THE METHODIST CHURCH IN ZIMBABWE
2022 MISSION MONTH BOOK
DATES: 1-31 July 2022
THEME: Waiting Upon the Lord (Isaiah 40:31)
Click or tap on the day number of your choice to jump down the page to the notes for that day:
FOREWORD
The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe has set aside the month of July as Mission Month. This means that all our focus will be on mission. However, our point of departure as Christians is the understanding that mission belongs to God. We do not in any way talk of mission of the church, but God’s mission for the church. In this way we understand that we are just participants in God’s mission and that participation is an act of faith. Whatever the church does belongs to God, therefore whatever we do, whatever we say, and wherever we go should be rooted in God. Evangelism is one of the essential components of God’s mission. In this regard, as members of the Christian community we commemorate this year’s Mission Month fully aware that we have got the mandate as is spelt out in the ‘Great Commission’ of Jesus Christ – “Go ye therefore … (Matthew 28:16-20). Each one of us is challenged to make a self-introspection as to whether the zeal to make disciples or invite others to Christ is still felt in us. The church is in the right direction on this mandate, and that is why it has made the ‘growing of membership’ as ‘Pillar 1’ of the ‘Strategic Plan’; what is left is for each one of us to go out there and bring at least one lost soul back home. This month is a great opportunity for that endeavour. In a bid to make sure that we successfully participate in this important mission, this booklet has been prepared so as to stimulate Christian growth as it is only those who have spiritually matured who can successfully carry out spiritual tasks. The booklet has also been prepared to stimulate involvement of every member of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe in God’s mission for the church. Participation in this special mission is for everyone. In this regard, each one of us, the young and the adults, has to rightly position him/herself and play Christ-assigned role in that right position so that this year’s commemoration won’t be just a routine.
As we also get involved in this mission, we do so having the conviction that our participation in God’s mission is also an act of love. When God so loved the world, he gave His only begotten Son for the world. Love is not love unless it is accompanied by ‘giving’. In the same spirit, this month is also a period of gathering resources towards God’s mission for the church. A well-resourced church is assured of successfully carry out God’s mission. This is the right time we all come out of the shells and be visible. A platform has been created; let us rise up and be counted among the faithful participants in God’s mission.
Revd. B. Chinhara
(Mission Director)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Research and Publication is grateful to the church for the affordance of coordinating and producing church literature, of which this publication is a product of one of such given tasks. This is coming at the backdrop of the truth that Methodists are ‘reading people’, and that culture has been inherited from the founding father of Methodism himself – John Wesley. However, one can only read something that has been written. In other words, ‘No Writing, No Reading’. In this regard we want to extend our profound gratitude to Revd. Dr. Chigova, Revd. Andrew Chiyanike and Revd. Nyembesi Goredema for preparing this booklet for the church. May God richly bless them.
This booklet was translated into Tonga, Shona, Kalanga and Ndebele by:
Revd. T. Mleya
Revd. L. Mudenda
Revd. D. Muleya
Revd. J.S. Mudenda
Revd. E. Munkuli
Mr. B. K. Moyo
Miss Wendy Moyo
Miss Moleen Sibanda
Revd. M. Matata
Revd. E. Tembo
Revd. M. Munikwa
Revd. G. Chanakira
Dr. C.T. Tenga
Mrs. B.G. Dube
Ms. Thokozani Dube
Mrs. Linda Dube
Mr. B. Ntaisi
Revd. C. Nunu Ndlovu
Revd. S. Ndiweni
Mrs. Lizzie Tshuma
Mr. A. Mnkandla
Mrs. S. Tshuma
We also appreciate the work that was done by Revd. L. Mutendzwa in editing the master copy. May he, and all translators be blessed abundantly. Our District and Circuit Research and Publications teams continue to be our eyes and ears on the ground. They are important to us. Last, but not least, we continue to thank our Connexional Bookshop for always making sure that this treasure reaches all corners of the Methodist community, locally and abroad, as both hard and soft copies. It is our sincere appeal that each one of us buys a personal copy so that we will be able to remain effective and keep the fire burning.
May God bless people called Methodists.
Revd. O. Chagudhuma
(Research and Publications Coordinator)
DAY 1
Topic: A waiting World! A willing church
Readings: Ephesians 4:17-18, 2 Peter 2:20
The mission of the Christ calls the Church to go into the world, to convert the world to Christ. The world to which the Church is sent to is ensnared, entangled, blinded, ignorant, and in denial of the existence and power of Christ to save them. The world that we live in is waiting for hope, and that hope can only be found in Jesus Christ. Many souls in the world are waiting and need to hear the good news of the Gospel. People are choosing destructive paths, and life styles that make them drift from the life giving ways of God, they have therefore become thirst and hungry for the word of truth.
It takes a willing heart to accept to be used by God to seek and save the lost. It takes a willing heart to offer to go out for the sake of those who are without the light of Christ in this dark world. The concern of a willing Church is to spread love in a world full of hate and malice and to make believers have sincere faith in God. The church must be willing to reach out to the sick and heal them, and must be concerned with the senseless living which has become characteristic of the world today. A willing Church is prepared to suffer for the sake of the unbelievers (2 Timothy 1:11-12), that they too may be saved.
The services of a willing church should be sacrificial, i.e. believers should be ready to lay down their lives for the sake of others just like Christ gave his life for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Disasters, wars, famines, murders and disease have made the world loose hope but continue to wait in anticipation for their salvation. The Church should be willing to move out of its walls to meet the needs of these people who are in distress. A willing Church is not selfish but is concerned with the burden and the distress of others. To be a willing Church in a waiting world means to be ready to go and save the entangled world (1 Peter 2:20); to make oneself available for God’s mission without coercion but out of love for humanity.
Discussion
1 How should the church respond to the world’s sinful nature?
DAY 2
Topic: Approved to Proclaim
Readings: 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, 2 Timothy 2:14-18
Participating in the proclamation of the Good News of the Gospel by evangelizing to seek the lost in this world is a tremendous privilege. Paul describes how one day there will be a scrutiny of our work, here, some will be rewarded while some will experience loss of reward depending on how they built (1Corinthians 3:14-15). The Greek word for ‘proven’ or it can be translated ‘approved’ was used for a metal smith to determine quality or worthiness. In the same way our faithfulness with God’s word will be tested, and some will be approved and some will not. Some will hear “well done good and faithful servant” and others will hear “wicked and lazy servant” (Matthew 25:23, 26).
Those who are approved to proclaim the good news of Christ continually teach fundamental doctrines. Paul calls Timothy to remind people of “these things” and these refer to the essentials of the gospel. In proclaiming the gospel of Christ, there is always temptation to be novel and fresh, however, there are some things God’s people need to hear every time. As the Church does its outreach, reaching people with the Good News, it should bear in mind that people need to hear the essential doctrines of the Gospel, the full humanity and deity of Christ, the atonement, the importance of righteous living and spiritual discipline.
Approved workers have a strong awareness of God’s presence, i.e they are aware that God is watching over their work and deeds. Approved workers should therefore watch over their conduct and over all facets of their life. One thing that approved workers should strive to avoid is quarrel. The writer of the letter to the Ephesian Church warns them not to wrangle over words which literary means word battles, for this writer, these lead to ruin even the hearers. Approved workers are faithful Bible teachers, who are also very untiring in doing God’s work. They try all they can to teach the truth of the Gospel and avoid false teaching. We are given an example of two false teachers, Hymenaeus and Philetus, who taught that the resurrection was already past and by so doing they had overthrown the faith of most of their hearers.
Discussion: What are the qualities of an approved worker and what types of skills must he/she develop to effectively interpret scripture?
DAY 3
Topic: Arise go and Preach
Reading: Jonah 1:1-2
The book of Jonah is different from other prophetical books in that it has no prophecy that contains a message, the story is the message. The book and message of Jonah teaches us that God loves all people and desires to share his forgiveness with them. God calls us to arise and go into the world, the world that is waiting for salvation through Jesus Christ. It is however important to know that the first thing is for us to get approval from God as workmen and women before we arise to go and preach the Good News to the world. Just like Isaiah who first received cleansing and approval before availing himself to say, ‘here am I send me’ (Isaiah 6:1-8), the Church and individual Christians should also receive the same approval and purification before taking the Gospel of salvation into the streets and market place.
God had a specific call for the prophet Jonah to arise and go to Nineveh. In like manner He has specific tasks for us today and calls us to arise and go into the sinful world. In the New Testament, Jesus calls his followers to arise and go into the world to preach the gospel to every creature, and baptize those who believe and accept the Gospel and to condemn those who do not (Mark 16:15-16). The prophet Jonah knew exactly what the Lord wanted him to do but he refused to obey. God is persuading us to serve him but sometimes like Jonah we refuse to accomplish the tasks set before us. When we disobey God’s commands as He sends us on His mission, we move away from his presence like the prophet Jonah who decided to divert his route to Tarshish. We have a mission as Christ’s followers. We must obey the call to go and serve people who are in different situations that require redemption through the grace of God and love of Christ.
Sometimes, as Christians, we fear to take up different tasks that God calls us to fulfil because we feel inadequate and unprepared. Sometimes we are scared of the challenges we are to face in the mission field. As Christians, we must understand that we do not decide to go into the mission field, but God sends us. The mission is His, more than it is ours. God gives us strength, courage and resources for the accomplishment of the many tasks that He calls us to do.
Discussion: Why do Christians today fail to heed God’s call for them to go out and serve?
