Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2015

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BIBLICAL MISSIONARIES Børge Schantz, Principal Contributor

Biblical Missionaries Our Goal We will look at mission first and foremost as God’s means for communicating the gospel. Mission is a core part of God’s sovereign activity in the process of redeeming humanity. We will study how God’s eternal purpose has been accomplished in the lives of individuals in the Bible whom He has used to be missionaries to the

Biblical Missionaries Contents 1 The Missionary Nature of God 2 Abraham: The First Missionary 3 The Unlikely Missionary 4 The Jonah Saga 5 Exiles as Missionaries 6 Esther and Mordecai 7 Jesus: The Master of Missions 8 Cross-Cultural Missions 9 Peter and the Gentiles 10 Philip as Missionary 11 Paul: Background and Call 12 Paul: Mission and Message 13 Must the Whole World Hear?

Biblical Missionaries Lesson 8, August 22 Cross-Cultural Missions

Cross-Cultural Missions Key Text Matthew 12: 18 NKJV “ ‘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. ’ ”

Cross-Cultural Missions Quick Look 1. Samaritan and Roman (John 4: 7 -9; Matthew 8: 5, 6) 2. Demons and Lepers (Luke 8: 35; 17: 12, 13; Matthew 15: 22) 3. The Greeks (John 12: 20, 21)

Cross-Cultural Missions Initial Words 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 at the Gospel accounts of these contacts.

Cross-Cultural Missions 1. Samaritan and Roman John 4: 7 -9; Matthew 8: 5, 6 NKJV “A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give Me a drink. ’. . . Then [she] said to Him, ‘How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? ’ A centurion came to Him, pleading. . . saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully

1. Samaritan and Roman At Jacob’s Well 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.

1. Samaritan and Roman At Jacob’s Well 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.

1. Samaritan and Roman At Jacob’s Well The Samaritan woman led the conversation with her questions. Jesus responded with the things that would benefit the woman spiritually. Jesus changed the conversation when He told her to bring her husband, knowing that she wasn’t married. By doing this, He was able to witness to her in a powerful way.

1. Samaritan and Roman In Capernaum The centurion was obviously a man of faith; his words “speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed” (Matt. 8: 8), were an incredible testimony to his belief in Jesus. 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.

1. Samaritan and Roman In Capernaum 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.

Cross-Cultural Missions 2. Demons and Lepers Luke 8: 35; 17: 12, 13; Matthew 15: 22 NKJV “They. . . found the man from whom the demons departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed in his right mind. . There meet Him ten lepers, who. . . lifted up their voices. . . , ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. ’. . . A woman of Canaan came. . . and cried out to Him, . . . ‘O Lord. . My daughter is. . . demon-

2. Demons and Lepers Demons Cast into Swine The man in the tombs was obviously possessed. That this liberation took place in Gentile territory is confirmed by the presence of the pigs. Jesus asked the healed man to stay. He was to witness to his own people about Jesus; his changed life, even more than his words, would be a powerful testimony.

2. Demons and Lepers To “Dogs” The child was “ ‘demon-possessed and suffering terribly’ ” (Matt. 15: 22). Her mother was a Canaanite. 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.

2. Demons and Lepers Ten Lepers Notice first that the unfortunate men all knew Jesus. They called Him by both name and title. 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.

2. Demons and Lepers Ten Lepers The fact that they just turned around and went showed that they believed in Him and His power to heal them. Only the Samaritan expressed appreciation for what Jesus had done. The Samaritan, turned around even before he got to the priests.

Cross-Cultural Missions 3. The Greeks John 12: 20, 21 NKJV “Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus. ’ ”

3. The Greeks “We Wish to See Jesus” These Greeks were probably converts to Judaism, since they came to Jerusalem to worship at the feast. These Greeks went to Philip, who, though Jewish, had a Greek name. Thus, the most effective groundbreaking work is done by people with the same background as the target people.

3. The Greeks “We Wish to See Jesus” The Greeks came only days before Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus would have been encouraged by their desire to “see” Him. 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).

Cross-Cultural Missions Final Words Those who have been given great privileges need to be careful. It’s easy to become complacent about truths that in some cases no one else is preaching and teaching. We need to make sure that we keep ourselves grounded in these truths; then, we need to be willing to teach these to those who don’t know them.