Seven days without God's outreach promises makes one weak. So receive "God's Mission Promises," a weekly Bible study and devotional available by free e-mail subscription.

Features

• Each column focuses on a single Bible promise related to cross-cultural outreach.
• Excellent for use in private devotions or as study material for a small group.
• Includes questions for discussion or private reflection.
• Also includes suggestions on specific ways you can get involved in God's mission.

See the sample columns just a click or two down this page.

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Examples:

For your reading: Rom. 11:17-24

I wish you could have been there the night two hundred Jews attended a Gospel music concert.

On Saturday, January 20, 2001, I attended a dinner and concert entitled "Gospel Meets Klezmer" at Brandeis-Bardin Institute, a Jewish cultural center near Simi Valley, California, USA. That evening was a nonformal seminar on how to reach out to Jews.

Lesson 1. Two Christian women who work at the Brandeis-Bardin Institute invited their home Bible study group to attend the affair. We Christians sat at two tables, an island of Gentiles in a sea of Jews, but we were not uncomfortable. Rabbi Lee Bycel warmly introduced us to the entire assembly. Repeatedly during the meal individuals came up and thanked us for coming.

Principle: Spend time with Jews, and you will find them to be gracious people.

Lesson 2. After the meal, cantors led the group in closing sabbath worship. For fifteen minutes we all stood, held hands, and swayed to the rhythm of awesome Hebrew songs and prayers. Occasionally I recognized the Hebrew words for king, God, Lord, righteousness, and mercy.

Principle: We share the same roots. According to Paul in Rom. 11, the Jews are the original olive tree whom God planted, but who "were broken off because of unbelief" (v. 20). By faith we Gentiles, like wild olive shoots, "have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root" (v. 17).

Lesson 3. Following the worship, a quartet of musicians performed several klezmer songs, which feature the clarinet as lead instrument. Each piece received hearty applause from Jews and Gentiles alike.

Principle: Jewish culture is a treat. Enjoy it with them.

Lesson 4. The Gospel half of the concert was performed by Kevin "Kye" Brackett, an accomplished African-American singer, and the former college roommate of one of the klezmer musicians. Kye began with a song about his grandmother. Then he told the crowd, "I hadn't planned to sing that. I just went where the Spirit led me."

Principle: Establish rapport. The Spirit led Kye wisely. Because everyone could identify with grandmothers, he won their ears and their hearts.

Lesson 5. Kye then sang several Christian Gospel songs that included terms the Jewish audience could relate to, like mercy, atonement, and grace. In addition, these songs unabashedly introduced them to new theological terrain with phrases like, "the blood of Jesus," "there on Calvary," and "amazing grace."

Principle: With his mellow voice and winsome manner, Kye pointed them to Jesus, their Messiah. Without that essential missing piece in their religion, Jews miss out on peace with God (John 5:23; 8:19).

The Holy Spirit will continue to tug at the hearts of those two hundred Jews. Through the witness of people like Kye and you and I, some of them will be led to believe in Jesus as their Messiah, thereby fulfilling this mission promise: "And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.... how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree" (Rom. 11:23-24).

GOING DEEPER

1. How would you have felt at the event described in this column?

2. How can you establish rapport and friendship with Jewish people?

3. What is the olive tree in Rom. 11:17-24? What does it mean to be detached from it? How do Gentiles and Jews become attached to it?

4. Visit www.appleofhiseye.org for information about outreach to Jews.

MOVING AHEAD

Attend services at a local Jewish temple or synagogue.

Read John 20:20-23

"I've had all I can take of Kazakhstan!"

After five months in central Asian, Chet was venting his frustrations to Albert, a veteran missionary, as they drove home one evening.

"I never imagined culture shock would be so unbearable," Chet said. "I'm trying to adjust, but everything is so strange. The language is murder. The customs are bizarre. After spending a few hours out with people, I'm desperate to escape back to my apartment--my own, private, non-foreign corner of sanity. As a missionary, I'm a flop."

