Study – World Mission Focus
This study is designed to present the needs of reaching “unreached people” in other countries.
What is our responsibility to those living in other lands? – particularly the unreached people of the world, who may not have easy access to the scriptures in their own language, cannot attend a church and do not know any believers from their own people group. (n.b. there is a difference between those who haven’t heard the gospel e.g. in the UK and those who have yet to be reached = unreached people groups.
Aim
- To see the Biblical basis for being committed to world mission.
- To consider a personal response to be involved in world mission.
Open in prayer
A. How do you feel when you hear a challenging talk from a mission partner? (3 mins)
Possible answers:-
- Scared God might call me
- It’s for somebody else
- Guilty that I’m not involved.
- Challenged
- Ready to go
- Emotional
- Overwhelmed by the need
- Oh no- not another talk on missions!
- I struggle to answer the question “what about those who haven’t had the chance to hear the gospel – what will happen to them on judgment day?”
B. Watch ‘Tears of the Saints’ with John Piper – Asia Link (6.39 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtQbzRmmMfk Invite response (5 mins)
Some key statements in the video to help share responses:
- “One in ten missionaries are working in unreached people groups”
- 16,000 people groups, 7,000 of them are unreached.
- 86% of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists do not personally know a Christian.
- Almost 1/3 of the world have never had the chance to hear the gospel.
- In the past hour 72 women and children have been sold into slavery; 237 people have died from HIV/AIDS; 869 people have died from chronic hunger; 1250 have died from preventable diseases.
- Challenge – You can do something. “Make the worship of God by all peoples the number one priority in your life”.
- “The history of missions is the history of answered prayer.”
- Disciples make disciples.
C. BIBLE STUDY (20mins)
Why should we be involved in taking the gospel to all people?
- Genesis 12:1-3
What is the promise for all the nations?
How does this encourage you to share the good news?
- Revelation 5:9
What has Christ already done? So what is our role?
- Matthew 9:37
How was “the harvest” described in NT times?
Is this the same today?
- Matthew 9:37
How are the labourers described?
Is this the same today?
- Romans 1:16-18; John 3 :16; John 14:6
How are people rescued? What do they need to hear?
- Acts 1:8; Romans 10:14-15 and 2 Corinthians 5:17-20
What is God’s strategy to reach the nations?
- Matthew 24:14 and Habakkuk 2:14
What is God’s promise and where is our confidence?
D. WATCH JOHN PIPER ON MISSIONS (1.31 mins)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmLdbgGyxl0
John Piper is challenging in stating that in the context of missions that there are only 3 kinds of Christians – “zealous goers” and “zealous senders” and “disobedient” then …
- How can we be zealous goers, either at home or overseas?
- If I am to go overseas – how can I discern God’s call?
- How can I be a zealous sender? – prayer, give, support.
Discuss – 5 mins
See UFM leaflets on “Being a supportive sending church” and “Discerning the call”.
E. Close in a time of prayer (5 mins)
Elinor Magowan, Women’s Pastoral Worker, UFM Worldwide
