(uplifting theme music)
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(music ends)
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>>Welcome to "Sabbath School,"
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brought to you by It Is Written.
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We're delighted that you
could join us again this week
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as we take a look
at lesson number two.
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We are looking at
"God's Mission to Us - Part 2"
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or, as you might call
it, the mission of God.
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We are on a 13-week journey now
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taking a look at God's
mission and my mission.
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Let's begin this
week with prayer.
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Father, we wanna thank
You again for being with us
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this week as we continue
to look at the importance
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of us understanding our mission
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as it relates to Your mission.
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And we ask that
You'll bless us in this,
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and thank You, in
Jesus' name, amen.
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Well, we're
delighted again this week
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to have with us Kleber
Gonçalves. He is the director
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of the Center for Secular
and Post-Christian Mission.
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Kleber, welcome back.
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>>Thank you. >>So this week,
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we're looking kind of
at part 2 of last week,
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and this week is
essentially the mission of God.
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Help us to understand this a
little bit better. We looked,
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we got a start last week
in looking at God's character
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and so forth, and
this week we're kind of,
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we're looking at
things slightly differently.
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We're looking at it from a
little different perspective
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but continuing to emphasize
and dwell a little bit deeper,
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drill a little
bit deeper into this.
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When we look at God, we've
got the Father; we have the Son;
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we have the Holy Spirit.
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They're all involved, as
it were, in saving souls.
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What about this
should motivate us
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when it comes to us
desiring to reach out to others?
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When we get an idea of who God
is and what He is, how He is,
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why He is, why should
that give us encouragement?
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>>Hmm. Actually, it's important
for us to never forget,
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Eric, that
mission, it starts in Him.
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You see, it's this
triune approach, the triune God,
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the trinity approach to mission.
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The Father send the Son;
the Son send the Holy Spirit;
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now the Holy Spirit
send us, the church,
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those who accept His
mission in our own lives
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to share with others.
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I would say that
this connecting point
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with what we have
shared on week one
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is that since this
mission belongs to Him,
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it's God's mission.
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It will not
fail. It will not fail.
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You see, we have nothing
to fear, as I have mentioned.
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Right now we just need to
understand how can we be used
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as channels, as agents
of mission in that process.
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So understand that mission
is centered in God Himself.
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It give us the motivation
and even the inspiration for us
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to find ways to
really fulfill what He wants
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because that's His
desire, to share His love,
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to share His purposes that
He has shared with me, with you,
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with those around us.
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So I would say that that
understanding should give us
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the motivation to move
forward in that direction.
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>>So He is by
nature a missional God.
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It's in the way
He's built, composed,
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He just, He is missional,
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and He calls us to take
part in that mission work.
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In fact, the great commission
is about making disciples.
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If we are to go and make
disciples, what does that mean?
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What's involved in that?
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Jesus didn't just say,
"Go and make church members."
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There's a difference between
being a member of the church
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and being a disciple.
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And in many people's
minds, there's... (sighs)
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not everybody sees the
importance of being a disciple
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on a personal level. >>Mm.
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>>What's the difference
between being a church member
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and a disciple, and
should there be a difference
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between being a
church member and a disciple?
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Help us to understand this.
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>>Well, that's an
excellent question.
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Actually, when you talk about
discipleship, disciple-making,
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everything starts
with us, with me, with you.
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Because in order to
fulfill the great commission
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which is centered in
that command, make disciples,
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imperative force of
the great commission
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is exactly on that
action, making disciples,
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how we need to go, we need
to baptize, we need to teach.
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But that's the
purpose: to make disciples.
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But, Eric, we cannot make
a disciple if we are not one.
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It starts with
you; it starts with me.
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It starts with a journey
that we have to have with Him
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in our relationship with God.
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Then we can understand His
love, His purposes, His mission.
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Then we need to
share with others.
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Making disciples,
it is the central point
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of who we should
be as a Christian.
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Actually, discipleship
is not basically centered
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in what you know,
what we can learn,
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what we can hear or
listen from other people.
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No, no, no, it's something--who
am I? Who are you?
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It's who we are in our lives.
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So then we understand
that we can take, as Paul says
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in Ephesians 5,
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making the most of
every single opportunity
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to live Christianity, to
live Adventism in our own life,
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is to share with others
in every single opportunity
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who we are, making disciples,
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helping others also
to follow on that path.