DAY 4
Topic: Calling all nations before the Throne
Reading: Revelation 7: 9-17
The Church is called to be inclusive in its evangelism drive. It should seek to save all and bring them to Christ; before the throne of the Father. The call to discipleship is a call for everyone; the young and the old, the rich and the poor, men and women, religious and secular, to abandon their ways so that they worship the one true God revealed in the person of Jesus. The God of the Christian Church opens wide his arms to accept all people despite who they are or where they come from. Jesus spent time with everyone and never excluded others. He sat with those considered outsiders and befriended any who were interested. Even little children, who some thought were too young, fit perfectly on his lap. Jesus was also known to hang around the unpopular, the sick, the sinners, not for any other reason but because he cared about them.
The reading from Revelation 7: 9-17, fast forwards to the end of the tribulation. It talks of an innumerable number of Jews and Gentiles who have trusted Christ. The multitude represents every nation, tribe, people, group and language. The passage is a reminder to the Christian Church that all people are precious to God, and no race, ethnicity or background is exempt from his love (Galatians 3:28). The message of the gospel is intrinsically opposed to racism or ethnic hatred (1 John 4:20). The multitude described in the passage ascribes glory to God and the Lamb. John could not tell where the great multitude came from, but the elder identifies them as saved survivors of the great tribulation and further explains that they are now safe in God’s presence, and will never hunger again or thirst or be scorched by the sun. It is not clear whether this multitude is in heaven or on earth, those who believe the multitude are in heaven note the reference to God’s throne in heaven and the Lamb’s presence too (Revelation 5:6).
Our aim as Christians is to bring all to Christ. We should make a call to bring all to Christ and the Gospel that we preach should seek to save the lost. Sometimes as Christians we treat other people as outcasts, as unworthy and these have no place in our Churches. Today’s lesson is meant to conscientise the Church that its mandate is to seek the lost without segregation because God cares for all. Many times as Christians, we have made many people feel unwelcome and unworthy in the Church. We are sent out to seek the lost, the Owner, who is God, wants them home. It is not expected of us to throw away those that we think are not worthy. God has sent us to preach the Gospel of love and not of condemnation.
Discussion: What can the Church today do to make worship more inclusive for all?
DAY 5
Topic: To complete the task in our lifetime
Readings: John 9: 4
The God who created and called us also assigns to us many obligations, many responsibilities, many tasks and assignments. The greater part of our lives is made up of duty, the duty that we should accomplish while we live, when we still have life and energy. Each generation is called to do God’s work, addressing the needs of the people during their time. Some are called to serve God during natural disasters and catastrophes, during life threatening situations. God expects these duties to be completed while people still have the ability. The Church today is called upon to preach hope during the threats of the Corona virus, to preach the love of Christ in the face of devastating wars and famine across the globe. The response to the call to duty must be answered and completed by our generation.
Jesus identifies the disciples with himself in the redemptive work of his mission, that is uses ‘we’. The disciples were facing a striking instance of the manifestation of the power of evil. Jesus and his disciples were called upon to manifest the power of God, to counter the power of evil and darkness. They must gird themselves to the task. The response of Jesus to his disciples about who had sinned, the parents or the blind man, shows that his concern was on what should be done to save the man than waste time finding who to blame. Our concern as Christians today should be to save people from their toxic situations and that should be done while we still have time.
When Jesus says, “We must do the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work”, he was merely adopting the phrase ‘night and day’ as a customary image of for life and death. Death puts an end to all human activity on earth. The sun that was sinking to the west came as a reminder that day was passing away and that night was approaching. He will not be long in the world (John 9:5). The night that was coming would mark the close of his human work, and for him the shadows of evening were already falling on him. We are encouraged as the Church today to serve God while we still can, because the time is coming when we will not be able to serve, when night falls on us (John 21:18).
Discussion
1 Procrastination is the thief of time. What does this proverb mean?
2 What can be the reasons for procrastination when it comes to fulfilling God-given tasks as Christians?
3 Let us share examples of people whom we think are regretting the missed opportunities as a result of procrastination.
Thought of the day
May God help me to be pro-active before night comes.
DAY 6
Topic: Declare His glory among nations
Readings: 1 Chronicles 16: 23-24, Psalm 96: 3-13
The church of God expands when those who have been saved declare to the unbelieving world the good that He has done. Sharing with others the experiences of the goodness of what God has done encourages them to want to worship our God. Proclaiming God’s glory to the people of the world is not only a command but the overflow of joyful worship. When God blesses and uplifts us, He expects us to share the Good News with the world, this will help those who are still in situations we were in to have hope that they too will be saved from the vices of their situations. The greatness of God that we are to share with the world is manifested daily on earth, in the fields, in the seas, and even in heaven. God is active on earth and is performing wonders among his people, and these marvellous deeds should be declared to the world. It is the duty of Christians as ambassadors of Christ to tell the world of His mighty deeds.
By declaring the glory of God to the world, we are telling them that He is the only true God and that there is no other, the Creator of Heaven and earth and forgiver of our sins. We ought to proclaim His name among nations for who He is, and what He has done, for all the amazing and wondrous things. We declare the goodness of God to the world when we confess our sins, when we do so put God’s glory on display by declaring his righteousness. We must forgive others who wrong us, doing this is an acknowledgement that we are also forgiven sinners. We will be declaring to the world that our God is a forgiving God. Besides sharing our salvation story with others, we must produce fruit, we must strive to live a life that shows we have been saved. Producing fruit is when the world looks up to us for direction as far as Christian life is concerned.
We must always give thanks to God for everything; by thanking God we are declaring His goodness to the hearers. Trusting in God in whatever situation we find ourselves in is also testimony that He has been good to us so we will always trust in Him and shall never be moved. Trusting in God means we are not ashamed to be called his, the trust that we show to the world comes from what we have witnessed, when He was with us we walked in the valley of the shadow of death, when He saved us from drowning in the world of problems and from being consumed by the fires of this world. We ought to be open about our faith for we know the journey that we have travelled with Him and He has not abandoned us. By leading a prayerful life, we declare the glory and goodness of God before the world. As Christians we must always pray because we are convinced our answers come from God. We do not depend on our strength but we depend on His saving grace.
Sometimes as Christians we communicate greed, envy, selfishness, immorality, disorderliness, strife, abuse of authority, and many other ills rather than the glory of God. What we say and do in declaring the glory of God will bring many people to worship God, at the same time what we do and say that is negative and does not declare the goodness of God, will push people away from the saving grace of God.
Discussion:
1 Let us share our testimonies on God’s mighty works in our lives?
2 Are we proclaiming his salvation or our own righteousness?
3 What can we do so that our testimonies reach people not just in words but in the power of the Holy Spirit?
Thought of the day
Is my life a testimony of God’s love?
DAY 7
Topic: Called to be witnesses of Christ
Readings: Acts 20:23-24, Acts 26:16-18
Every Christian stands as a witness of God in Jesus Christ, though others are commissioned special witnesses. We all have to witness for God at all times, in all things, and all places. God enables the weak and the simple to declare His Gospel. It is the God’s desire that every human being speak in His name and of his Son Jesus Christ. A witness is someone that has seen something taking place and is there to tell others what he saw. We are all called to be witnesses for Christ, to present a testimony about the truth that we have experienced and heard. We are all commissioned to share the Good News and to seek the lost (Matthew 28:19). John Wesley held the belief in the Priesthood of all believers, and today the people called Methodists, the world over, hold on to that doctrine, that anyone can be a priest of God despite the fact that they are clergy or lay people.
As witnesses for Christ we are expected to continue as faithful witnesses despite the challenges and threats that come with the task. Having been commissioned as a witness for Christ, Paul states that he does not care and is not moved by setbacks but is preoccupied with the need to complete his work as a witness with joy (Acts 20:24), the work that he was sent to do by Christ himself (Acts 26:16-18). God wants us to be His witnesses so that the people that we witness to experience his power, the power that changes their lives. The people that we witness to begin to experience peace and the love of God; they receive God’s direction and purpose for their lives, and have an assurance of eternal life. The above are the benefits that the people we witness to get when they accept to follow the ways of God and our aim is that they get these benefits, that they become children of God and are also able to keep their bodies as temples of God.
Paul says he is contented when the people that he preaches to get the benefits of believing in God. He is prepared to celebrate when souls are saved through his preaching. As a witness he does not care about his pain but he wants people to be saved and he feels he has achieved a lot. The Church today should not be concerned about its bruises and humiliation in carrying out its mandate as a faithful witness of Christ, but its concern should be on the lost that make their way back to the saving ways of God. We can only celebrate as witnesses if we have love for the lost, when they are found we have joy, when the wounded are healed we celebrate and when sinners repent we rejoice. Paul as a faithful witness had love and concern for the world that he was sent to as a witness. He was not jealous of their home coming. Most of us are filled jealous when new believers join the Church. We commit the blunder of viewing them as competitors for the positions of the physical Church. This is totally the opposite of the Pauline mentality. Paul would welcome them with Joy.
Discussion:
1 Do we celebrate when new members join the Church through our witnessing for Christ?
2 Do we feel comfortable when new believers become more active in the church than we do?
3 Have we ever seen new believers posing threats by performing beyond the levels of the so-called owners of the church?
4 How best can we eliminate the attitude which feels always threatened by the coming of new believers?
Thought of the day
Lord God, help me cultivate the culture of celebration when, at least, one soul is saved.
