Friday, August 28, 2015
Lesson 10 Philip as Missionary August 29- Sept 4 2015
Lesson 10August 29—September 4
Philip as Missionary
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Cor. 4:18, Acts 2:44-47,4:34-37, 6:1-7, Acts 8,21:7-10.
Memory Text:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth(Acts 1:8 NIV).
World mission was the main concern of the risen Christ during the 40 days between His crucifixion and ascension. The New Testament preserves at least five of His Great Commission statements: Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47-49, John 20:21, Acts 1:5-8. Together they constitute the greatest assignment ever given to Christians. Among the commands was a geographical strategy for mission outreach, from its Jerusalem base to all Judea and Samaria, then ultimately to the ends of the earth. This was a command that they, indeed, took seriously and set out to fulfill.
This geographical strategy is prominent in the mission work of Philip the evangelist. According to Acts 8, his work extended outward from Jerusalem in expanding circles. That is, it kept spreading farther and farther as time progressed.
Who was this Philip the evangelist? What does the Word of God tell us about him and the work that he did during the earliest days of the church? Finally, what lessons can we take away for ourselves from the inspired record of this early missionary?
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 5.
Philip the Evangelist
While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal(2 Cor. 4:18, NKJV). Think about what Paul is saying here, especially as we study this week about Philip the evangelist, someone of whom we know little except for the few references in the Bible. As we will see, though, Philip did a good work even though most of what he accomplished we know little about. Who are some people whom you know of who have done great things for God but with little outward recognition? Why is it always important to keep the principle of Paul’s words in mind, especially if we do a work that doesn’t garner much acclaim or attention? See also 1 Cor. 4:13.
Philip was a popular Greek name that means
horse lover.In the New Testament there are four persons called by that name. Two had the additional name
Herodand were part of the Herodian ruling family, which exerted a generally harsh rule over Israel in New Testament times. The remaining Philips had outstanding roles in mission.
The first, Philip of Bethsaida, was a disciple who was instrumental in bringing Nathanael to Jesus (John 1:43-46). Later he brought Greeks to Jesus (John 12:20-21).
The second Philip was designated
the evangelistin Acts 21:8 to distinguish him from Philip the disciple. He first appeared in the Jerusalem church as a
table waiter(Acts 6:2-5) who turned evangelist and missionary (Acts 8:12). His missionary service, extending over twenty years and supplemented by his four prophesying daughters, is mentioned in Acts. We know little else of his background.
It was Philip who preached the gospel to the Samaritans; it was Philip who had the courage to baptize the Ethiopian eunuch. For a time the history of these two workers (Philip and Paul) had been closely intertwined. It was the violent persecution of Saul the Pharisee that had scattered the church at Jerusalem, and destroyed the effectiveness of the organization of the seven deacons. The flight from Jerusalem had led Philip to change his manner of labor, and resulted in his pursuing the same calling to which Paul gave his life. Precious hours were these that Paul and Philip spent in each other’s society; thrilling were the memories that they recalled of the days when the light which had shone upon the face of Stephen upturned to Heaven as he suffered martyrdom flashed in its glory upon Saul the persecutor, bringing him, a helpless suppliant, to the feet of Jesus.—Ellen G. White, Sketches From the Life of Paul, p. 204.
Waiting on Tables
No question, things were for a time going quite well among the early believers. Of course, everyone is fallen, and before long some tensions started to rise.
Read Acts 6:1-7. What problems arose, and how did the church deal with those problems?
Rapid growth of the Jerusalem church brought with it social tension. Philip was appointed to a team to deal with it. Converts included underprivileged and economically challenged persons whose participation in the daily common meals placed increasing demands on church leaders. A murmuring about unfair distribution of food to Greek-speaking widows emerged. This was especially sensitive because of reminders by the Hebrew prophets not to neglect widows and orphans.
To resolve this serious issue, all 12 apostles gathered the believers and proposed the appointment of seven men, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, who would literally
deaconize (Greek forso the 12 couldserve) tables
deaconize the Word(see Acts 6:3, 4). All seven had Greek names, perhaps indicating a balancing of welfare service for the neglected Greek-speaking widows. Among them was Philip, the first time that this Philip is mentioned in the Bible.
The apostles argued that additional leadership was needed so that they should not be overworked by the administration of the resources necessary for communal life. They emphasized that their call was to devote themselves to the Word of God and to prayer.
What are some of the potentially divisive issues in your own local church, and how can you allow God to use you to help ease them?