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>>So being a
disciple is more an identity.
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It's someone that we
are, something that we are,
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not something that we know.
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So there's--nobody needs to be--
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and I'm trying to be
careful how I say this--
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nobody has to be
qualified to be a disciple.
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You don't have to have some
sort of letters after your name
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to be a disciple or a
prefix before your name
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or hold a position in
order to be a disciple.
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If you are a Christian, if
you are a believer in Christ,
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you're called to
also be a disciple.
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How important is
that in understanding?
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If we are indeed to share
the message with the world,
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which He's called us to do,
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which we know
is going to happen,
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how important is that
understanding of who I am
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as a Christian being a disciple?
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How important is that to grasp?
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>>The moment we accept
Christ in our own lives,
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we start this
journey of--actually,
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even before, the Spirit
was already working with us--
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but we have this privilege
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of becoming a
disciple of Christ. You see?
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But we don't need to go
through theological training;
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you see, you don't need to
go through a seminary to be a--
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no, no, no,
actually simply use the gifts
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that the Lord has
given us in every area
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in which we can really
use our passions, who we are
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to share God's
love with other people.
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So discipleship
is this awareness
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that no matter
who you are, you see,
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you have to be and to go
through that transformation
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but in such a way
that the Lord will use you
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in the
circumstances of your own life.
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So we cannot
make this distinction.
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Every single person who
comes to be part of this body
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in which Christ is the head,
has the privilege, you see,
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and to really share and to
really live that experience
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with God, with other people.
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>>So everybody
gets the opportunity,
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the privilege of being a
part of that mission strategy
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that God has had
since the beginning.
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You know, since the very
beginning, God has had this
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desire for His people to
share His message with others.
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And we look at the Old
Testament and the New Testament,
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and some people have this
idea that the Old Testament
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is so very, very different
from the New Testament,
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and others, not so different.
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But there is a
subtle change, if you will,
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in the mission strategy there.
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Help us understand this Old
Testament-New Testament dynamic
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of the mission strategy
and what happened there.
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>>Actually, Eric, when we see,
for instance, Abraham's call,
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you see, the Lord
comes to him and says,
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"You will be a
blessing. I'll be with you."
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So in God's plan
in the Old Testament,
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you see the nation
of Israel in such a way
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that they would attract
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through the blessings
that the Lord will put on them.
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You see, we call this
centripetal way of doing
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mission, which the
nations would see the blessings.
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They would come,
and they would ask,
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"Why are you blessed that way?"
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So that would be an
opportunity for them to witness
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and to proclaim and to
show to every single nation
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who God was.
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In the New Testament,
we see a subtle change,
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as you have mentioned,
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in which now we need to not
simply attract people to us,
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but we need to go to people.
So that's the main difference,
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is this centrifugal
way of doing mission.
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You see, following
the great commission,
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we each, we need to go, we
need to baptize, to teach people
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in a way in which we
are making disciples.
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So that's basically,
instead of just being there
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and waiting for the others,
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we have the opportunity
to share through our lives,
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going everywhere,
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going to every single
corner of this planet,
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showing God's love and His mercy
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and His wonderful blessings
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in our own lives
so people can see.
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The best way to
really demonstrate
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and to show Christ is
through our experience with Him.
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So that's the
privilege that we have,
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especially in this subtle change
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from the Old to
the New Testament.
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>>So in Old Testament was
largely just drawing people
00:10:03.40\00:10:06.07
to see what, so
that they could see
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or because they would
see what God was doing.
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Now, God's still working
within the body, as it were,
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but we have this very
clear commission to go also.
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I think maybe some
people today believe they're,
00:10:21.42\00:10:23.72
at least missionally,
00:10:23.72\00:10:25.69
believe they're still
living in Old Testament times
00:10:25.69\00:10:28.16
and just hoping that people
will come to them and say,
00:10:28.16\00:10:32.19
"Well, maybe if people just
see the good life I'm living
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or whatever, that
they'll come and ask me."
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And there's nothing
wrong with living a good life
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and hoping that people will ask,
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but there's also that very
explicit command to go as well.
