7/8th SS Lesson 11-Church on Mission

Introduction

A horrible story, tried something new, and failed. When we experience something new and we end up getting hurt or seriously injured, how do we respond? We don’t wanna go near that at all!

Sometimes, people take that to the extreme and separate themselves from “society” or civilization.

What are some ways Christians can engage their culture with the Christian worldview?

3 Facts about this message:

GOD is the boss, it’s what the Bible labels as “LORD.” -

What’s “Lord” mean?

By not needing anything, sufficient in Himself - .

The name of God was significant to the ancient Hebrews because it comprehended in itself all that God is. In fact, “the name” was a synonym for God; hence believers are not to take the name of the Lord in vain (). The name of God is holy and awesome (; ) and signifies his personal presence (; ). God’s people are to reverence (), love (), praise (), trust (), call upon (), and hope in the divine name (). In God’s divine name is the ultimate salvation of his people.

Walter A. Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996), 406.

The “Name” of Jesus. The expression the “Name” of Jesus is frequent and highly significant in New Testament usage in that it parallels the use of the name of God in the Old Testament. The early Christians had no difficulty substituting the name of Jesus for the name of God. Indeed, for them the divine name, YHWH, was given to Jesus, that every knee should bow to him and every tongue confess that he is Lord (; cf. ). New Testament believers are to live their lives in Jesus’ name just as the Old Testament believers were to live in the name of God the Lord.

People who hear the gospel and respond positively, call upon Jesus’ name for salvation (), put their faith in Jesus’ name (; ), are then justified () and forgiven in Jesus’ name (; ), and are then baptized into Jesus’ name (; ; ). Having then, life in his name (), believers are to glorify the name of Jesus () and give thanks for and do everything in the name of Jesus (; ). Just as in the Old Testament where the name of God represents the person of God and all that he is, so in the New Testament “the Name” represents all who Jesus is as Lord and Savior.

Leslie R. Keylock et al., “The ‘Name’ of Jesus,” Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996), 406–407.

(1) By not needing anything, sufficient in Himself.

Acts 17:24–25 ESV

24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

(2) Made everything, including us - with a purpose.

Acts 17:26–27 ESV

26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

- with a purpose, vs. 27-28.

(3) It’s all on His watch, we’re just borrowing it and will be called into account.

Acts 17:30–31 ESV

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

His “seal” on this promise, is the Resurrection of Jesus.

Reverence & Relevance

Reverence for God & Neighbor.

The message of Jesus is a life & death matter. Paul loved God and his neighbor so much that he was what the Bible says “provoked” within him to not just talk but also reason with devout Jews and those present.

Relevance for God & Neighbor.

Paul was welcomed by his conversation. Paul was speaking in a way that his words were seasoned with salt. He didn’t kick the door in with a megaphone on the street corner.

When “reasoning” with people you seek to hear them out and understand them. The most important thing we can do when sharing the Gospel/Truth with our neighbors & friends is to be confident that it is truth first, but also to love them secondly. Even if they don’t want to hear it.

Result...

Given an audience to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus to a crowd of people whom had never heard. Wow.

Luke 10:25–37 ESV

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”