Philip in Samaria
Saul, a future apostle and missionary, makes his first appearance in the Bible at the stoning of the deacon Stephen, the first Christian martyr. This wave of persecution only helped further the spread of the gospel.
Read Acts 8:1-6. What was the result of the persecution of the church in Jerusalem?
Samaria was the first stop on the geographical spread of Christianity. Samaritans considered themselves descendants of Israelites left behind when Assyria exiled most of the Israelites in 722 B.C. The Jews, however, considered Samaritans to be descendants of foreigners the Assyrians forcibly settled in Israel. Jewish-Samaritan relationships during the New Testament era were marked by tensions and outbreaks of violence. However, as we saw earlier, Jesus had already paved the way for mission work there when He dealt with the woman at the well, who, in turn, began to
evangelizeher own people.
Philip’s call to wait on tables now became that of a missionary evangelist to the Samaritans. As a refugee fleeing religious persecution in Jerusalem, he did not waste his time. He proclaimed that the Messiah, awaited by both Jews and Samaritans, had come (Acts 8:5,12).
Read Acts 8:6-15. How successful was Philip’s ministry in Samaria?
Philip was used mightily of the Lord in this early foreign mission field. The statement of the woman at the well, that
Jews have no dealings with Samaritans(John 4:9, NKJV) had now become a thing of the past.
What animosities, grudges, and prejudices that have poisoned your soul need to become
things of the past? Isn’t it time to let it all go?
With the Ethiopian
According to Acts 8:26-39, Philip’s next contact was with the Ethiopian treasury administrator, bringing mission another step toward
the end of the earth(Acts 1:8, NKJV). Philip was the link between Samaria and the Gaza mission. From Samaria, north of Jerusalem, Philip was called to Gaza, which is south of the city. His work in the north focused on a group; here it focused on a single person. In Samaria, Philip could proclaim Christ only from the five books of Moses, for this was all the Samaritans accepted; here he could also use the book of Isaiah, probably in Greek translation.
Read Acts 8:26-39. As you do, answer the following questions:
What were the texts in Isaiah (from Isaiah 53) that the Ethiopian was reading, and why would they have given Philip the perfect opportunity to evangelize him?
In contrast to Philip’s work in Samaria, where he did miracles (Acts 8:6), all he did with the Ethiopian was study the Bible. What point can we take away from this for ourselves as we minister to others?
The Spirit of the Lord called Philip away as soon as he had finished explaining the
good news about Jesusand had baptized the Ethiopian. Philip had no opportunity to transmit his beliefs and teachings to his new convert. The Ethiopian was left to embrace the Christian faith in the context of his African culture, guided by the Old Testament and the Spirit of God, which had already been working in him, for he already was a worshiper of the Lord and a believer in His Word.
Philip explained to the Ethiopian crucial Old Testament texts about the death of Jesus. Why must Jesus, His death and resurrection, be central to the message we give to the world? What is our message without Him?
Philip as Evangelist, Father, and Host
Philip, clearly, was anointed to do the Lord’s work. Commentators are divided on what
the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip(Acts 8:39) means, whether he was simply told to go to Azotus (vs. 40) or was miraculously transported there. Either way, the crucial point for us is that Philip was a man surrendered to the Holy Spirit; and thus, God was able to use him to do a great work for Him.
Read Acts 8:40. What does it tell us about Philip that helps us to understand why he was named the
evangelist?
Read Acts 21:7-10. What can we learn about Philip from these few verses?
At this stage of the story we learn that Philip was a family man with four unmarried daughters. Philip’s call out of the deaconate into evangelism involved him in extensive travel. We know about the journey from Jerusalem to Samaria, then on to Gaza, followed by
all the townson the 50-mile (80-kilometer) coastline between Azotus and Caesarea. There were probably unrecorded journeys. Like all the pioneering missionaries, he would have been harassed, inconvenienced, and subjected to the
ups and downssuch commitments entail. Still, he managed his family to the extent that four daughters were deemed by the Holy Spirit suitable to receive the gift of prophecy. This testifies to good parenting and true godliness in this pioneering Christian missionary family.
The text reveals that the apostle Paul stayed with Philip
a number of days(Acts 21:10 NIV). Twenty-five years earlier, Paul, then named Saul, had been an aggressive and fierce persecutor of the Christians (Acts 9:1-2). His persecution of Jerusalem believers forced Philip to flee to Samaria (Acts 8:1-5). Now, years later, persecutor and persecuted meet in the home of Philip, who hosts Paul’s visit. What an interesting meeting of brothers and fellow workers with Christ in the great cause of bringing the gospel to the non-Jewish world!