00:10:42.30\00:10:46.88
Do you think
00:10:46.88\00:10:48.14
that if we live
Old Testament-ly--
00:10:48.14\00:10:52.31
I don't know that that's a word,
00:10:52.31\00:10:53.78
but I'm gonna coin a new
word today. (Kleber chuckles)
00:10:53.78\00:10:55.68
If we live with an
Old Testament mindset,
00:10:55.68\00:10:58.69
are we missing any opportunities
00:10:58.69\00:11:00.52
that may be out
there that God is giving
00:11:00.52\00:11:02.96
if we don't
actively look at outreach?
00:11:02.96\00:11:06.43
>>Actually, we need to
see the Bible as a whole.
00:11:06.43\00:11:09.13
God's purpose was to
show His character, His love.
00:11:09.13\00:11:13.00
You see, in the Old Testament,
we see this attractional mode
00:11:13.00\00:11:16.00
in which people would
come and see the blessings,
00:11:16.00\00:11:18.37
and it was the
opportunity for them to witness,
00:11:18.37\00:11:21.21
and that's the point.
I think that today, Eric,
00:11:21.21\00:11:25.48
we need to really use
every single opportunity,
00:11:25.48\00:11:29.18
every single new technology,
every single circumstance
00:11:30.55\00:11:35.09
in our lives to really make
00:11:35.09\00:11:39.06
the most important decision,
00:11:39.06\00:11:40.73
which is to make us available
to God so He can use us.
00:11:40.73\00:11:44.80
So this
surrender, it's what we need.
00:11:44.80\00:11:47.80
It's this understanding--"Lord,
as I have mentioned to You,
00:11:47.80\00:11:51.17
use me in the
minor things in life."
00:11:51.17\00:11:55.08
See, many times in
the routine of our lives,
00:11:55.08\00:11:57.41
it's an
opportunity for us to share.
00:11:57.41\00:11:59.55
So we need to be
more intentional;
00:11:59.55\00:12:01.38
that's the words that
I would like to express:
00:12:01.38\00:12:03.79
intentionality in mission.
00:12:03.79\00:12:05.92
If it is important to
Him, should be important to us,
00:12:07.32\00:12:11.03
living our lives in
such a way that He can use us
00:12:11.03\00:12:14.46
to connect with
those who are around us.
00:12:14.46\00:12:17.10
>>And He is an
intentionally missional God
00:12:18.27\00:12:22.07
in the way that He is
reaching out to humanity,
00:12:22.07\00:12:24.84
in the way He's really
reaching out to the universe.
00:12:24.84\00:12:28.01
He is a giving God, and
we have that opportunity
00:12:28.01\00:12:31.01
to respond to that in
kind and be giving individuals
00:12:31.01\00:12:35.98
of His love as well.
00:12:35.98\00:12:37.55
And again, I wanna remind you,
00:12:37.55\00:12:38.79
if you didn't happen
to pick it up last week,
00:12:38.79\00:12:40.69
you have another
opportunity this week.
00:12:40.69\00:12:42.39
If you're enjoying
this and want to learn more
00:12:42.39\00:12:44.56
about how you can be
involved in God's mission,
00:12:44.56\00:12:47.86
to be a part of His
desire to share His love
00:12:47.86\00:12:51.07
with the rest of the world,
00:12:51.07\00:12:52.77
make sure that you don't
miss the opportunity to pick up
00:12:52.77\00:12:56.10
the companion book to this
quarter's Sabbath school lesson.
00:12:56.10\00:13:00.08
And of course, you can
pick it up at itiswritten.shop.
00:13:00.08\00:13:03.91
Again, itiswritten.shop,
00:13:03.91\00:13:06.25
and you'll find
the companion book
00:13:06.25\00:13:07.72
to this quarter's
Sabbath school lesson
00:13:07.72\00:13:10.12
that will give you deeper
insights, additional research,
00:13:10.12\00:13:13.76
more value from these lessons,
00:13:13.76\00:13:17.29
something that you
do not want to miss.
00:13:17.29\00:13:20.06
We're going to come
back in just a moment,
00:13:20.06\00:13:21.73
and we're going to continue
looking at the mission of God
00:13:21.73\00:13:26.23
as we continue our time
here with Kleber Gonçalves.
00:13:26.23\00:13:29.00
We'll be back in just a moment.
00:13:29.00\00:13:30.84
(uplifting theme
music swells and ends)
00:13:30.84\00:13:33.61
>>[John Bradshaw] The
Bible is filled with stories
00:13:35.38\00:13:37.71
of flawed human beings
00:13:37.71\00:13:39.51
God called to serve
Him in incredible ways.
