Thursday: Church Planting
Read Matthew 10:5-10. Why would Jesus send His disciples out into the surrounding towns and villages without any resources?
It seems strange that Jesus’ disciples would have direct orders to enter their ministry territory with little to sustain themselves. Apparently, Jesus placed His disciples in this situation to teach them dependence on God and also the importance of creating friendships through service to the local residents. These local residents would then value their service enough to provide support for the ministry.
Image © Darrel Tank from GoodSalt.com
Pastor Frank’s local conference asked him to plant a church in a section of a large city that had virtually no Adventist presence. Initially, he had no budget to do so. He consulted a map and determined the boundaries of that section of the city and studied the demographics of the people there. Then he parked his car in the busiest part of the neighborhood and began going from business to business asking questions about life in that area. He visited with political, business, and social agency leaders, asking questions about the greatest needs in that community. He made friends with some of the local residents, who invited him to join a local civic club. In that setting he discovered other leaders who opened the way to rent the annex of a local Presbyterian church. The civic club members provided seed money to buy paint and cleaning supplies to refurbish the annex to use for community services. Interviews with community leaders indicated that health care was an important felt need in the community. Therefore, Pastor Frank brought together a team of volunteers who ran various health-screening programs and follow-up meetings in the annex for community residents. Those who benefited from the screenings and programs paid a modest fee, which helped pay the expenses. Soon a branch Sabbath School was started, and some of the residents began to attend.
Pastor Frank soon learned that one of the best ways to plant a church is to first plant a ministry that meets the needs of the community-and then grow a church through that ministry. This community-based ministry spawned a Seventh-day Adventist church of more than 140 members.
Pastor Frank’s story illustrates what can happen when we follow Jesus’ teachings about reaching our community. How did Jesus live out His own teachings about ministry? Next week we will begin exploring Christ’s ministry method, which “will give true success in reaching the people.” – Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 143.
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I think that this is a great way to send the gospel message,fast and effective.Thanks to technology.
Hi all I need help where I don't understand. In Matthew 10:5-10 jesus told his disciples not to go the Gentile or Samaritan why? And he came for all or does it mean they new him more than the others?
One way to look at that is this, you start an Outreach Ministry with the, backsliders, former friends of your fellowship. Plus he was teaching his disciples and preparing them for their later, larger Ministry. When you go out and encounter those that are no longer active members of your fold you will learn a lot of startling things about your church...Royce
Hi Risper,
In my humble view, the reason for this was that He could see that they were not ready for ministry to the Gentiles YET. We even see that Peter when he was shown the vision recorded in Acts 10:9-16, still even at this point did not understand the concept that no man is to be called unclean, not even Gentiles who were perceived as such by the Jews in general. Also not that in Acts 10:34,35 Peter began to show that he had understood what the vision signified:
"34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him."
Lastly, also note that those of the circumcision (Jews no doubt) were surprised, in the latter part of the chapter, as the Spirit of God fell on Gentiles too (who were uncircumcised):
The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles:
"44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 rAnd 6those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit tjust as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized vin the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days."
I hope and trust that helps! In summary the answer is it was because of prejudice and preconceived ideas about the gentiles which the Jews had, including the disciples, which needed to be worked on first BEFORE they could reach out to their gentile brethren.
Richest blessings!
Risper a number of theories are offered. I do not know what Jesus had in mind. The one possibility is that Jesus's life during His ministry was surrounded by the nations of Israel. He had an attraction as well as distractions that occupied much of His time during His Ministry. His main concern with the 12 disciples was the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matt.10:6.
Risper, I agree with all of these. But to help us all understand Jesus' words better, I'm going to tell you a short story:
A widow woman has 12 grown children, and she loves them all very much. She, like her children, lives a modest life, just enough to get by. One day, she hears of a rich man that wanted to make a difference in the community; so the rich man decides that he will give a $1,000 to the first thousand people that show up at a certain destination on the next Tuesday. Now who does this woman tell the good news to First: her 12 children that would be blessed with this gift to get caught up on bills or to buy something special for their own spouses and children, or do she tell her neighbors First? All of these people could use the gift of $1,000. I would hope that she would tell her 12 children first, then tell her neighbors second, and then leave it up to them as to whether they would go and receive the special gift of the $1,000 (or the special gift of eternal life). I know that if I were one of her children, and she didn't tell me about the money first, I would angrily ask her "Why did you not tell me about the special gift, when you know that I needed it so much".