"As a rookie missionary, your feelings are normal," Albert said.

"I'm a flop! To add to my shame, I got a letter today from Bonnie, a lady back home."

Chet took the letter from his pocket. "Listen to this: 'When you left for Kazakhstan, Chet, I was impressed by your courage. I thought I could never be so brave, but while I was praying for you, God urged me to befriend an international student. I've spent many hours with Mai Ling from Taiwan. At first, I was excited, but our last meeting was dreadful. As she told me about her culture and Buddhist beliefs, I felt like running away. As a missionary, I'm a failure. So I'm asking you, my missionary hero, for advice.'

"I've got nothing to say to Bonnie," Chet sighed.

Albert chuckled, "How about 'Praise the Lord!'?"

"What in the world for?" Chet wanted to know.

"Because, God is teaching you that missionaries aren't spiritual super heroes."

"I guess nobody is."

"With one exception," Albert corrected. "The only super-hero missionary has some encouragement for you in John 20:21, "Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.'

"Among the Jews, 'Peace be with you' was a typical greeting, Albert explained. "But when the Risen Savior says 'Shalom,' it's more than words. He actually gives what the word means: wholeness, health, hope, and life. You know His peace, Chet. You came to Kazakhstan to share it with Muslims.

"Did you notice that John 20:21 begins with the word "again"? Jesus had already told them "Peace be with you!" in verse 19. The Lord knew His missionaries never outgrow their need to be reassured of His peace.

"One more thing. Jesus says, 'As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' The little word 'as' is important. Jesus doesn't send us out any old way. He follows a model. The model is the incarnation. As a missionary, Jesus left heaven and adjusted to life in our foreign culture. Therefore, when He sends you and me and Bonnie to do the same, He sends us to do something He already has done Himself."

"And done so well," added Chet.

"Chet, you've been tagging along with me to learn to be a missionary. Why not learn from the best? When you read the Gospels, picture Jesus as a missionary serving in a foreign place called Earth. Learn from His example."

"Good idea, Albert. Thanks for listening."

GOING DEEPER

1. Have you ever experienced culture shock? What does it feel like?

2. Have you ever felt like a failure as Chet and Bonnie did?

3. What good does it do to realize that Jesus Christ was a cross-cultural missionary who endured the same challenges you face? See Hebrews 4:15-16.

MOVING AHEAD

Accept the reading assignment Albert gave to Chet. Perhaps start with Mark 1:35-39, Luke 5:29-32, John 13:15-16, and Acts 10:36-38.

Read Mark 16:15-20

The Mission Task Force met in Ted's family room. Nancy led the group as they prayed, learned, and made plans. After the meeting, Ted asked Nancy to stay for a moment. On the coffee table between them sat a globe.

Ted frowned and said, "I don't know if I should continue on the Mission Task Force. I got involved because I love to learn about distant lands and cultures."

"And you have visited several countries," Nancy said. Her eyes scanned the room decorated with objects Ted had bought on his vacation tours.

"Yes, but on the Mission Task Force I've learned that mission work is no vacation. It's a chore. An assignment from Christ Himself. So many people are dying without knowing the Savior. I can't reach them all."

"No, you can't," Nancy agreed.

Ted opened his Bible. "This morning I read Mark 16:15: 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.' Those words rocked me." Reaching out to the globe, Ted gave it a firm twirl. "Nancy, I feel the weight of the lost world on my shoulders, and I'm no Atlas. That's why I want out."

Nancy didn't respond till long after the globe had stopped spinning. "Ted, you may quit the task force under one condition. Set aside an hour to study the verses that come after the verse which shook you up, and ponder this question: Who's job is this?"

"Okay."

"When will you do it?"

"Tomorrow morning at seven."

"Good. I'll be praying for you during that hour."

The next morning Ted made three entries in his Bible study journal. Let's take a peek.

