The Gospel to Share. Scriptural Foundations for Mission Work. An!Adult!Bible!Study! Sample. by! Robert!J.!Koester! Leader s!guide!

Transcription

1 Leader sguide Page1 The Gospel to Share Scriptural Foundations for Mission Work AnAdultBibleStudy by RobertJ.Koester Leader sguide Lesson1 TheGoodNewsWeHavetoShare:Heaven Lesson2 TheGoodNewsWeHavetoShare:Justification Lesson3 TheGoodNewsWeHavetoShare:Reconciliation Lesson4 MissionWorkandtheTeachingofPredestination Lesson5 GodPreparedHisOldTestamentPeopleforMissionWork Lesson6 GodPreparesHisDisciplesandUsforMissionWork Lesson7 LearnFromtheApostles ApproachtoMissionWork Lesson8 TheNumericalResultsofPaul smissionwork Lesson9 ChristiansAreGiftedtoSpreadtheGospel

2 Leader sguide Page2 Thematerialonthisdiskmaybeadapted,printed,andcopiedbythepurchaserofthis kit.however,thefollowingnoticemustappearatthebottomofthefirstpageofeach studentlesson: 2015NorthwesternPublishingHouse.Allrightsreserved.Reprintedbypermission. Ownershipofthismaterialbelongstoeitheracongregationoranindividual,butnot both. Purchasebyacongregation:PurchaseofthismaterialbyacongregationgivesBible studyleadersofthatcongregationpermissiontoadaptandcopythismaterialforusein oneormoregroupswithinthatcongregation.dualparishesmaypurchaseonecopyfor useinbothcongregations.) PurchasebyapastororotherBiblestudyleader:Purchaseofthismaterialbyan individualgivesthebuyerpermissiontoadaptandcopythismaterialforbibleclasseshe orsheteachesorsupervises.buyerhaspermissiontousethismaterialonlyinthe congregationheorsheiscurrentlyservingorattending. AllScripturequotations,unlessotherwiseindicated,aretakenfromtheHolyBible,New InternationalVersion,NIV.Copyright 1973,1978,1984byBiblica,Inc. Usedby permissionofzondervan.allrightsreservedworldwide. The NIV and NewInternationalVersion aretrademarksregisteredintheunited StatesPatentandTrademarkOfficebyBiblica,Inc. ScripturequotationsmarkedESV)arefromESV %Bible%The%Holy%Bible,%English%Standard% Version ).Copyright 2001byCrossway,apublishingministryofGoodNews Publishers.Usedbypermission.Allrightsreserved. NorthwesternPublishingHouse 1250N.113thSt.,Milwaukee,WI53226f NorthwesternPublishingHouse Published2015 ISBN978f0f8100f2695f7

3 Leader sguide Page3 The Gospel to Share Lesson1 TheGoodNewsWeHavetoShare:Heaven Worship ReadresponsivelyIsaiah65:17L19,23L25ESV). Leader: Forbehold,Icreatenewheavensandanewearth, Group: andtheformerthingsshallnotberememberedorcomeintomind. L: ButbegladandrejoiceforeverinthatwhichIcreate; G: forbehold,icreatejerusalemtobeajoy,andherpeopletobeagladness. L: IwillrejoiceinJerusalemandbegladinmypeople; G: nomoreshallbeheardinitthesoundofweepingandthecryofdistress. L: Theyshallnotlaborinvainorbearchildrenforcalamity, G: fortheyshallbetheoffspringoftheblessedofthelord,andtheirdescendants withthem. L: BeforetheycallIwillanswer; G: whiletheyareyetspeakingiwillhear. L: Thewolfandthelambshallgrazetogether;thelionshalleatstrawliketheox, G: anddustshallbetheserpent sfood. All:Theyshallnothurtordestroyinallmyholymountain, saysthelord. Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the hope you have given us in Christ. Every day, help us grow in our knowledge of the height and breadth and depth of your love for us in Christ. Because of him, you are with us now. Because of him, we will be with you in eternity. Amen. Introduction WepraythatthisBiblestudywillencourageyoutothinkofwaysyoucanspreadthe gospel.butitisnotprimarilyaboutmethodstospreadthegospel.rather,itisabout thehopewehavetoshare,theresourcesgodgivesustoshareourhope,andthe

