DIVINE MISSIONS (Part Three)
Today’s Lesson
Prayer Point - Pray that you might be endued with power.
Previous Knowledge - The teacher should remind the students what they learned during the course of last week's lesson. The teacher directs members of the class to share what they gained from the lesson. The teacher marks the workbook.
1. Opening
A. BIBLE PASSAGE - Acts 2:1-24
B. Memory Verse - "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but farry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." Luke 24:49
C. Lesson Introduction - Like any other work of God, the work of missions in particular must not be done in the flesh so that frustration, failure and discouragement would not come in. Today, we want to look at the power behind effective missionary activities.
TEACHER'S DIARY
A. Lesson Aim - To understand the role of the Holy Spirit in missionary work.
B. Teaching Objectives and Lesson Plan
At the end of the lesson, students should have a better knowledge of the role played by the Holy Spirit in missionary work.
C. Text Review - ACTS 2:1-24
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit demonstrated to the whole world that He has come to resume His mission ministry. That was why He gave the major languages of the then world to the people to speak. V.811. The implication is that the mission work is to go round in the world including those twenty major countries which includes the gentile nations of Egypt, the Islamic nation of Arabia and Libya in Africa, the Cretans who were characterised by 'lying', the Babylonian territory of Medes, etc. The mission Director, the Holy Ghost, is interested in sending people to the end of the world. Those who spoke in each of those languages must have been automatically commissioned by the Holy Spirit to face those parts of the world as their mission fields. Language barrier has thus been broken by the Holy Spirit. The same happened to the tribe barrier "whether Jews or Proselytes". V.10 i.e. circumcised or uncircumcised, bond or free. The message of salvation is for the whole world.
D. Teaching Method - Teacher should use lecture method.
E. Time Management - 15 minutes for Opening, 30 minutes for Lesson Outline, Summary, Conclusion 'and Assignment, 15 minutes for General Review.
2. Lesson Outlines
i. LESSON OUTLINE 1 -THE HOLYSPIRITAND MISSIONS
i. The Holy Spirit and Missions are inseparable. He is also mission minded as God the Father and the Son.
ii. Mission work cannot be effective without the power of the Holy Spirit, just as the body cannot be effective without food. He is the enabling power for mission. Luke 24:49
iii. He (the Holy Spirit) is sent by the Father to bring a clearer understanding of the Son's work and to continue the same. John 16:7; John 1426
iv. He came bodily on the day of Pentecost like fire on the believers in the upper room to resume His teaching and encouraging ministries.
v. His ministry to the unbelievers is to convict, convince and regenerate their souls. John 16:8-11; John 3:8.
Class Activity 1- Why is the Holy Spirit important in mission?
ii. LESSON OUTLINE 2 - THE HOLY SPIRIT AS THE DIRECTOR OF MISSSIONARY ACTIVITIES
The position of the Holy Spirit as the director of mission is seen in the following scriptural facts.
i. That the disciples should wait for Him before they began the work.
Luke 24:49
ii. That the power to use for the missionary work is in the Holy Ghost.
So they should wait for him. Acts 1:8
iii. He empowered the disciples to speak in so many languages on the day of Pentecost when many people are gathered to Jerusalem so as to convince them that the salvation message is for the whole world, whether Jews or Gentiles, near or far. Acts 2:38-39
iv.' The Holy Spirit as the director of mission sent Philip to preach to Eunuch of Ethiopia. Acts 8:29
v. He directed Peter to preach to the house of Cornelius, a gentile but devoted Christian. Acts 10: 44 -47
vi. He directed the teachers and the prophets at Antioch.
vii. Soon after the conversion of Paul on the way to Damascus, the Holy Spirit took over the role of directing him to Ananias and to his mission's field. Acts 9: 15-16
viii. He prevented Paul from going to Asia Minor, rather, he should go toMacedonia.Acts16:6-7; 8-10
ix. He directed and enabled all the apostles to perform their missionary '10rk effectively. Acts 19:21; Acts 20:22-23; Acts 21: 11-14
Class Activity 2 - Where did the Holy Spirit direct you to go last? When and for what?
Summary: The Holy Spirit is the power behind the Missionary. He is the Director' of the mission.
Conclusion: It is unfortunate today that many believers do not reckon with the Holy Spirit any longer. No wonder, the apostles succeeded greatly because they allowed the Ho(y Spirit to have His way. We should follow their examples.
Assignment: See assignment in the workbook.
