powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente Adult Sabbath School Lessons Jul Aug Sept 2008 Adult Sabbath School Lessons Jul Aug Sept 2008

Gary Krause Principal Contributor Gary Krause Principal Contributor

God’s Great Missionaries Contents 1. For Such a Time As This: The Apostle Paul 2. “All Things to All Men”: Paul Preaches to the World 3. John the Baptist: Preparing the Way for Jesus 4. The Son of God Among Us 5. Matthew 10: Jesus and His Disciples 6. The Compassionate Savior 7. The Apostle John 8. From Folly to Faith: The Apostle Peter 9. A Pillar of Mission: The Apostle Peter 10. Woman of Mission 11. Mission in a Pagan Land: Daniel and Company 12. Gifted for Service: Philip 13. “Here Am I! Send Me”: The Prophet Isaiah 1. For Such a Time As This: The Apostle Paul 2. “All Things to All Men”: Paul Preaches to the World 3. John the Baptist: Preparing the Way for Jesus 4. The Son of God Among Us 5. Matthew 10: Jesus and His Disciples 6. The Compassionate Savior 7. The Apostle John 8. From Folly to Faith: The Apostle Peter 9. A Pillar of Mission: The Apostle Peter 10. Woman of Mission 11. Mission in a Pagan Land: Daniel and Company 12. Gifted for Service: Philip 13. “Here Am I! Send Me”: The Prophet Isaiah

God’s Great Missionaries Our Goal {5} It would be a mistake this quarter to study these biblical agents as interesting historical figures and leave it at that. Rather, we need to catch the inspiration of their lives and focus on our mission to this dying world.

God’s Great Missionaries Lesson 6, August 9 God’s Great Missionaries Lesson 6, August 9

The Compassionate Savior Key Text M ATTHEW 9:36 NIV “ When He saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

The Compassionate Savior Initial Words {72} Compassion motivated every aspect of Christ’s ministry. He ministered to all types of people, regardless of their social class, gender, or race. He demonstrated unconditional love and forgiveness in His life and, most powerfully, in His death on the cross, paying in Himself the penalty for our sins.

The Compassionate Savior Quick Look 1. Compassionate: God With Us (John 1:14) 2. Compassionate: Reaching All (Luke 6:19; John 3, 4, 9:1-7) 3. Compassionate: Forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32)

The Compassionate Savior 1. Compassion: God With Us J OHN 1:14 NKJV “ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

1. Compassion: God With Us Immanuel {79} The Greek word translated “dwelt,” skenoo, in John 1:14 means to “pitch one’s tent”. When Jesus came to this world, He did not live in a distance from the people to whom He ministered. He “pitched His tent” among them, living and working among them—relating to them at their level.

1. Compassion: God With Us Immanuel {76} One of the fundamental truths of Christianity is that Jesus, Himself fully God, came down to the level of fallen humanity. The earthly sanctuary system was set up with the express purpose of allowing God to be close to His people. “Have them make me a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8 NIV).

The Compassionate Savior 2. Compassion: Reaching All L UKE 6:19 NKJV “ And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.”

2. Compassion: Reaching All The Masses {73} Travel back then was, in contrast to our day, painfully slow and exceedingly treacherous. That did not stop “a great multitude” from coming to hear Jesus. One time the crowd was so large and pressing against Him that He had to get into a boat and teach them from a distance.

2. Compassion: Reaching All The Personal Touch {75} 1. John 3:1, 2. Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. 2. John 4:7. “A woman of Samaria came to draw water, Jesus said to her…” 3. John 9:1. “Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.” The foundation of Jesus’ ministry was personal contact.

2. Compassion: Reaching All The Personal Touch {81} Jesus knew how to communicate with people. His speech was aimed at their level. He did not use deep philosophical and theological language, although He spoke the most profound truth. He spoke in simple, practical terms that everyone could understand. He spoke of things that people could apply to their lives.

The Compassionate Savior 3. Compassion: Forgiveness E PHESIANS 4:32 NKJV “ And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.”

3. Compassion: Forgiveness An Expression {77} Compassion drove everything that Jesus did. And central to that expression of compassion was forgiveness. Considering the essence of Christian theology, that we are sinners in need of God’s forgiveness, no wonder it is such a powerful theme in Jesus’ life and teaching.

3. Compassion: Forgiveness An Expression {77} Jesus often likens His grace to being forgiven a great debt. And the reason that debt has been cancelled is that Jesus, Himself, paid it for us. Also, again and again, Jesus taught that those who have been forgiven must forgive others. An unforgiving Christian is a contradiction in terms.

The Compassionate Savior Final Words {82} The word compassion literally means “to feel with” or “to sympathize with.” It’s not enough to say about a painful situation, “Isn’t that a shame; somebody really should do something about that.”