00:13:39.51\00:13:43.02
He took a violent,
impulsive, racist fishermen
00:13:43.02\00:13:46.45
and transformed him into
one of Jesus' closest disciples
00:13:46.45\00:13:50.23
and one of the most influential
leaders of the early church.
00:13:50.23\00:13:53.86
Join me for another
episode of our series
00:13:53.86\00:13:56.03
"Great Characters of the Bible"
00:13:56.03\00:13:58.37
as we look at the life of Peter.
00:13:58.37\00:14:01.04
Peter was far from perfect.
00:14:01.04\00:14:02.57
He was overly confident.
00:14:02.57\00:14:04.24
He made promises he didn't keep,
00:14:04.24\00:14:06.57
but his experience is
an encouragement to anyone
00:14:06.57\00:14:09.48
who knows the feeling of messing
up as a follower of Jesus,
00:14:09.48\00:14:13.38
of falling short and wondering
if you'll ever get it right.
00:14:13.38\00:14:17.82
God stuck with
Peter and helped him grow.
00:14:17.82\00:14:20.92
And if you'll let Him,
He'll do the same for you.
00:14:20.92\00:14:24.83
"Great Characters
of the Bible: Peter,"
00:14:24.83\00:14:28.36
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00:15:05.13\00:15:08.20
>>[Eric] Welcome
back to "Sabbath School,"
00:15:09.30\00:15:10.64
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:15:10.64\00:15:12.51
We're continuing our
study on week number two,
00:15:12.51\00:15:15.61
lesson number two,
the mission of God.
00:15:15.61\00:15:17.81
Kleber, let's start
by talking about this
00:15:19.01\00:15:21.02
or asking this
question: What is the mission?
00:15:21.02\00:15:23.25
We're supposed to be
involved in the mission.
00:15:23.25\00:15:25.55
We need to know
what the mission is
00:15:25.55\00:15:27.66
because if you ask
100 different people,
00:15:27.66\00:15:29.56
you'll probably get 100
different answers of what it is,
00:15:29.56\00:15:31.59
why are we here, what is our
mission. Let's make it simple.
00:15:31.59\00:15:35.90
What is the mission
that God has given us
00:15:35.90\00:15:40.14
that we desire, by His
grace and strength, to complete?
00:15:40.14\00:15:43.27
What's this mission?
00:15:43.27\00:15:44.74
>>My answer is a question to
you: What was Christ's mission?
00:15:44.74\00:15:48.44
>>Mm. >>He said clearly
00:15:48.44\00:15:50.68
He "came to seek
and...save the lost."
00:15:50.68\00:15:53.72
So that's what
we have to do. How?
00:15:53.72\00:15:55.78
Through the process of making
disciples, sharing God's love.
00:15:55.78\00:15:59.59
So we need to understand
that we are not simply creating
00:15:59.59\00:16:02.02
a new thing; you're just
following the steps of our
00:16:02.02\00:16:06.53
Master. So in order to
really seek, to look for ways
00:16:06.53\00:16:10.57
to make that bridge with
those who don't know anything
00:16:10.57\00:16:14.00
about God's love, those
who are subjects of His love.
00:16:14.00\00:16:18.97
And also we need
intentionality in mission
00:16:18.97\00:16:23.61
and to understand that
what He wants through us.
00:16:23.61\00:16:27.22
So it's to find ways to
look for those who simply
00:16:27.22\00:16:31.32
don't have, not simply the
knowledge, the information,
00:16:31.32\00:16:35.06
but who can really understand
00:16:35.06\00:16:37.09
and live that
experience with God.
00:16:37.09\00:16:40.13
>>So He's calling us to
seek and to save the lost.
00:16:40.13\00:16:43.93
And He wants us to be
His witnesses in the world.
00:16:43.93\00:16:48.20
What does that look like
00:16:48.20\00:16:49.70
if we're supposed to take
the gospel to all the world?
00:16:49.70\00:16:52.77
He's says seek and save
the lost in all the world.
00:16:52.77\00:16:55.74
I live near
Chattanooga, Tennessee.
00:16:55.74\00:16:58.38
I've got a little
area here that I can reach.
00:16:59.51\00:17:01.18
I do a little bit of traveling,
00:17:01.18\00:17:03.25
and I can reach an
area here and here.