DIVINE MISSIONS (Part Four)
Today’s Lesson
Prayer Point - Pray for missionaries all over the world for grace to remain steadfast.
Previous Knowledge - Assistant Teacher should review the last week Sunday School Lesson and should mark the workbook.
1. Opening
A. BIBLE PASSAGE - Acts 26: 12-20
B. Memory Verse - "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Romans 8:30
C. Lesson Introduction -In our past lessons on this series, we have had the understanding that the Trinity takes active part in the work of missions. In this final lesson, we want to learn about other things that we need to know to complete our understanding of this topic.
TEACHER'S DIARY
A. Lesson Aim - To study on some essential components in mission.
B. Teaching Objectives and Lesson Plan
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
i.) Understand the missionary call.
ii.) Identify qualifications of a missionary.
iii.) Discover the preparations for the work and
iv.) Explain their roles in the mission.
To achieve these objectives, teacher explains:
i. The meaning of missionary call 'and the qualification for mission assignment.
ii. The preparations required to embark on mission.
iii. The role which is required of the students.
C. Text Review -Acts26:12-20
Apostle Paul explained to King Agrippa with passion the reasons behind his commitment to the divine order.
He stated that the Lord appeared to him and gave him five-fold commissions (mandates) as follows: (Acts 20:16-18)
- To open the spiritual eyes of the gentiles. V18a
- To turn the gentiles from darkness to light. V18b
- To turn the gentiles from the power of Satan to the living God. V18c
- To make the gentiles receive forgiveness for their sins through salvation messages. V 18d . 1
- To make gentiles qualify for divine and Heavenly inheritance prepared for. Those who are sanctified by faith. V18e
These 5- fold mission he explained before King Agrippa and noted, "I was not disobedient unto the Heavenly vision".
We can plunge into these mandates too and be ready to defend it before authorities.
D. Teaching Method – Teacher should use lecture teaching method.
E. Time Management - 15 minutes for Opening, 30 minutes for Lesson Outline, Summary, Conclusion and Assignment, 15 minutes for General Review.
2. Lesson Outlines
i. LESSON OUTLINE 1 - THE MISSIONARY CALL
i. Every Christian is a missionary.
ii. God puts a burden/desire into every born again Christian on mission.
iii. The desire may be aroused through listening to sermons/ teaching or studying the scripture or by still voice of God.
iv. Mission desire can be aroused through dream. Acts 16:19
II. LESSON OUTLINE 2 - QUALIFICATION OF A MISSIONARY
i. He/she must be spiritual and not carnal. I Corinthians 2: 14
ii. Genuine conversion. John 3:3-5;
iii. Filled with the Holy Spirit. Acts 4:8; 13:9-10; Eph. 5: 18
iv. He/she must be sure of his/her calling. I Tim. 1: 12; Rom 1: 1-4 v. Disciplined spiritually. Gal. 2:20; I Cor. 9:27; Gal. 1:11-12
vi. Adaptable to new culture and environment. I Cor. 9: 19-23; Phil.4:12-13
vii. Healthy and have good motive. II Cor. 5: 14
viii. Improve knowledge through mission school and others. 2 Tim. 2:15 · .
ix. Abilitytoworkwithothers.1 Peters 3:8; Romans 12:18
Class Activity 1 - Why do you think a lot people run away from mission?
III. LESSON OUTL.INE 3· PREPARATION FOR THE WORK
i. Solid training /background through Bible College, Seminars etc.
ii. Decide which organisation to work with. Consider the policies of such organisation.
iii. Consider source(s) of support finance, prayer, materials.
iv. Consider the locations-location of training location of field.
v. Your target audience must be considered.'
Iv. LESSON OUTLINE 4· YOUR ROLE IN MISSION
i. You can be part through holy life and your good testimony.
ii. You can support mission by praying for missionaries personally or by group on regular basis.
iii. You can give support through your financial contributions or group financial contributions. Romans 16: 1-5; Phil4: 15-18’
iv. You can support mission by sending materials through supervising or co-ordinating body.
Read: Lev. 24:12-14; Acts 9:6; II Thess. 5:17; Mark 9:38; Luke 18:1; Eph.6:18-19.
Class Activity 2 - Why is it advisable to be involved in mission directly or indirectly? '
Summary: Be involved in mission work,
Conclusion: God our Father has called us to be co-labourers with Him. It is a privilege for us to be in His service. So, let us arise and do our part in reaching the perishing. You will only be remembered by what you have done for God.
Assignment: See assignment in the workbook
