Shhh. Close the door behid you. Welcome to Secret Church. There are two reasos we are here this eveig. Oe is to kow God s Word more itimately. Most of our time together is goig to be spet divig ito Scripture to ucover some of the timeless truths cotaied i this icredible livig Book. You ll eed a Bible, this study guide ad a pe this eveig. If you did t brig a Bible, you ll fid free copies available to you i the lobby. Dr. Platt will be teachig from the New Iteratioal Versio (NIV), but you ll be able to easily follow alog with ay moder traslatio. There s a secod, ad ultimately far more importat, reaso that we are here toight. We wat to idetify with our brothers ad sisters i Christ who are persecuted aroud the world. Right ow, i 2007, there are early 200 millio Christ-followers worldwide who do ot have basic huma rights. That meas they caot have a gatherig like this i public to study God s Word. I almost all cases they would be harassed. I may cases they would be arrested. I some cases they would be imprisoed, tortured or killed. Today it s estimated there are 70 millio Christ-followers i priso worldwide. They take their faith ad their God very seriously. They are willig to sacrifice work, family, comfort, reputatio, eve their lives if ecessary. Ad they are members of the same Church that we are. They are ot askig for our pity. I fact, persecutio has built their faith i ways we ca hardly imagie. If aythig, let us be ispired by them to kow God more fully ad His Word more deeply tha ever before. May aroud the world gather for worship as we do toight uder cover of darkess, quietly, i secret. They ofte meet for log periods of time because it s dagerous to be i a large group with other Christ-followers ad they wat to make the most of their time together. Imagie for a momet that what happes toight iside this room could threate your life or the lives of your family. But these Christ-followers do ot cower i fear. Istead they come together joyfully to praise God ad thak Him for His grace ad mercy. Let us live by their example as they follow Christ. Toight we will pray for the persecuted. Each Secret Church meetig focuses o a differet regio of the world where Christ-followers suffer because of their faith. I the back of this Study Guide you ll fid iformatio o oe particular cotiet that will guide your prayer time for our eighbors i these may atios. Keep this Study Guide as a remider ot oly to share what you are learig from God s Word, but to pray for people ad places where Secret Church is a reality. God, may we kow Your Word more fully. May Your watchcare be with our brothers ad sisters i Christ aroud the world who eve ow meet, pray, ad study i secret. Ame.
Program Notes Toight s Schedule 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Welcome, opeig, musical worship Special guest from Asia 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Teachig Sessio 1 7:30 to 7:45 p.m. Special guest from Asia 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. Teachig Sessio 2 8:45 to 9:00 p.m. Break (coffee, water ad sacks i the lobby) 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. The Persecuted Church b Special Guest from Asia b Prayer Time b Givig of Our Resources 9:30 to 10:40 p.m. Teachig Sessio 3 10:40 to 10:50 p.m. Prayer ad Commissioig of Asia Teams 10:50 p.m. to Midight Teachig Sessio 4 ad Closig Bottled water oly is allowed i the Worship Room. Please do ot brig food or other types of beverages ito the Worship Room. Complimetary beverages will be provided i the lobby for attedees durig the break time. Restrooms are located i the lobby ad at the rear of the Worship Room. So as ot to distract from the study, please tur all cell phoes ad pagers to the silet or off positio while i the Worship Room. We realize may parets eed to keep i touch with baby sitters, but if you must use your phoe durig the eveig, please go all the way out ito the lobby before callig. Bibles, pes ad ote paper are available free of charge i the lobby. If you do ot have your ow Bible, please keep the Bible you receive as our gift. Secret Church Resources are available for purchase i the lobby before ad after the sessios ad durig the break time. Follow this eveig s teachig, a four-cd audio set of the sessios will be available for purchase for $29. A two-dvd set of videos of the sessios will be available for $39 i the comig weeks. Olie resources, icludig free MP3 audio dowloads of the teachig sessios, Quicktime (MOV) videos of the teachig sessios, study ad prayer guides i Portable Documet Format (PDF) ad liks to persecuted church resources are available at the Secret Church website, www.secretchurch.org. - -
Beyod These Walls... We re glad you ve decided to atted toight s Secret Church meetig. But eve if obody showed up, it would still be worth the effort. Actually, this Bible study will likely beefit far more people outside this room tha those preset. Here s why You ll otice video cameras i the room toight that will be recordig the teachig sessios. I the comig days, these sessios will be re-recorded ad traslated ito may differet laguages, icludig Spaish, Chiese, Japaese, Russia ad Arabic. The foreig-laguage versios of Secret Church will be available olie as traslatios are completed. But that s just the begiig. Most Christ-followers aroud the world do t have access to semiaries or Bible colleges. I fact, most parts of the world have o formal Christia teachig at all. Dr. Platt will be leadig several more Secret Church studies, creatig 30 to 40 hours of Bible teachig o the Old ad New Testamets, Coveats, Disciple-Makig, Bible Study ad Teachig ad other topics i the comig years. These sessios together will comprise a semiary o a stick a mii-course i solid Bible kowledge accessible to ayoe. Durig the eveig we ll be takig a offerig. This offerig will go directly to believers i restricted areas aroud the world to purchase eeded resources ad help build up the church i these difficult regios. Portios of the proceeds will provide Secret Church Bible studies i multiple laguages o ipods, Memory Sticks, Flash Drives ad other small computer devices that are easily trasported to other coutries. We re excited about providig hours of Bible teachig, i people s ative laguages, to those who caot atted a course like this. Imagie a house-church leader i Asia or the Middle East, ow able to atted 40 hours of Bible teachig classes as he plugs i a video ipod with Secret Church teachig i his ow laguage. With your help, this will be a reality! - -
