Study
Read Psalm 96
- "Publish His [the LORD's] glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things He does." Psalm 96:3
Imagine you're on a short term mission trip to an unreached tribe. The onsite missionaries ask your group to share some amazing things about the LORD, from Psalm 96. What five things from this Psalm would you consider essential for them to know? - What other mission principles stand out to you from this Psalm?
Watch
The Easter Story (4:19)
- What is it like to hear a believing tribesman share the resurrection story with such clarity?
- What else stood out to you from the video?
Bisorioland (7:24)
- "I did not realize I stood guilty before God. Or that He could cast me into the place of fire. I lived in total ignorance and darkness."
Did the Tribesman become guilty by hearing the gospel, or did the gospel make him aware of his guilt? How does the answer to this question shape missions to unreached tribal peoples? - "You cannot live as an extra tool that is not being used. Many have not heard God’s talk and are on their way to the place of fire. You in America have training in learning other people’s languages and are well trained to reach people in remote corners who speak different languages. Therefore the work of teaching them is for you to do."
Are we extra unused tools? Explain
What else stood out to you from the video?
Discuss
All excerpts are from Prophecies of Pale Skin by D.S. Phillips
- "We knew deep down inside that we could never stay here in America, the land of comfort and ease because we would be miserable if we did. The forgotten tribes were calling to us. The enchanting land of Indonesia had become like a set of gallows to us, but boy were they beautiful gallows. They were nearly irresistible" (p. 61).
Do those called to go to unreached tribes have a sense of being uneasy with the thought of staying? Explain. - “We have been waiting for your message...then looking up at my face and directly into my eyes, Apius continued. 'Friend, when I saw you and your wife hike into our valley and I saw your pale skin, and then I saw you were building a house here and trying to learn our language, and you told us you had an important message for us, I remembered my father's dream. Upon remembering the dream, I decided I would do everything I could to help you learn our language as quickly as possible. I am here, living with you and helping you because I am waiting for the day I can hear your message. That is why I built my house here'" (pp. 192, 228).
What truths about bringing the gospel to unreached tribes, are revealed in this account?
- "Today, you will finally hear His name; I announced as Wikipai and Daapoi sat across from me, getting ready to hear the first newly translated section of Scripture for the day. They had been waiting for this day for a long time, and today was the day that they would hear about the New Testament account of His birth. They knew from the lesson the day before that Mary was a virgin, and a miracle had occurred so that she became pregnant. They knew that she had gone to Bethlehem to give birth just as the prophecies had foretold. They knew that today was the day. You could have heard a pin drop as I read the words to them that Jennie had finished translating just a few days before from the book of Matthew: 'She gave birth to a son, and they called his name...Yesusi.’ I stopped and let them soak it in for a minute. ‘Yesusi...Yesusi...Yesusi...’ they repeated over and over again to each other with a reverent whisper as if the very speaking of His name was a demonstration of such a long-awaited hope, a demonstration of the Creator’s power” (p. 297).
Which words in this amazing account, stand out to you? Explain.
Learn
Discover
If you have not done so, view SOGY to become familiar with the concept of Supporting Others or Going Yourself.
Pray
Review what you learned at this meeting and spend time as a group praying about those things.