Many of our families, and neighbors, will ask us this same question at the close of probation, "Why did you not tell us (or warn us) of these prophecies to come? We would have changed if we had known." Some of them perhaps would change, but others, even with all the knowledge of God in the world, would never change. However, we must continue to share God's word, for only the Holy Spirit knows who will be convicted and converted. One way to share: this year put a religious tract or book in with your Christmas or birthday presents to your family, friends, and neighbors; then let the Holy Spirit do His work. Be Blessed everyone!
It is all in the timing. After Pentecost & the stoning of Stephen, then the gospel went to them.
Risper,
Had Jesus gone to the gentiles at that time, He would have aroused the hatred of most Jews. Daniel 9 tells us that the time of the Jew's probation was nearly up, and that the messiah would confirm the covenant with many for 1 week, their final week. This was the last call for the physical children of Abraham, and Jesus would not be distracted from this work, knowing that in time the world would be given the gospel by the church.
He had a few incidents where he taught the disciples about reaching all humanity, but they did not get those lessons until later, which Jesus understood.
Look at the commission in Acts 1:8, and see how they were to finish the work in Jerusalem and Judea during the last half of the 70th week, then they would be dispersed throughout to the "uttermost part of the earth" with their glad tidings of a risen Savior.
the best way to reach the comunity is through health messages because it goes together with the gospel of Jesus.
This is another great example of touching lives in the community and then pointing them to Jesus. Lord give me a ministry in the community in Jesus name . Amen
I have been on many mission trips with Maranatha Volunteers over the past few years. I have seen where the most effective way of teaching others about Jesus, is by meeting their immediate needs. Jesus' method does work
Jesus method and His alone not mans ability will finish the work
Why follow others example when we have a plan from God
The time is short let's follow the method
Can someone please explain how the picture fits in with the lesson? I don't see the connection...
Hi Liz, I didn't choose the picture but my guess is that the study guide refers to health screening programs and the picture is really about high blood pressure - one of the things that appropriate health screening picks up on. In that sense I think it is an appropriate picture to go with the topic.
As a liitle postscript to the idea; I am a strong supporter of the CHIP program and its ability to reach out and touch the community. Hearing the stories coming from those who have learned about healthy living through this program, has been a great experience. I have seen unchurched folk come to the CHIP program and be inspired to live healthily - truly a little bit of heaven on earth for them.
hi Risper, the reason for this was that the Jews were given an allotted time (490 yrs.Dan.9:24)to put their house in order, this probationary period stretched from 457 BC.TO Ad.34.IF they had been transformed and accepted the Messiah THEY WOULD HAVE REMAINED God's chosen people, but they did not do it, so during this period mentioned in Matthew between AD 27-34,the Jews were still the vehicle that had been assigned to be a light to the Gentiles. After they stoned Stephen to death this was in Ad 34.The gospel was then opened to the GENTILES because God had rejected Israel.Read Acts 13vs 46+47
"It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles." Acts 13: 46. This is after the 70 week probation period given to the Israelites
Wow and Hallelujah! I knew one of our Bible scholars out there would be able to give us a biblical answer! I love this community!
Perhaps in application of this incident in today's lesson, it would be a good idea to start our "mission work" in our own community. In our area there is often a view expressed that we should be going overseas. We run lots of "tourist mission" programs, but need to think about the need for local work a lot more.
Fortunately I have seen a resurgence of the idea of "open church" recently. Church is run in a very different way being involved in community activity throughout the week. Some run food-bank activities for the needy. Others have deliberately built their churches as utility halls that can be used by the community during the week. We have a set of buildings that used for a variety of community activities. I am involved in the University of the Third Age - a secular movement that encourages older folk to be active participants in community. They use our buildings for a number of their courses during the week.
There is also a real mission need to make friends with ex-Adventists. One of the main reasons for leaving the church is that they feel that the church has not filled their need for community. They leave the church and lose their friends and get the feeling that nobody really cares (or the ones that do visit harangue them about how wrong they are).
These are only examples of mission fields close to home and it is time that we took the words of Jesus to the disciples to fire our imagination about what we can do near us.
I believe if you go out to minister without your own provisions, you tend to remain with a servant's heart and not one who could just pay and buy everything without giving opportunity for others to also "give". Yes, you become dependent upon God to provide, but also remain humble to faithfully serve the needs of others. All will see that it's not out of your money or might that meets their needs, but through God's orchestration and provision.
hi Liz I see the man on the tight-rope try to balance while the rope which he is walking on is about to break. but if we look @ the bigger picture. the massage there, is Trust in the LORD Jesus Christ don't worry about what you have say or do that the reason Jesus send His disciples out into the surrounding towns and villages without any resources to teach the dependence on God
God will supply every need IF we seek first “the kingdom of heaven and it's righteousness”. Jesus was teaching how to exercise faith in God's “exceeding great and precious promises”.