Transcript Agents of Hope: God's Great Missionaries Third Quarter – July , August, September.

Agents of Hope: God's Great Missionaries
Third Quarter – July , August, September
Preface
The Bible gives us many stories of God's agents of hope. This quarter
we will focus on some outstanding missionaries; whom they were and
what they did in seeking to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
Once upon a time there was a man nearly chilled to death in deep
snow. He was about to give up struggling for his life when he heard the
moans from a fellow traveler nearby. His first impulse was to rescue
the other man.
When he found him, he rubbed the man's frozen limbs. He finally
got him to his feet and carried him through the drifts to safety.
Then "the truth flashed home to him that in saving his neighbor he had
saved himself also" by quickening "the blood which was freezing in his
own veins."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 319.
The point? A healthy church is a church focused on mission to others.
Sharing God's love with the community brings fresh life and energy into
the church
We need to focus on our mission to this dying world.
There is nothing more refreshing, or more life-giving, than
reaching out to others.
The author of this Sabbath School lesson is Gary Krause, an Australian
born to missionary parents in Fiji, is director of the Office of Adventist
Mission at the General Conference. He is married to Bettina, and they have
one daughter, Bethany Grace. Their prayers are that this quarter's lessons
on biblical agents of hope will lead us into a renewed commitment to share
God's love with our neighbors and friends and in mission fields around the
world. And that we will enter into a whole new dimension in our Christian
lives.
Introduction
Who declared the following words?
“…For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance
will arise… from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish.
Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as
this?” Then _____ told them to reply to _______: “Go, gather all the Jews
who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three
days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the
king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish” Ester 4: 13 -16
Mordecai told them to Esther
For Such a Time As
This: The
SS Lesson 1 for the
th
5
of July, 2008
The apostle Paul was a key leader His background, personality,
and calling from God made him the right person at the right time
to guide the church into this new era of mission to all people.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church went through a similar
process, when it began its mission work outside North America.
This was a radical step that laid the foundation for today's
international Adventist mission work in more than two hundred
countries.
Sunday: Paul’s Background
Questions
Who was arguably the most influential person in the New Testament, apart
from Jesus Himself and he took the good news about Jesus to much of the
then-known world?
The apostle Paul
Where was he born? Paul was born in Tarsus, then the capital
of Cilicia, a Roman province
What is that place called now? Present-day Turkey
Tarsis was known for what?
This area was noted for its goats'-hair cloth, which was widely used
for tent making, Paul's trade
Sunday: Paul’s Background
Questions
With how much money could one purchase roman citizenship, and what
was that amount worth?
A person could purchase Roman citizenship for 500 drachmas, close to
two years' wages for the average worker.
What were the privileges of Roman citizenship?
Safety from scourging and no death penalty without a trial; the right to vote, make
contracts, and have a legal marriage; and exemption from paying taxes
What other citizenship did he have?
He was also a Jew, one with a rich spiritual heritage
Who was his teacher?
He studied under the great Gamaliel , one of the leading Jewish teachers of
the time
What aspects of your own life
(nationality, education, upbringing,
etc.) can be of special use in
witnessing? How can you take
advantage of your background to
better witness for the Lord?
Monday
Paul: His Conversion and Calling
“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings
and slaughter against the disciples of the
Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired
of him letters to Damascus to the
synagogues, that if he found any of this
way, whether they were men or women, he
might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
And as he journeyed, he came near
Damascus: and suddenly there shined
round about him a light from heaven: And
he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying
unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou
me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And
the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou
persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick
against the pricks. And he trembling and
astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have
me to do?”
“And the Lord said unto him,
Arise, and go into the city, and it
shall be told thee what thou
must do. And the men which
journeyed with him stood
speechless, hearing a voice,
but seeing no man. And Saul
arose from the earth; and when
his eyes were opened, he saw
no man: but they led him by the
hand, and brought him into
Damascus. And he was three
days without sight, and neither
did eat nor drink”. Acts 9:1-9
Questions
The apostle Paul was called by what other name?
Saul of Tarsus, persecutor of the early church
Against who did Saul threatened and desired to killed?
Against the disciples of the Lord
What did Paul want from the high priest? To do what?
Letters of Damascus stating that if he find any men or women, disciple of the Lord, he
could bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
What happened to him on his journey to Damascus?
Suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth,
and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he
said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
Questions
What else did the Lord tell him?
And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for
thee to kick against the pricks
How and what did Paul ask Jesus?
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou
have me to do?
What was Jesus indication to Paul?
And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it
shall be told thee what thou must do
What happened when Paul tried to see, and how did he
reach Damascus?
When his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led
him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus
How many days was he without sight, food or
liquids?
3
“Stricken with blindness,
helpless, tortured by
remorse, knowing not what
further judgment might be
in store for him, he sought
out the home of the
disciple Judas, where, in
solitude, he had ample
opportunity for reflection
and prayer.” AA 118
“He saw the mistakes of his life and
recognized the far-reaching claims of
the law of God. He who had been a
proud Pharisee, confident that he was
justified by his good works, now bowed
before God with the humility and
simplicity of a little child, confessing his
own unworthiness and pleading the
merits of a crucified and risen Saviour.
Saul longed to come into full harmony
and communion with the Father and the
Son; and in the intensity of his desire for
pardon and acceptance he offered up
fervent supplications to the throne of
grace. The prayers of the penitent
Pharisee were not in vain.” AA 119.2
While Saul in solitude at the house of Judas
continued in prayer and supplication, the Lord
appeared in vision to "a certain disciple at Damascus,
named Ananias," telling him that Saul of Tarsus was
praying and in need of help. "Arise, and go into the
street which is called Straight," the heavenly
messenger said, "and inquire in the house of Judas
for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias
coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might
receive his sight."
