Review of main points from Radical:
1. Following Christ means being devoted to Him above anyone else (Luke 14:25–26).
2. Following Christ means continually sacrificing who we were for who He is (Luke 14:27).
3. Following Christ requires a cost that should be considered before we commit (Luke 14:28–32). Even death. Read Radical
4. Following Christ requires radical abandonment of everything we previously sought in life for the freedom to fully pursue Him (Luke 14:33).
Underlying reason Platt wrote Radical was to wake up the Church … rediscover its mission – Romans 10:13: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Saved from what? Hell!
Jesus spoke of hell regularly in the Gospels. The most well known teaching Jesus did relating to hell is found in Luke 16 starting with verse 19.
Turn to: Luke 16:19-22
I. Background story re: the rich man -
There was this rich guy. He wore the finest clothes, ate the finest foods, drank the most expensive wine. He lived in a huge house. He had dozens of servants who came running at the snap of his fingers. Whatever he desired, he bought. Moreover, this rich man had an ego to match the size of his bank account. He had contempt for those who were his lesser, particularly beggars. He loathed beggars. They were always asking him for stuff - food, money …. There was this one beggar he really despised. His name was Lazarus. The rich man really detested Lazarus because he would park himself right in front of the rich man’s gate daily begging for food. Everyday, the rich man would have to walk past him. Everyday he had to look at the disgusting heap sitting there. Everyday the rich man had to see the running sores and smell the stench emanating from Lazarus’ body. Everyday he had to hear Lazarus’ pitiful cries for food. Everyday the rich man ignored him. Rich man showed Lazarus no compassion whatsoever.
Oftentimes, the rich man would be at the dinner table enjoying a feast with his five brothers and he would look outside his window and see Lazarus at the front gate staring back at him, pleading for just the crumbs on the table. The rich man would tell his brothers “Watch this …” and he’d brush the crumbs off the table onto the floor and look at Lazarus sitting there salivating, pleading for the crumbs and they would all have a good laugh. Stray dogs showed more mercy for Lazarus than the rich man. They would lick his sores giving him some relief from the pain.
One night, poor Lazarus died. The angels came for Lazarus and carried him away to Abraham’s side. A place of great honor/respect. More importantly, no more hunger, no more sores, no more stench, no more begging. Now, that same night, the rich man saw his brothers off … “See you tomorrow!” Took a look around at his home/his wealth … Thought to himself, “It’s good to be me!” Got into bed and closed his eyes in sleep. That night, death came for the rich man also. When the rich man next opened his eyes, he wasn’t in his bed in his nice big house …where was he? … read first two words of Luke 16:23. Imagine, one moment life is good: big house, big bank account, the finest clothes, great brothers, … the next you are in hell.
II. Description of hell - What was it like for the rich man in hell? Read verses 23-31
A. In hell, what does the rich man feel?
Torment v. 24, vs. 28 place of torment - Rich man was in agony. Why? Two reasons.
1. Unquenchable fire - vs. 24. Also Matthew 5:22; Mark 9:43-48. Fire burning his flesh. Ex. Stick your finger in flame of a burning candle. How long before you pull it out because of the pain? 3 sec. 5, 10? Hurts don’t it? Pain goes away. Just imagine your whole body placed in the midst of a raging fire that will never die out and in which your flesh will never be consumed. Every part of your body racked with pain. And your body never becomes numb to the pain. Your mouth is drier than cotton. The flame creates this unquenchable thirst. With every breath, your lungs literally become inflamed. This pain is never ending because the flames never die out.
2. Worms feeding on him. Worms that don’t die. Mark 9:43-48.
Torment rich man is feeling is not just physical in nature. As we’ll see next, the rich man is also experiencing emotional and spiritual torment as well.
B. In hell, what does the rich man see? Vs. 23 - The rich man lifted up his eyes and saw in a far distance Abraham and Lazarus. Sees Lazarus in a place of peace, rest, joy, happiness. Seated in a place of honor/respect. While he, the rich man, was experiencing utter agony. To see that had to make the rich man’s torment even more unbearable.
C. In hell, what does the rich man hear?
Sounds of weeping and wailing from his own mouth and I suspect the mouths of millions of others in hell with him. Matthew 13:42 - Jesus describes hell as a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Imagine being in hell and hearing the cries of millions in agony. The shrieks, the wailing, the uncontrollable weeping, the cries for mercy/relief. Hear the cries of rich man: 1) Read vs. 24 - Cry for mercy for himself. 2) Read vs. 27 and 28. Cry for salvation/begged salvation for his brothers. If it wasn’t so tragic, it would almost be funny, the rich man had now become the beggar. Were the rich man’s requests answered? No. Give Abraham’s response to rich man’s requests vs. 25-26; 29-31 – They have the Word of God. Won’t believe someone who was raised from the dead, e.g. Jesus.