Survey of the New Testamet: Part 1 How Should We Study the New Testamet? Examiig Three Dimesios 4 The literary dimesio. 4 The historical dimesio. 4 The theological dimesio. What is the New Testamet? The New Testamet as Literature A collectio of 27 books Writte by oe divie author ad approximately ie huma authors I koie Greek, the commo laguage of the people Over a spa of less tha 100 years. Three key geres i New Testamet literature 4 Historical arrative. 4 Epistle. 4 Revelatio. Three key characteristics of New Testamet literature 4 Historical accuracy. 4 Textual autheticity. 4 Divie authority. Whe ad Where Did the Evets of the New Testamet Take Place? The New Testamet as History The Itertestametal Time Period 4 Persia Rule 4 Greek Rule 4 Maccabea Period: 166-63 B.C. 4 Roma Period: 63 B.C. New Testamet. The Timelie of the New Testamet 4 The life of Christ begis betwee 4-6 B.C. at the earliest. 4 The book of Revelatio is writte ear the close of the first cetury. The Timeliess of the New Testamet 4 The right time theologically. 4 The right time religiously. 4 The right time culturally. 4 The right time politically. - -
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A Overview of the Books of the New Testamet Three primary divisios: 4 The story of the New Testamet. About 60% of the New Testamet. First 5 books. Matthew Acts. 4 The letters of the New Testamet. Next 21 books. Romas Jude. 4 The coclusio of the New Testamet. Fial book. Revelatio. Methodology: 4 Overview each sectio. 4 Overview each book. Primary iformatio for starters Practical advice for study The story of the New Testamet The life ad miistry of Christ (Matthew - Joh). 4 Writte for the same primary purpose. 4 Writte from differet viewpoits. 4 Writte for differet audieces. The life ad miistry of the church (Acts). 4 Part Two of Luke s Gospel. Matthew Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte By Matthew, a Jewish tax collector. I the 70s-80s A.D., soo after the destructio of the temple. To Jewish Christias ad/or Jews cosiderig faith i Christ. 4 Primary theme: Jesus is the Kig of the Jews. 4 Key Verses: 1:20-23; 16:13-20; 28:18-20. Practical Advice for Study 4 Look for the focus o the Kigdom of God i the book s overall structure: 1 4:11 Itroductio of the Kig. 4:12-7:29 Proclamatio of the kigdom. 8:1-10:42 The power ad missio of the kigdom. 11:1-13:52 Questioig of the kigdom. 13:53 18:35 Oppositio to ad cofessio of the kigdom. 19:1-25:46 Receptio ad rejectio of the kigdom. - -
26 28 Victory of the Kig. Look up cross-refereces - there s 129 refereces of allusios to 25 of the 39 Old Testamet books! Whe readig about the teachigs of Jesus, remember to put yourself i the hearers shoes. Mark Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte By Joh Mark, who was close to Peter. Betwee 65-70 A.D. To Getile Christias i Rome who were sufferig persecutio. 4 Primary theme: Jesus is the Sufferig Servat of God. 4 Key Verses: 8:31-38; 10:43-45 Practical Advice for Study 4 Keep up! Mark shows Jesus costatly o the move. 41 times he says, Ad immediately 4 Notice that almost half of his Gospel is devoted to evets i the last week of Jesus life. 4 Overall structure: The Servat s Miistry i Galilee (1-9) The Servat s Jourey to Jerusalem (10) The Servat s Last Week of Miistry (11-15) The Servat s Victory (16) 4 NOTE: The Syoptic Gospels The certaity: Matthew, Mark, ad Luke see the life ad miistry of Christ i a very similar way. The cofusio: Is Mark the primary source for Matthew ad Luke? b 97% of Mark s words are i Matthew. b 88% of Mark s words are i Luke. Is there a ukow source that was a foudatio for these books? The coclusio: Matthew, Mark, ad Luke did ot write their Gospels i isolatio from oe aother. Luke Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte By Luke, a Getile physicia, historia, ad compaio of Paul. I the 70s or 80s A.D. To Theophilus, primarily for Getile Christias. 4 Primary theme: Jesus is the perfect So of Ma who brigs salvatio to both Jews ad Getiles. - -
4 Key verses: 1:1-4; 15; 19:10 (theme verse). Practical Advice for Study 4 See how the overall structure works leads geographically toward Jerusalem: Itroductio of the So of Ma (1-4:13) The So of Ma i Galilee (4:14-9:50) The So of Ma i Judea (9:51-13:21) The So of Ma i Perea (13:22-19:27) The So of Ma i Jerusalem (19:28-24:53) 4 Notice the emphasis o the Gospel as good ews for the poor ad the eed for followers of Christ to hoor Christ with their moey (3:10-14; 12:13-21; 16:1-13; 16:19-31; 19:1-10). 4 Make otes each time you see prayer ad/or the Holy Spirit metioed. Joh Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte By Joh, the disciple whom Jesus loved. Sometime betwee 70-90 A.D. To the world. 4 Primary theme: Jesus is the eteral So of God. 4 Key verses: 1:1-14; 3:16; 20:30-31 (theme verse). Practical Advice for Study 4 Circle/uderlie key words that summarize the message of the Gospel: Father (137), believe (98), world (78), sed (60), love (57), life, light ad darkess, truth, witess, glory, eteral. 4 Note the seve I AM statemets of Jesus. Bread of Life (6:35, 41, 48, 51). Light of the World (8:12; 9:5). Door of the Sheep (10:7, 9). Good Shepherd (10:11, 14). Resurrectio ad the Life (11:25). The Way, the Truth, ad the Life (14:6). The True Vie (15:1, 5). 4 Joh highlights the Icaratio, usig seve sigs to demostrate the deity of Christ. Chagig water to wie (2:1-11). Healig the oblema s so (4:46-54). Healig the paralytic (5:1-9). Feedig the 5000 (6:1-14). Calmig the storm (6:16-21). Healig the blid ma (9:1-7). Raisig of Lazarus (11:38-45). 4 Pay attetio also, though, to Joh s depictio of the humaity of Christ. - 10 -
