Participants:
Series Code: IIWSS
Program Code: IIWSS023041S
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00:00 (uplifting theme music)
00:13 (music ends) 00:16 >>Welcome to "Sabbath School," 00:17 brought to you by It Is Written. 00:19 We're delighted that you could join us again this week 00:21 as we take a look at lesson number two. 00:24 We are looking at "God's Mission to Us - Part 2" 00:26 or, as you might call it, the mission of God. 00:29 We are on a 13-week journey now 00:32 taking a look at God's mission and my mission. 00:35 Let's begin this week with prayer. 00:37 Father, we wanna thank You again for being with us 00:39 this week as we continue to look at the importance 00:43 of us understanding our mission 00:45 as it relates to Your mission. 00:47 And we ask that You'll bless us in this, 00:49 and thank You, in Jesus' name, amen. 00:52 Well, we're delighted again this week 00:54 to have with us Kleber Gonçalves. He is the director 00:57 of the Center for Secular and Post-Christian Mission. 00:59 Kleber, welcome back. 01:00 >>Thank you. >>So this week, 01:02 we're looking kind of at part 2 of last week, 01:05 and this week is essentially the mission of God. 01:09 Help us to understand this a little bit better. We looked, 01:12 we got a start last week in looking at God's character 01:16 and so forth, and this week we're kind of, 01:18 we're looking at things slightly differently. 01:21 We're looking at it from a little different perspective 01:23 but continuing to emphasize and dwell a little bit deeper, 01:27 drill a little bit deeper into this. 01:31 When we look at God, we've got the Father; we have the Son; 01:34 we have the Holy Spirit. 01:35 They're all involved, as it were, in saving souls. 01:38 What about this should motivate us 01:41 when it comes to us desiring to reach out to others? 01:45 When we get an idea of who God is and what He is, how He is, 01:50 why He is, why should that give us encouragement? 01:53 >>Hmm. Actually, it's important for us to never forget, 01:56 Eric, that mission, it starts in Him. 02:00 You see, it's this triune approach, the triune God, 02:03 the trinity approach to mission. 02:06 The Father send the Son; the Son send the Holy Spirit; 02:10 now the Holy Spirit send us, the church, 02:12 those who accept His mission in our own lives 02:15 to share with others. 02:18 I would say that this connecting point 02:20 with what we have shared on week one 02:24 is that since this mission belongs to Him, 02:28 it's God's mission. 02:30 It will not fail. It will not fail. 02:33 You see, we have nothing to fear, as I have mentioned. 02:36 Right now we just need to understand how can we be used 02:39 as channels, as agents of mission in that process. 02:44 So understand that mission is centered in God Himself. 02:48 It give us the motivation and even the inspiration for us 02:52 to find ways to really fulfill what He wants 02:55 because that's His desire, to share His love, 02:58 to share His purposes that He has shared with me, with you, 03:02 with those around us. 03:03 So I would say that that understanding should give us 03:07 the motivation to move forward in that direction. 03:09 >>So He is by nature a missional God. 03:12 It's in the way He's built, composed, 03:15 He just, He is missional, 03:18 and He calls us to take part in that mission work. 03:23 In fact, the great commission is about making disciples. 03:28 If we are to go and make disciples, what does that mean? 03:31 What's involved in that? 03:34 Jesus didn't just say, "Go and make church members." 03:38 There's a difference between being a member of the church 03:41 and being a disciple. 03:43 And in many people's minds, there's... (sighs) 03:48 not everybody sees the importance of being a disciple 03:52 on a personal level. >>Mm. 03:54 >>What's the difference between being a church member 03:57 and a disciple, and should there be a difference 04:00 between being a church member and a disciple? 04:02 Help us to understand this. 04:03 >>Well, that's an excellent question. 04:06 Actually, when you talk about discipleship, disciple-making, 04:12 everything starts with us, with me, with you. 04:16 Because in order to fulfill the great commission 04:19 which is centered in that command, make disciples, 04:22 imperative force of the great commission 04:25 is exactly on that action, making disciples, 04:28 how we need to go, we need to baptize, we need to teach. 04:31 But that's the purpose: to make disciples. 04:33 But, Eric, we cannot make a disciple if we are not one. 04:39 It starts with you; it starts with me. 04:42 It starts with a journey that we have to have with Him 04:46 in our relationship with God. 04:48 Then we can understand His love, His purposes, His mission. 