D. In hell, prayers go unanswered.
In hell, no amount of praying by you can save you. Today in hell there are people screaming, begging, pleading to God for mercy, for relief from the agony. Pleading to God to warn family and friends about hell. Praying for the salvation of their family and friends. Unbelievers - people in hell praying for you. Christians - people in hell praying for the lost, are you? People in hell are perhaps praying that God will convince you believer to share salvation with their lost friends and family members. Thing is, these prayers go unanswered. Why?
E. In hell, there is no grace.
Dante’s Inferno - Book written by Italian author, Dante, during the Renaissance, Tale of his journeys through heaven, purgatory, and hell. Sign over the gates of hell. Last sentence on that sign reads - “Abandon all hope ye who enter here!” No truer words were ever written. Listen closely …. At the gates of hell, grace ends. And where there is no grace, there is no mercy. There is only judgment. There is no hope of escape. No amount of praying by you can save you. God does not hear the prayers of those in hell. No amount of praying by friends, relatives, priests, or preachers in the land of the living can save you. No angels or any other heavenly being can save you. Father Abraham could not cross the gulf separating heaven and hell. Neither could Lazarus. The opportunity for salvation is past. Once you are in hell it’s too late… too late.
F. In hell, there is eternal separation from God.
Read verse 26. To me, that is the true hell. Not the torment/agony from the fires and the worms. The true hell is being separated from our Creator, our Savior, our Lord. Never knowing His glory, never knowing His love, never knowing His peace, never being in His presence.
G. In hell, you remember.
See verse 25. Remember what? What do people in hell remember? The rich man remembered two things. 1) His life one earth and how he lived it. Abraham told the rich man to remember his life on earth, how he enjoyed good things and Lazarus bad things. The rich man remembered how he had mistreated Lazarus. How he despised Lazarus. How he denied Lazarus food and comfort from his pain. If I could only live my life again. If I had only listened to Moses and the Prophets If, if, if … . 2) Then the rich man remembered his brothers. Fear gripped his heart. Realized that they would soon join him in his torment.
Remembering how one wasted their life/ the missed opportunities for salvation adds to the torment of hell. Remembering loved ones who are headed to hell adds to the torment.
Repeat picture of hell.
CONCLUSION:
Reason for speaking on the topic of hell -
As a child, I remember a painting with this scene. There was a road that led to this huge chasm. Fire coming out of the chasm. The road was full of people headed for this fiery chasm. And they were falling into this chasm. Beside the road leading to this fiery chasm there was a church. There were people in the church standing with hymn books open. They were completely oblivious to what was happening right outside their door. At times, I wonder if the Church de-emphasizes the reality of hell. It’s not pleasant to think about hell and what is happening there. Because the Church de-emphasizes the reality of hell, the urgency is not there to save the lost from the fate of the rich man. I guarantee you, if the rich man could escape hell for 24 hours, he would be a witnessing madman. Everyday millions of Christians come into contact with millions more who are lost. Family members, co-workers, friends, waitresses, gas station attendants, teachers, doctors, dentists, poor, sick, elderly … When they die, this where they are going and what they will experience: Repeat list.
UNLESS Christians tell them the good news of salvation. Read Rom. 10:13-14. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Saved from what? Hell!) How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”
APPLICATION:
Most people you come in contact with every day are on the broad road that leads to destruction. We know where the road ends: gates of hell and many are entering it everyday. That knowledge - the reality of hell - should be enough motivation for us who are believers to share Christ. I don’t what anyone in hell remembering their life on earth and saying “I knew Greg. He was a Christian. Why didn’t he say something to me? Why didn’t he say something to save me from this place of torment?”
Review Radical challenge.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Radical chapter 7 – There is no plan B
Background: The membership of the Roman church was divided along racial and cultural lines. The church was made up of Jews and Gentiles. They had a long history of not getting along with one another. Gentiles perceived Jews as being egotistical and legalistic. Jews perceived Gentiles as second class citizens. They did not regard Gentiles as their equals. Examples of division – Differences over diet and holy days. Tradition (Jew) versus contemporary (Gentile). In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul was determined to bring unity. He began by explaining what Jews and Gentiles had in common.
Read Romans 1:14-32
1. To whom does the gospel bring salvation to? Everyone – Jew and Gentile.
Romans 1:18-32 – Paul speaks to the Gentiles in the Roman church.
2. Since the beginning of time, how has God revealed Himself to the Gentiles – people who have never heard/read the Word of God? verse 20 - Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
No excuse for not acknowledging God. Ignorance cannot be used as excuse, because Paul says that the Gentiles knew God.
3. Even though they knew God, what did the Gentiles refuse to do? They refused to worship God. They rejected God. God revealed himself to Gentiles through the natural world around them. They had an understanding of God – his power and holiness – yet they rejected God. Rejection came in the form of idolatry (sun, moon, animals, natural phenomena) and sin. They preferred to worship gods of their own making. Without God, Gentiles became depraved (sexual immorality) and sinful (wickedness, evil, greed, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. Read Radical page 144.