DAY 8
Topic: God loves the world
Readings: Isaiah 4:29-31, John 3:16
Our world is filled with bad news, cruelty, wars, sickness, pain, shame, tragedy, and death. With the prevalence of the above perverse and immoral things, many people, including Christians, wonder if God still loves us. God proved His love for us when Christ died on the cross, and shed his blood to save us. Anyone can tell us they love us by word of mouth but God showed us He loved us. God loves us with everlasting love. Many people feel too far gone but God brings them back; others feel overburdened but God can restore their joy; still others feel broken but God specializes in bringing together the broken pieces. Many people have lost sight of the precious promises of God because of tragedy and sorrow they see around them. They always raise the question that if God is love, then why does He permit such evil to plague the children that He loves?
When people have more problems than solutions, they doubt both the presence and love of God for them. Isaiah 40:12-31, describes God’s power to create, His provision to sustain, and his presence to help. God is almighty and all-powerful. He cares for us personally; no person or thing can be compared to God. However, even the strongest people get tired at times, but God’s power and strength never diminish. Hoping in the Lord is expecting that his promises of strength will help us to rise above life’s distractions and difficulties. Though people question the love of God during trying times, John 3:16 brings the entire Gospel into focus. God’s love is not static or self-centred; it reaches out and draws others in. God sets the pattern of true love which should be the basis for all love relationships. When you really love someone dearly you are willing to give freely to the point of self- sacrifice.
God paid dearly with the life of His Son, the highest price He could pay. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, and then offered us the new life that he had brought for us. When we share the gospel with others, our love must be like that of Christ; we must be willing to give up our own comfort and security so that others might join us in receiving God’s love. Martin Luther, a German theologian, once said, “If I were as our Lord God, and these vile people were as disobedient as they now be, I would knock the world in pieces”. But God loves the world; He has unreckoningly thrown in His all, despite the world being sin sick and wayward. How God can love us as He does, He being what He is, we being what we are, why He does not shrink back from us is difficult to understand. His love for us cannot be compared, He stills loves us even when the events of life seem to go against us.
Discussion
a Are you able to prove that God is not silent when His people suffer?
Thought of the day
In the midst of all catastrophes, He remains God and His loves endures forever. Glory be to God! Hallelujah!
DAY 9
Topic: You are the light of the world
Readings: Isaiah 49:6, Matthew 5:13-16
As believers we are the conscience of the world in which we live. Believers should not allow this world to force its values upon them. By referring to his disciples as light in the world, Christ said instead of hiding our testimony, lowering our light and hiding it away, we are to shine in dark times and push out the darkness. The light that is to come from believers is not their light. God is not expecting us to present ourselves as the answer to people’s problems; our light is reflected light, the light of the world is Jesus Christ (John 9:5). When we live our lives in close relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ, those around us will see Christ shining through us not us. When people of this world see us, they should see Christ, the Light. As believers, we are the guiding harbour of Christ.
If we live for Christ, we glow like lights, showing others what Christ is like. We hide our light when we keep quiet when we should speak, when we go along with the crowd that is following the ways of the world. We sometimes, as believers, let the effects of sin dim our light. When we live lives tainted with sin our light becomes dim and cannot attract new believers to Christ. We must also explain our light to others. Christians must tell others the source of their light. Christ is the source for righteous living, and the world must know the source of purity and righteousness. The believer’s light becomes dim if he becomes or is not concerned with the needs of other people. Our good works will be seen by those who are in the darkness of world systems in which we live, the true reflections of the light of the world in us will draw all people to Christ.
When we live our lives according to the beatitudes of Jesus, we are holding out to others the light of life. If Godly men and women stand up for the truth, others will also gain the courage to stand up against the darkness. By growing in relationship with Christ every day, following him step by step, we partner him in spreading the truth of the Gospel. When light is brought, it dispels darkness, it enables people to see what they are doing. As ambassadors of Christ on earth, we shine even if we do not know it. People can see the good deeds which are like light and they give glory to God. The light in Christians shines so that sinners who see the light are forced to abandon their evil deeds to follow Christ.
Discussion
a How can you share your faith with others in the midst of your circumstances?
Thought of the day
Am I shining? Lord, help me to be connected to the source of light.
DAY 10
Topic: Prayer unlocks doors to mission
Readings: Colossians 4:2-4, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
The mission of the Church is about going out to where God’s people are. When taking the Gospel to the people, those taking it face rejection and opposition, so they need strength to help them stand firm. We serve a God of open doors, and when He opens a door then no devil can shut it. Through prayer we ask God for protection and strength in mission work; prayer dispels fear for those going out to reach people in their different situations. Prayer helps soften hearts and examine our motives so that the kingdom can be seen through our work which we carry out among communities. Open doors include more than just access to homes and individual groups, individual hearts also need to be open. The opening of doors for mission cannot be taken for granted, as already alluded; people embarking on mission work to serve in very difficult situations and in some cases there is resistance to the Good News of salvation.
Beneath the surface of the routine of daily life, a fierce struggle among invisible spiritual powers is being waged. Our main defence is praying that God will protect us from the evil one and that He will strengthen us. Paul asked for prayer that he could proclaim the Good News about Christ clearly, and we can request prayer to do the same. No matter what approach to evangelism we use, whether emphasizing life-style and example or building relationships, we should never obscure the message of the Gospel. The Church today must pray for boldness to overcome fear and embarrassment of failure; pray against evil forces that hinder the spread of the gospel. Obstacles must be removed to allow God’s word to spread rapidly and freely. The supernatural boldness is necessary for those spreading the Good News. It is this boldness that opens hearts.
We should pray for stamina to encounter antagonism which is very rife in the mission field. Doors to mission will only open if those taking the Good News have the strength to persevere even when it seems the mission is fruitless. Perseverance helps to open doors, so the Church must pray so that it becomes one of their attributes. The Church should pray that God delivers hearers of the Good News from spiritual blindness to the light of the Gospel. Besides praying that the hearts of the hearers of the Gospel soften, and are receptive and open to the good news, the Church should pray against any barrier that would keep people from following Christ. The barriers to smooth reception of the Gospel include those that are personal, family, and even social barriers. The hearts for the lost, hearts that are resistant to the word of God, can be transformed through prayer.
Discussion
1 How can we improve our missionary strategies?
Thought of the day
When God opens the door, who can shut it? Absolutely nobody. God, help me see open doors always.
DAY 11
Topic: Reaching a new generation in the new millennium
Readings: John 4:1-26, Jeremiah 1:7-8
The Good News of salvation should be for everyone and for every generation. As the Christian Church marches on, there are generational gaps that are created and these lead to misunderstandings between the older generation and the new generation. The older generation accuses the new generation of adopting practices that are deemed incompatible with the acceptable traditions and style of worship in the Church. The Church of the new millennium must be committed to transformational intercession more the confrontational condemnation. The young generation have their own ways of worship, for instance, they want fast choruses more than the traditional hymns, they want to dress in modern dress, they want to put on new hairstyle, and they want to express themselves in the language of the time, mostly slang. The new generation Christian have uploaded Bibles and Hymns into their electrical gadgets; they read and sing from their phones. The traditional Church condemns all the above yet these young people must be reached out to with the Good News of the Gospel, in their environment.
After the Northern Kingdom with its capital Samaria fell to the Assyrians, many Jews were deported to Assyria, and foreigners were brought to settle the land and keep peace (2 Kings 17:24). The intermarriage between those foreigners and the remaining Jews resulted in a mixed race, impure in the opinion of the Jews who lived in the Southern Kingdom. Thus the pure Jews hated this mixed race called the Samaritans because they felt that their fellow Jews had intermarried and betrayed their people and the nation. The Samaritans had set up an alternative centre for worship on Mount Gerizim (John 4:20). The Jew did everything they could to avoid travelling through Samaria, but Jesus had no reason to live by such cultural restrictions. Jesus ignored the cultural arguments and meaningless theological wars of his day to focus on the act of transforming people. The woman he met at the well was a Samaritan and an adulteress, but Jesus looked beyond what she was to what she could become. Jesus saw a sinner with saintly potential, as such he wasted no time engaging the disciples in their questions about either his disregard for tradition or her character.
When the Church has the young generation, there is need to manifest a reconciliatory stance rather than a warlike stance. Jesus calls us to touch and transform rather than defeat and destroy those we disagree with; the Church should see the new generation with the potential to be good Christians. During the dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, form and institution got in the way – Do we worship in the temple or on the mountain (John 4:22). The Church today should do its best to meet the needs of the new generation, i.e. to be tolerant in order to bring them to Christ. Christ did not condemn the woman for being a Samaritan and an adulteress but his concern was to change her to be a better person. The young generation hold different views on many things from the elders, but should not be condemned but should be shown the love of Christ. Jesus is Lord of all generations.
Discussion
a In your opinion is the Church reaching out to young people, and are the young people ready to receive Christ and change their ways?
Thought of the day
Jesus loves us all. Why should I look down upon others just because of their age? Help me God to see everyone as a vessel of honour in your house.