04:51 Then we need to share with others. 04:54 Making disciples, it is the central point 04:57 of who we should be as a Christian. 05:02 Actually, discipleship is not basically centered 05:05 in what you know, what we can learn, 05:08 what we can hear or listen from other people. 05:11 No, no, no, it's something--who am I? Who are you? 05:17 It's who we are in our lives. 05:20 So then we understand that we can take, as Paul says 05:23 in Ephesians 5, 05:24 making the most of every single opportunity 05:29 to live Christianity, to live Adventism in our own life, 05:34 is to share with others in every single opportunity 05:36 who we are, making disciples, 05:39 helping others also to follow on that path. 05:43 >>So being a disciple is more an identity. 05:47 It's someone that we are, something that we are, 05:51 not something that we know. 05:54 So there's--nobody needs to be-- 05:56 and I'm trying to be careful how I say this-- 05:58 nobody has to be qualified to be a disciple. 06:02 You don't have to have some sort of letters after your name 06:06 to be a disciple or a prefix before your name 06:09 or hold a position in order to be a disciple. 06:14 If you are a Christian, if you are a believer in Christ, 06:18 you're called to also be a disciple. 06:22 How important is that in understanding? 06:26 If we are indeed to share the message with the world, 06:29 which He's called us to do, 06:30 which we know is going to happen, 06:32 how important is that understanding of who I am 06:37 as a Christian being a disciple? 06:39 How important is that to grasp? 06:40 >>The moment we accept Christ in our own lives, 06:43 we start this journey of--actually, 06:45 even before, the Spirit was already working with us-- 06:48 but we have this privilege 06:50 of becoming a disciple of Christ. You see? 06:55 But we don't need to go through theological training; 06:58 you see, you don't need to go through a seminary to be a-- 07:01 no, no, no, actually simply use the gifts 07:05 that the Lord has given us in every area 07:09 in which we can really use our passions, who we are 07:13 to share God's love with other people. 07:16 So discipleship is this awareness 07:18 that no matter who you are, you see, 07:20 you have to be and to go through that transformation 07:23 but in such a way that the Lord will use you 07:26 in the circumstances of your own life. 07:29 So we cannot make this distinction. 07:31 Every single person who comes to be part of this body 07:35 in which Christ is the head, has the privilege, you see, 07:39 and to really share and to really live that experience 07:45 with God, with other people. 07:47 >>So everybody gets the opportunity, 07:49 the privilege of being a part of that mission strategy 07:53 that God has had since the beginning. 07:55 You know, since the very beginning, God has had this desire 07:58 for His people to share His message with others. 08:01 And we look at the Old Testament and the New Testament, 08:04 and some people have this idea that the Old Testament 08:08 is so very, very different from the New Testament, 08:10 and others, not so different. 08:12 But there is a subtle change, if you will, 08:15 in the mission strategy there. 08:17 Help us understand this Old Testament-New Testament dynamic 08:22 of the mission strategy and what happened there. 08:25 >>Actually, Eric, when we see, for instance, Abraham's call, 08:29 you see, the Lord comes to him and says, 08:31 "You will be a blessing. I'll be with you." 08:34 So in God's plan in the Old Testament, 08:36 you see the nation of Israel in such a way 08:40 that they would attract 08:44 through the blessings that the Lord will put on them. 08:46 You see, we call this centripetal way of doing mission, 08:50 which the nations would see the blessings. 08:52 They would come, and they would ask, 08:55 "Why are you blessed that way?" 08:58 So that would be an opportunity for them to witness 09:02 and to proclaim and to show to every single nation 09:05 who God was. 09:07 In the New Testament, we see a subtle change, 09:10 as you have mentioned, 09:11 in which now we need to not simply attract people to us, 09:15 but we need to go to people. So that's the main difference, 09:18 is this centrifugal way of doing mission. 09:21 You see, following the great commission, 09:23 we each, we need to go, we need to baptize, to teach people 09:28 in a way in which we are making disciples. 