Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and this week's featured guest, Jeff Scogging, as they provide additional insights into this week's Sabbath School lesson, "Mission to the Unreached, Part 1."
Our approach in witnessing to other's is very important.Everyone learn at different levels and we must try to get to know others and their needs before we drive them away.Its not about us but show others a God of love and allow the Holy Spirit to use us a vessel and instument for Him.Always a pleasure learning so much from these lessons.
Nathan approached the mighty king, David, with story telling, yet John the Baptist told Herodias the truth. The outcome was different in both cases. Elijah was always on the run after delivering messages to Jezebel and Ahab. In all ways, it is God who guides. God is the only one who knows the hour (time) of our being born, hour of our death and the hour of Jesus' coming again. Let us keep working for Him. He will guide us along the way😊 Mark 13:11 "But when then shall lead you and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak; neither need ye premeditate. But whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost"
Thank you so much for this powerful point. Be mindful of our listeners and avoid irritating them. We have to follow our Savior's example. Whatever he said or did was always done in love and kindness.
We need to have the confidence to reach to others. We need to be strategic like paul who first studied people before reaching to them. We pray for the Holy Spirit to give us the wisdom and the right words to use as we reach to others 🙏.
This past week I had two occasions where I had to stand up for truth among church members & got negative reactions. I prayed in my heart throughout the whole exchange and God helped me to be gentle, calm but firm in my stance. I struggled with this because I rarely have to face confrontation because I get along with people so well. At one point I felt as if it's better if I just keep my mouth shut. It is comforting to hear how Paul faced opposition. People might mock and provoke but if you're on God's side, nothing else matters. It's not about me, it's about God's name and truth. Sometimes you have to cross the line to stand up for the truth. We ought to please God rather than men. Thank you for the wonderful breakdown of the lesson.
I know what you mean. The Lord is gracious, a perfect gentleman, and you can share that trait. The first reason I entered the church was for the kindness shown to one another. After I joined I later saw spiritual deficiencies, including some in my own home. There are also those who go from church to church on some mission only "to make them holy" rather than reaching souls outside who don't even know their left from their right. Thank you for limiting yourself to stop short of irritating others. Surely brothers and sisters in the Lord should learn from one another, and we are not all at the same level or have the same gifts or advance at the same speed. Your words spoken in love will win confidence. I hope you don't mind I'll pray for your work with your friends who need the truth. 🙂
I feel inspired by Paul's example. Here is a jew sitting with other cultures. I live in BC and go sit with the FN people. I only wish others from my church would go join with me
Does not Love (God’s in-dwelling presence) begin in the Church, first? How will we reach others with Agape’ Love, outside the church, without having love for those inside the church? Enjoyed the lesson. Thank you 👍
And I am the temple/dwelling place. Love (Jesus/God) should be in me. "Abide in me and I will abide in you" John 15:4. Paul was imitating/learning from Christ, the Head of the Church. Jesus also faced problems with teachers of the Law. He started engaging with them at 12 years of age and ended with them in the garden of Gethsemane. He asked them: 'why are you coming to me with swords, handcuffs, flogs...Am I thief?' So, all kinds of people, you will find in the Church of God. Jesus allowed the tares to grow with the wheat for His glory. The right and wrong engage today (this is the great controversy) it began in heaven, then it was established in Eden until Christ will come again. Expect the tares in church. Even a well cultivated garden later grows the weeds. It is someone who comes in the night and plants evil and Jesus is also choosing to come back to earth like a thief😊He would like us to watch and pray, be vigilant, sober because the Devil is also busy crafting ways to draw us from the Lord's side. Jesus is asking us to be shrewd as snakes. He is sending us to wolves. Let us trust Him, He will equip us as He did with Paul.
It has never been easy to reteach learned people/knowledgeable people. Apologize often for hurting their emotions but let the Word be planted. Jesus is the one responsible for growing it in them but it must be put in the soil. Also, Jesus allows us to experience all kinds of attitudes from others for our own good😊Romans 8:28 It is important to share crumbs and give a break to those who feel irritated/dust your shoes and go to another place and you can come back after a period of time to share some more crumbs. Probably you could find them ready to listen. Crumbs are meant to cause hunger and thirst in us. Share the big loaf with the Bereans and throw the Breadcrumbs to those in difficult territories and let Jesus perform miracles. Isaiah 55:11"So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
Paul's call by God on the Damascus Road was to become a messenger to the Gentiles. That call was primarily mission to the gentiles but NOT exclusively so. So Paul, while he was on his way to doing missions to the Gentiles, did not remain idle. He ministered to the Jews and some already converted gentiles. Now he goes up to Mars Hill where a crowd of scholars and philosophers are having a meeting. He finds an opportunity to share about the Unknown God and used it though with limited success.
It is important to be strategic in doing the mission. However, being sincerely interested in the people and sharing the good new of salvation is just as important or in my opinion even more important. People will listen to any one who is fired up with what they have to share.