00:17:03.25\00:17:05.35
How are we supposed
to reach the entire world
00:17:05.35\00:17:08.29
to seek and save the lost
from one corner of the world
00:17:08.29\00:17:12.53
to the other? What
does that look like for--
00:17:12.53\00:17:16.10
we'll call him an average
person, an average person--
00:17:16.10\00:17:19.87
what is God calling them to do?
00:17:19.87\00:17:21.40
And what might God
be calling them to do
00:17:21.40\00:17:23.57
if they were to reach
out a little bit further,
00:17:23.57\00:17:27.04
expand their horizons?
00:17:27.04\00:17:29.48
Maybe God has a
mission field that's here;
00:17:29.48\00:17:32.25
maybe He has a
mission field somewhere else.
00:17:32.25\00:17:34.62
What does it mean,
"to be my witness"?
00:17:34.62\00:17:38.42
>>Actually, if you'll allow me,
00:17:38.42\00:17:39.95
let's divide this in two parts.
00:17:39.95\00:17:42.06
First of all, let's
focus on the word "witness."
00:17:42.06\00:17:44.76
When Christ was going back home,
00:17:45.73\00:17:48.53
you see, He told His first
disciples, and to all of us,
00:17:48.53\00:17:51.87
"You'll be my witness."
00:17:51.87\00:17:53.84
And this is something
that we need to understand.
00:17:53.84\00:17:55.74
You see, what is a witness?
00:17:55.74\00:17:58.84
So when you participate in this
process of a trial, you see,
00:17:58.84\00:18:02.74
and say you have to
call the witness, the person,
00:18:02.74\00:18:06.58
and if you are in front
of a judge and the judge ask,
00:18:06.58\00:18:11.25
"Tell me, what do you have?"
00:18:11.25\00:18:13.52
You cannot say, "You know
what, my neighbor told me.
00:18:13.52\00:18:16.66
Or that person, a
friend of mine told me what"--
00:18:16.66\00:18:19.09
no, no, no, to be a witness,
00:18:19.09\00:18:21.43
those prerequisites
is to see and to hear.
00:18:22.53\00:18:27.00
Basically is you have to
be part of the experience.
00:18:27.00\00:18:29.50
You have to be involved
somehow in what has happened.
00:18:29.50\00:18:33.48
So basically we
need to understand this,
00:18:33.48\00:18:35.74
to be a witness is
to share our own story.
00:18:35.74\00:18:39.45
It is what we have
experienced with God.
00:18:39.45\00:18:43.39
So that's a fundamental
aspect of this witnessing thing.
00:18:43.39\00:18:46.86
So that's why it's so important,
this relationship with Him,
00:18:46.86\00:18:49.69
so we can really
share in a appropriate way
00:18:49.69\00:18:53.16
with those around us.
00:18:53.16\00:18:55.03
The second part is this
expansion, as you have said.
00:18:55.03\00:18:57.73
You see, it's
interesting that Jesus says,
00:18:57.73\00:18:59.83
He told His disciples,
"You start in Jerusalem,
00:18:59.83\00:19:02.10
"and then you go to Judea,
and then you go to Samaria,
00:19:02.10\00:19:04.44
and to the ends of
the world, the earth."
00:19:04.44\00:19:08.14
Where should we start?
00:19:08.14\00:19:10.18
Jerusalem,
that's where they were.
00:19:10.18\00:19:12.11
We need to start
with those around us,
00:19:13.15\00:19:15.22
those who are closest to us.
00:19:15.22\00:19:17.02
See, we need to start
with our family members,
00:19:17.02\00:19:20.62
with our neighbors,
with our loved ones,
00:19:20.62\00:19:24.06
those who are really near.
00:19:24.06\00:19:26.43
Start with those we
have daily connections.
00:19:26.43\00:19:30.53
That's why we
should start mission.
00:19:30.53\00:19:32.17
Many times we have this concern,
00:19:32.17\00:19:33.60
"I need to share; I
need to give Bible"--
00:19:33.60\00:19:35.27
and we forget those
who are so close to us,
00:19:35.27\00:19:38.51
family members, extended family;
00:19:38.51\00:19:40.68
we need to make sure we
are intentional about this.
00:19:40.68\00:19:43.45
Then Christ mentioned Judea;
you see, they were talking,
00:19:43.45\00:19:46.78
I mean, using the same
language but not so close.