Acts Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte by Luke as Part Two of His Gospel. Luke what Jesus bega to do Acts what Jesus cotiued to do 4 Primary theme: The Gospel spreads uiversally through the church i the power of the Holy Spirit. 4 Key verses: 1:8; 2:42-47. Practical Advice for Study 4 See how the overall structure leads geographically away from Jerusalem: The Witess of the Church i Jerusalem (1-7) The Witess of the Church i Judea ad Samaria (8-9) The Witess of the Church to the Eds of the Earth (10-28) 4 Agai, make otes every time you see prayer ad/or the Holy Spirit metioed. 4 Notice the repetitio of salvatio (2:21; 2:47; 4:12; 5:31; 13:23; 13:26, 47; 16:31; 28:28) ad the progress reports regardig the advacemet of the Gospel 6:7 The Gospel i Jerusalem. 9:31 The Gospel i Judea ad Samaria. 12:24 The Gospel i Syria. 16:5 The Gospel i Asia Mior. 19:29 The Gospel i Europe. 28:31 The Gospel i Rome. 4 See i the differet speeches of Acts how the Gospel is cotextualized i differet settigs to reach differet people. The letters of the New Testamet 4 22 of the 27 books i the New Testamet are letters over 35% of the New Testamet! 4 Why letters? The church is reproducig. The church is relatioal. 4 Two groups Paulie epistles (Romas Philemo). Geeral epistles (Hebrews Jude). The life ad writigs of Paul 4 Paul wrote 13 New Testamet letters. Ordered from logest to shortest. Nie writte to churches; four writte to idividuals. 4 Paul the perso Bor Saul of Tarsus - 11 -
Diverse backgroud b A Hebrew heritage. b A Greek educatio. b A Roma citize. Coverted to Christ aroud 31-33 A.D. 4 Paul the missioary First Missioary Jourey (48-49) b Approximately 1400 miles. b Epistle: Galatias Jerusalem Coferece (49) Secod Missioary Jourey (49-52) b Approximately 2800 miles. b Epistles: 1-2 Thessaloias Third Missioary Jourey (53-57) b Approximately 2700 miles. b Epistles: Romas, 1-2 Corithias Priso i Caesarea by the Sea (58-60) Trip to Rome (60-61) First Imprisomet i Rome (61-63) b Epistles (called the Priso epistles): Philippias, Ephesias, Colossias, Philemo. Fial Miistry ad Fial Imprisomet b Epistles (called the Pastoral epistles): 1-2 Timothy, Titus 4 Paul the writer Salutatio ad Greetig Thaksgivig ad Blessig Body Exhortatios ad Requests Closig - 12 -
Paul s First Missioary Jourey Paul s Secod Missioary Jourey - 13 -
Paul s Third Missioary Jourey Romas Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte to Jewish ad Getile Christias i Rome. 4 Primary themes: The righteousess of God ad the gospel of God. 4 Threefold purpose: To istruct the church i the basic doctries of the Gospel. To show the practical implicatios of the Gospel. To garer support for expasio of the Gospel to ureached peoples. 4 Key Verses: 1:16-17; 3:21-26; 8:28-39 Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall structure: The Need for Righteousess (1-3). God s Provisio of Righteousess (3-8). Israel s Rejectio of God s Righteousess (9-11). The Practice of Righteousess (12-16). 4 Note the core Christia doctries which fill this letter: revelatio, depravity, justificatio, propitiatio, faith, origial si, uio with Christ, adoptio, sactificatio, glorificatio, the electio of Israel, spiritual gifts, respect for govermet. - 14 -
4 Read it, study it, memorize it this book is key to ulockig the etire Word of God. 1 Corithias Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte to a divided church i Corith. 4 Primary theme: the wisdom of the cross. 4 Key verses: 1:18-31; 2:14; 6:18-20; 10:12-13; 13:4-8. Practical Advice for Study 4 Notice the letter s bookeds: The cross (1:17-2:16). The resurrectio (15:1-58). 4 Notice how Paul develops a theology of the cross that affects Christia ethics, Christia priorities, ad Christia attitudes. 4 See how Paul addresses at least 11 differet issues i the church, icludig the purpose of spiritual gifts, regulatios for worship, ad sexual immorality. 2 Corithias Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte to a church amidst dissesio i Corith. 4 Primary theme: recociliatio i the body of Christ. 4 Four mai elemets i the letter: Paul s explaatio of his plas to visit Corith. Paul s collectio for the church i Jerusalem. Paul s defese of apostleship ad miistry. Paul s cocer about Jewish Christia oppoets to the Gospel. 4 Key Verses: 4:5-6, 16-18; 5:17-19; 8-9. Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall structure: Respose of the church to Paul s miistry (1-7). The church s givig (8-9). Defese of Paul s miistry (10-13). 4 Feel the heart of Paul i this book oe of his most persoal ad itimate letters. 4 Look for these domiat themes: forgiveess, restoratio, Christia givig as a expressio of geerosity (ot of obligatio), sufferig, ad spiritual triumph. Galatias Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte i respose to the Jerusalem Coferece (Acts 15). 4 Paul is couterig Judaizers who are puttig regulatios o Getiles to eter the church. - 15 -
4 Paul codems the false Gospel of faith ad works. The false Gospel: Faith + Works = Justificatio. The true Gospel: Faith = Justificatio + Works 4 Key Verses: 2:20-21; 5:1; 5:13-16; 6:14. Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall structure: Grace ad the Gospel (1-2). Grace ad the Law (3-4). Grace ad the Spirit (5-6). 4 Circle/uderlie key words: law (32), flesh (16), works (7), circumcisio (13), Christ (38), the Spirit (17), faith/believe (26), grace (8); justify (8); Abraham (9), promise (10), so/seed (18); freedom (10), slavery (11), Getiles (10). 4 Note the dager of legalism ad the joy of freedom i Christ. Ephesias Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte from priso to church leaders i Ephesus ad surroudig areas. 4 Three major themes: The uity of the church. The victory of Christ. The power of the Spirit. 4 Key Verses: 1:3-14; 2:8-10; 4:11-13; 6:10-20 Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall structure: The Doctrie of the Church (1-3) The Practice of the Church (4-6) 4 Mark each time you see love (agape) metioed. 4 Mark each time you see the phrase i Christ or with Christ 35 times! Philippias Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte from priso to the church at Philippi (a Roma coloy). 4 Delivered by Epaphroditus God s Gambler. 4 Primary themes: joy ad uity i Christ. 4 Key Verses: 1:21; 2:5-11; 3:8-11; 4:9-13. Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall structure: Christ is our life (1). Christ is our example (2). Christ is our goal (3). Christ is our stregth (4). 4 Note the Christ hym of 2:5-11. Jesus is God. - 16 -