In our work for others, why is it so crucial never to forget our first obligation: our families?
Further Study: Ellen G. White,
The Gospel in Samaria,The Acts of the Apostles, pages 103-111.
When they were scattered by persecution they went forth filled with missionary zeal. They realized the responsibility of their mission. They knew that they held in their hands the bread of life for a famishing world; and they were constrained by the love of Christ to break this bread to all who were in need.—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, page 106.
And when His disciples were driven from Jerusalem, some found in Samaria a safe asylum. The Samaritans welcomed these messengers of the gospel, and the Jewish converts gathered a precious harvest from among those who had once been their bitterest enemies.—Pages 106, 107.
Discussion Questions:
- As we’ve seen, the gospel breaks down barriers between people. At least, that is the ideal; the reality has at times been radically different. What is it about human beings, even among Christians—among those who understand that we are all the same before God, who understand that the Cross is the great equalizer—that we allow cultural, social, and other barriers to divide us to the great extent that they still do? How can the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which is so universal, discourage such prejudices?
- As we saw, the persecution of the early church caused believers to flee, and as a result, the gospel started spreading in ways that it might not have done without persecution. Though God was able to bring good out of it, we must remember that religious persecution is never good, never right, never justified. What should our attitude be toward those who are facing religious persecution, even if we don’t agree with their religious beliefs? (See Luke 6:31.)
Despair to Hope—Part 2
That night she sold five books for $5 each. She was convinced that God is the true God. But a month later her husband told her to stop selling books.
Your work is bringing shame on me,he said.
Cheng’s husband demanded that she stop believing in Jesus and stop selling books.
I can’t do that,she told him.
I believe in Jesus; I have seen His power at work. And I am selling books to feed myself because you refuse to give me any money.
If you refuse to give up this nonsense, I will leave you,he said. But Cheng refused to give up her new faith. When she was baptized a few months later, her husband left her and went to live with his mother and his sons.
For several years Cheng has tried to visit her sons, but she hasn’t been allowed to see them. Although her life is difficult, Cheng has not let her personal troubles discourage her. She continues to sell literature to support herself and invites people to the church when they show interest in the books she sells. When people are too poor to buy a book, she urges them to come to the church to meet God. She shares her testimony with them and testifies that God is faithful to those who trust Him.
One woman who used to pay Cheng to paint her nails asked Cheng why she had become a Christian. Cheng smiled and told the woman that God is a loving and powerful God, and He answers her prayers. As the two women stood talking outside the woman’s home, the woman realized that one of her precious earrings was missing.
We must find it!the woman said, feverishly searching in the dirt for the missing jewelry.
I inherited this from my mother. I must find it.
The two women searched together for the earring. Cheng knew that if they didn’t find the earring, the woman might accuse Cheng and the church. The woman was so impressed that Cheng’s God could help her find her earring, that she asked Cheng to take her to her church on Sabbath.
Cheng was crushed when her husband told her that he no longer wants her for his wife. But Cheng put her trust in God, and recently she met a Global Mission pioneer, and the two plan to marry.
Truly God has provided all my needs,she says with a gentle smile.
Chhenghorn Thean is a top literature evangelist and soul winner in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org
Friday, August 14, 2015
Lesson 8 Cross-Cultural Missions August 15-21 2015
Lesson 8August 15-21
Cross-cultural Missions
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: John 4:4-30; Matt. 8:5-13; Mark 5:1-20; Matt. 15:21-28;Luke 17:11-19; John 12:20-32.
Memory Text:
Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles(Matthew 12:18, NKJV).
How interesting that Jesus spent so much of His earlier years in Galilee, known as
Galilee of the Gentiles(Matt. 4:15), no doubt named because of the non-Jewish influence in the province. In this region, in Nazareth, Jesus spent the majority of His years before starting His public ministry. Thanks to its position, Nazareth was near major routes traveled by Roman army units, as well as merchant caravans. As a result, Jesus must have been in contact with non-Jews His whole early life (not to mention the time in Egypt).
After His rejection in Nazareth (see Luke 4:16-31), Jesus centered His ministry in the cosmopolitan Galilean city of Capernaum. Contacts with Gentiles and their world significantly impacted His ministry and teaching. Even though He focused on Israel, the wider world was His concern. During the more than three years of His ministry between His baptism and ascension, on at least six occasions Jesus had direct contact with persons from Gentile nations. We will look this week at the gospel accounts of these contacts.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 22.
