GROW Global Missions

Introduce yourself

Session 1: God is a Missionary God

The people of this world are deceived.

They are deceived long-term.

Our world is still full of guilt and shame.

Our God is a Missionary God

He took the initiative to find them.

He got to the heart of the matter.

He pioneered a way for restoration.

The seed of Satan is his evil rule over this world

Unfortunately, Christians can be a secularizing force in the world.

The Seed of Eve is the promised Messiah.

The Gospel is not some simple magic equation - it’s a story about man’s predicament and the rule of King Jesus.

This is how we still find the world.

Women are struggling with childbirth and their relationship with men.

Working to provide for one’s own can be miserable.

People trying to cover up their guilt and shame.

We see the Gospel in Gen. 3:21

Our missionary God killed an animal as a sacrifice

He personally clothed their nakedness.

Before redemption, there must always be a sacrifice

Before man could be saved, God had to sacrifice His Son

All religions point to man trying to achieve his own righteousness, but man can only come to God dressed in His righteousness.

Session 2: From Babel to Pentecost to Heaven

Now we’re going to take a trip from where cultures and languages began to where they will ultimately be united in one voice and one song.

We’ll see God’s plan to reach the cultures of the world unfold.

The Tower of Babel - Genesis 11:1-9

God had commanded Noah’s descendants to fill the earth in Gen. 9:1, but the Babelites “settled” (11:2).

Their goals were 1) to make a name for themselves, and 2) to avoid being scattered.

The language is sarcastic - “Come let us build” “Come let us go down and confuse.”

“Nothing will be impossible for them” - The plan of God cannot be thwarted.

Pattern = Settling in - Desire for autonomy - God scatters

Pentecost Acts 2:1-12

Jesus had given them the Great Commission to “GO”

But first they needed to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit

The filling of the Holy Spirit led the apostles to be speaking in other languages, which people understand

This is the reverse judgment from Babel

People weren’t being punished by having their languages confused

People of diverse languages and cultures were being called to attention for the Gospel

Even though God had judged Babel by making many languages and cultures, He loves each and every one of them and has a heart to reach them.

Although these are Jews, they are culturally and linguistically members of many nations; thus, even from the church’s inception as an identifiable community, the Spirit proleptically moved the church into multicultural diversity under Christ’s lordship.1 1 Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Ac 2:9–11). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

They are called dialects which were enabled by the Holy Spirit

These tongues are different than the ones that no one can understand mentioned elsewhere

Some thought they were drunk! The Apostles allowed the Holy Spirit to make a fool out of them by reaching out to the difficult to reach!

The Persecution of the Church in Acts 8:1-4

Stephen is martyred; persecution breaks out against the Christians, led by Paul

4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word1 1 The New King James Version. (1982). (Ac 8:4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

We saw the perfect church in Acts 2:42 , but there was still the command to “GO” and to be witnesses of Christ all over the world

While the persecution is horrible, God uses it to once again scatter people for His purposes.

Fruit: Samaria is reached, The Ethiopian Eunuch, the Ends of the Earth

Pattern = Settling in - Desire for autonomy - God scatters

The Heavenly Scene - Revelations 7:9-10

Clearly these are multiethnic, multicultural, and multilinguistic—people from every nation, tribe, people and language.11 Easley, K. H. (1998). Revelation (Vol. 12, p. 128). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Dressed in white robes (symbolizing being clothed in God’s righteousness) and waving palm branches (equivalent to balloons)

This is a picture of Heaven - Notice that they are still praising God based on their language and distinct cultures.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ has saturated the world

Finally the people of Babel can settle.

Application

Are we too settled in? Do we need a good scattering?

Are we trying to make a name for ourselves? Are we focusing outward to the world?

Are you willing to let the Lord make a fool of you to reach someone difficult to reach?

Can you accept that your culture and your way is not the “right way” and learn to live so that others can receive the Gospel clearly?

The Call of Abraham

The story of the Gospel begins with a special nation from whom God sent His Son as a man to redeem the whole world

At the very beginning of this beautiful story, we find one man who had a very special relationship with God

Abraham came from a pagan background

2 And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served other gods.1 1 The New King James Version. (1982). (Jos 24:2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Abraham was a normal guy

He was the father of many nations and a friend of God and the hallmark of true faith and obedience

Do you want to learn from his example?

