powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente Adult Sabbath School Lessons Jul Aug Sept 2008 Adult Sabbath School Lessons Jul Aug Sept 2008

Gary Krause Principal Contributor Gary Krause Principal Contributor

God’s Great Missionaries Contents 1. For Such a Time As This: The Apostle Paul 2. “All Things to All Men”: Paul Preaches to the World 3. John the Baptist: Preparing the Way for Jesus 4. The Son of God Among Us 5. Matthew 10: Jesus and His Disciples 6. The Compassionate Savior 7. The Apostle John 8. From Folly to Faith: The Apostle Peter 9. A Pillar of Mission: The Apostle Peter 10. Woman of Mission 11. Mission in a Pagan Land: Daniel and Company 12. Gifted for Service: Philip 13. “Here Am I! Send Me”: The Prophet Isaiah 1. For Such a Time As This: The Apostle Paul 2. “All Things to All Men”: Paul Preaches to the World 3. John the Baptist: Preparing the Way for Jesus 4. The Son of God Among Us 5. Matthew 10: Jesus and His Disciples 6. The Compassionate Savior 7. The Apostle John 8. From Folly to Faith: The Apostle Peter 9. A Pillar of Mission: The Apostle Peter 10. Woman of Mission 11. Mission in a Pagan Land: Daniel and Company 12. Gifted for Service: Philip 13. “Here Am I! Send Me”: The Prophet Isaiah

God’s Great Missionaries Our Goal {5} It would be a mistake this quarter to study these biblical agents as interesting historical figures and leave it at that. Rather, we need to catch the inspiration of their lives and focus on our mission to this dying world.

God’s Great Missionaries Lesson 4, July 26 God’s Great Missionaries Lesson 4, July 26

The Son of God Among Us Key Text 1 J OHN 1:1 NLT “ The one who existed from the beginning is the one we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is Jesus Christ, the Word of Life.”

The Son of God Among Us Initial Words {47} Over the centuries, people have argued about Jesus, sung about Him, preached about Him, cursed Him, made movies about Him, even died for Him; but most people in the world today either do not know Him or know only what He has accomplished in their behalf.

The Son of God Among Us Quick Look 1. Jesus Among Us (John 1:14) 2. Jesus Among Sinners, Publicans (Mark 2:15) 3. Jesus Among Scribes, Pharisees (Matthew 23:13-29)

The Son of God Among Us 1. Jesus Among Us J OHN 1:14 NKJV “ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father….”

1. Jesus Among Us Why He Came {47} That He did great things while here is fine; that He preached powerful sermons is fine; that He revealed to us the character of God is fine. But none of these things, in the end, really matter if Jesus did not come and die as the Substitute for us, thus giving us the promise of eternal life.

1. Jesus Among Us Why He Came {49} Dwell on the implications of what John is telling us (1:1-14). These words should give us hope, especially in contrast to the teachings of modern science, which has us all here purely by chance; instead of us being the creations of a loving God, One who became “flesh, and dwelt among us.”

The Son of God Among Us 2. Jesus Among Sinners, Publicans M ARK 2:15 NKJV “ As He was dining at Levi’s House, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples….”

2. Jesus Among Sinners, Publicans Society’s Outcasts {51} Jesus came to reveal the character of God to all the world through both His life and death. By associating with those who were considered, at least by worldly standards, lowlifes, Jesus was giving us a message about what God deems good and bad.

2. Jesus Among Sinners, Publicans Society’s Outcasts {51} As humans, we tend to look at the outward appearances; God, though, looks at the heart, where He can see what we often do not. Unlike us, Jesus knew the heart; Jesus saw what was going on inside those who, from the outside, looked so unworthy and so unpromising.

The Son of God Among Us 3. Jesus Among Scribes, Pharisees M ATTHEW 23:13, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29 NKJV “ ‘ But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!’ ”

3. Jesus Among Scribes, Pharisees The Hypocrites {53} We often picture the kind and gentle Jesus working gingerly and softly with the worst of sinners; but when the time was right Jesus had strong words to speak against many of the religious leaders of ancient Israel. In some ways He sounded just as some of the Old Testament prophets did.

The Desire of Ages 614 The Hypocrites {54} “This hypocrisy Christ declared would bring them the greater damnation. The same rebuke falls upon many in our day who make a high profession of piety. Their lives are stained by selfishness and avarice, yet they throw over it a garment of seeming purity, and thus for a time deceive their fellow men. But they cannot deceive God.”

3. Jesus Among Scribes, Pharisees The Hypocrites {55} The amazing thing about the life of Jesus was that even amid the harshest circumstances He never lost sight of His mission: to save the lost. The good of others is constantly on His mind. This applies to the religious leaders that Jesus riled upon.

The Son of God Among Us Final Words {55} Missionary work is not easy. Look at what happened when Jesus was here. Look at how so many reacted. Yet, even toward the worst Jesus showed love and care and compassion. Our feelings toward those who reject us should not be anger or resentment; they should be of pity, of concern, and of care.

The Son of God Among Us Final Words {55} When people refuse to listen, they are not rejecting us personally, they are rejecting Jesus.