Upon hearing Paul’s words to their fellow Gentile church members, the Jews in the Roman church were probably saying to them, “You tell them Paul!!! Remind these Gentiles that they’re not as holy as we are. Tell them how sinful they are. They are not as special to God as we are. God and us Jews have always been tight. After all, out of all the nations in the world, He chose us to be His people.” In chapter 2, Paul turns his attention to the Jews.
Read chapter 2:1-11
4. Paul tells the Jews they have no excuse. No excuse for what? Sin. Jews were quick to point out the sin of the Gentiles; yet, they turned a blind eye to their own sins. Read verses 17-24. Ouch!!! Jews are just as sinful as Gentiles.
5. In verse 5, Paul accuses the Jews of being what? Stubborn and unrepentant. They are obstinate when it comes to acknowledging that they are sinful. The Jews reject the truth of their own sinfulness. Therefore, the Jews see no need to repent. When Judgment Day comes around, don’t count on your special relationship with God to spare you from God’s wrath.
6. What is Paul’s conclusion concerning Jews, Gentiles and God? Read Romans 3:9-12
Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Read verses 13-18
That is mighty depressing!!! You are not very encouraging or uplifting there Paul. Jews and Gentiles alike sinful people. Both have rejected God. However, Paul does not stop here. There is a “but” starting in verse 21.
7. Just as there is no difference between Jew and Gentile when it comes to sin/rejecting God, there is no difference between when Jew and Gentile when it comes to what? Salvation through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ – His death on the cross for our sins. Just as all have sinned, all can know salvation. How? Faith in Jesus Christ. Anything else?
Summarize what Paul is saying to the Roman church:
-All people have knowledge of God: Gentiles through creation; Jews through the Mosaic Law and Prophets
-All people have rejected God to pursue sin: Gentile and Jew alike
-All people are guilty before God and stand condemned but…
-God offers salvation to everyone so that they can avoid condemnation. Romans 10:12-13
-This salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. There is no plan B. There is no other choice. John 3:16; John 14:6
On p. 146, Platt asks the question: “What happens to the innocent man in the middle of Africa who dies without ever hearing the gospel? Will he go to heaven or hell?” What is the answer? According to God’s Word, hell. Why? As Paul informed us in Romans, the innocent man does not exist. If he did exist or if there was some other way that a person can get to heaven other than faith in Jesus Christ, the church has wasted a lot of money and resources in missions and evangelism activities. If an unreached people group in India is assured a ticket to heaven simply because they never heard the gospel, then we need to recall the Fox family and shut down IMB. The truth of the matter is no one is born innocent. The only way the over 1 billion people on this planet who have never the gospel can be made innocent/righteous is through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 10:14-15 - How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"
Read Romans 1:14-32
1. To whom does the gospel bring salvation to? Everyone – Jew and Gentile.
Romans 1:18-32 – Paul speaks to the Gentiles in the Roman church.
2. Since the beginning of time, how has God revealed Himself to the Gentiles – people who have never heard/read the Word of God? verse 20 - Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
No excuse for not acknowledging God. Ignorance cannot be used as excuse, because Paul says that the Gentiles knew God.
3. Even though they knew God, what did the Gentiles refuse to do? They refused to worship God. They rejected God. God revealed himself to Gentiles through the natural world around them. They had an understanding of God – his power and holiness – yet they rejected God. Rejection came in the form of idolatry (sun, moon, animals, natural phenomena) and sin. They preferred to worship gods of their own making. Without God, Gentiles became depraved (sexual immorality) and sinful (wickedness, evil, greed, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. Read Radical page 144.
Upon hearing Paul’s words to their fellow Gentile church members, the Jews in the Roman church were probably saying to them, “You tell them Paul!!! Remind these Gentiles that they’re not as holy as we are. Tell them how sinful they are. They are not as special to God as we are. God and us Jews have always been tight. After all, out of all the nations in the world, He chose us to be His people.” In chapter 2, Paul turns his attention to the Jews.
Read chapter 2:1-11
4. Paul tells the Jews they have no excuse. No excuse for what? Sin. Jews were quick to point out the sin of the Gentiles; yet, they turned a blind eye to their own sins. Read verses 17-24. Ouch!!! Jews are just as sinful as Gentiles.
5. In verse 5, Paul accuses the Jews of being what? Stubborn and unrepentant. They are obstinate when it comes to acknowledging that they are sinful. The Jews reject the truth of their own sinfulness. Therefore, the Jews see no need to repent. When Judgment Day comes around, don’t count on your special relationship with God to spare you from God’s wrath.
6. What is Paul’s conclusion concerning Jews, Gentiles and God? Read Romans 3:9-12
Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Read verses 13-18
That is mighty depressing!!! You are not very encouraging or uplifting there Paul. Jews and Gentiles alike sinful people. Both have rejected God. However, Paul does not stop here. There is a “but” starting in verse 21.
7. Just as there is no difference between Jew and Gentile when it comes to sin/rejecting God, there is no difference between when Jew and Gentile when it comes to what? Salvation through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ – His death on the cross for our sins. Just as all have sinned, all can know salvation. How? Faith in Jesus Christ. Anything else?
