The Challenge

Introduction

I am here tonight to encourage you to build you up, to give you soul food for your walk.

Colossians 2:1-7 (NKJV)

Not Philosophy But Christ

2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, 2both of the Father and of Christ, 3 bin whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Tonight I want to share with you some things that should encourage you in your walk. First we will check out where we left off last time, at the great commission. The great commission is from Matt 28:19-20 it is when Jesus tells His disciples to "go into the world and make disciples of all nations". So what happened next? What happened to that order? Did the disciples do that after Christ died? Well let's take a look.

Philip’s Travels*

Philip was the second of the seven deacons appointed in 6:5, 6. Two journeys by Philip are recorded in 8:5–13 and 8:26–40. During his first, the city of Samaria was evangelized with great success. On the second, he preached to the Ethiopian eunuch on the road to Gaza before continuing on from Azotus to Caesarea.

Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1996). Nelson's complete book of Bible maps & charts : Old and New Testaments. "Completely revised and updated comfort print edition"; Includes indexes. (Rev. and updated ed.). Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson.

Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1996). Nelson's complete book of Bible maps & charts : Old and New Testaments. "Completely revised and updated comfort print edition"; Includes indexes. (Rev. and updated ed.). Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson.

Andrew was originally a disciple of John the Baptist. After the death and resurrection of Jesus, claims are that Andrew preached in Achaia (southern Greece) and Scythia (Ukraine and southern Russia - St. Andrew is the patron saint of Russia), and was crucified at Patras in Achaia. A later tradition describes him as being crucified in a spread-eagled position - hence the St. Andrew's cross of Scotland

During the persecutions of Herod Agrippa I, King of the Jews, in c AD44, the apostle James was beheaded - 'put to the sword' (Acts 12:1-2 following). Before his death, James the Greater as he is known to distinguish him from James, son of Alphaeus, preached in Jerusalem and Judea, modern Israel. A later Spanish tradition is that James preached the Gospel there sometime before his death.

Acts 12:1-2 - "It was at this time (of great famine, possibly around AD44) that King Herod laid violent hands on some of the Church members. James, John's brother, he executed with the sword ....."

3.4 JOHN, BROTHER OF JAMES and SON OF ZEBEDEE - A FISHERMAN

According to John's Gospel (19:26-27), it was probably John who took Mary, the mother of Jesus as his adopted mother. He preached in Jerusalem, and later, as bishop of Ephesus, south of Izmir in western Turkey, worked among the churches of Asia Minor. During the reigns of either Emperor Nero (AD54-68) or Domitian (AD81-96), he was banished to the nearby island of Patmos, now one of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. He was subsequently freed and died a natural death at Ephesus c AD100.

After decades of debate, many scholars accept that the apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation, perhaps as early as c AD68-70, and that he either wrote or provided the material and theology for John's Gospel and the three Letters of John.

3.5 PHILIP

Philip preached the Gospel in Phrygia (west central Turkey) before dying or being martyred there at Hieropolis.

The apostle should be distinguished from Philip the "deacon" or Evangelist, who preached to the people of Samaria and baptised the Ethiopian eunuch, Acts 8:4-8,26-39.

3.6 BARTHOLOMEW, also NATHANAEL

The missionary work of Bartholomew is linked with Armenia (present day Armenia, eastern Turkey, northern Iraq, north western Iran) and India. Other locations include Egypt, Arabia, Ethiopia and Persia (Iran). Traditionally he met his death by being flayed or skinned alive, and then beheaded. Derbent, north of present day Baku on the Caspian Sea may have been his place of martyrdom. Alternatively he may have suffered this cruel fate in what is now India.

3.7 THOMAS DIDYMUS - 'DOUBTING THOMAS'

Thomas may have laboured for the Gospel in Parthia (including modern Iraq and Iran), but stronger traditions link him with southern India. Indian Christians from the west coast Kerala area claim they were evangelized by Thomas, who was later speared to death near Madras on the east coast. Mount St. Thomas, close to Madras is associated with his name.