DAY 12
Topic: Motivations for mission
Readings: 1 Corinthians 6:19, Jeremiah 20:9
The love of the missionary God is seen in the act of the father giving up His only begotten Son in the incarnation, and His Son willing to a life of self-sacrifice and to ultimately die on the cross for humanity (John 3:16, Romans 8:32). What motivates the individual Christians today to go out and seek the lost? The mission of God is his wonderful plan to show the people of every tribe, tongue, and nation the greatness of his glory and the glory of his grace. Those who go out with the gospel must have some motivation that propels them to go out and sacrifice themselves, their bodies and their resources for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
The motivation to go out for many Christians and Churches, is the command of Christ (Matthew 28;18-20). If these Christians face rejection in the mission field and the difficulties, they will only continue because they are under an order. The command alone as a motivation for mission should not be enough. It is good for the Church to be motivated by love for the sinners and the lost rather than doing mission as a fulfilment of a command. The Church of Christ should realize that thousands of people are still not reached and want to know more about the redeeming love of Christ. Reading the Bible through Christ-centred lens propels the Church and individual Christians in loving missions towards the unbelievers. The performance of mission is motivated by love for our neighbours. If Christians have the love of God and the love of His Son Jesus Christ, they would witness and do God’s work in humiliation, in pain, in blood and tiredness. Jesus was kept going in his mission on earth because he had the love of the Father.
The growth of the Church is a matter of concern, but the Christians should not only be concerned with the size and success; size is not one mark of a true Church. The Church should be concerned and motivated to do mission work by the destiny of the lost, because if they are not brought to Christ through our work, we will be held accountable (Ezekiel 33). The heart of a Christian should be set on fire when he/she thinks about humanity’s lost condition and hearing the staggering human needs. This is more than the knowledge and acceptance that evangelism is every Christian’s duty. Passion for mission should be sparked by the need to respond to physical and material needs and the social injustices around the world including human trafficking, extreme poverty, malnutrition, and lack of educational opportunities.
Discussion
1 What other motivations for mission can you think of?
DAY 13
Topic: Thy Kingdom come
Reading: Matthew 6:9-15
The kingdom of God was the subject of many of Jesus’ parables, either directly stated or implied. His disciples understood that his message was about the coming of the Kingdom of God. The words ‘Thy Kingdom come’ are contained in what is referred to as the Lord’s Prayer. This is the prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples, when he taught them how to pray. The statement is not just an expectant yearning for the coming of Christ in the future, it is also an expression of the prayerful desire of Christ’s servants to see God’s Kingdom broaden and becoming increasingly established throughout the world in the here and now. In ‘thy Kingdom come’ we are interceding for the salvation of souls; the Christians are like asking God to open the hearts of their loved ones, of friends, co-workers, and neighbours to receive the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Many people living in this world are experiencing brokenness, because they have rejected God’s plan for their lives. The rejection of God’s plan has resulted in the prevalence of wars, sickness, injustice, and all manner of brokenness. The kingdom of God is good, merciful, and is full of wisdom and is also opposed to the suffering that people are subjected to after rejecting God’s salvation plan. God’s will is that everyone be saved, that marriages and families thrive, and that communities live in peace. The statement illustrates the truth that people need to invite God’s rule and power into the affairs of their lives. As Christians we must invite the reign of God into our lives; we must open to his will. We must ask God for help in our lives so that we are faithful and obedient, authentic and effective Christians. We spread the kingdom of God not with word but with our actions and observable qualities of our character.
The Christian Church has a duty to pray that the rule of God covers the entire universe, and to live their lives in a manner that shows that the kingdom of God is here. When we pray that the kingdom of God comes on earth we are asking God to heal the pain and resolve conflict and that he brings his reign of love, justice, peace and prosperity to all people who live on earth. We are praying about all those things in the world that are not yet right, not yet healed, or whole. We are asking God to come and free the world from sin, evil, to clean up the mess we have made in this world. God’s kingdom will expand as more people turn to Christ for salvation. It is the desire of every Christian that the earth is filled with the reign of God which brings with it all the good. When we pray for the kingdom of God to come we actually want to see people saved, relating with each other with respect and love, a world without brutality and strife.
Discussion
1 What bad things are happening in the world that confirm that the Kingdom of God is not yet here?
2 What can we do as a church and individual Christians to be counted in the Kingdom of God?
Thought of the day
Am I playing my part towards the coming of the Kingdom of God?
DAY 14
Topic: Celebrate His Glory
Readings: Psalm 24: 7, 145: 11, 1 Samuel 2: 8a
The purpose of humanity is to love the Lord, to bring Him glory, and to display His glory on earth. The word ‘glory’ means to recognize someone for who he really is. Glory speaks of God’s abundant riches, splendour and honour; the beauty and goodness that emanates from His character. Glory expresses all that God is and all He has; it is the full expression of His nature, the weightiness of His person, the uniqueness of His reputation, and the essence and fullness of His presence. Glory incorporates beauty, brilliance, exquisiteness, majesty, magnificence, grandeur, radiance, splendour, and wonders. In the ancient times, whenever God’s people were surrounded by his glory, they fell on their faces or broke out in worship and adoration (1 Kings 8:10-11). The question is who is the king of glory to you? Who is he to you in the midst of your personal struggles, family circumstances, health issues and unstable world systems?
Hannah celebrates the glory of God when after she had lived as a desperate barren woman, the Lord remembered her and blessed her with a son. She looks at her life before the Lord’s visitation and compares herself to a poor beggar. Literally poor beggars are those that are extremely poor, that sit in dust and beg, and have nothing but a dunghill to lie on, yet God is able to raise and to lift up persons in such extremely low conditions. As we celebrate the glory of God in our lives we must always remember the condition we were in before God raised us. As Hannah celebrates she does not forget the pain she went through as a barren women with her husband’s second wife always provoking and mocking her. As she celebrates, she gives glory to God because she could not get out of her situation had it not been for God. Many of us have been saved from painful situations by the glory of God. As we celebrate we must remember that we are what we are because of the grace of God; we must celebrate his glory.
Seeing God’s glory involves recognizing His infinite worth and majestic greatness as He does His work among us. When we recognize His goodness we cannot afford to remain silent but we celebrate. The Israelites sang songs to the Lord and composed psalms and poems to praise His name. When they were victorious during battles against their enemies, they celebrated. By merely looking at the wonders of nature they praised him. It is the duty of every Christian to celebrate the glory of God that we see every day. Celebrating the glory of God is acknowledging His power and accepting that without Him we are nothing. The goodness of God shines through even the direst of circumstances. Praising God and celebrating His goodness teaches us to lift our thoughts from the trials and tribulations of life to wonder at the eternal goodness and mercy of our loving God.
Discussion
1 What time or circumstance should we celebrate the glory of God?
DAY 15
Topic: Who is your neighbour?
Readings: Proverbs 3:28, Mark 12:28-34
Many Christians talk about the importance of loving God and loving others, which is very correct, because even Jesus declared these to the greatest commandments (Mark 12:28-34). The idea that we love others is sometimes more specifically stated as the call to love one’s neighbour as oneself. The natural question that follows is, “Who is my neighbour?” The Jews of Jesus’ time understood their neighbour to be their fellow Israelites. God has a broader definition of a neighbour than loving and caring for those who are like us and who can love us in return. For Jesus, a neighbour is anyone in our proximity with whom we can share God’s love. We are called not only to love those who are similar to us or with whom we are comfortable, but we are to love all whom God places in our path.
Loving our neighbours means attending to their needs, both physical and spiritual needs. We love our neighbours when, like the Good Samaritan in Jesus Parable, we have compassion for them and help meet their needs as we are able. We love our neighbours, including those neighbours who seem like enemies to us, when we act towards them with a heart that first loves God. We love our neighbours out of an overflow of God’s love for us and as a way of demonstrating our love toward God. Loving our neighbours as ourselves includes sharing with the poor and the alien; compassion and absolute honesty and justice in our relationships with others; impartiality; a refusal to be a party to gossip or slander; an absence of malice toward anyone and a refusal to bear grudge; taking care never to put another person’s life at risk and never taking vengeance upon another. In the book of Proverbs 3:28 we are taught that a neighbour who needs our help must be helped quickly without delay.
To love a neighbour as ourselves means that we must know the person, spend time with the person, and strive to understand the person. Naturally we will not care for or about someone deeply unless we are intentional about understanding that person and treating him/her as the Lord treated us. Our love for our neighbour should have no boundaries as H. W. Hunter puts it, “We need to remember that though we make our friends, God has made our neighbours – everywhere. Love should have no boundary; we should have no narrow loyalties”. Christians preach the love of Christ when they extend love to their neighbour and this is more powerful and effective than the word of mouth preached from the pulpit, and convert many people to Christ. Let us strive to do good, especially to meet the needs of our poor neighbours, they see the grace of God in our acts of love that we extend to them.
Discussion
1 Is the Church doing enough to meet the needs of desperate neighbours?
Thought of the day
Have I identified my neighbour?
DAY 16
Topic: Making the world a better place
Readings: 1 Peter 4:10, Hebrews 13:16
Christians are called to make an impact on the lives of the people they interact with, to change people’s conditions for better. The Merriam- Webster dictionary defines making a difference as; “to cause a change; to be important in some way; to do something that is important; to do something that helps people or makes the world a better place.” According to the above definition, the goal of every Christian should be to change one’s surroundings by living and speaking as an example. The faith of Christians should permeate the world, providing a moral and ethical compass for the vast majority of people. Christians are to live in such a way that those outside the faith see their good deeds and manners and know that there is something different about us. If as Christians, we live, think and act like those who do not know Christ, we are doing Christ a great disservice. Christians should not immerse themselves in what this world values, nor chase after worldly pleasure if they are to make a difference in the world.