09:31 So that's basically, instead of just being there 09:33 and waiting for the others, 09:35 we have the opportunity to share through our lives, 09:37 going everywhere, 09:39 going to every single corner of this planet, 09:42 showing God's love and His mercy 09:46 and His wonderful blessings 09:49 in our own lives so people can see. 09:53 The best way to really demonstrate 09:55 and to show Christ is through our experience with Him. 09:58 So that's the privilege that we have, 10:00 especially in this subtle change 10:01 from the Old to the New Testament. 10:03 >>So in Old Testament was largely just drawing people 10:06 to see what, so that they could see 10:08 or because they would see what God was doing. 10:12 Now, God's still working within the body, as it were, 10:15 but we have this very clear commission to go also. 10:21 I think maybe some people today believe they're, 10:23 at least missionally, 10:25 believe they're still living in Old Testament times 10:28 and just hoping that people will come to them and say, 10:32 "Well, maybe if people just see the good life I'm living 10:35 or whatever, that they'll come and ask me." 10:38 And there's nothing wrong with living a good life 10:40 and hoping that people will ask, 10:42 but there's also that very explicit command to go as well. 10:46 Do you think 10:48 that if we live Old Testament-ly-- 10:52 I don't know that that's a word, 10:53 but I'm gonna coin a new word today. (Kleber chuckles) 10:55 If we live with an Old Testament mindset, 10:58 are we missing any opportunities 11:00 that may be out there that God is giving 11:02 if we don't actively look at outreach? 11:06 >>Actually, we need to see the Bible as a whole. 11:09 God's purpose was to show His character, His love. 11:13 You see, in the Old Testament, we see this attractional mode 11:16 in which people would come and see the blessings, 11:18 and it was the opportunity for them to witness, 11:21 and that's the point. I think that today, Eric, 11:25 we need to really use every single opportunity, 11:30 every single new technology, every single circumstance 11:35 in our lives to really make 11:39 the most important decision, 11:40 which is to make us available to God so He can use us. 11:44 So this surrender, it's what we need. 11:47 It's this understanding--"Lord, as I have mentioned to You, 11:51 use me in the minor things in life." 11:55 See, many times in the routine of our lives, 11:57 it's an opportunity for us to share. 11:59 So we need to be more intentional; 12:01 that's the words that I would like to express: 12:03 intentionality in mission. 12:07 If it is important to Him, should be important to us, 12:11 living our lives in such a way that He can use us 12:14 to connect with those who are around us. 12:18 >>And He is an intentionally missional God 12:22 in the way that He is reaching out to humanity, 12:24 in the way He's really reaching out to the universe. 12:28 He is a giving God, and we have that opportunity 12:31 to respond to that in kind and be giving individuals 12:35 of His love as well. 12:37 And again, I wanna remind you, 12:38 if you didn't happen to pick it up last week, 12:40 you have another opportunity this week. 12:42 If you're enjoying this and want to learn more 12:44 about how you can be involved in God's mission, 12:47 to be a part of His desire to share His love 12:51 with the rest of the world, 12:52 make sure that you don't miss the opportunity to pick up 12:56 the companion book to this quarter's Sabbath school lesson. 13:00 And of course, you can pick it up at itiswritten.shop. 13:03 Again, itiswritten.shop, 13:06 and you'll find the companion book 13:07 to this quarter's Sabbath school lesson 13:10 that will give you deeper insights, additional research, 13:13 more value from these lessons, 13:17 something that you do not want to miss. 13:20 We're going to come back in just a moment, 13:21 and we're going to continue looking at the mission of God 13:26 as we continue our time here with Kleber Gonçalves. 13:29 We'll be back in just a moment. 13:30 (uplifting theme music swells and ends) 13:35 >>[John Bradshaw] The Bible is filled with stories 13:37 of flawed human beings 13:39 God called to serve Him in incredible ways. 13:43 He took a violent, impulsive, racist fishermen 13:46 and transformed him into one of Jesus' closest disciples 13:50 and one of the most influential leaders of the early church. 13:53 Join me for another episode of our series 13:56 "Great Characters of the Bible" 13:58 as we look at the life of Peter. 14:01 Peter was far from perfect. 14:02 He was overly confident. 14:04 He made promises he didn't keep, 14:06 but his experience is an encouragement to anyone 14:09 who knows the feeling of messing up as a follower of Jesus, 14:13 of falling short and wondering if you'll ever get it right. 