12 Now the Lord had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,

From your family

And from your father’s house,

To a land that I will show you.

2 I will make you a great nation;

I will bless you

And make your name great;

And you shall be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,

And I will curse him who curses you;

And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”1

1 The New King James Version. (1982). (Ge 12:1–3). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The Call to leave

Leave your country

Leave your family

Leave your inheritance

The Promise of Revelation

Abraham didn’t even get which direction to go!

When he came to a fork in the road, he let Lot choose - that’s how strongly he clang to God’s sovereignty!

The Promise of Blessing

God is the best caretaker there is

There were times of famine

God saw him through

Sometimes he felt foreign

He didn’t see the fulfillment in his lifetime

But he obeyed!

The Promise of the Messiah

Seed - Jesus Christ Gal. 3:16

“All of the families” mirrors “all nations” in the Great Commission

Abraham’s Response

Abraham believed God

God considered it justifying

The New King James Version Chapter 4

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Let’s compare this to you and me

The Call to leave

Jesus is not afraid to call you to leave something

Matthew 8:18-20

Mark 10:29-30

I don’t believe in “Goers and Senders”

Jesus tells us in His Great Commission to live in a state of “GOing”

The Promise of Revelation

God often fills in the details step-by-step for those who show up

The New King James Version Chapter 5

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

The Promise of Blessing

God is the best caretaker there is

The greatest blessing of the Great Commission is that Jesus promises His presence until the end of time.

The Promise of the Messiah

As Christians, we are part of God’s plan to bring blessing to “all the families of the earth.”

Your Response

You have no choice but obedience (you have just as much choice as you do whether or not to stop at a red light)

How do I know that I’m called?

Head, heart, hands, feet

The Missionary Call of Israel

We mistakenly believe that the Old Testament was completely ethnocentric

But Israel had a special missionary call

God’s heart was the same - to reach all people for His glory

The Jews of the New Testament also believed that God’s call was ethnocentric, which is why they had such a hard time with Jesus and Paul

The Bible doesn’t start with Israel, it starts with everyone.

Gentiles in the Old Testament did come to faith.

Melchizedek, Jethro, Rahab, Balaam

Genesis 12:3 - All the families of the earth were supposed to be blessed through Israel.

Exodus 19:4-6 - A nation of priests and ambassadors.

Priests: stand in between God and the nations, intervening

They rejected that role in Exodus and asked Moses to go between them.

Ambassadors: They were supposed to be a Holy Nation.

Think about the cleanliness and ceremonial laws

Think about how different they must have been

Israel is centrally positioned for everyone to come through

Psalm 67 - God blessed Israel to bless the nations.

Israel’s Dynamic was “Come and See”

Our New Testament Dynamic is “Go and Tell”

Christians are part of bringing Jesus Christ to all of the families of the earth.

Peter said that we are a royal priesthood.

We are also a holy nation of ambassadors for Christ.

God blesses us to bless the peoples’ of the world.

Application

Do you struggle with an ethnocentric mindset?

Cultural differences Hofstedes’ Cultural Dimensions:

high-context/low-context

monochronic/polychronic

high power distance/low power distance

collectivist/individualistic

masculinity, uncertainty avoidance

long term vs. short term orientation

indulgence vs. restraint

Culture: behavior, attitudes, beliefs, worldview

Though the behavior might be similar on the outside, on the inside it could be for completely different reasons

Culture goes deeper than actions and values to the realm of people’s assumptions of what is real.

Are you living like Israel (Come and See) or living like a New Testament Christian (Go and Tell)?

Are you standing in the gap for people of this world?

Are you representing Christ or the United States to the world?

Story of Mexico and different economic levels vs. evangelistic heart

The Heart of Jesus

Group Project

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Break into groups and choose one country that none of you are familiar with from Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Website (https://www.hofstede-insights.com/product/compare-countries/)

Look up the country and compare the different dimensions to those of the United States

Come up as a group and introduce the country and tell about how it is different than the US in these areas

Let us know what different approaches should be taken to witness to people of that country vs. people of the United States.

Jesus as a Missionary

Jesus is our example and our king

He’s our savior and our Lord

He’s our friend and older brother

Jesus is the ultimate definition of a missionary.

1. Jesus left Heaven to come down in a manger.

The New King James Version (Chapter 2)

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

Think of that cultural shock

This doesn’t mean that we as international ministers are leaving Heaven to go to slums… it’s not on the same level.

