Friday: Further Study: Discipling the “Ordinary”
Further Study: Read Ellen G. White, The Lifework, pp. 269, 270, in Education; and Laboring for the Middle Class, pp. 564-566, in Evangelism.
In this closing work of the gospel there is a vast field to be occupied; and, more than ever before, the work is to enlist helpers from the common people. Both the youth and those older in years will be called from the field, from the vineyard, and from the workshop, and sent forth by the Master to give His message. Many of these have had little opportunity for education; but Christ sees in them qualifications that will enable them to fulfill His purpose. If they put their hearts into the work, and continue to be learners, He will fit them to labor for Him.
-Ellen G. White, Education, pp. 269, 270.
Discussion Questions:
- Why was Jesus so effective in making disciples among the common people? Why was His message not as readily received among the wealthy and socially elite? How might Jesus’ humble upbringing have contributed to His effectiveness in reaching the hearts and minds of ordinary people? How effective in reaching the average person might Jesus have been if He had come as a royal prince or a wealthy landowner?
- Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 in class together. What are the key points? Read carefully where Paul wrote that God chose
the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty
(NKJV). What does that mean? How, in the context of being a Christian, are we to understand this fascinating idea? In what ways do these verses show just how twisted and perverted the ways of the world are? How can we make sure that we ourselves don’t get caught up in these corrupted ways? - What can our Bible study groups do to become more user-friendly for ordinary people? How might that affect our choice of Bible translations? Why should disciple-makers concentrate on practical subjects rather than theoretical ones, especially when first reaching out to people who are hurting and in need of help?
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Christ spoke to all class of people in society without regard to their social status, bringing His message of love and compassion to all, from the tax collector and pharisee to the blind and lame, reaching all members of society. But His message was well received by the outcasts of society, not the elite or the well off but those who were in sin fell in love with the Lords because of His undying love. But we now as the Lords saints must also without distinction of people must also promote the love of Christs just as He did so that we may make disciples of Christ. Selflessness is the essence of Christianity.
Before Jesus met the people in the morning, he 1st met with His Father very early in the morning and late at night. He gave His best time to His heavenly Father. We in 2014 think part of the Sabbath and one night of the week is so much to give to our Heavenly Father we refused to give Him anything more. We grumble and fret, we boycott and rebel and think we can become like Jesus. We have to spend quality and quantity time with God so He can speak to us and speak through us as He did with Jesus. We have to give our time to pray and fasting and bible study whether by ourselves or with a group of believers.
For our bible study to be user friendly we need to use common language, the language that everyone could understand. During our bible study we need to acknowledge those who are new in the faith so that they can appreciate the lesson at the end of the day and be equipped and understand the word of God. In 1 Corinthians 3:2, Paul teaches us the approach to be taken when teaching the word of God.
When we go to church we worship with several people with different level of learning and different level of faith. It is so useful for every church to have a beginner class for Sabbath school. At prayer meeting we pray and give testimony about what God had done for us. No one can doubt you or me what God had done for us, it is our personal testimony. The more we study our bibles, the more the holy spirit comes to us and interpret the word of God to us. Sometimes people come to church give their version of what the think, but we have to use the "spirit of prophecy" to help us with our studies as much as possible.
Throughout the Bible and beyond the pages of scripture we observe God often bypassing the intellectually mighty and socially elevated to use the simple, the forgotten, and the weak human agents as instruments to advance His cause. People like David, Amos, John the Baptizer, Jesus’ Disciples, William Miller, EGW and others were of the common stock before they were called. Yet Heaven held great interest in their work.
Celebrated teachers and the well-connected are sometimes avoided because they know so much and have so many ties they cannot be taught and have little time for the common folk whom the Spirit would use. Humility requires a teachable spirit and a willingness to entertain the least of us (by whatever measure). Even the well-educated, like Moses and Paul, the Apostle, had to dump their baggage and recognize their weakness (Exodus 4:10; Philippians 3:8).
Our need of the Holy Spirit is never greater than when on account of our God-given abilities we think that God needs us. The intellectually endowed alike to the rich have to be especially guarded against self-sufficiency (Mark 10:23). Blessed are the poor in spirit… (Matthew 5:3). Again blessed are the meek… (Matthew 5:5). These populate Heaven and the Earth made New.
I was reading from the book "Education". Many people teach and will voiced that true education means having post graduate and doctorate studies. While those are good and we have to use our talents to the best of our ability, true edu is the study of the word of God. It does not matter in heaven how brillant and honored we are on earth, we always have to ask ourselves at the end of the day. "Did my education and knowledge used to tell others about the love of Jesus and how He died for us"."Did I led one dying soul to Jesus.