God has given each individual Christian a unique gift which should be used to better the lives of people and the world at large. Peter says each should use the gift given to him/her to serve others. Some people are well aware of their abilities but they believe they can use these abilities as they please. Others feel they have no special talents at all that they can use to serve others. However Peter addresses both groups by saying each one should find his/her gift and use them to serve others and not for personal gain. Gifts and blessings that God bestowed upon us are not for our own selfish gratification but for the edification of the body of Christ. Our gifts differ according to the grace God gives to each of us, and we are instructed to exercise them in accordance with the proportion of faith we have received. The statement by Peter in 1 Peter 4:10, helped the early Church Christians to know how to live so that their lives, both individually and collectively, would glorify God.
The author of the letter to the Hebrews, tells his hearers that sacrifice of praise with the lips is not enough (Hebrews 13:15), there must also be doing good (beneficence) and communicating to impart a share of the means of grace. The author takes notice of another sort of sacrifice, the sacrifice of alms which should be attended to. The alms should be given to all people in need even to enemies, as well as to our friends and relations: especially to the poor saints. The writer tells the believers that they should not “forget”, which shows that this is a duty of importance. When Christians give donation or alms to their fellow brothers and sisters, God is well pleased and the recipients too. These bring positive changes in the lives of the people. There are parents who are failing to raise school fees for their bright children, so, if someone offers to pay the fees for such children, it will bring change to the family and society at large. Many people are hungry, and waiting for help from those who can offer, if the believers can offer to help they make a world of difference to the recipients. The power to make a difference lies in us believers.
Discussion
1 Why is it important to make a difference in someone’s life?
DAY 17
Topic: Reaching to the lost
Reading: Romans 10:13-14
Mission is service to God. When we declare the Gospel to all nations, we are helping expand the Kingdom of God. When Jesus’ disciples asked him about the end, he said first the Gospel must be preached as testimony to all nations (Matthew 24:14).
Nation is from Greek ‘Ethnos’, and it refers to people of different tongues rather than geographical location. People often believe that between technology and the missionaries the whole world has had a chance to hear the gospel. Unfortunately that is not the case. Some people question why we even consider the unreached when so many Bibles are given out and there are so many radio stations and online services about the Gospel. The nations that we are to minister to are so lost that they cannot see that they have strayed and deeply need God’s mercy. The mercy of God can only reach these people through outreach from those that God calls as missionaries everyday. Outreach should bring the message to the homes of the unbelievers and the lost so that God can work in the hearts of these people. The Church has for too long been seized with increasing the size of their Church rather than increasing their reach outside the four walls of their Church building.
Christians struggle to reach their neighbourhood or community around them; they drive through on their way to Church programs and are unable to penetrate these surrounding communities. The unreached are those among whom Christ is largely unknown and the Church is relatively insufficient. Some of these people may have heard the name of Christ being mentioned but do not know who Jesus is and what he did and does. There are also people who do not have contact with the believing community due to their geographical set up or there is no Church among them. Many people do not have adequate access to clear, culturally relevant teaching of the gospel in the language they know best. There are also many people who heard the gospel but are without ample opportunity, as the body of believers to grow to maturity in their knowledge of Christ.
We must take the message of salvation to others so that they can respond to the Good News. Paul asks his audience how their loved ones and neighbours will hear the Good News of salvation unless they take it to them. Paul meant that there is no faith in Christ without hearing of him and there is no hearing without preaching. There is no hearing of Christ, and salvation by him without the preaching of the Gospel. Paul first asserts that salvation is granted to all who call on the Lord in Verse 13. However, people cannot call on the Lord if they do not believe him. They cannot believe him if they do not hear the word that proclaims Christ, and the word will not be heard unless someone preaches it. Do not let the word misguide you, because many of us think of someone with a degree in theology standing behind the pulpit of a local Church yelling at his congregation. The word simply refers to someone who proclaims the Good News, like a herald. This could be anyone, it does not require any qualification but just a willing heart. We are all Christ’s heralds.
Discussion
1 What can be a hindrance to our outreach endeavours?
2 How best can we break the barriers?
DAY 18
Topic: One body, many parts
Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Paul compares Christ to a single body which has many parts; it remains one body even though it is made up of many parts. In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or Gentile, slaves or free’ have been baptized into the body of the same spirit. Each part has a specific function that is necessary to the body as a whole. The parts are different for a purpose, and in their differences, they must work together for a common good. The Church is composed of many types of people from a variety of backgrounds with a multitude of gifts and abilities. It is not for these gifts and abilities to divide people, as was the case in Corinth. However, despite the differences, all believers have one thing in common – faith in Jesus Christ. The Church finds unity in this essential truth. We do not lose our individual identities, but have an overriding oneness in Jesus Christ. As members of God’s family, we have many different interests and gifts but we have a common goal. Instead of comparing ourselves to one another, we should use those different gifts, together, to spread the Good News of salvation.
Paul uses the analogy of the body to emphasize the importance of each Church member. If a seemingly insignificant part is taken away, the whole body becomes less effective. Thinking that your gift is more important than someone’s, is an expression of spiritual pride. We should not look down on those who seem unimportant, and we should not be jealous to others who have impressive gifts. Instead, we should use the gifts we have been given and encourage others to use theirs. Believers are a world together, there is nothing like private or individualistic Christianity. We should not stop with enjoying only our relationship with God, we need to get involved in the lives of the others. We should avoid the error of being too proud of our abilities and capabilities in Church, and to also think we have nothing to give to the body of believers. Each of us is defined by the spiritual gifts given to us and the service they allow us to provide to the Church.
Like the human body, the Christian Church is one individual organism made up of different parts that serve a wide variety of functions. The body needs each member to do its work properly. We must respect and value each other for the vital role we serve in the Church. The fulfilment of God’s mission requires the participation of each member of the Church of Christ. The verses encourage unity for the fulfilment of Christ’s mission on earth. As individual members in the Church, we should complement each other rather than compete with each other. The body remains a unified whole despite that it is made up of vast functioning parts. Christians should care for one another as members of one body; we must be each other’s keeper. If we love and care for each other as Christians we build a stronger Church, a church that is appealing even in the eyes of the world.
Discussion
1 What are the benefits of valuing each member’s spiritual gifts in Church?
Thought of the day
I have a gift; he/she has a gift. Together with our gifts, we build a strong and effective Body of Christ.
DAY 19
Topic: Mission: A matter of the heart
Readings: 2 Chronicles 25:2, 1 Corinthians 9:16
Mission work is an extension of God’s love for the world through the Church the people, following the example of Christ. Mission work is not just about the expansion of the kingdom, the conversion or growing the Church numerically. The numerical growth of the Church and expansion of the Kingdom of God are basically ceremonial expressions of God’s love to His people. We should do mission because we see the need of the hell bound souls, and miseries which accompany the sinner in every phase of his or her life. The love of God must permeate our hearts as Christians so that we also love those that we seek to reach with the Gospel. Love must cause us want to go out; it must lead us in our efforts to find people to teach and preach to. Our love for the Lord and the love for the people should give us the commitment to go out into the world to seek the lost. As Christians we ought to love and forgive people around us. Our main priority is to let all the people know that we love and care for them no matter the situation they are going through.
We read in the book of Jonah about the prophet who went to Nineveh in obedience to God’s command but his heart was not right; he went with reluctance. The story of Jonah teaches us that our hearts and our feet must be together when we do mission work. Genuine love for the people opens doors for witnessing opportunities. We must do the will of God from the heart. God is not interested in our service but in us serving Him with the right heart and right attitude. In 2 Chronicles 25:2, Amaziah did what was right on the outside but in the inside he often resented what he had to do. His obedience was half-hearted. We must search our own hearts and root out any resistance to obeying God. Grudging compliance is not true obedience.
Preaching the Gospel was Paul’s gift and calling and he said he could not stop preaching even if he wanted to. Paul was driven by the desire to do what God wanted; using his gift for God’s glory. Paul’s passion was to teach that salvation does not rely on anything we do but rests entirely on what Jesus Christ has done for us. His purpose in life was to preach the Gospel. He felt constrained to and preach the Good News that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. So that by faith in him we are forgiven our sins and receive eternal life. Paul does not feel he has any choice about whether he will continue to preach the gospel. The verse also encourages the Christian Church to willingly give up any of our personal benefits for the good of those who are weak. When we love God and those we minister to, we are prepared to give up our benefits and suffer for their sake, our contentment only comes when our duty is accomplished.
Discussion
1 Do you have the right heart and attitude to do God’s work?
DAY 20
Topic: God’s work in today’s world
Reading: Psalm102:25-27, Hebrews 13:8
God is intimately involved in everyday matters of our world. He is a hands-on God; nothing is excluded from the scope of his sustaining work. We say that God is at work – working mightily, working miraculously, and working in mysterious ways – but it is easy for us human beings to look around and ask, “God, how exactly are you working?” Though it is easy to see God working in smaller ways, like answering our frequent prayers, it is sometimes harder to see God working on a global scale, especially when it is easy to see pain and suffering. God is at work around the world, and is available to offer answers to our small problems as well as to transform nations. The ravages of disease such as Covid-19, poverty, war, can seem to be overwhelming and unstoppable but not when we remember that God is in control. As Christians, we believe that God created the world and continues to sustain it. God is involved in the everyday matters of this world, as Paul puts it; “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).