1. Mk. 16:16: "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved." Notice it doesn't say, "Whoever is wholeheartedly dedicated to mission work will be saved.' Therefore, I'm saved by faith, not by works, not even mission works. That's a relief!
2. Mk. 16:17: "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons", plus other marvels, like speaking new languages, surviving poison, and healing the sick. God is so concerned about reclaiming His lost children that He works mighty signs. Even still today!
3. Mark 16:20: "Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it." What a way for Mark's Gospel to end! Disciples are still going out, and the LORD is still working with them. I've been miscounting attendance at our Mission Task Force meetings. I'd better add three: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It 's their mission after all, not mine.

When you feel overwhelmed by the immensity of evangelizing the entire world, remember this great task is God's task. He simply grants you the joy of working by His side.

GOING DEEPER

1. From your experience, how do mission "marching orders," like Mark 16:15, make you feel?

2. Consider Ted's three journal entries. How do they offer you hope in your mission context?

3. What signs of "the Lord working with us" have you personally experienced or heard reported from mission fields?

MOVING AHEAD

Select one small mission or witnessing task to do. In prayerful meditation, picture a seasoned farmer allowing his grandchild to sit on his lap and "drive" the tractor as he tends his fields. This is how the Lord will work with you.

Read Isaiah 25:6-9

I suggest your church hold a missions fair on Easter Sunday. Get missionary speakers, displays, and flags. The whole enchilada. Hey, that gives me an idea--serve ethnic foods for the Easter breakfast!

Now, this idea is not as wacky as it sounds. Easter is a perfect date for a mission festival. I'll defend my proposal with a riddle: When is a wake not a wake?

At a wake people mourn the death of a loved one. Often it includes a good meal to sustain the bereaved. Even if you don't call such a funeral gathering "a wake," you probably have been to one. The experience is bittersweet:

• Aching over the loss of a loved one.
• Seeing relatives and friends.
• Sharing stories from the past.
• Struggling with your own mortality.

All people in every land wrestle with the mystery of death. Your daily activities probably do not resemble those of:

• a sugar cane farmer in Haiti,
• a factory worker in China, or
• a seamstress mother of six in Algeria.

But, barring Christ's return, sooner or later you all will experience the same event--your death. We will all die in the last act!

In answer to our mortality, the God of the Bible promises hope beyond the grave:

"On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine--the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; He will remove the disgrace of His people from all the earth" (Is. 25:6-8).

This jubilant banquet is the wake to end all wakes. The repeated phrase "on this mountain" points us to Calvary where it seemed death had devoured Christ. But then He "swallowed up death." Forever!

So, when is a wake not a wake? When the dead in Christ awake to the eternal feast in heaven. Riddle solved!

Still, where Christ is not yet known, death remains a riddle. Hindus spreading the ashes of their dead on the Ganges don't know the answer. Nor do the millions who serve--and at times fear--the spirits of their dead ancestors.

When Jesus attended the wake of Jairus' daughter, He turned it into a resurrection celebration! In Isaiah 25, God promises similar joy to every ethnic group on earth. No matter what their skin tone or facial features, the Lord promises to wipe away the tears of all who trust in Christ for salvation. Every time a previously unreached people group embraces the Gospel and begins to celebrate funerals with resurrection hope, God's mission promise in Isaiah 25 is fulfilled once again.

So start planning your Easter Sunday mission festival now.

GOING DEEPER

1. What are common features of funerals in your culture? Describe funeral customs you know about from other cultures.

2. Do the promises in Isaiah 25:6-8 apply to all people, whether they trust in the Triune God or not? Be sure to look at verse 9.

3. Revelation 19:6-9 describes a banquet similar to Isaiah 25:6-9. In what ways can God use you "to pass out the engraved invitations" to people both near and far?

MOVING AHEAD

Share the thoughts of this e-column with someone grieving the loss of a loved one.

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