The Samaritan Woman
In the time of Jesus, ancient Israel was divided into three provinces: Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. Samaria was situated between Galilee and Judea. The Samaritans worshiped the God of Israel, but not in the same way the Jews did. As an initial mission field, Samaria was ideal for the apostles because it was close to Israel geographically.
Read John 4:4-30. What can we learn from this story about how Jesus witnessed to non-Jews? In what ways did Jesus step outside the bounds of tradition in order to reach out to this woman?
The Samaritan woman was alert, was well-informed about the history of her people, and she asked intelligent questions. She led the conversation with her questions. Jesus, however, responded to her questions and statements with the things that would benefit the woman spiritually. The only point where Jesus changed the conversation was when He told her to bring her husband, knowing that she wasn’t married but had been with several men. Of course, asking her to do this opened the way for Him to reach out to her, however uncomfortable she had become. Nevertheless, by doing this, He was able to witness to her in a powerful way.
Also, we shouldn’t miss what happened in John 4:27. The disciples were surprised because Jesus was talking with this foreign woman. Jesus transgressed a few Jewish customs: first, asking a Samaritan woman to give Him a drink; second, being alone with her. In Israel a man could not be seen alone with a woman unless she was a family member. Jesus followed Jewish customs when in Israel. However, in Samaria He was outside Jewish territory and not bound by Jewish traditions, even though as we have seen elsewhere, Jesus distinguished between human-made traditions and the commands and precepts of God.
How far out of your own
comfort zoneare you willing to go in order to minister to others? How far should you go?
The Roman Army Officer
Read Matthew 8:5-13 (see also Luke 7:1-10). What does this story teach us about how even the largest cultural divides can be breached for the sake of the gospel?
In Capernaum a Roman officer of centurion rank (commander of 100 men) sought out Jesus. The Jews resented the occupying Roman army, and many Romans hated the Jews. Despite this vast cultural and political divide, we can see the close relationship here between this Roman and the Jews.
In Luke’s account, he said that the centurion went to the
elders of the Jews(Luke 7:3 NIV) to ask them to bring Jesus. And, fascinatingly enough, they did just that, asking Jesus to come heal the man’s servant. Who were these elders? The texts don’t say, but they seemed to have related to Jesus differently than did some of the other leaders.
Meanwhile, the centurion was obviously a man of faith; his words to Jesus,
speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed,(Matt. 8:8), were an incredible testimony to his belief in Jesus. The centurion
did not wait to see whether the Jews themselves would receive the One who claimed to be their Messiah. As the—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 317.light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world(John 1:9) had shone upon him, he had, though afar off, discerned the glory of the Son of God.
The centurion understood and respected Jewish religious sensitivities. He knew that according to law a Jew was not allowed to enter a Gentile’s house; so, he requested that Jesus minister from a distance. The servant was healed. The faith of the Gentile centurion was rewarded. Jesus pointed out that the centurion was a prototype of the great day when people from all over the world would join the Jewish patriarchs at the Messianic banquet.
Whatever else one can take from the accounts of this healing, we can see that vast cultural divides were not able to keep the Jews and this Roman apart. What lessons can we take from this about how we must learn to transcend whatever cultural differences we can (in good conscience) in order to reach out to others?
Dealing With Demons
Read Luke 8:26-39 and Matthew 15:21-28. How do these stories help us understand how Jesus related to non-Jews? How do we understand Jesus’ words to the Canaanite woman? Also, what lessons should the disciples have picked up, seeing Jesus minster to those who were not part of the
covenant people?
The region of the Gadarenes was an area formerly dominated by Greece, but it had become part of the Roman province of Judea. The man in the tombs was obviously possessed, and his possession manifested itself in horrific ways. He truly needed divine aid, which he got.
That this liberation took place in Gentile territory is confirmed by the presence of the pigs. It is interesting to notice the reaction to this economic loss when the pigs drowned; the townspeople asked Jesus to leave their territory. Jesus in turn asked the healed man to stay. He was to witness to his own people about Jesus; no doubt, too, his changed life, even more than his words, would be a powerful testimony.
In the next incident, the child from the region of Tyre and Sidon was
demon-possessed and suffering terribly(Matt. 15:22 NIV). Her mother, a Canaanite, illustrated the cultural melting pot of that region. Her Canaanite ancestors were displaced from their land when Israel inherited it under the leadership of Joshua. Here, again, we see Jesus reaching out to those who weren’t of Israel proper.
In talking to her, Jesus used somewhat harsh language, likening her people to dogs, but it tested her faith and showed her humble willingness to get the help she needed.