14:17 God stuck with Peter and helped him grow. 14:20 And if you'll let Him, He'll do the same for you. 14:24 "Great Characters of the Bible: Peter," 14:28 brought to you by It Is Written TV. 14:34 Thank you for remembering that It Is Written exists 14:37 because of the kindness of people just like you. 14:39 To support this international life-changing ministry, 14:43 please call us now at 800-253-3000. 14:47 You can send your tax-deductible gift 14:48 to the address on your screen, 14:50 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 14:54 Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support. 14:56 Our number again is 800-253-3000, 15:01 or you could visit us online at itiswritten.com. 15:05 (uplifting theme music) 15:09 >>[Eric] Welcome back to "Sabbath School," 15:10 brought to you by It Is Written. 15:12 We're continuing our study on week number two, 15:15 lesson number two, the mission of God. 15:19 Kleber, let's start by talking about this 15:21 or asking this question: What is the mission? 15:23 We're supposed to be involved in the mission. 15:25 We need to know what the mission is 15:27 because if you ask 100 different people, 15:29 you'll probably get 100 different answers of what it is, 15:31 why are we here, what is our mission. Let's make it simple. 15:35 What is the mission that God has given us 15:40 that we desire, by His grace and strength, to complete? 15:43 What's this mission? 15:44 >>My answer is a question to you: What was Christ's mission? 15:48 >>Mm. >>He said clearly 15:50 He "came to seek and...save the lost." 15:53 So that's what we have to do. How? 15:55 Through the process of making disciples, sharing God's love. 15:59 So we need to understand that we are not simply creating 16:02 a new thing; you're just following the steps of our Master. 16:06 So in order to really seek, to look for ways 16:10 to make that bridge with those who don't know anything 16:14 about God's love, those who are subjects of His love. 16:18 And also we need intentionality in mission 16:23 and to understand that what He wants through us. 16:27 So it's to find ways to look for those who simply 16:31 don't have, not simply the knowledge, the information, 16:35 but who can really understand 16:37 and live that experience with God. 16:40 >>So He's calling us to seek and to save the lost. 16:43 And He wants us to be His witnesses in the world. 16:48 What does that look like 16:49 if we're supposed to take the gospel to all the world? 16:52 He's says seek and save the lost in all the world. 16:55 I live near Chattanooga, Tennessee. 16:59 I've got a little area here that I can reach. 17:01 I do a little bit of traveling, 17:03 and I can reach an area here and here. 17:05 How are we supposed to reach the entire world 17:08 to seek and save the lost from one corner of the world 17:12 to the other? What does that look like for-- 17:16 we'll call him an average person, an average person-- 17:19 what is God calling them to do? 17:21 And what might God be calling them to do 17:23 if they were to reach out a little bit further, 17:27 expand their horizons? 17:29 Maybe God has a mission field that's here; 17:32 maybe He has a mission field somewhere else. 17:34 What does it mean, "to be my witness"? 17:38 >>Actually, if you'll allow me, 17:39 let's divide this in two parts. 17:42 First of all, let's focus on the word "witness." 17:45 When Christ was going back home, 17:48 you see, He told His first disciples, and to all of us, 17:51 "You'll be my witness." 17:53 And this is something that we need to understand. 17:55 You see, what is a witness? 17:58 So when you participate in this process of a trial, you see, 18:02 and say you have to call the witness, the person, 18:06 and if you are in front of a judge and the judge ask, 18:11 "Tell me, what do you have?" 18:13 You cannot say, "You know what, my neighbor told me. 18:16 Or that person, a friend of mine told me what"-- 18:19 no, no, no, to be a witness, 18:22 those prerequisites is to see and to hear. 18:27 Basically is you have to be part of the experience. 18:29 You have to be involved somehow in what has happened. 18:33 So basically we need to understand this, 18:35 to be a witness is to share our own story. 18:39 It is what we have experienced with God. 18:43 So that's a fundamental aspect of this witnessing thing. 