God continues His redeeming working in the world today by using the believers. He continues to use us to infuse His love into the world; He uses our voices. We are the ones to speak up to protect the rights of the hurting, the sick and the hungry. Christians participate in the mission of God through every activity of their lives that expresses God’s creativity. Through this activity they sustains God’s creation, and cooperate in His redemption work. The Church is exclusively dedicated to advancing the mission of God, so all Christians are part of the Church. When we experience new conversions in the Church, it is an indication that God is involved in the world. Though these conversions come through the work of the believers, who do outreach programs, Luke says that it is God who adds numbers of those who are saved; “The lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). When we see the Church growing, either in number or fruitfulness, or geographical extension, these are good indications that God is involved.
When there is chaos in the world, God sends teachers, preachers, counsellors, and evangelists, and this is a sign that He is at work in the troubled world. Jesus told his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Luke 10:2). It is God’s business to send out workers when there is need and it is our duty as believers to prayerfully accept to be send into the harvest field. God works through His creatures. He sanctifies them for extraordinary service. Whether we experience God in an obviously miraculous way, such as healing, or simply through His providential guiding of a doctor’s hand, God is equally near us, for “in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:27-28). The Church must be encouraged by what God is doing in the lives of loved ones and friends and around the world, and there is need to share the positive things that are happening with others.
Discussion
1 How is God involved with the world today?
DAY 21
Topic: Kingdom building a family business
Readings: Proverbs 6:20, Colossians 3:20
John Wesley is best known for helping establish Methodism. He travelled throughout Britain sharing the Gospel and witnessing the Spirit’s work as the Church grew rapidly. However, Wesley argued that the revival would not continue unless families worshiped together, spending time in prayer and reading scripture. For John Wesley, family worship was the ordinary way in which God brings the Children to faith. He believed that without family worship, the Church was bound to decline. Wesley was right to highlight the importance of family worship. Unless families regularly spend time engaging with the Bible and praying together, children are less likely to trust and follow Jesus. Involving children in worship activities is not something unique to this generation. In the Old Testament, God’s covenant embraced children as well as adults (Genesis 17), and parents were given a key responsibility in helping children to love God and to know the law (Deuteronomy 6). Children, as well as adults, took part in the key festivals of Israel, and learned how to pray and worship among elders (Exodus 12:21-28). The New Testament also assumes that parents – as well as the wider Church have a role in helping children come to faith.
The author of the letter to the Ephesians instructed fathers to bring up children in the training and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4), and he also hints from his other letters on the key role that parent should follow in raising their children (1 Corinthians 7:14, 2 Timothy 1:5, Titus 1:6). Family worship was also an emphasis of 16th century reformation. Martin Luther explained that helping kids to worship and serve God was the greatest good of married life. Worshiping as a family helps to build the kingdom of God on earth. Building the kingdom of God requires the participation of every member of the family. Worshiping together as a family is important as it creates a kingdom minded family. A kingdom minded family helps its members to know and understand that this world is not our final home and keeps God at the centre of its activities. Families that are kingdom minded teach their members to share both testimonies and resources with the outside world, they do not shut out the outside world but reach out to it. Prioritizing God’s agenda over its own is what a kingdom minded family teaches its members, they give priority to what should be done for God.
In order to build the Kingdom of God, each family member is taught to seek the will of God in both personal and family decisions. Each family member should ask the question; “How can we be better ambassadors for God’s Kingdom as a family?” Kingdom building as a family requires that we attend Church services as family, that is, as parents and children. Besides worshiping as families, we must perform charitable acts as a family, and encourage as much responsibility and autonomy in the young members of the family. Families must always engage in family devotions, Bible study, and prayer time, through these we are sure that we are participants in building the kingdom of God using family members. The building of God’s Kingdom must start in the family; a family that is spiritually mature can have meaningful impact in the world. Each member of the family can be used by God to further his Kingdom.
Discussion
1 What positive impact can the Christian family make in a chaotic world?
DAY 22
Topic: Look what God has done
Readings: Deuteronomy 6:12, John 4:5-30
God is doing amazing things in people’s lives. He has changed many for better, and has redeemed most of us through the purchasing by His Son’s blood. Many of us were lost and dead in sin and He saved us, He has adopted orphans to be His children, gave hope to the hopeless, and cleansed the dirty in our lives. Today’s topic is about giving testimony for what God has done in our lives. The Samaritan woman went on to confess to the world of what God had done. She said come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Remembering what God has done for us increases our faith and bring us closer to God. We should always remember what God has done for us. There is a tendency to forget what God has done for us especially when we are out of trouble; when our problems have found solution. There are many amazing things that God has done for us, just like the amazing thing the Samaritan got; of being told everything she had done.
The idea to remember what God has done is something that the people of God were called to do even in the Old Testament times. The Lord told the Israelites, back when they were wandering in the desert after being rescued from Egypt, to be careful to remember all the Lord had done for them. They were about to enter the Promised Land. God knew it would be easy to forget the God who delivered them out of slavery, who preserved them in the wilderness, and who brought them into the Promised Land. It is important to learn to regularly remember what the Lord has done for us. We are forgetful, and when we forget we begin to complain. We begin to look at our life and feel that God is not fair, or He is not hearing and answering our prayers. Forgetting the wonderful works of God in our lives can make us feel entitled, like we deserve His grace and mercy. Forgetfulness can cause us to become jealous of God’s work in the lives of others when we should be rejoicing with them.
When life is going great, we easily fall prey to claiming the glory to ourselves. Our focus becomes ourselves and not God. Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the Lord’s decree will prevail.” The verse quickly douses our “I-dependency” problems we realize that everything we have comes from the hand of the Lord, that He plans our steps, and that what He decrees will come to pass. When we are depending on God instead of ourselves, we can see His blessings in our lives and give Him glory for them. Gratitude should gush out from a heart that has been tamed by the goodness of God. The recognition of this goodness of God governs our gratitude. The extent that we remember how good God is, is the degree of appreciation we apply in our everyday life. We all experience the goodness of God in different ways; to some He has given good jobs, to some good health, to some a good sense, to some a good house and to some a good family. All those must give thanks to God and tell of His goodness.
Activity: As you meditate today remember what God has done in your life.
DAY 23
Topic: Heaven is counting on you
Reading: 1 Peter 2:9-12
Christians are Christ’s ambassadors here on earth, and as Christ’s ambassadors, the work of evangelizing and reaching the lost lies squarely on their shoulders. Many Christians, however, think they are of no significance to God; they are not worthy to be used by Him in His vineyard. It is important to know that all Christians are important to God. Across the centuries, the followers of Jesus Christ have been his hands and face to the world. Like the generations of believers before us, and those who will come after us, we are a chosen generation and God is counting on us. It is important that we do our part in the work of the Lord, we are part of the temple, the body of Christ. Peter says, God has chosen us to be his people because once we were not, we have now received the mercy of God. We are now special before God, and He is now proud of us; we are now part of the family and God delights in us. God wants us to be alive, to feel His guidance and His presence.
As pilgrims and strangers God expects us to fight and win the war against all earthly desires. It is important to run away from all the things that pull us down. We should fight for righteousness and purity because God is looking up to us for the evangelization and salvation of the people who are in darkness. God calls us to be different, to always remember who we are on this earth; we are called from darkness to His marvellous light. God expects us to abstain from all fleshly lusts, and by so doing, the unbelievers and evildoers will see our good deeds and then glorify God. We are expected to live good and exemplary lives among the pagans of this world. The world is watching our deeds, they are watching us, and their choice of God’s way depends on what they see us doing or what they hear us say. In this generation, we are God’s hands and feet, just like the followers were in the first Church.
Christians must strive every day to do good for the sake of the heathen world. We must learn to forgive those who have wronged us and not to hold grudges and want to revenge or avenge any pain that we have suffered in the past. We must confess our sins, for it is the purity of heart that will attract the unbelievers. In everything that we do, we must always remember that God is counting on us. First, we should avail ourselves to God so that He uses us for the glory of His name. Whatever we do we must do it faithfully because God counts on us. Peter tells us that we are a holy nation. As followers of Christ we are called to live unique and distinctive lives, separated from the world. He has called us out of the world so we can go back into the world with the Gospel as His ambassadors. An ambassador’s job is critical, because he represents one nation in another land.
Discussion:
1 Do you believe that you are significant to God?
2 What are the causes of inferiority complex among believers?
3 How best can we eliminate inferiority complex?
Thought of the day
Heaven counts on me, so I have to properly position myself.
DAY 24
Topic: His last command, our first concern
Reading: Mark 16:15-20
The last command of Jesus Christ must still be the primary concern or foremost consideration of the Church. The command, to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations will never become obsolete. It is the reason that the Church exists and represents a continuation of the ministry that Jesus himself inaugurated. Jesus’ last wish or command is found in the words he spoke before ascending into heaven; going out to preach became the sole purpose of the disciples for the remainder of their lives. One may choose Matthew 28:18-28, but all the same the scripture in Mark 16:15-20 talks of sending out the disciples to go and minister to the people. The task must be taken seriously and carried out with great passion and conviction. Our greatest motivation as Christians comes from being recipients of God’s plan of redemption for all and our desire to see others being incorporated into the same universal plan. Effective ministry must incorporate a firm and unwavering belief in the message and seeking out the method of reaching out the people.
