1. Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2015 Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2015 powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com

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4. Biblical Missionaries Our Goal We will look at mission first and foremost as God’s means for commu- nicating 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 lost.

5. 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?

6. Biblical Missionaries Lesson 13, September 26 Biblical Missionaries Lesson 13, September 26 Must the Whole World Hear?

7. Key Text: Romans 16:25-27 NIV “Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God,

8. Must the Whole World Hear? Key Text: Romans 16:25-27 NIV so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.”

9. Must the Whole World Hear? Quick Look 1. People Exclusivism (Acts 4:11, 12) 2. Doctrine of Universalism and Pluralism (Daniel 12:2) 3. Global Evangelism (Mark 16:15, 16)

10. Must the Whole World Hear? Initial Words Throughout the ages, millions have died without knowing the biblical plan of salvation. This leads to two persistent questions. First, on the day of judgment, how is God going to deal with these billions who have not known Him? Second, is there salvation outside of someone’s knowing the plan of salvation as it is in Jesus?

11. Must the Whole World Hear? 1. People Exclusivism Acts 4:11, 12 NKJV “This [Jesus Christ of Nazareth] is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

12. 1. People Exclusivism No Other Name Some Christians believe that only those who hear and respond positively to the Christian gospel can be saved. These “exclusivists,” regard all non- Christian religions as constructs of fallen humans, which express willful rebellion against God. Non-Christians are, for that reason, outside the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

13. 1. People Exclusivism No Other Name Some Christians take the further step of claiming that outside their specific denomination there is no salvation, even for other confessing Christians. Other denominations with their divergent beliefs have placed themselves outside the care of God and have no chance of entering the kingdom of heaven.

14. 1. People Exclusivism How Much Must One Know? Although the work of Christ provides the only means of salvation, explicit knowledge of Christ is not necessary in order for one to be saved. This does not imply that salvation is available apart from Christ but that God is able and willing to apply the merits of Christ’s work to whomever He wishes.

15. 1. People Exclusivism How Much Must One Know? Those who do not know Christ and have never been exposed to the gospel, but who under the influence of the Holy Spirit feel a need for deliverance, and act on it, will be saved. “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he [God] will give eternal life” (Rom. 2:6, 7, NIV).

16. Must the Whole World Hear? 2. Doctrine of Universalism and Pluralism Daniel 12:2 NKJV “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

17. 2. Doctrine of Universalism and Pluralism Contrary to the Bible Some teach that in the end God is going to save all human beings, regardless of what they believed or even how they lived. “Universalism” is the conviction that all persons are so related to God that they will be saved, even if they never heard or believed the gospel.

18. 2. Doctrine of Universalism and Pluralism Contrary to the Bible Related to universalism is “pluralism.” all religions are equally valid and lead equally to God and salvation. The vast range of religious beliefs, are mere surface differences concealing a similar core of all religions. Pluralists point out that all faiths, at the core, teach the same thing; hence, they are all valid paths to God.

19. 2. Doctrine of Universalism and Pluralism Contrary to the Bible “Enter the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13, 14 NKJV).

20. Must the Whole World Hear? 3. Global Evangelism Mark 16:15, 16 NKJV “ ‘Go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.’ ”

21. 3. Global Evangelism Sinners in Need of Grace God loves all people, but all people are sinners in need of grace, and this grace has been revealed in Jesus. He has called His church to spread the good news of this grace to the world. “The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world.” —The Acts of the Apostles 9.

22. 3. Global Evangelism The Mission Call Mission successes have been obscured by the human shortcomings of the missionaries themselves and their overall mission enterprise. Human shortcomings: (1) Poor planning for outreach, inadequate understanding of the task.

23. The Mission Call Human Shortcomings (2) Narrow focus on mission only as education, health care, disaster relief, or development, which overshadow preaching the gospel. (3) Underfunding and understaffing by the sending organizations. (4) Missionaries unsuited to the task. (5) Nations that forbid the preaching of the gospel.

24. Must the Whole World Hear? Final Words The Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, began to proclaim the “mighty works of God” to visitors from a list of nations, geographic regions, and ethnic groups (Acts 2:5–11). From its first day of life, the Christian church has been aware of the worldwide extent of its mission. How much more so should we today?