Ananias could scarcely credit the words of the
angel; for the reports of Saul's bitter persecution of
the saints at Jerusalem had spread far and wide. He
presumed to expostulate: "Lord, I have heard by
many of this man, how much evil he hath done to Thy
saints at Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from
the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy name." But
the command was imperative: "Go thy way: for he is a
chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the
Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel."
AA 121
Obedient to the direction of the
angel, Ananias sought out the man
who had but recently breathed out
threatenings against all who believed
on the name of Jesus; and putting
his hands on the head of the penitent
sufferer, he said, "Brother Saul, the
Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto
thee in the way as thou camest, hath
sent me, that thou mightest receive
thy sight, and be filled with the Holy
Ghost. "And immediately there fell
from his eyes as it had been scales:
and he received sight forthwith, and
arose, and was baptized." AA 122
”When, in the midst of his blind error and
prejudice, Saul was given a revelation of the
Christ whom he was persecuting, he was
placed in direct communication with the
church, which is the light of the world. In
this case Ananias represents Christ, and
also represents Christ's ministers upon the
earth, who are appointed to act in His stead.
In Christ's stead Ananias touches the eyes
of Saul, that they may receive sight. In
Christ's stead he places his hands upon
him, and, as he prays in Christ's name, Saul
receives the Holy Ghost. All is done in the
name and by the authority of Christ. Christ
is the fountain; the church is the channel of
communication.” AA 122
Most likely, few of us have had the kind of dramatic conversion experience that Paul did.
Yet, we all, at some point, need conversion. What has your own conversion experience
been? Most important, what have you learned from that experience that could help you
lead others toward having their own as well?
When God needs an individual to do a noble work for him, he does not respect gender,
status or any background criminal history. He needs men and women with Passion, just
like Paul…Tuesday, Paul A Man of Like Passions.
Tuesday
Paul: A Man of Like Passions
The apostle Paul was not
perfect. He made mistakes. He
needed the daily grace and
forgiveness of Jesus in his life,
just as we do. Indeed, from all
that we can tell by his writing,
Paul was very aware of his own
sinfulness. No doubt it was
from, partially at least, this
awareness of his own
weaknesses and faults that
made him such a powerful
teacher of God's saving grace.
“But I discipline my body and bring it
into subjection, lest, when I have
preached to others, I myself should
become disqualified.” 1 Cor. 9:27
“And lest I should be exalted above
measure by the abundance of the
revelations, a thorn in the flesh was
given to me, a messenger of Satan to
buffet me, lest I be exalted above
measure .” 2 Cor. 12:7
“O wretched man that I am! Who will
deliver me from this body of death?”
Rom. 7:24
Though Paul was not perfect, God
used him anyway. Why is it
important that while being aware
of our faults and claiming God's
promises for victory we not allow
them to discourage us from
working for the Lord? God again
makes no exception of people. He
loves the cholerics, sanguines,
phlematic, melancoly. He came to
this earth to rescue us and to offer
us life and salvation through
Jesus Christ….Wednesday, Life
and Salvation through Jesus
Christ!!
Wednesday
Life and Salvation Through Christ
Several major themes dominated and
motivated the apostle Paul's life and
mission. At the top of the list was the
story of Jesus crucified. This event was
the basis of everything he taught and did.
He wrote to the Corinthians, "For I
determined not to know any thing among
you, save Jesus Christ, and him
crucified"1 Cor. 2:2, and to the Galatians,
"But God forbid that I should glory, save
in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ".
Gal.6:14 These verses show that for Paul
the Cross of Christ was the central theme
of his whole theology.
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage
again to fear, but you received the Spirit of
adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God, and if children, then
heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if
indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be
glorified together. Romans 8:15-17
In Him we have redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according
to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7
How nice is that we have redemption and
forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ,
according to His bountiful grace. These
are exuberant themes of hope…Thursday,
Themes of Hope
Thursday
Themes of Hope
Thursday, touched briefly on some
other major Pauline themes
Living a godly life (sanctification)
Paul’s writings to Timothy
“But you, O man of God, flee these
things and pursue righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience,
gentleness.”
1 Timothy 6:11
Salvation is free, a gift we cannot
earn or deserve. “For the wages of sin
is death, but the gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
“But salvation does not free us to behave as we did before we met Jesus. But you have not so
learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the
deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which
was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying,
"Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. "Be angry,
and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who
stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may
have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what
is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger,
clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:20-32
In response to His grace, we must live as Jesus asks us to
live. We do not do what is right in order that Jesus will save us;
we do what is right because we have been saved. “For we are
His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which
God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”Eph.2:10
When we
accept Jesus'
gift of
salvation, we
are accepted
totally and
unconditionally
We obey God because His powerful love
leads us to good works. We obey Him
because His love compels us “For the love
of Christ compels us, because we judge
thus: that if One died for all, then all died.” .
2 Corinthians 5:14
Summary: Paul provides a wonderful example of the fact that there is no limit to what God
can do through us—human and weak though we may be. Paul's unique background and
gifts enabled him to take the good news about Jesus to an entirely new mission field.
Next week’s Lesson 2 is entitled:
All Things to all Men: Paul teaches to the world
Memory Verse: "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all
means save some" 1 Cor. 9:22