Jesus is ma. Jesus is Savior. Jesus is Lord. 4 Ejoy Philippias it s a breath of fresh air i Paul s letters! 4 Liste for the heart of a disciple-maker, writig from the persecuted to the persecuted. Colossias Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte to a church Epaphras had fouded ad Paul had ever visited. 4 Paul is couterig Gostics i Colosse who were deyig the deity of Christ. 4 Primary theme: The sufficiecy of Christ - Christ is all ad i all (3:11) ad we are made full i Him (2:10). 4 Key Verses: 1:15-20; 2:8-10; 3:1-3. Practical Advice for Study 4 See a portrait of Christ i Colossias: The Head of all thigs (1:18; 2:10). The Lord of creatio (1:16-17). The Author of recociliatio (1:20-22;2:13-15). The basis for the believer s hope (1:5, 23, 27). The source of the believer s power (1:11, 29). Redeemer ad Recociler (1:14, 20-22; 2:11-15). The embodimet of God (1:15, 19; 2:9). The Creator ad Sustaier of all thigs (1:16-17). The all-sufficiet Savior (1:28; 2:3, 20; 3:1-4). 4 As you read, mark these key words: all, fulless, filled, supremacy, sufficiecy. 4 Notice the practical implicatios of a life that is sustaied by Christ aloe. 1 Thessaloias Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte from Corith to a youg church i Thessaloica. 4 Paul s fourfold purpose: To ecourage ew believers. To aswer charges agaist Paul. To explai the secod comig of Christ. To war agaist idleess. 4 Key verses: 1:4-10; 4:1-3; 4:13-18 Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall structure (based o 1:3): Work Produced by Faith (1-3). Labor Prompted by Love (4:1-12). - 17 -
Edurace Ispired by Hope (4:13-5:28). 4 Note how every chapter eds with a referece to the comig of Christ. The comig of Christ ad salvatio (1:9-10). The comig of Christ ad service (2:19-20). The comig of Christ ad stability (3:13). The comig of Christ ad sorrow (4:18). The comig of Christ ad sactificatio (5:23). 4 See full-circle disciple-makig described i 1 Thessaloias! Share the Word (1:4-5). Show the Word (1:5-6). Teach the Word (1:6). Serve the World (1:7-10). The Joy of Disciple-Makig (2:19-20). 4 Pay close attetio to how Paul emphasizes sactificatio (4:3, 4, 7) ad the comig of the Lord (1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23). 4 Notice the cetrality of the word (1:5, 6, 8; 2:2, 4, 8, 9, 13). 2 Thessaloias Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte as a follow-up letter to Thessaloica. 4 Paul s threefold purpose: To ecourage believers who were facig icreasig persecutio. To exhort those who were idle to work for the glory of Christ util He comes back! To edify the believers i their pursuit of holiess. 4 Key verses: 2:1-4; 3:1-5, 16. Practical Advice for Study 4 Note how 18 out of 47 verses deal with the day of the Lord. 4 Pay close attetio to these key words: judgmet, retributio, destructio. 4 Let this book remid you to live with the expectatio that it might be today. 1 Timothy Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte to ecourage youg Timothy as he leads the big city church i Ephesus. 4 Primary theme: God desires for godly leaders to lead His church. 4 Key verses: 3:14-16; 4:12; 6:11-12. Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall structure: Guard the doctrie of the church (1). Guard the worship of the church (2). Guard the leadership of the church (3). - 18 -
Guard the purity of the church (4). Guard the practice of the church (5-6). 4 Pay close attetio to these key words: charge, commadmet (1:3, 5, 18; 4:11; 5:7; 6:13, 17); soud doctrie (1:10: 4:6; 6:1-3); coduct, godliess (2:2, 10:3:16; 4:7, 8; 6:3, 5, 6, 11). Put yourself i Timothy s shoes as you read this letter 2 Timothy Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Paul writes this letter likely his last while awaitig his trial ad death. 4 Paul demostrates how a Christia martyr should face death. 4 Key verses: 1:7; 2:1-4; 3:14-4:5 Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall structure: The Pastoral Appeal (1) The Practical Appeal (2) The Prophetic Appeal (3) The Persoal Appeal (4). 4 See the picture of a successful miistry i Chapter 2: A reproducig miistry (1-2). A edurig miistry (3-13). A studyig miistry (14-18). A holy miistry (19-16). 4 Feel the weight of Paul s cocer for Timothy. 4 Feel the weight of Paul s cocer for the church. 1 Timothy some have tured aside (1:6); some have made shipwreck (1:19); some have tured aside after Sata (5:15); some have bee led astray (6:10); some have erred (6:21). 2 Timothy all have tured away from me (1:15); all forsook me (4:16). Titus Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte to Titus, a leader of the church i Crete who had bee led to Christ by Paul (2 Cor. 8:23). 4 Fourfold purpose: To remid Titus to appoit elders i the church. To war Titus agaist false teachers i the church. To istruct Titus how to lead differet types of people i the church. To ecourage Titus regardig the importace of grace i the church. 4 Primary theme: Grace leads to godliess (1:4; 2:11ff.; 3:7, 15). 4 Key verses: 2:11-14; 3:3-8 - 19 -
Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall Structure: Orgaizig the Church (1). Followig Christ (2-3). 4 Note the major emphasis o good works (1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 5, 8, 14) ad faith (1:1, 4, 13; 2:10, 13; 3:15). Philemo Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte To Philemo, a Christia i Colosse who had come to faith i Christ through Paul. About Oesimus, a slave of Philemo who had come to faith i Christ through Paul. 4 Paul writes to Iform Philemo of Oesimus salvatio. Ask Philemo to forgive him. Request to visit Philemo. 4 Key verses: 15-18 Practical Advice for Study 4 See the picture of Christ as the Redeemer of lost siers. 4 See the effect of the Gospel o slavery. 4 See how Christ trasforms our relatioships. The geeral letters 4 Nie letters ot writte by Paul. 4 Ordered (agai) basically by legth. 4 Titled accordig to the ames of their authors. James, Peter, Joh, Jude, ad the author of Hebrews. 4 Writte to more geeral audieces. Hebrews Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Who wrote Hebrews? Oly God kows! 4 Most likely writte to Jewish Christias facig persecutio. 4 Primary theme: the superiority of Jesus Christ. 4 Message of Hebrews revolves aroud five exhortatios (13:22 a word of exhortatio): Let us ot drift from the Word (2:1-4). Let us ot doubt the Word (3:7-4:13). Let us ot grow dull toward the Word (5:11-6:20). Let us ot despise the Word (10:26-39). Let us ot disobey the Word (12:14-19). - 20 -
Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall structure: A Superior Perso: Christ (1-6) A Superior Priesthood (7-10) A Superior Priciple: Faith (11-13) 4 See how these key words poit to the supremacy of Christ: Better (1:4; 6:9; 7:7, 19, 22; 8:6; 9:23; 10:34; 11:16, 35, 40; 12:24). Perfect (2:10; 5:9, 14; 6:1; 7:11, 19, 28; 9:9, 11; 10:1, 14; 11:40; 12:2, 23). 4 See ad study the Old Testamet everywhere i Hebrews! Psalm 8:4-6 i 2:5-18. Psalm 95:7-11 i 3:7-4:13. Psalm 110:4 i 4:16-7:28. Jeremiah 31:31-34 i 8:1-10:18 Habakkuk 2:3-4 i 10:32-12:3 Proverbs 3:11-12 i 12:4-13 Exodus 19 i 12:18-29 4 Thigs to remember The author is quotig from the Greek Old Testamet. The author argues may times from the lesser to the greater. The author views everythig i the Old Testamet through the les of Christ. James Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Likely writte by James, the brother of Jesus. 4 Writte to address the practical implicatios of true faith what does Christiaity look like i actio? 4 Key verses: 1:2-5; 2:14-17. Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall structure: Stad with cofidece (1). Serve with compassio (2). Speak with care (3). Submit with cotritio (4). Share with cocer (5). 4 See the Old Testamet all over James i 108 verses, there are refereces or allusios to 22 OT books ad at least 15 refereces or allusios to the teachigs of Christ. 4 Note the emphasis o social justice (1:9-11, 27; 2:1-13; 4:13-5:6). 4 Compare this book with Romas Paul addresses our stadig before God. James addresses our witess before the world. - 21 -
1 Peter Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte to the church i Asia Mior moder day Turkey facig icreasig sufferig ad persecutio. 4 Major theme is the sufficiecy of God s grace, which is used i every chapter (1:2, 10, 13, 2:19-20; 3:7; 4:10; 5:5, 10, 12. 4 Key verses: 1:3-7; 3:15-17; 4:12-13. Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall structure: A call to holy livig (1:13-2:10). Livig for the sake of a paga world (2:11-4:11). Walkig through sufferig as the church (4:12-5:11). 4 Read ad compare with Ephesias. 1 Peter 1:12; Ephesias 3:5, 10. 1 Peter 2:2; Ephesias 4:13, 15. 1 Peter 4:10; Ephesias 4:7, 11. 1 Peter 4:11; Ephesias 3:6, 21. 4 Pay close attetio to these key words: sufferig (16 times); behavior/way of life (six times); God (39 times); Christ (22 times); Spirit (8 times); God s will (4 times); electio/callig (10 times); salvatio (6 times); hope (5 times). 4 Lear how to live out the Christia life i the middle of sufferig ad persecutio. 2 Peter Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Peter is most likely awaitig executio as he writes this letter. 4 Primary theme: growth i grace ad kowledge. 4 Key verses: 1:20-21; 3:8-11. 4 Compare with themes of 1 Peter regardig the church: Sata ca come as a lio to devour with persecutio (1 Peter). Sata ca come as a serpet to deceive with false doctrie (2 Peter). Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall structure: Grow i His grace (1:1-11). Look forward to His comig (1:12-21). Trust i His judgmet (2). Clig to His Word (3). 4 Compare with 2 Timothy to see two perspectives o facig martyrdom. 4 Note the explaatio of the Bible s ispiratio i 2 Peter 1:19-21. 1 Joh Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Joh states five purposes: That we might have fellowship (1:3). - 22 -
That we might have joy (1:4). That we might ot si (2:1-2). That we might overcome error (2:26). That we might have assurace (5:13). 4 Primary themes: God is light (1:5). God is love (4:8, 16). God is life (1:1-2; 5:11-13). 4 Key verses: 1:5-2:2; 5:11-13. Practical Advice for Study 4 See how Joh uses simple foudatioal words over ad over agai: love (46 times), kow (40 times), si (27 times), abide/remai (24 times), world (23 times), life (13 times). 4 As you read, see 1 Joh more i terms of a musical arragemet tha a well-ordered argumet. 2 Joh Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte to either oe local church or a esteemed woma i a local church. 4 The church must Guard the doctrie of the Icaratio. Avoid false teachers. 4 Key verses: 6-11. Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall structure: Practicig the truth (1-6). Protectig the truth (7-11). 4 Look for words that are repeated over ad over agai: commadmet (14), truth (9), walk, love, teachig, deceivers. 3 Joh Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Shortest book i the Bible. 4 Four characters ivolved Joh, who wrote it. Gaius, who received it. Diotrephes, who caused it. Demetrius, who carried it. 4 Primary theme: hospitality i the church. Practical Advice for Study 4 Overall structure: Gaius A prosperous Christia (1-8). Diotrephes: A proud Christia (9-10). Demetrius: A pleasat Christia (11-12). - 23 -