The Saviour is satisfied. He has tested her faith in Him. By His dealings with her, He has shown that she who has been regarded as an outcast from Israel is no longer an alien, but a child in God’s household. As a child it is her privilege to share in the Father’s gifts. Christ now grants her request, and finishes the lesson to the disciples.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 401.
The lesson was that, contrary to their understanding, the work of the gospel is not just for the Jews but is to go to other nations, as well.
Ten Lepers
Read Luke 17:11-19. What lessons are here for us, regardless of our nationality or origins?
Notice first that the unfortunate men all knew Jesus. They called Him by both name and title, pleading for intervention. What’s fascinating, too, is that they were not cleansed right then and there. They were told simply to go and present themselves to the priests, as specified in Leviticus 14:2. The fact that they just turned around and went showed that they believed in Him and His power to heal them.
Only the Samaritan, though, expressed appreciation for what Jesus had done. The nine did not forget to go to the priests, but they neglected to give thanks to their Healer. The Samaritan, as the text reads, turned around even before he got to the priests. Though the text doesn’t say that the other nine were Jews, the location makes it very likely; besides, the fact that Luke specifically mentioned that he was a Samaritan, and that Jesus called him
this stranger(Luke 17:18), makes it likely that the other nine were, indeed, Jews. Although Jews normally had no dealings with the Samaritans, their malady transcended those barriers. Common misfortune and tragedy, what Albert Schweitzer termed
the fellowship of suffering,had broken down an ethnic divide. Their common need for cleansing, healing, and saving had brought them, collectively, to Jesus.
Nevertheless, Samaritans and other foreigners were not the immediate goal for Jesus’ ministry—
I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel(Matt. 15:24 NIV). He planned first to establish a strong mission base among the Jews. Throughout His ministry, however, He gave His followers evidence that the gospel should go to the whole world. Although this point became clear only after His resurrection, even before then Jesus did things that were to open the minds of the disciples to the idea that world mission would become their main task.
Though all these men showed faith, only one turned around and thanked the Lord for what he had received. What does this tell us about why praise and thanksgiving are so important for faith? What are the things you have to be thankful for? Think about how much happier you’d be if you constantly kept them before you, and what better way than by thanking God for all that you have to be thankful for?
The Greeks and Jesus
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request.(John 12:20-23 NIV). How does this incident help us to understand the heartfelt cry of people everywhere for salvation, for hope, for answers that can be found only in Jesus?Sir,they said,we would like to see Jesus.Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied,The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified
These Greeks were probably converts to Judaism, since they came to Jerusalem to worship at the feast. Commentators have noted that these Greeks went to Philip, who, though Jewish, had a Greek name, which might have attracted them to him. Thus, while pioneering Christian work can be accomplished by foreign missionaries who have cultural sensitivity and a sympathetic understanding of the people they want to win for Christ, the most effective groundbreaking work is done by people with the same background as the target people.
The Greeks came only days before Jesus’ crucifixion. They no doubt were amazed by His words about His suffering, death, and final victory. (The voice from heaven gave them something to think about, as well.) Jesus would have been encouraged by their desire to
seeHim. Their approach signaled the beginning of world evangelization. It was acknowledged even by the Pharisees, who had exclaimed,
The world has gone after Him(John 12:19, NKJV).
What we see here are men, outside of Judaism, wanting to come to Jesus. What a sign that the world was ready for His atoning death! These Greeks, representing the nations, tribes, and peoples of the world, were being drawn to Him. Soon the Savior’s cross would draw the people of all lands and in all subsequent times to Him (John 12:32). The disciples would find the world ready to receive the gospel.
Read John 12:20-32. What is Jesus saying about losing your life in order to keep it? Why would He say that in this immediate context? How have you experienced just what He is talking about?
Further Study:
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth(Matt. 8:11-12 NIV). Though these words were spoken in a particular context, in reference to a particular people, we shouldn’t miss the principle. Those who have been given great privileges, great advantages in terms of spiritual and theological truths, need to be careful. It’s easy to become complacent about truths that we have been given, truths that in some cases no one else is preaching and teaching. First, we need to make sure that we keep ourselves grounded in these truths; then, second, we need to be willing to teach these to those who don’t know them.
Discussion Questions:
- The cross has shown us the absolute universality of all humanity. Before God we are all sinners, and we all need grace for salvation. Nevertheless, many groups often do see themselves as superior to others. This is common and has been all through history. What about yourself and your own ethnic, social, financial, or cultural group? In what ways do you harbor (and don’t fool yourself—you do harbor) a sense of superiority to others different from you? What’s wrong with that attitude, and how can you learn at the foot of the Cross to change it?