18:46 So that's why it's so important, this relationship with Him, 18:49 so we can really share in a appropriate way 18:53 with those around us. 18:55 The second part is this expansion, as you have said. 18:57 You see, it's interesting that Jesus says, 18:59 He told His disciples, "You start in Jerusalem, 19:02 "and then you go to Judea, and then you go to Samaria, 19:04 and to the ends of the world, the earth." 19:08 Where should we start? 19:10 Jerusalem, that's where they were. 19:13 We need to start with those around us, 19:15 those who are closest to us. 19:17 See, we need to start with our family members, 19:20 with our neighbors, with our loved ones, 19:24 those who are really near. 19:26 Start with those we have daily connections. 19:30 That's why we should start mission. 19:32 Many times we have this concern, 19:33 "I need to share; I need to give Bible"-- 19:35 and we forget those who are so close to us, 19:38 family members, extended family; 19:40 we need to make sure we are intentional about this. 19:43 Then Christ mentioned Judea; you see, they were talking, 19:46 I mean, using the same language but not so close. 19:50 You see, there was a kind of a difference, 19:52 you see, geographical difference, the same area, 19:54 same thing with us. 19:56 We can take advantage of the opportunities we have 19:59 with people who, they talk the same language, 20:02 they have the same culture, 20:05 so we have easier ways to connect. 20:08 Then He mentioned Samaria; they were a little further away. 20:12 You see, probably same language 20:14 but a kind of different culture. 20:17 So we need to understand those differences 20:20 until the end of the world. 20:22 Those who don't speak the same language, 20:25 those who don't have the same culture, 20:27 the thing is intentionality. 20:29 In other words, we need to reach every single one. 20:32 The question is, where should I start? 20:34 And of course, some of us, we have the privilege 20:37 of the opportunity to serve far away, 20:41 overseas. Take it, but to be a missionary, 20:46 it does not mean that you have to cross a ocean. 20:49 To be a missionary, 20:51 especially in this urban world that we live today, 20:52 it's just across the streets of your city. 20:55 You will find people who don't know God's love, 20:59 and you have the opportunity to share and to be the witness, 21:02 to tell them your story with Him. 21:04 >>You know, I think 21:06 you touch on something very important there. 21:08 Sometimes if we go on a mission trip, 21:11 it's almost as if in our minds a switch is flipped, 21:15 that now I'm going to share my faith 21:17 because I'm going on a mission trip. 21:20 But we may not realize that when we're at home, 21:23 we're on a mission trip. 21:25 When we're at work, we're on a mission trip. 21:26 When we're at class, we're on a mission trip. 21:28 Everywhere we go, we're on a mission trip. 21:32 We just may not have to travel as far as we would have to 21:35 to go to the other side of the world. 21:37 And maybe if we had that switch flipped 21:40 in our day-to-day life, we might even be more effective 21:44 as a missionary than if we went on a mission trip 21:47 to the other side of the globe. 21:49 So as you mentioned, it's about intentionality 21:52 and being intentional where I am in Jerusalem, 21:57 as opposed to only being intentional-- 21:59 or being more intentional, maybe I'll put it that way-- 22:02 when I intentionally go someplace else. 22:06 Interesting. 22:07 >>Think with me when you say, "I will be on a mission trip," 22:11 so when you're not there, what are you doing? 22:14 A real Christian, 22:16 a real Seventh-day Adventist always on a mission trip, 22:21 on a mission journey. 22:24 It's using every single moment of my life 22:27 to share God's love with those around me. 22:29 So that change in our lives, it has to happen. 22:33 And it starts with that understanding of God's mission 22:36 and how it can really motivate us to move forward 22:39 in that direction. 22:40 >>And if the gospel's going to go to all the world, 22:41 it's gonna start right where I am, 22:44 right with the people that I'm interacting with. 22:47 We talk about sharing the gospel, and it's important; 22:51 it's what we're called to do, to seek and to save the lost. 22:54 We're called to take the gospel to them but not any gospel. 22:58 It's an eternal gospel. What is this eternal gospel, 23:02 and why is it important for us to understand 23:04 the significance of the eternal gospel, 23:06 as opposed to just a gospel 23:09 that may be flitting around out there? 23:11 >>That's a very important aspect. Actually, in God's Word 23:14 we find everything we need to understand mission 23:18 and to live mission according to His dreams and purposes 23:21 to our lives. We know what to do, 23:24 which is simply doing what Christ has done when He came. 23:28 But what should we share? 