Multiculturalism is a recent term, first appearing in print in the 1960s, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. For many ancient peoples, there were only two categories of humanity—us and them, our tribe and not our tribe. For Greeks, all non-Greeks werebarbarians. For Jews, all non-Jews were Gentiles. As we have seen already, the success … Continue reading –>
From Jerusalem and round about as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ (Rom. 15:19, NKJV). What crucial element for any kind of mission work can we find in this text? See also 1 Cor. 1:23; 1 Cor 2:2; Gal. 6:14; Phil. 1:15-18. One thing is certain about all of Paul’s missionary endeavors: no … Continue reading –>
Read Acts 9:1-22, the story of Paul’s conversion. How was this experience linked to his missionary calling? See also Acts 26:16-18. Right from the start, it was clear that the Lord had intended to use Paul to reach both Jews and Gentiles. No other event in Paul’s preparation as missionary and theologian compared in importance … Continue reading –>
Personality traits are an individual’s typical responses to surrounding domestic, cultural, or educational circumstances. Character is the combination of traits, qualities and abilities that make up what sort of person an individual is. Read Acts 9:1, Philippians 3:6, Philippians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 15:9,1 Corinthians 15:10; 1 Timothy 1:16; Galatians 1:14; and 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. What do these texts … Continue reading –>
Saul was born in Tarsus, an important town on the trade route between Syria and western Asia (Acts 22:3). Tarsus was a multicultural center of industry and learning and home for a short time to Rome’s most famous orator and senator, Cicero. Saul’s parents were Diaspora Jews (Jews who were not living in the land … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 9:1, Phil. 3:6, 1 Cor. 15:10, Acts 9:1-22, Acts 26:18, Gal. 2:1-17. Memory Text: But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer … Continue reading –>
Cambodia – by Chhenghorn Thean That night she sold five books for $5 each. She was convinced that God is the true God. But a month later her husband told her to stop selling books. Your work is bringing shame on me, he said. Cheng’s husband demanded that she stop believing in Jesus and stop … Continue reading –>
Ellen G. White, The Gospel in Samaria, The Acts of the Apostles, pages 103-111. When they were scattered by persecution they went forth filled with missionary zeal. They realized the responsibility of their mission. They knew that they held in their hands the bread of life for a famishing world; and they were constrained by the … Continue reading –>
Philip, clearly, was anointed to do the Lord’s work. Commentators are divided on what the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip(Acts 8:39) means, whether he was simply told to go to Azotus (Acts 8:40) or was miraculously transported there. Either way, the crucial point for us is that Philip was a man surrendered to … Continue reading –>
According to Acts 8:26-39, Philip’s next contact was with the Ethiopian treasury administrator, bringing mission another step towardthe end of the earth (Acts 1:8, NKJV). Philip was the link between Samaria and the Gaza mission. From Samaria, north of Jerusalem, Philip was called to Gaza, which is south of the city. His work in the … Continue reading –>