4 Leader sguide Page4 teachingsofscripturethatencourageustogiveothersthegreatthingsgodhas giventous. ThereisnobetterplacetostartaBiblestudyonmissionworkthanwiththehopewe havetosharewithothers.ourhope ourconfidence liesinthis:somedaywewill bewithourlordinheaven. MissionworkisspreadingthewordaboutheavenandabouthowGodhasopened thedoortoheaventoallpeople.inthefirstpartofthisstudy,wewillsimplythink abouttheplacegodwantsalltoenjoy. Bible Study The%hope%of%the%people%in%the%Old%Testament% 1. PeopleintheOldTestamenthadthesamehopewehave.ReadHebrews11:8f16. WhatwasAbraham shope? Although he lived in tents in the land of Canaan, he knew there was a permanent city awaiting him. 2. ReadJob19:25f27.WhatdidJoblookforwardto? Job looked forward to seeing his Redeemer with his own eyes. He knew he would someday be in heaven, living there with the same body he had while he was on earth. 3. ReviewthewordsofIsaiahthatweopenedwith.Ifyouwish,readtheverseswe didn tread20f22).makealistofwhatwasincludedinthehopeisaiahsaw. Whichisyourfavoriteonthatlist? He saw a place of pure joy. The difficulties of this life would never come to mind again. There would never again be a child who dies in infancy. God would answer the prayers of those who lived with him. The peace of the original creation and the Garden of Eden would be restored. Satan would have no power there. 4. InthenewheavenandnewearththatIsaiahsaw,Satanwouldbecompletely shutoutfromheaven sjoy.he,hisfellowevilangels,andthosewhogive themselvesovertosatan slieswouldnotenjoythoseblessingsofthenew heavenandnewearth.whyisthatimportanttokeepinmindwhenitcomesto carryingoutmissionwork?

5 Leader sguide Page5 This is a very important aspect of mission work because we want others not only to enjoy heaven with us someday but also to escape the curse that will come on Satan. Jesus %expressions%about%the%hope%of%eternal%life% 5. ReadJohn14:1f3.PickoutallthewordsorphrasesinwhichJesuspromisesthe hopeofeternallifeforallbelievers. He would prepare a place for them, come back, take them to be with him eternally. 6. ReadMatthew8:9f12.Thecenturion aromanandagentile believedinchrist ashissaviorandwouldspendeternityinheaven.whatisparticularlystriking aboutthedescriptionjesususesofheaveninthisincident? This gentile centurion would someday sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob patriarchs of the Jewish faith) at the eternal feast in heaven. 7. ThethiefonthecrosscametobelievethatJesus,whowashangingnexttohim onacross,wasakingandwouldsoonreceivehiskingdom.hewantedjesusto givehimaplaceinthatkingdom.eventhoughhelivedwiththehopeofeternal lifeforonlyashorttime,whatdifferencedoyouthinkjesus wordstohimmust havemadeinthelastfewhoursofhislife?luke23:40f43) Jesus gave him more than he expected. Jesus said that that very day the thief would be with him in paradise. The thief or rather, former thief) would be living in a place as wonderful as the Garden of Eden before the fall into sin. Let the class express how they think he must have felt. 8. InlightofthehopehesharedinChrist,St.Paulconcludedthat itwouldbemuchbettertobeinheaventhantolivelifeinthisworld Philippians1:21f23).Namefivethingsthatyouthinkmakeheaven betterby far thanthisworld. There will be no sorrow, no sickness, no death, no mourning, no separation, no Satan, and no temptation. There will be holiness, unity, a celebration/feast, and being in God s presence. sufferingsbelieversendurenowcanbeaddressed.howwouldyouusethe wordsofromans8:16f18withafellowchristianwhoissuffering? If we share in Christ s sufferings, we will also share in his glory. No matter how much persecution Christians must go through, it is more than worth it in view of heaven.

6 Leader sguide Page6 wehaveaspecialconnectiontojesusduringourdaysonearthcolossians 3:1f4;Philippians3:20,21).Fromthesepassages,demonstratewhatisspecial aboutthatconnection. We died with Christ and rose with him. Our life is hidden in Christ, with God. When Christ comes again, from the standpoint of our life on earth, we will see him coming, but from the standpoint of our being citizens of heaven even now, we will appear with him in glory. Keep this in mind. When you read Revelation chapter 21, ask yourself: What exactly is the new Jerusalem John sees coming down out of heaven?) 9. Read1Corinthians15:51f54.Whataresomeofthechangesthatwilltakeplacein usbeforewespendeternityinheaven?whyaretheseimportantchangesforus? We will be made imperishable and immortal. Death will be gone. My sinful body dead and decaying if I have died) will be raised and changed to never experience sin s effects or death. Death, which would consume our bodies, is swallowed up by Jesus Easter victory. John s%vision%of%heaven% 10. ReadRevelation21:1f7and22:3f5.Theseversestelluswhatheavenwillbelike. Makealistofthosecharacteristics.Oftheonesyoulist,whichoneisyour favorite?sharewhyitis. Make a list along with the class. The verses noted above will contain many of the characteristics of heaven. If there is time, read all of Revelation chapters 21 and 22 to get the full picture. For Further Thought 11. ReadRevelation22:14,15.ApersonvisitsyourchurchonSunday.Knowingthat eachpersongoestooneoftwoplacesthroughthegatesofheavenoroutside heavenforever),howwillthisaffectyourmissionworkwiththatperson? Christians have the opportunity to be a part of God s work bringing more people into heaven. This is the heart of mission work. When I see what people without Jesus will miss out on and where they will spend eternity, I want to do everything I can to help those people in their relationship with their Savior. I want them to be in heaven with me.

7 Leader sguide Page7 Summary Weliveinaworldfilledwithsinandsuffering,guiltanddeath.ButGodhasprepared aplaceforusinwhichwecanliveforeverwithhiminpurejoy.wantingotherpeople tospendtheireternityinthisplacewithusisthechiefreasonfordoingmissionwork. %