- The woman at the well went back and witnessed to her own people about Jesus. What does this teach us about missions and the importance of using those of a particular culture to reach their own people?
- The Greeks wanted to see Jesus. No doubt they had heard about Him or had themselves seen some of the things He had done. Jesus, of course, is now in heaven, and the church, His people, represent Him here on earth. What does this mean for us in terms of the kind of life we live and the kind of witness we present?
Faithful Bride—Part 2
When her pranks no longer worked, Shanti’s mother-in-law turned to her other daughter-in-law for help in breaking the spirit of Shanti and Bhudroy. This daughter-in-law was selfish and often bickered and fought. She made life bitter for everyone.
A year after Bhudroy became an Adventist Christian, his elder brother died. Then Shanti because seriously ill with malaria. She didn’t respond to medicines, and she became increasingly ill. When the fever left, the mother-in-law accused Shanti of pretending to be ill. Shanti pleaded with God,
Why are You allowing me to suffer so in this family?Even her husband was becoming discouraged, and blaming God for their troubles
Shanti’s mother learned of her daughter’s grave illness from some other villagers, so she set out to see her daughter. Shanti’s mother-in-law greeted Shanti’s mother with a demand:
Take her home with you. She is no good to us.Shanti’s mother took her daughter home, but Baby Reena remained with Shanti’s husband and mother-in-law.
Shanti’s mother took her to the hospital, where doctors could treat her properly. Meanwhile Shanti’s mother-in-law was sure that Shanti would die and began looking for a new wife for Bhudroy. But Bhudroy told them he was not interested in marrying someone else.
In time Shanti recovered from her illness, but instead of returning to her mother-in-law=s home, she stayed with her mother.
Meanwhile her sister-in-law, whose husband had died, demanded that she be given her share of the family’s land for her three sons. While she had a right to the family land, her demand put her parents-in-law into crisis, because they could not survive without their land. The selfish daughter-in-law wanted everything she could get for herself and her sons. Slowly Shanti’s mother-in-law realized that Shanti had been a faithful daughter-in-law while her other daughter-in-law had been selfish and demanding. She asked Bhudroy to go bring Shanti home.
Bhudroy went to visit Shanti. He told her of his mother’s change of heart and invited her to return home with him. Shanti was eager to see her little girl again. She packed her things and returned with her husband.
She was overjoyed to find that her mother-in-law had changed so much. The older woman welcomed Shanti back into the home and treated her with respect and kindness. Shanti was determined to be the best Christian she could, hoping that her once-cruel mother-in-law would give her life to Jesus. Several years later Shanti’s mother-in-law gave her life to Christ before she died.
Bhudroy also renewed his commitment to Christ, and now the family lives together in peace as Christians. The faithful young bride had survived trials and taunting and led her husband and parents-in-law to Jesus.
Reena Murmu is the eldest daughter of Shanti and Bhudroy. She would like to become a physician.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org
Friday, August 7, 2015
Lesson 7 Jesus; The Master Of Missions August 8-14 2015
Sabbath School Lesson Begins
Biblical Missionaries
Lesson 7August 8-14
Jesus: The Master of Missions
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Tim. 1:8-9; Isa. 42:1-9; Dan. 9:24-27; Luke 2:8-14; Matt. 10:5-6; Acts 1:1-14.
Memory Text:
Again Jesus said,(John 20:21 NIV).Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you
According to Scripture, a core activity of the Trinity is mission. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are involved in saving humanity. Their Word began at the Fall and continues through until the end. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will then restore this redeemed world to full unity with the divine will.
According to the Gospels, Jesus underwent the radical change into human form necessary for His mission to succeed. In Jesus Christ, the meaning of history comes into focus, the total mission activity of God becomes coherent, and the deepest needs of humans for meaningful existence are fulfilled.
In the New Testament, we are made acquainted with the purposes of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. We find here how He outlines the program for mission, and we get glimpses of how Jesus met people from other nations, people of other faiths. In the Word of God, we can see the incredible saving activity of God on behalf of fallen humanity.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 15.
Jesus in the Old Testament
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began(2 Tim. 1:8-9, NKJV).
Besides being great texts about the futility of salvation by works, these texts reveal the eternal nature of salvation; they show that the plan for our redemption had been formulated long, long ago.
So it is no wonder that all through the Old Testament Jesus Christ is revealed in one way or another. Especially powerful are the prophecies, which clearly show that Jesus is indeed the Messiah.