Summarize what Paul is saying to the Roman church:
-All people have knowledge of God: Gentiles through creation; Jews through the Mosaic Law and Prophets
-All people have rejected God to pursue sin: Gentile and Jew alike
-All people are guilty before God and stand condemned but…
-God offers salvation to everyone so that they can avoid condemnation. Romans 10:12-13
-This salvation comes only through Jesus Christ. There is no plan B. There is no other choice. John 3:16; John 14:6
On p. 146, Platt asks the question: “What happens to the innocent man in the middle of Africa who dies without ever hearing the gospel? Will he go to heaven or hell?” What is the answer? According to God’s Word, hell. Why? As Paul informed us in Romans, the innocent man does not exist. If he did exist or if there was some other way that a person can get to heaven other than faith in Jesus Christ, the church has wasted a lot of money and resources in missions and evangelism activities. If an unreached people group in India is assured a ticket to heaven simply because they never heard the gospel, then we need to recall the Fox family and shut down IMB. The truth of the matter is no one is born innocent. The only way the over 1 billion people on this planet who have never the gospel can be made innocent/righteous is through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 10:14-15 - How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"
Radical Chapter 6 – How Much Is Enough
Conspicuous consumption - public enjoyment of possessions that are known to be costly so that one's ability to pay for such things is flaunted.
Conspicuous Consumption Is Back: Subdued fashions of the recession years are fading as wealthy Americans again flaunt luxury purchases – Businessweek.com (Jan. 27, 2011)
Rich Americans are not only shopping again. They're showing off their purchases, despite an economy that still leaves millions of people jobless and underemployed
Anxiety about the economy did drive some rich consumers to cut back, even when they could afford to spend. Yet much of their frugality was symbolic, says Harvey Hartman, founder of the Hartman Group, a consumer research firm. They would "try to cut one thing, but they'll spend more somewhere else," he says.
Maybe it was never very realistic to think that well-heeled American shoppers were going to embrace a thrifty, frugal lifestyle. "It's like telling the consumer: You're not going to have fun anymore," Hartman says. As Americans, he says, "We're just not like that."
The title of Radical chapter six is a question: “How much is enough? How much wealth is enough? How many possessions (cars, houses, toys) is enough?” What is the American culture’s response to these questions? No limit. What is the primary method used to give this response? Advertising. ex. Super Bowl $3 million per 30 second commercial. Does the American populace buy into this response? Yes. Ex. credit card debt. Many Americans live well beyond their annual salary ex. – annual income is $50,000, but live/spend as if you have $100,000. What are the consequences? Crippling debt. And an inability to assist those in need – poor, sick, orphaned, elderly.
Is the Church guilty of conspicuous consumption? Read Radical p. 118.
45 million people in the U.S. live in poverty. 2 billion in the world.
Do Christians have an obligation to help the poor/needy or is it optional?
What should our attitude be when giving to the poor/needy?
What should our attitude not be when giving to the poor/needy?
Is there a plus for one who gives to the poor/needy?
Is there a negative for one who ignores the poor/needy?
For the answers to these questions, read the following Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 15:7-11 - If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart … and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, you shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.
Proverbs 19:17 - Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.
Proverbs 21:13 - Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
Proverbs 22:9 - Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
Proverbs 28:7 - Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
James 1:27 - Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction …
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos – God condemns Israel and Judah for oppressing the poor and needy. Ignoring the plight of the poor and needy.
Ezekiel 16:49-50 - Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.
Luke 12:12-14 – (Jesus) said also to the (rich) man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
What was the point Jesus was making to his rich host? When you invite people you know or the rich, your reward comes from who? Those people. When you invite poor/needy, your reward will come from who? God.
Matthew 25:31-46 - When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
What motivated the sheep to meet the needs of the “least of these?” The needs of the “least of these” were more important than the sheep’s wants. They obeyed this sacred principle – God blesses his own so that they can be a blessing to others. Followed example of their King. Jesus was the champion of the poor and needy, in the physical and spiritual sense, throughout His ministry. He had compassion for the poor, diseased, and outcast.
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
James 2:14-17 - What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
What motivated the goats and church goers in James to NOT meet the needs of the “least of these?” The goats’ wants were more important than the needs of the “least of these.” They ignored this sacred principle – God blesses his own so that they can be a blessing to others. Refused to follow example of their King, Jesus. Perception of poor/needy – negative. Social Darwinism – survival of fittest. Poor/diseased/outcast are parasites sucking the life out of society. Undeserving of assistance. Read story of rich man and Lazarus in Luke chapter 16.
Luke 12:15-21 - And (Jesus) said to (two men fighting over an inheritance), "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
I Timothy 6:17-19 - As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
What point is Paul making in the following verse?
II Thessalonians 3:10-12 - For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
From reading the above verses whose responsibility is to aid the poor and needy? Followers of Christ; not government.