The Church is given important tasks here by Christ before his ascension into heaven. Firstly the Church, through believers, is to preach the Gospel to every creature. Secondly, to baptize those who believe the gospel, and lastly to heal the sick by laying hands. The task of the Church is soul winning by sharing the word of God to be able to transform the world. There is need to seek for backsliders and all those who are in darkness. The command of Christ that the Church is obliged to take up, is a life- giving and life changing priority. Believers ought to leave their comfort zones and grow to go and save so that people do not perish in their sin (Romans 6:23). As the Gospel is shared around the world, many lives are changed for better, so responding to Christ’s command is a life-changing venture. Many people are lost without Christ and unequal to their access to the Gospel. We should make Christ’s command our first priority by striving to bring the Gospel to every tribe, tongue, people and nation, because, like Jesus we seek to save that which is lost.
According to Hudson Taylor, the last command of Jesus is not an option to be considered, but it is a command to be obeyed. Reaching out is Christ’s last command for the Church and should remain the Church’s concern and priority. The last command of Jesus, gives us the marching orders. The order or command is not to wait for the world to come to us, but it tells us to go into all the world. Until Jesus returns, the Church is still expected to work out his injunction or command to his disciples. This responsibility should still inspire the same kind of urgency that it did when these words were spoken thousands of years ago, driving us to befriend the lost and share Jesus’s life-changing story with people near and far. Many think of missions as being on the field in a foreign country and doing evangelism. While this is a crucial part of missions, it is also local outreach and behind – the – scene work. Fulfilling the last command of Christ includes supporting, praying, encouraging those who are in the field.
DAY 25
Topic: Bridge the gap
Reading: Ephesians 5:1-33
Gaps develop in the lives of people. Many start off very well but cracks develop along the way resulting in serious gaps in their lives. A gap refers to any break in continuity or unfilled space. Gaps appear in everyday things, in families, in marriage and in children. In many people’s lives gaps may be created through divorces, illnesses, deaths of loved ones, or tragedy that could be a loss that one has to bear with a gaping grief – a gap in your life. Many individuals and families experienced gaps from broken marriages, which affected the spouses involved and the children. Single parents and their children experience the gaps from these collapsed marriages. Death takes away loved ones from us, and some of the people that are taken away from us would have been responsible for our welfare as breadwinners, so their death leaves huge gaps in our lives. Most people are affected by relationships gaps, gaps that develop between spouses, parents and children, workmates, and neighbours. The gap is between where one’s relationship is today and what they would like that relationship to be.
Many other gaps are evident in this life, and these are gaps between the rich and the poor, between blacks and whites, between men and women, and the young and the old. There is need to bridge these gaps. Besides the physical relationships between people, there is also a spiritual gap in the relationship between God and humanity. When God realized the widening gap between Himself and Israel, He ‘sought for a man who should stand in the gap’ (Ezekiel 22:30). The spiritual gap between God and us human being is bridged by our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). There is also another critical gap that needs bridging which is the gap between heaven and hell. Christians are called to be mediators between God and humanity, they are to use the scriptures to bridge the gap (Ephesians 4:11,12). God made many evangelists, teachers, prophets, apostles, and some pastors so that they help bridge the relational gap between God and His people.
The gap between heaven and hell is to be bridged by Christian when they do soul winning. James argues that, “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). Christians ought to break the chasm that exist between heaven and hell so that sinners are saved through their preaching. This is a very important gap that needs to be bridged so that many people are saved from the clutches of sin and death. It is important for Christians to avoid fruitless deeds of darkness if they are to qualify to stand in the gap between heaven and hell, or between God and humanity. The author of the letter to the Ephesians instructs the Ephesian Christians to expose all the deeds of darkness, because for him silence could be interpreted as approval. God needs people who will stand for what is right, and so Christians must lovingly speak out for what is true and right. We have a duty as believers to give hope to people who are experiencing whatever gaps in their lives, both the physical and spiritual gaps. We must help in bridging the gaps.
DAY 26
Topic: That all may know
Reading: John 13:31-35
Christ gave his disciples a new commandment that they love one another, just as he has loved them. The disciples are to love one another, and by so doing, the people who see them will know they are Jesus’s disciples. Jesus is the bearer of ultimate love. He exhibited to us what love is through his life, death, and resurrection. Our greatest act as Christians who are following in obedience is to act through love to one another. We live in a world were jealous, envy and comparison triumph over almost everything else; people seek to outdo each other; be it in religious, social, economic or political spheres. The notions of love, empathy, and compassion have gone by the wayside. Christians have to preach and show love to such a world, and the best way to show love is by them loving one another. We can only preach the love of God which is acceptable to our hearers if we practice that love. The author of the first letter of John emphasizes the point that true worship of God is shown when we love each other. He says; “If anyone says I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he sees cannot love God he has not seen” (1 John 4:20).
To love others was not a new commandment in the very sense of ‘new’ as it was emphasized in the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:18). What was revolutionary was to love others as Christ did. Christians now ought to love others basing on Jesus’ sacrificial love for us. Such love will not only bring unbelievers to Christ, it will also keep believers strong and united in a world hostile to God. As Jesus was a living example of God’s love, we are also to be living examples of Jesus love. Love is more than simply warm feelings, but it is an attitude that reveals itself in action. The Christians today can love as Jesus did, when they help others even when it is not convenient, when they give even when it hurts, when they devote energies to others’ welfare rather than their own. Loving Christians absorb hurts from others without complaining or fighting back. That kind of love is so burdensome to practice that is why those onlookers will be forced to see God, the only source of such love.
Jesus taught his disciples that Christ-like love will show the world that they are indeed his disciples. If today’s Church is to exhibit Christ-like love, believers must volunteer their time, money, or energy to help others to better their lives. Sacrificial love is the foundation of the Christian faith, and this love is from God. We need to pray to God that He grants to us that love which loves unconditionally. This kind of love is shown when we are kind to each other, showing respect even when we disagree, and by meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of others. Jesus was clear, it is not our theological correctness, not by our moral purity, not by our impressive knowledge that everyone will know that we are his disciples. It is quite simply our loving acts – acts of service and sacrifice, acts that point to the love of God for the world made known in Jesus Christ. The love that Jesus demonstrated is certainly not based on the merit of the recipients, and Jesus command his disciples to love others in the same way.
Discussion
1 Does the Church today show sacrificial love to the unbelieving world?
DAY 27
Topic: Opportunity knocks once, grab it
Readings: Acts 14:27, 2 Corinthians 2:12
The book of Acts records an instance where Paul and Barnabas gathered the Church together at Antioch declaring all that God had done and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. Paul is describing an opportune time to preach the word. Opportunity refers to a time or set of circumstances that make it possible to do something, and in Paul’s case it is to preach the word and do the work of evangelization. The expression of an ‘open door’ is used by Paul many times, for instance, in 1 Corinthians 16:19 he describes an opportunity that came his way and he was staying in Ephesus until Pentecost. He describes the opportunity as “a wide door for effective work”; he meant a chance or good time to do the work of evangelism. The doors of opportunity do not always stay open, and if we fail to walk through at the right time, we may never get the opportunity again. God provides us with a number of opportunities to speak of Jesus and his love to all mankind, and to express that love in all kinds of ways to all sorts of people.
An open door is an opportunity that can lead us to a place where we can use our gifts abilities, and support to encourage others and help them to grow. Paul had an opportunity of preaching the gospel to many souls. Many were inclined to attend to his ministry, and from that, Paul was convinced and had hope of doing good; a door of utterance was given to him to preach the gospel boldly and freely. Seeing many people coming gave Paul a lot of hope; he may also have seen that the doors to their hearts were opened. Paul believed God is the one who opens doors of opportunity; these are never acts of men. The verses remind even us today, that God is the opener and closer of doors. Paul recognized that God was in control of all factors, he believed God had control of his destiny and that of his hearers. As the Church today, we should come to God in humility and ask him to open doors for us and not use force. We must petition Him to open doors for us to do mission work without hindrances for the spreading of the Gospel.
Many times doors of opportunity open before us, but we do not walk through. There are many reasons why we don’t take up opportunities when they present themselves to us. The first reason we do not quickly grab opportunities when they open up is procrastination. We are not in a hurry to go to work for God because we think we have time. Paul is staying behind until Pentecost in Antioch because he does not know how long the window will stay open. Sometimes we feel insecure and inadequate to serve God, we see ourselves as lacking in many areas and therefore unfit to declare our availability for mission even if doors of opportunity open before us. It is important to understand that God will provide resources for mission including courage and strength. God does not call the qualified but qualifies the called. We sometimes fail to walk through the open doors of opportunity because of pride. We think some duties that God calls us to perform are too low for us, or the geographical area we are to serve are too remote and poor. We don’t walk through the open door of opportunity because we are governed by our feelings.
Discussion: What are the reasons for not walking through the doors of opportunity in our life time?
Thought of the day
Lord, open my eyes so that I can see the doors you have opened for me.
DAY 28
Topic: On this rock I will build my Church
Reading: Matthew 16:13-20
When Jesus and his disciples got to a place called Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked them who other people thought he was and what the disciples themselves thought he was. The disciples answered Jesus’ question with the common view – that Jesus was the greatest prophets who had come back to life. The belief may have stemmed from Deuteronomy 18:18, where God said He would raise up a prophet among the people. Peter, however, confessed Jesus as divine and as the promised and long awaited Messiah. Peter gets the commendation from Christ because he had come to a correct conclusion about the person of Christ and because of that a great blessing would come into his life. The rock or foundation upon which the Lord’s Church rests is the truth of the great confession. The confession that Peter made was; “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Christianity is generally built upon that confession.