Read the following Old Testament texts, all applied to Jesus. What do they say about Him and His role as Messiah?Isa. 61:1; Dan. 9:24-27; Isa. 7:14; 9:6; 42:1-9.
The prophet Isaiah describes the mission of Jesus with these words: <
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. . . . I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness(Isa. 42:1,6-7 NIV).
Dwell on the incredible idea that Jesus, the Creator, took upon Himself our humanity and in that humanity lived and died as He did. What great hope does this offer you in a world that, in and of itself, offers no hope at all?
The Desire of Ages
Jesus Christ is Lord of both the church and the world. His coming is a fulfillment of the Old Testament expectations of a saved community that would extend far beyond the Jewish people. The coming of Jesus, especially His suffering and resurrection, ushered in a new age in which the distinction between Jew and Gentile, as far as the gospel is concerned, disappears. Jerusalem would remain the center, at least for a while. However, the point of departure was no longer Herod’s temple in Jerusalem but the Jews converted to Christ; they had become the living temple. These Christian Jews would then be the true
remnantof Israel at that time in the early church, the ones called to bring the gospel to the world.
This announcement of the worldwide, universal mission of Christ as Savior of all nations was repeated at His birth, during His childhood, and at His baptism.
What do the following texts teach about the universal mission of Jesus to the world?
No question, Jesus came as the Savior for all humanity. What does this truth mean for us in the context of mission?
The missionary spirit needs to be revived in our churches. Every member of the church should study how to help forward the work of God, both in home missions and in foreign countries. Scarcely a thousandth part of the work is being done that ought to be done in missionary fields. God calls upon His workers to annex new territory for Him. There are rich fields of toil waiting for the faithful worker.—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 29.
Mission to the Jews
I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel(Matt. 15:24 NIV).
Between His first public appearance and His crucifixion, Jesus focused His ministry almost solely on the Jewish, particularly in Galilee. The Lord addressed Himself first to Israel. Before the Cross, there are very few messages of good news to the Gentiles. Apparently Jesus wanted to awaken the Jewish people to their place, purpose, and role in God’s overall mission for lost humanity. Israel was to have the opportunity to be the witnesses of God’s message to the world.
Read Matthew 10:5-6. Why would Jesus say here what He did? How do we understand these words in the context of the universal scope of what Christ came to do and in the context of missions as a whole? Contrast this text to Matt. 28:19.
When we consider the life and ministry of Jesus, we must observe a clear distinction between His thinking, ideals, principles, and planning on one side and the way He accomplished these purposes on the other. In His day-to-day life and ministry, He identified Himself with Jewish culture, just as the Old Testament predicted of the Messiah. But the impact of His incarnation was universally applicable. Through His death and resurrection, He would bear the sins of the world (John 1:29).
We detect here an important biblical principle for establishing mission. The first move is directed to creating a center in order to establish a strong and stable geographical and cultural base: Israel and the Jewish people. When that has been accomplished, mission should next develop outward from the center into ever-widening expanses.
Think about your home church. How well does it model the ideas expressed above—that is, a strong and stable base that eventually is able to reach out to others? How can you avoid the danger, which many churches face, of being self-oriented, worrying about your own needs to the neglect of witness and mission?
Mission to the Gentiles
Although Jesus spent the major part of His time among the Jews, serving them in their cultural context, He made clear in His teaching and ministry that His mission was universal. The gospel should be preached to the nations, with Israel as the initial base. The salvation of the Gentiles is part of God’s plan. It was embodied in Jesus’ teaching.
How do the following teachings of Jesus indicate mission to non-Jewish people?
Despite the fact that Jesus ministered mainly among the Jews, there’s no question that from the very start His mission was for the whole world. Right at His baptism, John the Baptist said it clearly:
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said,(John 1:29, NKJV). The word world (Greek kosmos) occurs about one hundred times in the Gospels. About half of these refer to the worldwide scope of Jesus as the Redeemer.Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
In the parable Jesus told in Luke 14:16-24, those invited made all sorts of excuses for not coming. Read those excuses again. On one level, none appeared unreasonable, did they? What important lesson should we take from this for ourselves?
The Great Commission
Jesus spent the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension primarily in preparing the disciples and His church for worldwide evangelism. The best-known and most quoted resurrection account is Matthew’s. However, during this period there were other occasions during which the risen Christ could have given further details on the gospel commission. There were two appearances in Jerusalem, two in Galilee (one by the Sea of Tiberias, one on the hilltop) and the meeting reported in Acts 1:1-14.