Jude Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte by Judas, the brother of Jesus. 4 Primary theme: Coted for the faith (3). 4 Twofold purpose: To codem the practices of the ugodly i the church. To cousel believers to hold fast ad coted for the faith. 4 Key verses: 3, 24. Practical Advice for Study 4 See the codematio of false teachers based o seve Old Testamet examples: Israel (5) Falle agels (6) Sodom ad Gomorrah (7) Michael ad Moses (8-10) Cai (11) Balaam (11) Korah (11) 4 Jude emphasizes the power of Christ to keep His church to the ed. 4 What gere is it? Apocalyptic literature (1:1). Prophecy (1:3). Epistle (1:4). 4 This book has o parallel Revelatio Revelatio Primary Iformatio for Starters 4 Writte By Joh whe he was exiled o Patmos. To Christias facig persecutio i the first cetury. About the Gospel ad the future of God s kigdom. 4 Primary theme is the revelatio of Jesus Christ. 4 Key chapters: 1-5; 19-22. Practical Advice for Study 4 Look for the Old Testamet throughout Revelatio 278 out of 404 verses cotai refereces to the Old Testamet! Most ofte referrig to the Psalms, Daiel, Zechariah, Geesis, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, ad Joel. - 24 -
4 See how Geesis ad Revelatio serve as book-eds of the Bible. Creatio of the heaves ad earth (Ge. 1-2) b Creatio of the ew heaves ad earth (Ge. 21-22). The first Adam reigig o earth (1:26). b The last Adam reigig i glory (21:5). Night ad seas created (1:5, 10). b No more ight; o more sea (21:1, 25). A bride brought to Adam (2:18-25). b The Bride prepared for Christ (19:7ff.) A tree of life i Ede (2:9; 3:22). b A tree of life i the ew creatio (22:2). Sata utters the first lie (3:1). b Nothig that makes a lie eters the city (21:27). Death ad a curse (3:14, 17-19). b No more curse; o more death or tears (22:3). Coflict betwee Christ ad Sata (3:15). b Sata s fial doom (20:10). Ma drive from God s face (3:23; 4:16). b Me see His face i glory (22:4). 4 Help i uderstadig the apocalyptic imagery Remember that the imagery is fatasy. Joh iterprets the most importat images. Pay attetio to the fixed images throughout the book. See the visios as a whole, ot always pressig every detail. 4 See the majesty of God i Christ all over Revelatio! Throe is used 44 times. Kig, kigdom, or rule about 37 times. Power ad authority about 40 times. - 25 -
Survey of the New Testamet: Part 2 Why Did God Give Us The New Testamet? The New Testamet as Theology Why did God give us the Old Testamet? 4 To reveal how God redeems His people for His kigdom. 4 God s Kigdom People who are ruled by the Kig. A place where the Kig has domiio. A purpose for the Kig ad His kigdom. 4 Throughout the Old Testamet, God is brigig His people to His place for His purpose. 4 Everythig poits to the day whe God will redeem His people for His kigdom ad establish His reig over all creatio. 4 But the Old Testamet is a icomplete story Why did God give us the New Testamet? 4 To fiish what the Old Testamet started. 4 God redeems His people for His kigdom i Christ! 4 God s Kigdom Jesus perfectly represets the people of God. Jesus is the perfect place where the glory of God dwells. Jesus perfectly fulfills the ultimate purpose of God. 4 He is the Kig at the ceter of Scripture! 4 The fadig shadow of the Kigdom of God i the Old Testamet has bee illumiated by the glorious reality of Christ i the New Testamet! How does God reveal His Kigdom i the New Testamet? 4 Through the Gospel of the Kigdom. 4 Through the Missio of the Kigdom. 4 Through the Hope of the Kigdom. The Gospel of the Kigdom The Kig has come. 4 The Old Testamet people s aticipatio Micah 5:1-5; Zeph. 3:14-17; Zech. 14:9ff. 4 The Kig s itroductio He is the aoited Kig. Mat. 1:1-17; 1:20; 2:1-2, 6; 9:17; 15:22; 20:29-31; 21:9, 15; 22:23; Lk. 1:26-33; see also Rom. 1:3. - 26 -
He is God. Mat. 1:20-23; J. 1:1-14. He is the ew Adam. Lk. 3:23-38; see also Rom. 5:12-21; 1 Cor. 15:20-22, 45-49. He is the true Israel (the seed of Abraham). Mt. 2:14-15; Mt. 4:1-11; Lk. 1:54-55, 70-75; 4:1-13. He is the Passover Lamb. J. 1:29. He is the Word of God. Joh 1:1-3, 14-18; Mk 1:14-15; see also Acts 3:22 (Deut. 18:15); Eph. 1:8-10; Col. 2:2-3; Heb. 1:1-2; 2 Pet. 3:5-7. He is the taberacle. Joh 1:14. He is the temple. Joh 2:13-22. 4 The Kig s proclamatio Mt. 4:17, 23-35; Mk. 1:15; Lk. 4:43. Over 100 refereces to the kigdom of God i the Gospels. The time has come Zeph. 3:14-20; Is. 52:7-10. The kigdom of God is ear. Lk. 4:14-30; 61:1-4. Repet ad believe the good ews. Mt. 12:41; Lk. 5:32; 13:3, 5. The Kig has coquered. 4 The power of the Kigdom displayed Isaiah 35:1-10; Mt. 11:1-6. Jesus has authority over ature. Mk. 4:35-41; J. 6:1-14, 16-21. Jesus has authority over disease. Mk. 1:33; J. 9:1-41. Jesus has authority over demos. Mt. 12:24-29; Mk. 5:1-20; Lk. 9:37-43. Jesus has authority over sufferig. Mk. 5:25-34. Jesus has authority over si. Mk. 2:1-11. Jesus has authority over death. Mk. 5:37-43; Joh 11:38-45. 4 The power of the Kigdom i doubt The uexpected tragedy of the cross. Mk. 8:31-9:1; Mt. 27:32-56; Mk. 15:21-41; Lk. 23:26-49; J. 19:28-37. - 27 -
4 The power of the Kigdom declared The ultimate triumph of the resurrectio. Mt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-8; Lk. 24:1-12; J. 20:1-9. Have you accepted the Kigdom? 4 Receive the gift of the Kigdom A preset ad a future gift. Lk. 17:20-25; Mt. 5:3-10. A free gift. Lk. 12:32. A gracious gift. Lk. 10:21. A valuable gift. Mt. 13:44-46. A eteral gift. Mk. 10:17-31. 4 Eter ito the life of the Kigdom A radical tur to the Kig. Mt. 3:2; 4:17; Mk. 1:15; 10:17-31. Radical trust i the Kig. Mt. 6:33; 18:2-4. b Not immaturity i the faith. b Complete ad total trust i the Father. Radical trasformatio by the Kig. b We embrace the Kig s teachigs. Mt. 5-7; J. 8:31-36. b We embody the Kig s character. J. 14:15-21. b We experiece the Kig s power. Mt. 10:1; Mk. 3:14-15; Lk. 10:9, 17-24; J. 14:12. b We elist i the Kig s missio. Matt. 28:16-20; Mk. 16:15-18; Lk. 24:45-49; J. 20:21-23. The Missio of the Kigdom The Kig is i cotrol. 4 He has a pla. His pla ever fails. b Luke 2:49; 4:43; 9:22; 13:33; 17:25; 19:5; 22:37; 24:7, 44. b Acts 1:16, 21; 2:23; 3:12; 4:21; 9:16; 10:1-16; 13:27, 47; 14:21; 15:15-18; 17:3; 19:21; 23:11; 27:24. He plaed to go to the cross. Luke 9:51; 13:22; 17:11; 18:31; 19:28; J. 10:18; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28. He plaed to rise from the grave. Acts 2:24; 13:32-37. - 28 -
