Buddhist #4
Study
Read Hebrews 11:8–10.
- “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance” (verse 8a).
What does is it like to hear God’s voice to leave home to share the gospel with unreached peoples?
Is fear ever completely absent? Explain.
- “Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God” (verse 10). Read Hebrews 11:13–16 too.
Create a list of 5 truths about heaven that would compel a person to bring the gospel to unreached peoples.
Watch
Waking with Sochea (5:12)
- "When I first met Sochea, I saw a unique young man who I wanted to walk alongside with."
What does it mean to walk alongside someone? Has anyone ever walked alongside you? Explain the impact.
Is there value of learning to walk alongside someone now in preparation for going so overseas? Explain. - “I [Markus] have learned so much by sharing in his [Sochea’s] spiritual journey.”
We learn more by teaching than by being a student. List three things a teacher might learn by making disciples among unreached peoples?
- What else stood out to you from this video?
One Boat (5:34)
- “We believe that God called us here because there is a great need here. People have not met a true believer in Jesus Christ."
Is the duty of Christians any more complicated than merely going where there is no gospel? Explain.
- What else stood out to you from this video?
Innovation and Flexibility (1:06)
- "There is no typical missionary anymore....the truth is that God can use any one of us."
What talents and skills do your group possess that are useful on the mission field?
- What else stood out to you from this video?
Discuss
Read the following and share which point spoke to you the strongest from each list. Five Struggles & Joys of Missionary Life
Top five struggles:
Top five joys:
Top five struggles:
- Grief.
"There is an unceasing grief caused by missionary friends leaving the field. We also grieve the traumas, sicknesses, and struggles of friends and teammates on the field."—A worker in Southeast Asia - Uncertainty.
"Sometimes, I wonder if I have what it takes to make it happen—the big vision that God has called us to."—A worker in Europe - Cultural Stress.
“There is a regular level of stress that persists when just living daily life because of simple things like heat, traffic, foreign languages, culture, laws, etc.”—A worker in Southeast Asia - Singleness.
“I get weary, having all of the responsibility of everyday life in another culture fall solely on my shoulders.”—A worker in the Americas - Foreign-ness.
“No matter how I dress, how well I speak their language, how well I can cook local food or how much I love my local friends, I will always be a foreigner—different, misunderstood, an outsider.”—A worker in East Asia
Top five joys:
- Raising Children.
“I get to raise children outside of the USA where kids grow up so fast. Mine are probably immature compared to American children, but I am thankful that they get to be children longer.”—A worker in Southeast Asia - Adventure.
"I experience adventure, travel abroad, and the joy of seeing God work on the front lines."—A worker in Southeast Asia - Margins.
“My most effective work (where I see God most) is done in the ‘wasted time’ of conversations (time saved for margin) when my real work is interrupted by others.”—A worker in Sub-Saharan Africa - Team.
“It is amazing to live in this type of community where we are cared for so deeply…My teammates care about my everyday life, my relationships, my family, and my walk with God. It is something that is hard to replicate off the field. They are truly the Lord’s provision to us!”—A worker in East Asia
- Dependence.
“Our daily dependence on Him is at a level different from we knew in the US.”—A worker in Central Asia
Learn
Read any Global Starting Point.
Pray
Reflect on what you learned in this meeting and let it guide you in prayer as you pray together as a group.