Apocryphal writings include the 3rd or 4th century Acts of Thomas, and the Gospel of Thomas.

3.8 MATTHEW, also LEVI - TAX-COLLECTOR/PUBLICAN

Nothing definite is known of Matthew's career. After preaching in Judea, different traditions place his missionary work and possible martyrdom in Ethiopia or Persia.

The first Gospel of the New Testament has from the earliest times been attributed to Matthew. This is now disputed by many scholars.

3.9 JAMES, SON OF ALPHAEUS

Known as James the Less, to distinguish him from James the Greater, son of Zebedee, but more likely because of his smaller stature than his relative importance. He, and Jude following, should not be confused with James and Jude (or Judas), the brothers of Jesus. Most commentators treat them as separate sets of brothers.

Tradition claims he first worked in Palestine (Israel) before preaching and martyrdom in Egypt.

3.10 JUDE, also THADDAEUS

Jude is also confused in some sources with Jude, one of the brothers of Jesus. He may have preached in Assyria (eastern Iraq) and Persia (Iran), before joining with Simon the Zealot and being killed with him in Persia.

3.11 SIMON THE ZEALOT or PATRIOT

Simon is referred to both as the "Cananaean" and the "Zealot". The titles may refer to him being "zealous", or to his membership of one of the Jewish revolutionary movements known as Zealots. Nothing else is known about him.

One tradition is that he first preached in Egypt, before joining Jude and travelling to Persia, where both were martyred. Simon may have been crucified or hacked to death.

4. MATTHIAS

As a disciple from the time of Jesus' baptism through to his death and resurrection, and possibly one of the 72 sent out to preach and heal, Matthias was chosen by prayer and the drawing of lots to replace Judas Iscariot as the twelfth apostle, Acts 1:15-26. No more is heard of him in the New Testament, and the various traditions are made more confusing because of the similarity of his name to Matthew's.

He may have preached and been martyred in Ethiopia, Other traditions place him in Judea, and later Cappadocia (eastern Turkey) and the Caspian Sea area.

So as we can see and read from the Bible and other sources the disciples went out and spread the word, Paul went and spread the word, they shared the Good News with Jews and Gentiles everywhere they went. We here more about Paul and his missionary journeys and we learn by them that he went into places he knew and places he did not. He went into areas where the learned people of the day would gather and discuss everything from politics to religionand when he got involved in their discussions he would teach them about Jesus.

Paul knew these people, he knew their manners, their customs, their beliefs and if he didn't he would observe them long enought to find those he knew needed Jesus and he would bring them the gift of good news. Tonight I want to look at his methods. What things were important for Paul to take note of when he came to town?

Can anyone tell me what things Paul would need to take account of before he went into a city or region?

Customs?

Manners?

Type of foods that are forbidden?

Local laws?

Type of government?

Believers?

Jobs?

You see I ask these things for a number of reasons and now I'll show you where I am going.

If you were going somewhere, someone pick a place where you would like to go on a mission trip?

Okay so we are going to ________, what info would we need to know if we were to go there for say a two year mission trip?

Customs?

Manners?

Innoculations?

Type of government?

How will we make a living?

Are there jobs?

Can we preach without fear of persecution?

So now you get the picture, not much has changed since Paul? Not much has changed since Jesus gave the command to go, and make disciples?

So lets get modern, What would Paul need to know if he were going to come to America? How would he get here? Where would he stay? Would he need immunizations? A green card?

Where woould he be most useful?

Let's bring Paul here to the Seattle area. Is there any thing he would need to know, how about our culture? Our government? Our economy? Could we find him a job? Would he just go on tour?

Okay you get the idea so now lets throw you a curve, how do we become missions here in America? How do we teach people about Jesus? What can we learn from Paul in our method of evangelism?

Where can we go to find people who need Jesus and how do we share Him?

Yhe command was Go and make disciples of all the nations, so I challenge you tonight, your mission field is all around you, how then will you share Jesus? You have been commanded how will you respond?

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