There seems to have been a very clear understanding among the Church fathers that Jesus was referring to Peter’s confession of faith and not the person of Peter himself. Jesus does not say upon you “Peter” or upon your successors but upon this rock, which means upon this divine revelation and profession of faith in Christ. The Lord builds his Church on the truth of himself, and because his people are inseparable from himself they are inseparable from his truth. The apostles were endowed with the truth about Jesus in a unique way; by their preaching of the truth they were the foundation of his Church in a unique way. The Church of Christ is not built on the authority of a single man but on the testimony of believers together when they confess that Jesus is Lord and saviour. If as believers, we believe and confess that Jesus is Lord and saviour of the world, we build a strong Church that cannot be shaken.
We learn that the builder of the Church is Jesus Christ, he is also the head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22). Believers must possess the knowledge that the Church belongs to God. We must simply cooperate with the master builder. Human beings come and go, succeed and fail, but the revelation of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Church. The Church was bought and paid for by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:25). The Church built by anyone else cannot be the Church that Jesus promised to build. It is also important to note that the Church that Jesus promised to build is one, the word is singular. Jesus never promised more than one Church. Though there are numerous congregations or denominations on this earth, they are congregations of that one Church. Jesus is the chief cornerstone of the Church, and it is anchored on him (1 Peter 2:6-7). Believers must have firm and solid trust in Jesus Christ, this builds a stronger Church when believers have unfaltering faith.
Discussion
1 What do you say about people who claim to be owning churches? Can we say those churches are Jesus’?
Thought of the day
Jesus builds his church on the confession that he is the Christ, the holy one of God. That confession is made in faith. Let me have that faith.
DAY 29
Topic: Lord of harvest
Reading: Matthew 9:36-38
In the course of our Lord’s wandering life of teaching and healing, there had naturally gathered around him a large number of persons who followed him from place to place. Jesus looked at the crowds following him and referred to them as a field ripe for harvest. Looking at the crowd, Jesus sees the multitude lying there weary, and travel-stained. There was no leader or guide, no Joshua or director to order the march; they are a worn-out, tired, unregulated mob, and the sight smites upon the eyes and heart of Jesus. The passage compares very well with Ezekiel 34:12, which tells of a flock that is scattered in a dark and cloudy day that is broken, and torn, and driven away. The passage teaches us believers how to look at humanity, how to feel at the deplorable sight, and that we should be moved into action by what we would have seen. The language of Jesus indicates greater urgency than usual, this is because the harvest is abundant, more than any one worker can bring on his/her own.
A harvest that is not brought in at exactly the right time will fail to fulfil its purpose and waste all effort and resources that went into producing it. The harvest belongs to God, so it is God who must take the initiative and commission workers, thereby giving them the right to work in His fields. The workers need authority to work in the harvest fields. Besides commissioning the workers, the Lord also equips them so that they do his work effectively. Even if we see the fields white and ready for harvest we do not sent ourselves, it is not our decision but the Lord’s. The fruit of the harvest is people that are brought to eternal life. When Jesus encountered the people, he saw their need and urgency of their sinful lives and recognized the eternal significance of their coming to faith in God. The Lord of harvest does not send us alone to labour in the field white for harvest. He promises to be with us always, even to the end of the age. Without the Lord of the harvest we are powerless to produce fruit on our own (John 15:4).
We must pray to God for commissioning and power. When Jesus saw the fields that were ready for harvest, his first solution to the problem of an urgent, abundant harvest was not to go into the fields and get to work. He asked the Lord of the harvest to send workers. As believers today we must always remember that the mission to go into the field is not ours but it is God’s. It is therefore important to first seek His approval as commissioned workers, to ask for strength that will sustain us while we are in the field. The Lord Jesus Christ offers his power to save souls through his continued presence. He will always be with those who belong to him, empowering them to be faithful to his last command. We must be soft-hearted, sensitive, and tender like Christ, because if we are not, we will look at burdened people and our hearts will not be moved by their situation. Jesus suffered alongside the multitudes and helped in carrying the weight of their lost, wandering, and aimless state. The multitude of Jesus’ time desired spiritual instruction, and these formed a plenteous harvest, needing many active labourers. During our time there are many people needing spiritual instruction; we must pray that many among us may be raised and sent out.
Discussion
1 Have we ever seen people who have send themselves into the Lord’s field without his approval? How?
2 What do we think may be the reason for such self-appointments?
Thought of the week
The Lord of harvest sends people into his field and promises his presence always. So, with him on my side, I do not fear anything.
DAY 30
Topic: Expect great things from God; Attempt great things for God
Readings: Luke 19:11-27, Ephesians 3:20-21
The quote; “Expect great things for God; Attempt great thing for God”, is attributed to William Carey (1761-1834) a British Baptist missionary to India. William Carey was agitated by the Church’s lack of concern for global evangelization. He thought that merely praying for the success of the gospel was not enough. He thought something further must be done, and argued that the called must bring the Gospel to the world. Because of the conviction for reaching the lost, Carey travelled to remote locations and these travels were based on Matthew 28. The strong belief that was in him was that, God is able to do far more abundantly than we can ask or imagine; he believed God can do great things. As Christians we know God can do great thing for us, and is able to give us breakthroughs in our lives. As we pray to God we expect Him to answer our prayers and provide for our needs. Though we expect God to hear and answer our prayers, there are times that we feel God is not hearing us; he is not improving our situations, and as a result we lose hope and cannot wait anymore. The Bible calls Christians to be persistent, never to give up following Christ, praying, hoping, doing good, loving, forgiving, working and sharing the Gospel.
The parable of the king’s servants makes it explicit that citizens of God’s Kingdom are responsible to work toward God’s goals and purposes. In the parable, the king tells his servants that he expected them to invest the money he had given them. This specific calling or demand makes it clear that preaching, healing, and evangelism are not the only thing God calls people to do. We learn from the parable that not everyone is called to be an investor, however, the master rebuked the servant he had given a talent for burying it – for not trying. The master commended the others because they took their talents and went out and tried to do something with them. The point is that acknowledging Jesus as king requires working toward his purposes in whatever field of work one is doing. The parable suggests we must be prepared to live risk lives for Jesus if we choose to accept him as our Lord and saviour. The servants who invested the master’s money risked being attacked by those around them who had rejected the master’s authority. They also faced the risk of disappointing the master by making investments that might lose money.
The believers in today’s Church fear to try things for God because of the same fear of the world around. Christians fear failure. They think things will not work out and people will mock them. Besides fear to fail, Christian fear incurring losses in what they attempt to do for God. Ducking for cover is one action that Jesus condemns in the parable. The servant who tries to avoid risk is singled out as unfaithful. We are not told what would have happened if the two servants had lost money on their investments, but the implication is that all investments made in the service to God are pleasing to him, whether or not they achieve their intended payoff. By attempting great things for God, we are grounding all our efforts, labour, and dreams in God’s grace supported by prayer. We have been given excellent resources to build and expand God’s Kingdom. God expects us to use these talents that are given to us so that we multiply and grow the Kingdom of God. God asks each one of us to account for what we do with the gifts He has given to us.
Discussion
1 What great things is God calling you to attempt for him?
Thought of the day
Failure to take a risk is a risk on its own; so what am I waiting for? Let me take action now.
DAY 31
Topic: Shine like stars in the world
Reading: Philippians 2:12-16
The setting of the letter to the Philippians is that Paul and his companions had started a Church at Philippi on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:11-40). The Church had sent a gift to Paul through one of the members (4:18). Paul was in a Roman prison at the time, and he writes a letter to thank the Philippians for the gift and then encourages them in their faith. The Philippians needed to be very careful to obey Christ now that Paul was not there to continually remind them about what was right. Paul tells believers that they should give no occasion for others, the onlookers, to accuse them of wrongdoing. Paul’s words closely resemble Jesus who taught; “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We too must be careful how we live our lives as Christians among the unbelievers. We are in the world but we are not of this world; we are members of the human race but we have become citizens of heaven.
When we trust God in every circumstance if our lives, and hold fast to the word of truth. It will prove ourselves to be blameless and innocent children of God. We should be beyond reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, and this will bring glory to God. The command that Paul gives, ‘to work out salvation’, is a directive to let new birth in Christ translate into action. It is through living our lives for glory of God and not our self-gratification that we workout our salvation. It is by setting our hearts on thing above and on spiritual matters, and by humbling ourselves in the sight of God and fulfilling His call on our life. To be Christ-like, we must train ourselves to think like Christ, and to change our desires to be more like Christ. Our lives should be characterized by moral purity, patience, and peacefulness, so that we will shine like stars in a dark and depraved world. A transformed life is an effective witness to the power of God’s word. Christians should shine brightly and not be clouded by sin.
Christians can only shine like stars in this world, by taking the mind and attitude of Christ. The mind of Christ exhibits, gentleness, servant hood, tender-heartedness, compassion, and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32). When Christians take the mind of Christ, they become like stars that sparkle in the night sky and people can see the goodness. Our lives must be distinctive from the rest of the world, just like shining stars that stand out from the darkness that surround them. By our word and our deeds, by our lives and our lips, we should be unique and attractive as stars are against the night sky. We need to have a faith that is more than just an outward show of Christian values which we display in the presence of certain people. A genuine faith in Jesus Christ should be the driving force in our life; a force that shapes our inner attitudes as well as our outward behaviour. The Christian Church must be filled with men, women and youths who are spiritually mature, who strive to attain to the measure of Christ’s full stature.
Discussion
1 How should Christians live so that they shine like stars
Methodist Church: Hillside Circuit 