Read the following about Thomas Jefferson and compare his approach to wealth/possessions to John Wesley (Radical pp. 126-128)
Thomas Jefferson bore the burden of substantial monetary debt throughout his life. While debt was not unusual for Virginia planters of his time, his eventually grew so ponderous that his family was forced to sell much of his property, including Monticello, after Jefferson's death. His grandson and executor of his estate, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, posted an advertisement for his estate sale, indicating that Jefferson's debts at his death amounted to $107,000. Converting this figure into a modern estimate is an inexact process at best, but it would probably be somewhere between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000.
Jefferson lived perpetually beyond his means, spending large amounts of money on building projects, furnishings, wine, clothing, etc. The very definition of conspicuous consumption. Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
APPLICATION
Always remember that God has blessed you so that you can be a blessing to others. Pray about how you can be a blessing to the poor/needy.
Take a look at your monthly expenses to see if you can make adjustments that will enable you to provide assistance to poor/needy. One $10 donation can save a family from dying from malaria. One $15 dollar donation can provide one person with clean water for 20 years. You can sponsor a child for $15-$40 a month which goes towards food and clean water, medical care, educational opportunities, important life-skills training, etc.
Samarian’s Purse - www.samaritanspurse.org/
Child Poverty
Compassion International - www.compassion.com
World Vision – www.worldvision.org
Poverty
Partners Worldwide - www.partnersworldwide.org
World Relief - http://worldrelief.org/
Hunger/Thirst
Feed the Children - www.feedthechildren.org
Cause Life - www.causelife.org/
Disease
Malaria – Nothing but Nets www.nothingbutnets.net/
Child Trafficking
Stop Child Trafficking Now - www.sctnow.org/
Born 2 Fly - www.born2fly.org/
Conspicuous Consumption Is Back: Subdued fashions of the recession years are fading as wealthy Americans again flaunt luxury purchases – Businessweek.com (Jan. 27, 2011)
Rich Americans are not only shopping again. They're showing off their purchases, despite an economy that still leaves millions of people jobless and underemployed
Anxiety about the economy did drive some rich consumers to cut back, even when they could afford to spend. Yet much of their frugality was symbolic, says Harvey Hartman, founder of the Hartman Group, a consumer research firm. They would "try to cut one thing, but they'll spend more somewhere else," he says.
Maybe it was never very realistic to think that well-heeled American shoppers were going to embrace a thrifty, frugal lifestyle. "It's like telling the consumer: You're not going to have fun anymore," Hartman says. As Americans, he says, "We're just not like that."
The title of Radical chapter six is a question: “How much is enough? How much wealth is enough? How many possessions (cars, houses, toys) is enough?” What is the American culture’s response to these questions? No limit. What is the primary method used to give this response? Advertising. ex. Super Bowl $3 million per 30 second commercial. Does the American populace buy into this response? Yes. Ex. credit card debt. Many Americans live well beyond their annual salary ex. – annual income is $50,000, but live/spend as if you have $100,000. What are the consequences? Crippling debt. And an inability to assist those in need – poor, sick, orphaned, elderly.
Is the Church guilty of conspicuous consumption? Read Radical p. 118.
45 million people in the U.S. live in poverty. 2 billion in the world.
Do Christians have an obligation to help the poor/needy or is it optional?
What should our attitude be when giving to the poor/needy?
What should our attitude not be when giving to the poor/needy?
Is there a plus for one who gives to the poor/needy?
Is there a negative for one who ignores the poor/needy?
For the answers to these questions, read the following Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 15:7-11 - If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart … and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, you shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.
Proverbs 19:17 - Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.
Proverbs 21:13 - Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
Proverbs 22:9 - Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
Proverbs 28:7 - Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
James 1:27 - Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction …
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos – God condemns Israel and Judah for oppressing the poor and needy. Ignoring the plight of the poor and needy.
Ezekiel 16:49-50 - Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.
Luke 12:12-14 – (Jesus) said also to the (rich) man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
What was the point Jesus was making to his rich host? When you invite people you know or the rich, your reward comes from who? Those people. When you invite poor/needy, your reward will come from who? God.
Matthew 25:31-46 - When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
What motivated the sheep to meet the needs of the “least of these?” The needs of the “least of these” were more important than the sheep’s wants. They obeyed this sacred principle – God blesses his own so that they can be a blessing to others. Followed example of their King. Jesus was the champion of the poor and needy, in the physical and spiritual sense, throughout His ministry. He had compassion for the poor, diseased, and outcast.
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
James 2:14-17 - What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
What motivated the goats and church goers in James to NOT meet the needs of the “least of these?” The goats’ wants were more important than the needs of the “least of these.” They ignored this sacred principle – God blesses his own so that they can be a blessing to others. Refused to follow example of their King, Jesus. Perception of poor/needy – negative. Social Darwinism – survival of fittest. Poor/diseased/outcast are parasites sucking the life out of society. Undeserving of assistance. Read story of rich man and Lazarus in Luke chapter 16.
Luke 12:15-21 - And (Jesus) said to (two men fighting over an inheritance), "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
I Timothy 6:17-19 - As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
What point is Paul making in the following verse?
II Thessalonians 3:10-12 - For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
From reading the above verses whose responsibility is to aid the poor and needy? Followers of Christ; not government.
