Features

• Twenty-eight daily interactive Bible studies which teach mission concepts and put them into action.
• Four insightful "Heart Stories" reminiscent of the Reader's Digest "I Am Joe's Heart" series.
• Discussion questions for use in small group settings.
• Designed for developing ongoing cell groups concerned about mission outreach.
• Excellent visual format, including photos, color coding for each week, and ample space to record personal reactions.

Contents

1. The Mystery of God's Heart
2. Perspectives on God's World
3. Jesus Teaches Us How to Fish for Hearts
4. Hearts Turned Toward the Lost

   Resource List

To Order Challenges of the Heart

This booklet is available for $2.00 from Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod World Mission. Or download it for free from: http://mission.lcms.org/resources/bible-studies/index.htm.

An Excerpt: I Am Merl and Kara's Heart

I am Merl and Kara's Heart. When they first met, I came into existence. As their love developed, so did I. Their wedding day was my birthday.

During their newlywed year, I grew as the Holy Spirit increased Merl and Kara's eagerness to share Christ with others. When they joined their church's Evangelism Committee, I skipped a beat.

Even so, I was still somewhat undeveloped, because I had only a passing interest in evangelism beyond my own kind of people. Whenever Merl and Kara heard about God's global world-wide mission, I sensed a vague longing to get involved, but usually they just avoided the subject, because it made me feel small and ineffective.

Pastor Bauer gave me a boost when he proposed to the Evangelism Committee that the church help resettle a refugee family. Actually, it was the third time Pastor had broached the subject. Each time, the committee, including Merl and Kara, had rejected the proposal out of hand, claiming, "Our church is too small for such a big project."

On his third attempt Pastor said, "You are assuming that we can't resettle a family, but do you know that to be a fact? I challenge you to prove that we don't have the resources to pull it off. Between now and our next meeting, read these Lutheran Immigration Refugee Service materials which explain the whole process. If you can prove it's impossible, I promise I'll never bring the subject up again."

Cautiously, Merl and Kara read the booklets; slowly I felt myself expanding with hope and anticipation. By the next meeting, the Lord had persuaded the entire committee that with His help refugee resettlement was "Mission: Possible."

Robust! That's how I felt as the Vang family arrived and we introduced them to our country. With their appreciation, humility, and hospitality, the Vang's won everyone's hearts, including me. Every visit to their home invigorated me like a brisk jog around the lake. Robust!

After several months, the Vang's asked to study the Bible. Pastor brought Merl and Kara along for the studies, and eventually he delegated the teaching to them. What a challenge! Responding to Buddhism and animism was like pumping iron. I thought I would break, but the strain was worth it. As a result of the exertion my muscles bulged. My joy in Christ's Gospel increased as I saw my new friends steadily come to know, trust, and love Him too.

I used to avoid God's mission, because it made me feel small. Since then I have learned something by heart: I am small, but God is great. And what great things He has accomplished. Just last Sunday morning I was lifted up when all the Vang's were baptized, including Grace, born in America and reborn into the Kingdom.

Like the bush in which God appeared to Moses, I am burning brightly without being consumed, burning for the lost.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.