He plaed to sed His Spirit. Acts 2:1-41; see Eze. 37:9-14; Ex. 19:16-22; 31:18; Ge. 11:1-9. He plaed to brig the atios to Himself. Mt. 10:5-6; 15:24; Mt. 28:18-20; Acts 13:46-48. 4 He has the power to accomplish His pla. His authority caot be stopped. Da. 7:13-14 - Mt. 28:18-20 Acts 7:54-8:4 Acts 11:19-21. His Word caot be stopped. Acts 4:29-31; 6:7; 8:4, 14, 25; 10:44; 11:1; 12:24; 13:7, 44, 46, 48, 49; 14:25; 15:35; 16:32; 17:13; 18:9-11; 19:10, 20; 20:32. Nothig ca or will keep His pla from beig accomplished! Acts 28:30-31. 4 The oly questio is: Will the church alig with her Kig s pla? Acts 11:1-3; 15. The Kig has a ew commuity. 4 He elarges the Kigdom through the church. Called by the mercy of Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-10; Col. 1:24-27; Acts 14:27. Joied by faith i Christ. Rom. 4:16-25; Gal. 3:6-8, 26-29; Col. 3:11; Heb. 11 (esp. 11:26). Filled with the Spirit of Christ. 1 Cor. 12:12-13; Eph. 1:13-14. 4 He expresses the Kigdom i the church. The church comprises the body of Christ. Eph. 2:16; 3:6; 4:4, 12, 16, 25; 5:23, 30; Col. 1:18, 24. The church possesses the authority of Christ. Mt. 10:8 - Lk. 10:9 Acts 3:1-10; Acts 1:8; 19:13-17; 1 Cor. 3:21-23; Eph. 1:15-23. The church embodies the love of Christ. Eph. 4:2, 15, 16; Jms. 2:14-18; 1 Peter 4:7-11; 1 J. 3:16-18. The church completes the sufferigs of Christ. Phil. 1:27-30; Col. 1:24-27. The church displays the glory of Christ. 1 Cor. 3:16-17; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22 see 1 Kgs. 8:41-43; Is. 2:1-4; 56:6-8; Zech. 8:20-23. 4 He etrusts the Kigdom to the church. The church must guard the Gospel. 1 Cor. 1:18-31; Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Tim. 1:13-14. The church must proclaim the Gospel. Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 4:4-6; 2 Tim. 3:14-4:5. - 29 -
Are you advacig the Kigdom? 4 The New Testamet church ad missio The church was bor i the cotext of missio. Acts 2:1-41. The church exists for the completio of missio. Mat. 24:14; Rom. 10:12-15; 1 Cor. 9:24-27. The church dies for the cause of missio. Acts 1:8; 5:41-42; 7:54-60; 12:1-4; 1 Cor. 4:9-13; 2 Cor. 11:23-28; 4:7-12; Gal. 6:12-14. 4 The cotemporary church ad missio We will miss the etire poit of the New Testamet if we read ad study it apart from the cotext of missio i the church. Phil. 1:6. The New Testamet church advaced the Kigdom of God; which kigdom(s) are we advacig? Acts 8:12; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31. The Kigdom does ot exist for us; we exist for the sake of the Kigdom. Gal. 1:15-16. If we really desire to live out New Testamet Christiaity, we must risk our lives for the cause of missio. Acts-Jude; 2 Tim. 3:12; Rev. 6:9-11. The Hope of the Kigdom The Kig is comig back. 4 The work of Christ i the Kigdom: The Gospels show the completio of Christ s work for us. Hebrews 9:24-28. Acts ad the letters show the cotiuatio of Christ s work i us. Acts 1:1-6; Col. 1:27. Revelatio shows the cosummatio of Christ s work with us. 1 Thess. 4:16-18; Rev. 1:4-8. 4 The Kig who s comig He came as the Lamb (Rev. 5:6, 12; 13:8; 12:11). b He came i weakess. b He came i poverty. b He came i humiliatio. He will come as the Lio (Rev. 5:5). b He will come i power. b He will come with the wealth of heave. b He will come i glory. - 30 -
He is b The faithful witess ad the Ruler over the kigs of the earth (Rev. 1:5). b The Alpha ad the Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13). b The First ad the Last (Rev. 1:17). b The Livig Oe (Rev. 1:18). b The So of God (Rev. 2:18). b Holy ad true (Rev. 3:7). b The Ame, the faithful ad true Witess, the Begiig of the creatio of God (Rev. 3:14). b Faithful ad True (Rev. 19:11). b The Word of God (Rev. 19:13). b The Kig of Kigs ad Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:16). b The Root ad the Offsprig of David (Rev. 22:16). b The Bright ad Morig Star (Rev. 22:16). b The Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 22:21). 4 The Kig will brig Fial redemptio for those who have accepted the Kigdom. Rev. 19:1-10. Fial judgmet for those who have rejected the Kigdom. Rev. 19:11-16. The Kig will host a eteral celebratio. 4 The picture of the Kigdom Idescribable beauty. b A ew creatio. Rev. 21:1. b A ew Jerusalem. Rev. 21:2. b A ew temple. Rev. 21:3, 22. b A ew order. Rev. 21:4-5. Iexpressible joy. b Rev. 21:6. b It is full. b It is free. Irreversible Justice. b Rev. 21:7-8. b Eteral soship. b Everlastig separatio (Rev. 20:11-15). 4 The promise of the Kigdom The claim of Christ: I am comig soo (22:7, 12, 20). The cry of the church: Ame. Come, Lord Jesus! - 31 -
Are you aticipatig the Kigdom? 4 We live for His appearig. See the temporary ature of this world. b Soo, there will be o si. Rev. 20:7-10; 21:4. b Soo, there will be o sorrow. Rev. 21:4; Rom. 8:18-25. b Soo, there will be o sickess. b Rev. 21:4; 1 Cor. 15:50-57. Soo, there will be o separatio. Rev. 21:4; Rom. 8:38-39. See the eteral importace of our work util He comes. 1 Thess. 5:4-11; 2 Thess. 3:6-15. 4 We live for His appearig. We must pursue holiess i all areas of our lives. Col. 3:1-5; 1 Tim. 6:11-16; Titus 2:11-14. We must proclaim the Gospel to all peoples of the world. Mat. 24:14; 2 Tim. 4:1-2. 4 We log for His appearig (2 Tim. 4:8). For the day whe He will save us fully. Rom. 8:28-30; 1 Peter 1:9. For the day whe we will see His face. Rev. 22:4. Ad there were loud voices i heave, which said: The kigdom of the world has become the kigdom of our Lord ad of his Christ, ad he will reig for ever ad ever. Revelatio 11:15-32 -
Missig teachig otes? This complete teachig guide, icludig all the blaks filled-i, is available for dowload i PDF format at www.secretchurch.org. - 33 -
THE KINGDOM OF GOD A Map for Uderstadig the Storylie of the New Testamet CHRIST CHURCH CREATION (Matthew Joh) (Acts Jude) (Revelatio) The Gospel of the Kigdom The Missio of the Kigdom The Hope of the Kigdom The Kig has come. The Kig has coquered. The Kig is i cotrol. The Kig has a ew commuity. The Kig is comig back. The Kig will host a eteral celebratio. Have you accepted the Kigdom? Are you advacig the Kigdom? Are you aticipatig the Kigdom?