Read the following about Thomas Jefferson and compare his approach to wealth/possessions to John Wesley (Radical pp. 126-128)
Thomas Jefferson bore the burden of substantial monetary debt throughout his life. While debt was not unusual for Virginia planters of his time, his eventually grew so ponderous that his family was forced to sell much of his property, including Monticello, after Jefferson's death. His grandson and executor of his estate, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, posted an advertisement for his estate sale, indicating that Jefferson's debts at his death amounted to $107,000. Converting this figure into a modern estimate is an inexact process at best, but it would probably be somewhere between $1,000,000 and $2,000,000.
Jefferson lived perpetually beyond his means, spending large amounts of money on building projects, furnishings, wine, clothing, etc. The very definition of conspicuous consumption. Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
APPLICATION
Always remember that God has blessed you so that you can be a blessing to others. Pray about how you can be a blessing to the poor/needy.
Take a look at your monthly expenses to see if you can make adjustments that will enable you to provide assistance to poor/needy. One $10 donation can save a family from dying from malaria. One $15 dollar donation can provide one person with clean water for 20 years. You can sponsor a child for $15-$40 a month which goes towards food and clean water, medical care, educational opportunities, important life-skills training, etc.
Samarian’s Purse - www.samaritanspurse.org/
Child Poverty
Compassion International - www.compassion.com
World Vision – www.worldvision.org
Poverty
Partners Worldwide - www.partnersworldwide.org
World Relief - http://worldrelief.org/
Hunger/Thirst
Feed the Children - www.feedthechildren.org
Cause Life - www.causelife.org/
Disease
Malaria – Nothing but Nets www.nothingbutnets.net/
Child Trafficking
Stop Child Trafficking Now - www.sctnow.org/
Born 2 Fly - www.born2fly.org/
RADICAL Ch.5: The Multiplying Community, How all of us join together to fulfill God’s purpose
Reaching the nations with the gospel of Christ, for His glory, is simple.
We do it by EACH OF US making disciples.
Q. Why are Christians so often apathetic toward the tasks of witnessing and disciple making?
Read this familiar passage below and list out what we must do.
Matthew 28: 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We must GO to them
We must MAKE DISCIPLES of them
We must BAPTISE them
We must TEACH them
Q. How might we short-circuit God’s process? STAY, DON’T MAKE DISCIPLES, DON’T BAPTISE them, DON’T TEACH them
Let’s face it, it’s entirely possible that most of us will just listen to Curtis’ sermon, to this Bible study, to God’s word and do nothing about it, again. That’s my own fear, that I will leave here today unchanged, unmoved, unmotivated. Also, if we haven’t been making disciples, it’s possible the rut we’re in will only deepen after today, because we will have heard it all one more time, and hardened our hearts against it, or just as worse, have been apathetic. How can we help each other take this seriously so that we can move forward together? Let’s be thinking about that.
I’m interested in thinking through why we are not making disciples, and why we are not going (if indeed we are not). Most of us are not making disciples because we don’t know about the Great Commission.
GOING (the word here indicates “as you are going…)
Q. Who should GO?
Q. What are some roadblocks to us not GOING? (to my neighbors, across my country, to those in spiritual need across the world) fear? No time? No desire? No training? No plan? No $$? Too tired?
Q. Which of these excuses do you think God will be ok with?
Q. What are some possible creative ways people can GO, without physically GOING? (Not to circumvent or undermine God’s main plan for us to physically go, but augment) Internet, email, phone calls, radio
MAKE DISCIPLES
Q. What is a disciple? How is one made? If we are to make them, we need to know what they are and how they are made, right? [A learner, a student and follower of Christ]
TEACHING
What should I teach them? How about take them through the gospels as a start? Teaching is not only imparting knowledge, but bringing others into your spiritual life and teach by DOING, and engaging in opportunities together (sharing Christ together, teaching together, baptizing together, praying together = having real community together. And teaching them to do everything you have done with them is key, since it is by multiplication we will reach the nations.
Think about it, if only professional/paid clergy led people to Christ, and only gifted teachers taught, the strategy of reaching people would only be by addition, not multiplication, and the world could never be reached that way. But Jesus taught the concept of multiplication. We need to be making disciples who make other disciples.
Q. Identify some simple ways we can teach:
BAPTIZING
Symbolic of dying to the old man of sin, and being raised with Christ in the new, righteous life. We therefore identify with Christ in baptism and with each other in regard to the community of faith.
We are commanded to also baptize others as we go making disciples. Are you ready to baptize someone? Have you yourself been baptized? Why or why not?
---------
MY PLAN to MAKE DISCIPLES
I need an ongoing strategy of continual and consistent prayer
Q. Who do I go to? Ask the Lord to direct you and pray for the people you need to meet, lead to Christ, etc. But start by making a list right here of people in your family, friends, co-workers, people you often see in public places, etc. that God might use you to reach for Christ.
How will I GO to them on a consistent and regular basis?
[And what adjustments in my life and schedule will I have to make to do this?]
