call to His mission to the cities? What biases prevent us from seeing the needs of urbanities? What opportunities has God provided to us in the cities-to expand our mission understanding, and caringly to confront our bigotry, nationalism, and spiritual pride?

Who can help us to overcome our prejudices and bias in order to complete our mission to the cities?

The Holy Spirit can help us overcome our prejudices and biases in order to complete our mission to the cities.

What is Jesus looking for in Chris’s disciples?

Jesus is looking for faith that shines even amid darkness. Thursday contains various passages in the Bible that include people with faith that shone even in dark cities. For instance, in Matthew 8: 10, 13, we see a converted pagan centurion with great faith.

What lesson can we apply from Thursday’s lesson?

Faith is found in unexpected places, therefore speaking to people about the gospel who are not “God’s people” can certainly lead to conversion. On the contrary, little faith-or even outright unbelief- was the limiting factor to Christ’s ministry. ‘Among His disciples, several times Jesus says of Israel, “O ye [thou] of little faith!” (Matt. 6:30, Matt. 8:26, Matt. 14:31, Matt. 16:8) . And in Matthew 17:17, Jesus exclaims, “O faithless and perverse generation”’!

In Conclusion,

We are not to see people as unworthy to receive the message of grace. In every race or nationality can be found God’s precious jewels, hence, we must deny them the gospel. Our mission is to those in cities, it is to everyone. I pray that the Holy Spirit helps us to overcome bigotry, prejudices, and bias in Jesus’ name.

Lesson 10 Review: Mission to the Unreached: Part 1

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “ ‘The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built with hands’ ” (Acts 17:24, NIV).

Paul refused to be only satisfied with working among only his own people. He had been called to reach others as well. There are lessons from Paul’s attempt to reach people other than his own people which we will learn this week.

What lessons can we draw from Paul’s winding up in Athens?

As believers, we should not feel comfortable when we see people going in the way of destruction. As Paul, we are to seek to save these people on the path to destruction. God wants everyone to be saved even non-Christians. When reaching out to people whose background has nothing to do with “the Judeo-Christian” heritage, we need to adapt, we need to take an approach that might work fine, even as Paul did with the Athenians.

What were some of the different ways that pagans in the marketplace in Acts 17:18-21 reacted to Paul’s speaking and questioning?

Some said, “What does the babbler want to say?”, some said Paul was a proclaimer of foreign gods. He was brought to Areopagus.

What lessons can we learn from Paul’s experience in Areopagus?

Total reliance on God for gifts such as eloquence, passion, and intelligence is important, especially when promoting strange ideas to a people who spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

What lessons can we learn from Paul’s use of the concept of the “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD”?

Paul used an approach that was respectful, he told them about how he walked around and looked carefully at the objects of worship. He did not appear as one with all the answers that these people needed. Paul took advantage of what could be seen as common ground, “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD” (Acts 17:23, NKJV), Paul recognized the good side of these people, these people put effort into worshipping something. Christians can follow this pattern; we can find a talking point that will pique the interest of those we are trying to reach.

What are the concepts of Paul’s speech to the people of Areopagus?

1.       Paul first complimented their current spiritual awareness and sincerity.

2.       Next he showed that he had studied their belief and that he found some things that he respected from what they learned.

3.       He then told them about one particular thing that he had discovered in his study of their religion that they admitted they did not understand.

4.       After that, he shared the aspect of God that he knew they desperately needed, which is the fact that God exists and that He loves them and is not far away.

5.       Finally, at the end of his speech, Paul moved to warning them of what it means to reject the knowledge of this God they did not yet know.

How did the men of Areopagus respond to Paul’s speech?

The men of Areopagus took their first baby steps toward a God of love in contrast to the Greek mythology-in which the gods, were unpredictable, self-centered and cruel.

What powerful method of reaching people is highlighted in Thursday’s lesson?

In seeking to reach others, having a familiarity with what they believe and seeking points of common ground can be a powerful ground for reaching people.

What is the key in the story of Paul’s encounter with the Areopagus?

What is key in the story of Paul’s encounter with the Areopagus is that all of them listened, by listening, they would understand just what they are accepting or rejecting.

In Conclusion,

It is a powerful method to find common ground with the unreached people you want to reach and, in love, present your message. I pray that God gives us the wisdom to best reach out to the unreached in Jesus’ name.