00:19:46.78\00:19:50.62
You see, there was a
kind of a difference,
00:19:50.62\00:19:52.12
you see, geographical
difference, the same area,
00:19:52.12\00:19:54.76
same thing with us.
00:19:54.76\00:19:56.26
We can take advantage of
the opportunities we have
00:19:56.26\00:19:59.63
with people who, they
talk the same language,
00:19:59.63\00:20:02.90
they have the same culture,
00:20:02.90\00:20:05.37
so we have
easier ways to connect.
00:20:05.37\00:20:08.44
Then He mentioned Samaria;
they were a little further away.
00:20:08.44\00:20:12.77
You see, probably same language
00:20:12.77\00:20:14.91
but a kind of different culture.
00:20:14.91\00:20:17.31
So we need to
understand those differences
00:20:17.31\00:20:20.02
until the end of the world.
00:20:20.02\00:20:22.62
Those who don't
speak the same language,
00:20:22.62\00:20:25.69
those who don't
have the same culture,
00:20:25.69\00:20:27.82
the thing is intentionality.
00:20:27.82\00:20:29.62
In other words, we need
to reach every single one.
00:20:29.62\00:20:32.29
The question is,
where should I start?
00:20:32.29\00:20:34.30
And of course, some of
us, we have the privilege
00:20:34.30\00:20:37.33
of the
opportunity to serve far away,
00:20:37.33\00:20:41.84
overseas. Take it,
but to be a missionary,
00:20:41.84\00:20:46.81
it does not mean that
you have to cross a ocean.
00:20:46.81\00:20:49.78
To be a missionary,
00:20:49.78\00:20:51.31
especially in this urban
world that we live today,
00:20:51.31\00:20:52.95
it's just across the
streets of your city.
00:20:52.95\00:20:55.82
You will find people
who don't know God's love,
00:20:55.82\00:20:59.05
and you have the opportunity
to share and to be the witness,
00:20:59.05\00:21:02.59
to tell them
your story with Him.
00:21:02.59\00:21:04.76
>>You know, I think
00:21:04.76\00:21:06.03
you touch on
something very important there.
00:21:06.03\00:21:08.00
Sometimes if we
go on a mission trip,
00:21:08.00\00:21:11.57
it's almost as if in our
minds a switch is flipped,
00:21:11.57\00:21:15.20
that now I'm
going to share my faith
00:21:15.20\00:21:17.54
because I'm going
on a mission trip.
00:21:17.54\00:21:20.01
But we may not realize
that when we're at home,
00:21:20.01\00:21:23.24
we're on a mission trip.
00:21:23.24\00:21:25.01
When we're at work,
we're on a mission trip.
00:21:25.01\00:21:26.78
When we're at class,
we're on a mission trip.
00:21:26.78\00:21:28.98
Everywhere we go,
we're on a mission trip.
00:21:28.98\00:21:32.69
We just may not have to travel
as far as we would have to
00:21:32.69\00:21:35.92
to go to the
other side of the world.
00:21:35.92\00:21:37.76
And maybe if we
had that switch flipped
00:21:37.76\00:21:40.16
in our day-to-day life, we
might even be more effective
00:21:40.16\00:21:44.40
as a missionary than if
we went on a mission trip
00:21:44.40\00:21:47.94
to the other side of the globe.
00:21:47.94\00:21:49.60
So as you mentioned,
it's about intentionality
00:21:49.60\00:21:52.71
and being intentional
where I am in Jerusalem,
00:21:52.71\00:21:57.61
as opposed to only
being intentional--
00:21:57.61\00:21:59.95
or being more intentional,
maybe I'll put it that way--
00:21:59.95\00:22:02.88
when I
intentionally go someplace else.
00:22:02.88\00:22:06.15
Interesting.
00:22:06.15\00:22:07.69
>>Think with me when you say,
"I will be on a mission trip,"
00:22:07.69\00:22:11.59
so when you're not
there, what are you doing?
00:22:11.59\00:22:13.90
A real Christian,
00:22:14.86\00:22:16.40
a real Seventh-day Adventist
always on a mission trip,
00:22:16.40\00:22:21.40
on a mission journey.
00:22:21.40\00:22:24.04
It's using every
single moment of my life
00:22:24.04\00:22:27.68
to share God's love
with those around me.
00:22:27.68\00:22:29.78
So that change in our
lives, it has to happen.