How will I make followers, student, learner’s of Christ as I go?
How will I teach them? What will I teach them?
Am I willing to be baptized and baptize others?
Who will be my accountability partner and encourager in this endeavor?
Still not sure what to do? Need some additional coaching to get a plan? Contact Dennis, Pastor Curtis, or Michael Moore
We do it by EACH OF US making disciples.
Q. Why are Christians so often apathetic toward the tasks of witnessing and disciple making?
Read this familiar passage below and list out what we must do.
Matthew 28: 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We must GO to them
We must MAKE DISCIPLES of them
We must BAPTISE them
We must TEACH them
Q. How might we short-circuit God’s process? STAY, DON’T MAKE DISCIPLES, DON’T BAPTISE them, DON’T TEACH them
Let’s face it, it’s entirely possible that most of us will just listen to Curtis’ sermon, to this Bible study, to God’s word and do nothing about it, again. That’s my own fear, that I will leave here today unchanged, unmoved, unmotivated. Also, if we haven’t been making disciples, it’s possible the rut we’re in will only deepen after today, because we will have heard it all one more time, and hardened our hearts against it, or just as worse, have been apathetic. How can we help each other take this seriously so that we can move forward together? Let’s be thinking about that.
I’m interested in thinking through why we are not making disciples, and why we are not going (if indeed we are not). Most of us are not making disciples because we don’t know about the Great Commission.
GOING (the word here indicates “as you are going…)
Q. Who should GO?
Q. What are some roadblocks to us not GOING? (to my neighbors, across my country, to those in spiritual need across the world) fear? No time? No desire? No training? No plan? No $$? Too tired?
Q. Which of these excuses do you think God will be ok with?
Q. What are some possible creative ways people can GO, without physically GOING? (Not to circumvent or undermine God’s main plan for us to physically go, but augment) Internet, email, phone calls, radio
MAKE DISCIPLES
Q. What is a disciple? How is one made? If we are to make them, we need to know what they are and how they are made, right? [A learner, a student and follower of Christ]
TEACHING
What should I teach them? How about take them through the gospels as a start? Teaching is not only imparting knowledge, but bringing others into your spiritual life and teach by DOING, and engaging in opportunities together (sharing Christ together, teaching together, baptizing together, praying together = having real community together. And teaching them to do everything you have done with them is key, since it is by multiplication we will reach the nations.
Think about it, if only professional/paid clergy led people to Christ, and only gifted teachers taught, the strategy of reaching people would only be by addition, not multiplication, and the world could never be reached that way. But Jesus taught the concept of multiplication. We need to be making disciples who make other disciples.
Q. Identify some simple ways we can teach:
BAPTIZING
Symbolic of dying to the old man of sin, and being raised with Christ in the new, righteous life. We therefore identify with Christ in baptism and with each other in regard to the community of faith.
We are commanded to also baptize others as we go making disciples. Are you ready to baptize someone? Have you yourself been baptized? Why or why not?
---------
MY PLAN to MAKE DISCIPLES
I need an ongoing strategy of continual and consistent prayer
Q. Who do I go to? Ask the Lord to direct you and pray for the people you need to meet, lead to Christ, etc. But start by making a list right here of people in your family, friends, co-workers, people you often see in public places, etc. that God might use you to reach for Christ.
How will I GO to them on a consistent and regular basis?
[And what adjustments in my life and schedule will I have to make to do this?]
How will I make followers, student, learner’s of Christ as I go?
How will I teach them? What will I teach them?
Am I willing to be baptized and baptize others?
Who will be my accountability partner and encourager in this endeavor?
Still not sure what to do? Need some additional coaching to get a plan? Contact Dennis, Pastor Curtis, or Michael Moore
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
RADICAL CH. 4 The Great Why of God; God’s global purpose from the beginning till today
Start with showing class the Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GESEC) map. Ask them to study it and come up with at least 3 conclusions.
Q. When you look at the map, what do you see?
Q. Contrast America with South Asia. What do you see?
Q. About how many a week do you think die without Christ in South Asia? When you hear that over 227,000 die week after week in South Asia without Christ, what does that do to your heart, urgency, etc.? Do you remember the tsunami of December 2004? In terms of sheer numbers, imagine one of those happening per week in South Asia. All dying without EVER hearing of Jesus Christ. All going into a Christ-less eternity.
Q. How many of us would be honest and say they hope someone else would do something about the problem so they wouldn’t have to?
Q. What do you think is God’s heart for all those red areas?
Q. What have WE been blessed with in Christ that is worth sharing with the world?
Psalm 67 (ESV)
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.
1May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah. 2that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 3Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 6The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. 7God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!
The above passage of Scripture is important because it demonstrates that People are God's Treasure. All six verses in this psalm speak of God’s relationship with the crowning achievement of His creation: people. God created humans in His image for His glory, and He commissions His people, despite their sinfulness, to declare His glory and salvation throughout the world.
Take a look at the passages below. Q. What is God’s mission in the world?