But we can appreciate what it feels like to go to other cultures.

2. Jesus traveled around preaching the Gospel in neighboring towns.

3. Jesus used imagery and wording that was appropriate for that culture.

If Jesus had come to Las Vegas, what would he use to explain parables to us? EG: Parable of the sower…

4. Jesus made disciples faithfully of imperfect people.

5. Jesus went out of His way to reach people.

The story of Jesus calming the storm - He was on His way to visit one person - the Gadarene demoniac.

6. Jesus’ first priority during His earthly ministry was to the lost sheep of Israel, but His heart was for the Gentiles as well.

The Samaritan woman got one of the greatest sermons of all time all to herself.

The Centurion who had great faith.

7. Jesus knew when it was appropriate to challenge the culture.

Culture Shock

Four Stages of Culture Shock

Honeymoon Stage

The Drop

The Rise

Acclimation

Reverse Culture Shock - an identity crisis.

Can happen from one week out or more

Stronger the longer someone has been gone

Loss of identity - become just one of the normal people

Time has gone on without you

No one cares about your stories

Can lead to depression and falling away from the faith

Let’s take good care of those coming back from the field

Remedy for Cultural Issues

Don’t isolate yourself.

Practice self compassion.

Tell people about what you’re going through.

The real remedy is time.

Living Incarnationally

Are you willing to leave your comfort zone?

Are you willing to adapt to a new culture… even go through the shock?

Americans turn the cat around

Are you willing to challenge culture appropriately?

Will you go out of your way for those who need Christ?

Are you willing to invest in discipling people who will let you down sometimes?

Are there any cultures or people groups that you are biased against, to whom you would never go? That’s a problem!

Is Jesus American?

Take some time to brainstorm and think of some ways that Jesus would challenge the American Christian culture of today.

The Great Commission and Acts 1:8

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

Last words are important

Jesus has the authority.

GO!

Make disciples

There is an end goal in mind

Multiplication not addition

Church Planting Focus

All Nations: Panta ta ethne - all people groups

We go from continents, to countries, to blocs, to people groups

It’s as specific as taxi drivers of pakistani descent in Las Vegas or elderly women interested in shuffle board in British Columbia.

Group Project: go to the Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net)

Pick an unreached people group

Do some research about them

Tell us about them and the need there is to reach them

Baptism and Teaching

The Promise of Jesus’ Presence

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:4-8

Power: dunamis, where we get our word “dynamite”

Witnesses: the word is martyr. In church history, there were so many persecuted witnesses, that the word began to mean someone who died for their faith.

Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Ends of the earth

This is not a template to say do one after the other

This is an outline of how the church began

It means all of these places at the same time, as we go make disciples

Take a look a map and start praying for different areas of the world

God will empower us through His Holy Spirit to reach the world for Christ

Philip, Peter & Cornelius

Group Projects: Two teams: create skits based on the interactions of Philip with the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8) and Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10)

Discuss what we noticed about cross-cultural ministry

Cross-cultural Communication

When it comes to preaching the Gospel to another culture

Realize there are already barriers embedded in the Gospel, don’t add new ones that are not part of the essentials of the Gospel

Example: Acculturation sites in US, Mexico, Canada

Tragedy in Canada with children dying

Realize that the burden is on the communicator - the words you choose are important

examples of mistakes I have made: no shame, etc.

The Epistles: A Global Mindset

Paul was always keeping track of what was going on in the churches all over the world

He wanted churches to pray for each other

He wanted churches to support each other when there was need

Example: famine in Jerusalem

He even inspired some healthy competition when it came to generosity

He told the church at Corinth that the Macedonian churches were being super generous

We need to really care about what is going on with our brothers and sisters all over the world.

We need to be communicating with them on a consistent basis.

We need to visit them to help and encourage them.

Short term trips: relationship focus.

Personal visits.

We need to exercise generosity built on relationship and genuine need.

We need to respect them as equals in Christ.

Further Resources

Go to cclasvegas.org/missions to see our missionaries and upcoming short term trips.

Pray about becoming a full-time international missionary (come speak with me).

Start reaching out to missionaries with the goal of building relationships.

Read the book Serving as Senders by Neil Pirolo

Attend a Kairos course to go even deeper into cross-cultural ministry.

Serve in our missions department for more experience in missions work.