00:22:29.78\00:22:33.18
And it starts with that
understanding of God's mission
00:22:33.18\00:22:36.15
and how it can really
motivate us to move forward
00:22:36.15\00:22:39.15
in that direction.
00:22:39.15\00:22:40.62
>>And if the gospel's
going to go to all the world,
00:22:40.62\00:22:41.86
it's gonna start
right where I am,
00:22:41.86\00:22:44.26
right with the people
that I'm interacting with.
00:22:44.26\00:22:47.83
We talk about sharing the
gospel, and it's important;
00:22:47.83\00:22:51.17
it's what we're called to do,
to seek and to save the lost.
00:22:51.17\00:22:54.87
We're called to take the gospel
to them but not any gospel.
00:22:54.87\00:22:58.94
It's an eternal gospel.
What is this eternal gospel,
00:22:58.94\00:23:02.38
and why is it
important for us to understand
00:23:02.38\00:23:04.35
the significance
of the eternal gospel,
00:23:04.35\00:23:06.75
as opposed to just a gospel
00:23:06.75\00:23:09.48
that may be
flitting around out there?
00:23:09.48\00:23:11.92
>>That's a very important
aspect. Actually, in God's Word
00:23:11.92\00:23:14.99
we find everything we
need to understand mission
00:23:14.99\00:23:18.79
and to live mission according
to His dreams and purposes
00:23:18.79\00:23:21.80
to our lives.
We know what to do,
00:23:21.80\00:23:24.53
which is simply doing what
Christ has done when He came.
00:23:24.53\00:23:28.40
But what should we share?
00:23:28.40\00:23:31.11
The totality of
God's teachings to us.
00:23:31.11\00:23:35.94
And we have been
blessed by this understanding,
00:23:35.94\00:23:40.95
knowledge of the eternal gospel.
00:23:40.95\00:23:43.22
And we see this so
clear in Revelation 14.
00:23:43.22\00:23:46.79
And those two words--"eternal,"
it means it does not change.
00:23:46.79\00:23:51.66
It has not changed. It
will not change in the future,
00:23:51.66\00:23:55.53
so it's the totality.
00:23:55.53\00:23:57.13
You see how
important it is for us to live
00:23:57.13\00:23:59.70
according to His purposes,
00:23:59.70\00:24:01.30
to live in
obedience to His teachings?
00:24:01.30\00:24:04.51
So we need to make sure
00:24:04.51\00:24:05.97
that everything
that He has showed us,
00:24:05.97\00:24:07.84
it's involved in this
sharing of the good news,
00:24:07.84\00:24:12.51
something that
really brings hope.
00:24:12.51\00:24:15.82
It's good, it's news, so it
brings happiness to our lives
00:24:15.82\00:24:20.62
so people can really
see in us the eternal gospel
00:24:20.62\00:24:24.99
in a practical way.
00:24:24.99\00:24:26.53
>>So we want people to
see the eternal gospel in us.
00:24:26.53\00:24:29.56
The gospel hasn't changed.
00:24:29.56\00:24:31.63
People really
haven't changed much, either,
00:24:32.77\00:24:34.90
if you stop and think
about it, as Christians.
00:24:34.90\00:24:37.47
A lot of people
for a lot of years
00:24:38.81\00:24:40.51
have been kind of hesitant.
00:24:40.51\00:24:42.91
Maybe there's a fear
of one kind or another:
00:24:42.91\00:24:44.91
What if I say something wrong?
00:24:44.91\00:24:46.11
What if I do something wrong?
00:24:46.11\00:24:47.78
But how could all of
us be more fully engaged
00:24:47.78\00:24:52.75
in God's mission to accomplish
what He's called us to do
00:24:52.75\00:24:56.62
and overcome some of the
00:24:57.53\00:24:59.79
maybe we feel
inadequate to share?
00:24:59.79\00:25:02.93
What are some ways that we can
all be fully engaged in this,
00:25:02.93\00:25:06.47
maybe a mindset shift
00:25:06.47\00:25:08.60
or a heart change or shift?
00:25:08.60\00:25:12.57
What could we do
to be more involved
00:25:12.57\00:25:15.54
so that we can
experience the blessing
00:25:15.54\00:25:17.91
that comes from being
a part of this sharing
00:25:17.91\00:25:22.02
of the everlasting gospel?
00:25:22.02\00:25:23.85
>>Eric, we live
today in different times.