Psalm 67 That all the nations would praise God and give Him glory
John 3:16 God loves people and sent JESUS to pay our sin debt.
2 Peter 3:9 He desires that none perish, but all come to repentance.
Matthew 28: 19-20 Go make disciples of all nations (all the pante ethna = people groups), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
Revelation 7:9-10 All peoples represented in heaven worshipping Him
Answer: God blesses His people in order that they may bless others and carry out His commission—leading others into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are here to make Christ known. (pg69)
------------
Q. If this is God’s purpose in the world, what impact should it have on our lives and how we live?
Q. If we know what God’s purpose in the world is, what should we do about gaining a greater understanding of what He’s doing around the world?
--- Reference “Getting There” booklet: choose a specific unreached people group and pray for them; research & learn about them and their needs/challenges in hearing and receiving the Gospel; go to them and share the Gospel. (Ex. My people group the Bihar.)
Getting There website and booklet PDF downloads: http://gettingthere.imbresources.org/
Research people groups: http://www.imb.org/main/aroundtheworld.asp
GESEC map PDF download from IMB website (98mb file!): http://imbresources.org/index.cfm/product/detail/prodID/2876
--- Go on a mission trip as a first step. Get exposed in a face-to-face way with the need.
--- Ask God for His heart to be formed in yours. Pray and ask God to change your heart.
Q. What do we have to give of ourselves in regard to reaching the nations for Christ, to glorify His name to the ends of the earth? Make list: time, talents, finances, passions, dreams, aspirations, etc.
Q. Alright let me go to an extreme. Would it be too radical, too much for a person to say, “All I have, all I am, all my time, all my energy ---- I give to God to accomplish His global purpose.” Why or why not?
Show 4 min. video clip of David Preaching
Discuss some of David’s quotes:
Pg. 64,73 “He has created each of us to take the gospel to the ends of the earth regardless of a person’s calling), and I propose that anything less than radical devotion to this purpose is unbiblical Christianity.”
Pg 74 “Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.”
Q. When you look at the map, what do you see?
Q. Contrast America with South Asia. What do you see?
Q. About how many a week do you think die without Christ in South Asia? When you hear that over 227,000 die week after week in South Asia without Christ, what does that do to your heart, urgency, etc.? Do you remember the tsunami of December 2004? In terms of sheer numbers, imagine one of those happening per week in South Asia. All dying without EVER hearing of Jesus Christ. All going into a Christ-less eternity.
Q. How many of us would be honest and say they hope someone else would do something about the problem so they wouldn’t have to?
Q. What do you think is God’s heart for all those red areas?
Q. What have WE been blessed with in Christ that is worth sharing with the world?
Psalm 67 (ESV)
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.
1May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah. 2that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 3Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 6The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. 7God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!
The above passage of Scripture is important because it demonstrates that People are God's Treasure. All six verses in this psalm speak of God’s relationship with the crowning achievement of His creation: people. God created humans in His image for His glory, and He commissions His people, despite their sinfulness, to declare His glory and salvation throughout the world.
Take a look at the passages below. Q. What is God’s mission in the world?
Psalm 67 That all the nations would praise God and give Him glory
John 3:16 God loves people and sent JESUS to pay our sin debt.
2 Peter 3:9 He desires that none perish, but all come to repentance.
Matthew 28: 19-20 Go make disciples of all nations (all the pante ethna = people groups), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
Revelation 7:9-10 All peoples represented in heaven worshipping Him
Answer: God blesses His people in order that they may bless others and carry out His commission—leading others into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are here to make Christ known. (pg69)
------------
Q. If this is God’s purpose in the world, what impact should it have on our lives and how we live?
Q. If we know what God’s purpose in the world is, what should we do about gaining a greater understanding of what He’s doing around the world?
--- Reference “Getting There” booklet: choose a specific unreached people group and pray for them; research & learn about them and their needs/challenges in hearing and receiving the Gospel; go to them and share the Gospel. (Ex. My people group the Bihar.)
Getting There website and booklet PDF downloads: http://gettingthere.imbresources.org/
Research people groups: http://www.imb.org/main/aroundtheworld.asp
GESEC map PDF download from IMB website (98mb file!): http://imbresources.org/index.cfm/product/detail/prodID/2876
--- Go on a mission trip as a first step. Get exposed in a face-to-face way with the need.
--- Ask God for His heart to be formed in yours. Pray and ask God to change your heart.
Q. What do we have to give of ourselves in regard to reaching the nations for Christ, to glorify His name to the ends of the earth? Make list: time, talents, finances, passions, dreams, aspirations, etc.
Q. Alright let me go to an extreme. Would it be too radical, too much for a person to say, “All I have, all I am, all my time, all my energy ---- I give to God to accomplish His global purpose.” Why or why not?
Show 4 min. video clip of David Preaching
Discuss some of David’s quotes:
Pg. 64,73 “He has created each of us to take the gospel to the ends of the earth regardless of a person’s calling), and I propose that anything less than radical devotion to this purpose is unbiblical Christianity.”
Pg 74 “Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.”
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