There are five structured occasions in the Gospels and in Acts in which the Great Commission narrative is dealt with from various angles: on a mountain in Galilee (Matt. 28:16-20); at a table (Mark 16:14-16); in the upper room (John 20:19-23); on the beach (John 21:15-17); and just as He was taken up into heaven (Acts 1:6-9). What key points do all of these incidents have in common?
Under the power of the Holy Spirit and obeying the words of Jesus, the apostles quickly spread across the ancient world. Paul preached on the northern shore of the Mediterranean; Philip worked in Samaria. According to early Christian tradition, Matthew traveled to Ethiopia and Thomas to India.
Though starting out small, and with so much opposition, through the grace of the Lord these faithful followers were able to spread the gospel message to the world. Whatever their faults, weaknesses, fears, doubts, and struggles, they accepted the call and worked for the salvation of the world. That is, what they learned about Jesus, what they got from Jesus, they sought to share with others. Isn’t that what being a Christian is all about?
What have you been given in Christ? How should God’s gift to you through Christ influence your attitude toward witness and mission to others?
FridayAugust 14
Further Study: According to Matthew, Jesus foretold that
this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come(Matt. 24:14 NIV). At the same time, the Scriptures make another point clear:
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only(Matt. 24:36). Note also Jesus’ words:
It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority(Acts 1:7 NIV).
Thus, while the good news of the gospel has been preached and is being preached as never before, and while we believe that Christ’s coming is soon, we must not get caught up in dates and speculating about dates.
We are not to be engrossed with speculations in regard to the times and the seasons which God has not revealed. Jesus has told his disciples to—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, p. 189.watch,but not for a definite time. His followers are to be in the position of those who are listening for the orders of their Captain; they are to watch, wait, pray, and work, as they approach the time for the coming of the Lord.
Discussion Questions:
- Despite the clear teaching on not setting dates for Christ’s return, hardly a year goes by before we hear something in the news about some group of Christians setting a date for Christ’s return. Why do you think people insist on doing this, other than as a good fund-raising technique? (After all, if Jesus is coming on June 19 of next year [or fill in any date you want], then what good is your money now?) Why is it bad for the Christian witness in the world when these dates, year after year, are shown to be false?
- Think of the obstacles the early believers faced in the first few years of mission, especially considering that they were so small in number. What are some of the obstacles we face in mission today? What can we learn from the success of the early church that can help us do what we have been so clearly called to do?
Faithful Bride—Part 1
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Shanti was raised in a Christian home in Bangladesh. When she was still quite young her father died. Her mother struggled to feed her family. When Shanti was 13 years old, her mother gave her to a Hindu man in marriage.
According to custom, when Shanti went to live in her husband’s family, she was expected to take his religion. But Shanti refused. Her husband’s family treated her badly, and everyone worked to separate Shanti from her Christian faith. But Shanti clung to her God.
Shanti was expected to serve her mother-in-law, who treated her as a slave, shouting at her and denouncing her. Because Shanti refused to give up her faith in God, she was considered unclean and not allowed to work with food or utensils in the kitchen. But her mother-in-law made sure there was plenty of other work for the girl to do.
Shanti’s husband, Bhudroy, was much older than Shanti and treated her kindly, but he was powerless to help his young bride, for he didn’t dare defy his mother’s orders.
There was no escape for the young bride, for the couple was expected to remain with the family until after the first child was born. Three years after they married, their first daughter, Reena, was born.
Shanti tried to share her faith with her husband whenever she could, and over time he began to believe that Shanti was following the right religion. An Adventist pastor lived in the same village as Shanti. He visited the family and explained the church’s beliefs, hoping to make Shanti’s life a bit easier. Shanti’s mother-in-law refused to listen to the pastor, but her father-in-law listened. The pastor returned to visit the family often, sharing his faith and Bible promises with the family members who were open to hear them.
As he worked in the village, the pastor found a number of people who were interested in learning about the Bible. The pastor arranged to hold evangelistic meetings. Without Shanti’s knowledge, her husband asked the pastor to study the Bible with him. Then he was secretly baptized. Shanti didn’t know about her husband’s interest until after he was baptized, but she was thrilled.
Shanti’s mother-in-law, however, was very unhappy to learn that her son had abandoned his gods to worship his wife’s God. She growled under her breath when she saw Shanti and Bhudroy going to church together. She often tried to prevent them from attending church. She would hide some household valuable and demand that the couple find it before they went to church. These searches often made the couple late.
To be continued
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org
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