23:31 The totality of God's teachings to us. 23:35 And we have been blessed by this understanding, 23:40 knowledge of the eternal gospel. 23:43 And we see this so clear in Revelation 14. 23:46 And those two words--"eternal," it means it does not change. 23:51 It has not changed. It will not change in the future, 23:55 so it's the totality. 23:57 You see how important it is for us to live 23:59 according to His purposes, 24:01 to live in obedience to His teachings? 24:04 So we need to make sure 24:05 that everything that He has showed us, 24:07 it's involved in this sharing of the good news, 24:12 something that really brings hope. 24:15 It's good, it's news, so it brings happiness to our lives 24:20 so people can really see in us the eternal gospel 24:24 in a practical way. 24:26 >>So we want people to see the eternal gospel in us. 24:29 The gospel hasn't changed. 24:32 People really haven't changed much, either, 24:34 if you stop and think about it, as Christians. 24:38 A lot of people for a lot of years 24:40 have been kind of hesitant. 24:42 Maybe there's a fear of one kind or another: 24:44 What if I say something wrong? 24:46 What if I do something wrong? 24:47 But how could all of us be more fully engaged 24:52 in God's mission to accomplish what He's called us to do 24:57 and overcome some of the 24:59 maybe we feel inadequate to share? 25:02 What are some ways that we can all be fully engaged in this, 25:06 maybe a mindset shift 25:08 or a heart change or shift? 25:12 What could we do to be more involved 25:15 so that we can experience the blessing 25:17 that comes from being a part of this sharing 25:22 of the everlasting gospel? 25:23 >>Eric, we live today in different times. 25:27 You see, we don't live in the '70s anymore. 25:31 The '80s, 2000 is gone. 25:34 We live in a different circumstance. 25:37 I think many times we are so anxious to share information 25:40 with people that we feel we, I don't know everything. 25:45 What about if the person asks something 25:46 that I don't know how to answer? 25:48 So we get kind of scared, and then we kind of put aside 25:50 the privilege of doing mission. 25:53 Information is important, I would say. 25:55 We need to know, we need to do our very best 25:57 to share information, but we need to share something else. 26:00 It's the sharing of ourselves; 26:03 it's to make sure that people can see in us our story, 26:07 our relationship with Christ. 26:10 Today that's one of the most powerful tools we can use. 26:14 It's when people can see, 26:16 they can sense that God is priority in our lives, 26:21 in our dealings on an everyday basis, 26:25 see? In the business we do, in the way we treat people, 26:28 in the way we treat our family, people are always looking. 26:31 I would say it's one of the most important opportunities 26:34 we have to share Bible knowledge through our lives. 26:38 So that's a way in which all of us can be involved. 26:41 It's simply making sure that's, what I live with Him, 26:45 I can share with others on a daily basis. 26:47 >>So letting God shine through us, 26:51 letting our lives be a powerful positive witness for others, 26:56 don't have to know the answer to everything. 26:58 Doesn't hurt to know the answer to one or two things, 27:01 praise the Lord for that, 27:02 but if you can just let people see Jesus in you 27:04 and Him living through you, that's powerful. 27:07 In just the few moments we have left, 27:09 if somebody was saying, "I wanna do that; 27:13 "I'm a little scared 27:14 'cause I don't know what I'm gonna face," 27:17 what words of encouragement would you give them? 27:19 >>I will tell you that just make sure that 27:23 you understand His love to you, that He wants to use you; 27:28 it's a matter of surrender. 27:29 Put yourself in His hands, and as I have mentioned 27:32 last time we were together, just pray, 27:34 in sincerity in your heart: "Lord, use me." And He will. 27:37 He'll use you everywhere you are 27:41 unto fulfillment of His mission. 27:43 >>Fantastic. Kleber, thank you so much for joining us. 27:45 We appreciate how you've launched us 27:48 into this quarter's lesson, and we have yet a ways to go. 27:52 And we're excited about having you join us 27:54 as we continue looking at God's mission and my mission. 27:58 We'll be back again next week as we continue this journey. 28:01 Until then, God bless you, and we'll see you next time 28:03 on "Sabbath School," brought to you by It Is Written. 28:06 (uplifting theme music) 28:26 (music ends) |
Revised 2023-10-05