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Asia is approximately 23.5% of the world s surface. Asias, as a people group, comprise over 83% of the 4.4 billio o-christias i the world. The three largest o-christia religios i the world ad the most challegig for Christias are represeted i Asia with 832 millio Muslims, 805 millio Hidus ad 400-900 millio Buddhists. Of the 55 coutries of the world that are less tha 10% Christia, 44 are i Asia. I 1900, all but five Asia atios were uder Wester cotrol. By 2000 there were oe. I oly about 5-6 Asia coutries is there a geuie, deep-rooted culture of democratic freedom. The atios could be characterized by their disparity; with great extremes of wealth ad poverty, to immese differeces i developmet from highly urbaized, idustrial or post-idustrial to rural subsistece ecoomies. Special areas of miistry eed: Childre i crisis. The 1997 ecoomic dowtur i Asia affected the quality of life of millios of childre. Child labor became eve more widespread. It was reckoed i 1997 that oe millio or more childre were forced ito sex slavery i Asia. Malutritio affects over 60% of Idia s childre. Also, Bible traslatio presets a major challege with 1,300 laguages havig a defiite or likely eed. Work is i progress to traslate the Word ito 271 Asia laguages. - 35 -
Idoesia b Populatio: 245 millio b People-groups: 15 b Mai Religio: Muslim b Laguages: Idoesia b No-Christias: 84% b Christias: 16% b Area: 1,919,317 sq. km. The Republic s 17,000 islads stretch lad over 9.5 millio sq.km of the Idia/Pacific Oceas, with 23 provices, 2 special regios ad the capital district. b Briefig: The Commuist coup of 1965 ad its bloody aftermath, i which maybe 500,000 Commuist sympathizers perished, also led other sympathizers to become Christias. Fierce Muslim reprisals o the Commuists offeded may especially i Java. May omial Muslims tured to Christ. The govermet madate that each citize adhere to oe of five recogized religios impelled may aimists to cosider the claims of the gospel. Risig levels of persecutio i the 1990s has fuelled greater uity amog Christias, the growth of a Natioal Prayer Movemet ad commitmet to cross-cultural outreach i Idoesia ad beyod. Please pray for the atio s leaders, that they ot bow to Muslim extremist pressure, which could polarize the atio with disastrous results. Algeria i 2010. Please pray for our U.S. missio team as they go ito Idoesia i 2007. b Persecutio: The govermet forces people to carry a idetificatio card, which icludes their religious status, ad has promoted a belief called Pacasila, meaig all may freely choose to follow Christiaity, Islam, Buddhism or Hiduism; but i reality Muslims receive preferetial treatmet. The political stregth of Islam has bee used to limit evagelism ad reduce Christia ifluece o public life. The Islamists stated aim is the complete elimiatio of Christiaity i the coutry. Militat Muslims have orchestrated a Islamic jihad agaist Christias, killig thousads ad destroyig hudreds of churches. Areas such as Cetral Sulawesi ad the Maluku Islads, where Christias are the majority, have bee subjected to outright military attacks ad killigs. For the first time i 50 years, Aceh provice was opeed to Christia missioaries i early 2005, as may coducted tsuami relief efforts. I May 2005, Muslim radicals detoated two bombs i a marketplace killig 23 people ad ijurig 50 i the Christia city of Tetea. I September 2005, three Suday school teachers were seteced to three years i priso for proselytizig Muslim childre, a violatio of the Child Protectio Act of 2002. The Muslim parets had permitted their childre to atted the Suday school. Also, i late summer ad early fall 2005, Muslim mobs forced the closure of at least 60 churches, most of them i West Java. - 36 -
Bruei b Populatio: 379,444 b People-groups: 8 b Mai Religio: Muslim b Laguages: Malay, Eglish b No-Christias: 88.75% b Christias: 11.25% b Area: 5,765 sq. km. Two small eclaves i Sarawak, East Malaysia o the islad of Boreo. b Briefig: Muslims aim for a pure Islamic state by 2020. By offers of houses, jobs ad by itimidatio of Christias has yielded a slow but steady trickle of coverts from amog the tribal ad Chiese miorities. Pray for both the thwartig of these desigs ad the re-istatemet of costitutioally guarateed religious freedom. The kig is reputed to be the world s wealthiest ma. Pray for coversios to Christ i the large royal family. The Christia Church is uder much pressure. No foreig Christia workers are permitted eve to visit, ad all Catholic priests ad us were expelled i 1991. No Bibles or Christia literature may be imported legally. There are three registered churches but may others applicatios for registratio are igored, ad they must meet cladestiely. Please pray for Further growth despite the restrictios. Most of those coverted are local Chiese. Please pray for Sigapore as we equip them to go ito Bruei i 2016. b Persecutio: Costitutioal guaratees allowig free practice of religio are steadily erodig. Christia leaders were expelled i 1991, ad the followig year Christia literature was baed ad the celebratio of Christmas outlawed. Coversio to Christiaity is restricted sice it is illegal to evagelize Muslims. - 37 -
Chia b Populatio: 1.3 billio b People-groups: 12 b Mai Religio: Chiese b Laguages: Putoghua b No-Christias: 92.75% b Christias: 7.25% b Area: 9,573,000 sq. km. The third largest state i the world, also cotaiig the highest moutais ad plateaus i the world. b Briefig: The faith ad commitmet of Christias uder what may prove to be the most harsh ad widespread persecutio of the Church i all history. The persecutio purified ad idigeized the Church ad has iured it to successive waves of further repressio ad govermet efforts to weake or destroy it. The aftermath of the Beijig massacre i Tiaame Square i 1989 was a defiig momet i Chiese history. The discredited leadership is still hauted by the debacle, ad the result was a sigificat turig to God for the first time amog urba itellectuals. Christias are ow foud i every stratum of Chiese society. The majority of these evagelists ad church platers have bee wome may still i their tees. The Iteret is creatig extraordiary ew opeigs for evil ad for good the latter i providig discipleship ad leadership developmet materials. Please pray for the millios of uemployed have become a impoverished uder-class. Please pray for our U.S. missio team as they go ito Chia i 2007. b Persecutio: Costitutioal guaratees allowig free practice of religio are steadily erodig. Christia leaders were expelled i 1991, ad the followig year Christia literature was baed ad the celebratio of Christmas outlawed. Coversio to Christiaity is restricted sice it is illegal to evagelize Muslims. - 38 -
Vietam b Populatio: 84 millio b People-Groups: 2 b Mai Religios: Buddhist b Laguages: Vietamese b No-Christias: 91.84% b Christias: 8.16% b Area: 331,653 sq.km. Log, arrow coutry occupyig the etire easter ad souther coastlie of Idochia. b Briefig: Oe of the few Commuist atios i the 21st Cetury, Vietam faces ew challeges. Repressio of all types of freedom cotiues, but at the same time, social ills are o the rise. Drug addictio, AIDS, prostitutio ad exploitatio of childre are all too commo. There are two abortios for every live birth, oe of the world s highest rates. Pray that the ideological ad moral darkess over this atio might be baished by the light of the gospel. Vietam remais oe of the worst persecutors of Christias. Seeig the role of Christiaity i the demise of Commuism elsewhere, the regime has attempted to either cotrol or wipe out believers. Govermet efforts have itesified as churches respod to persecutio with growth ad outreach. Registratio implies compromise; failure to register churches is illegal forcig most believers udergroud. Please pray for those i priso for their faith. At ay time there are probably dozes of Christia leaders imprisoed. Please pray for our U.S. missio team as they go ito Vietam i 2007. b Persecutio: Believers are harassed, beate ad imprisoed for illegally preachig or orgaizig evagelistic activities. Persecutio is especially harsh for uregistered ad ethic miority churches. Seeig the role of Christiaity i the demise of commuism elsewhere, the regime has attempted to either cotrol or wipe out believers. Govermet efforts have itesified as churches respod to persecutio with growth ad outreach. Believers see church registratio as compromise. Failig to register churches is see as illegal i the eyes of the govermet, forcig the church udergroud. I May 2005, the Vietamese govermet promised the U.S. it would begi to allow greater religious freedom. But little has chaged sice the agreemet. Oly a hadful of Christias have bee released from priso, ad may have bee forced to reouce their faith. - 39 -