00:25:23.85\00:25:27.82
You see, we don't
live in the '70s anymore.
00:25:27.82\00:25:31.49
The '80s, 2000 is gone.
00:25:31.49\00:25:33.50
We live in a
different circumstance.
00:25:34.46\00:25:37.03
I think many times we are
so anxious to share information
00:25:37.03\00:25:40.97
with people that we feel
we, I don't know everything.
00:25:40.97\00:25:45.07
What about if the
person asks something
00:25:45.07\00:25:46.68
that I don't know how to answer?
00:25:46.68\00:25:48.14
So we get kind of scared,
and then we kind of put aside
00:25:48.14\00:25:50.95
the privilege of doing mission.
00:25:50.95\00:25:53.28
Information is
important, I would say.
00:25:53.28\00:25:55.18
We need to know, we
need to do our very best
00:25:55.18\00:25:57.22
to share information, but we
need to share something else.
00:25:57.22\00:26:00.89
It's the sharing of ourselves;
00:26:00.89\00:26:03.46
it's to make sure that
people can see in us our story,
00:26:03.46\00:26:07.66
our relationship with Christ.
00:26:07.66\00:26:10.17
Today that's one of the
most powerful tools we can use.
00:26:10.17\00:26:14.87
It's when people can see,
00:26:14.87\00:26:16.84
they can sense that God
is priority in our lives,
00:26:16.84\00:26:21.84
in our dealings
on an everyday basis,
00:26:21.84\00:26:25.48
see? In the business we
do, in the way we treat people,
00:26:25.48\00:26:28.18
in the way we treat our family,
people are always looking.
00:26:28.18\00:26:31.89
I would say it's one of the
most important opportunities
00:26:31.89\00:26:34.42
we have to share Bible
knowledge through our lives.
00:26:34.42\00:26:38.83
So that's a way in which
all of us can be involved.
00:26:38.83\00:26:41.93
It's simply making sure
that's, what I live with Him,
00:26:41.93\00:26:45.10
I can share with
others on a daily basis.
00:26:45.10\00:26:47.87
>>So letting God
shine through us,
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letting our lives be a powerful
positive witness for others,
00:26:51.41\00:26:56.24
don't have to know
the answer to everything.
00:26:56.24\00:26:58.81
Doesn't hurt to know the
answer to one or two things,
00:26:58.81\00:27:01.08
praise the Lord for that,
00:27:01.08\00:27:02.35
but if you can just
let people see Jesus in you
00:27:02.35\00:27:04.95
and Him living
through you, that's powerful.
00:27:04.95\00:27:07.72
In just the few
moments we have left,
00:27:07.72\00:27:09.52
if somebody was
saying, "I wanna do that;
00:27:09.52\00:27:13.23
"I'm a little scared
00:27:13.23\00:27:14.83
'cause I don't know
what I'm gonna face,"
00:27:14.83\00:27:17.13
what words of encouragement
would you give them?
00:27:17.13\00:27:19.33
>>I will tell you
that just make sure that
00:27:19.33\00:27:23.64
you understand His love to
you, that He wants to use you;
00:27:23.64\00:27:28.11
it's a matter of surrender.
00:27:28.11\00:27:29.61
Put yourself in His
hands, and as I have mentioned
00:27:29.61\00:27:32.01
last time we were
together, just pray,
00:27:32.01\00:27:34.88
in sincerity in your heart:
"Lord, use me." And He will.
00:27:34.88\00:27:37.79
He'll use you everywhere you are
00:27:37.79\00:27:41.06
unto fulfillment of His mission.
00:27:41.06\00:27:43.32
>>Fantastic. Kleber, thank
you so much for joining us.
00:27:43.32\00:27:45.83
We appreciate how
you've launched us
00:27:45.83\00:27:48.06
into this quarter's lesson,
and we have yet a ways to go.
00:27:48.06\00:27:52.60
And we're excited
about having you join us
00:27:52.60\00:27:54.57
as we continue looking at
God's mission and my mission.
00:27:54.57\00:27:58.14
We'll be back again next week
as we continue this journey.
00:27:58.14\00:28:01.01
Until then, God bless you,
and we'll see you next time
00:28:01.01\00:28:03.65
on "Sabbath School,"
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:28:03.65\00:28:06.61
(uplifting theme music)
00:28:06.61\00:28:08.75
(music ends)
00:28:26.87\00:28:28.97