56 - Apostolic suffering (1) 1

[Paul] sent … Timothy … to Macedonia … About that time there arose a great disturbance [in Ephesus] … When the uproar had ended, Paul … set out for Macedonia (Acts 19:22,23; 20:1).

… we go hungry and thirsty, … are in rags, … brutally treated, … homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when … persecuted, we endure it; when … slandered, we answer kindly … we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world (1 Cor. 4:11-13).

56 - Apostolic suffering (2) 2

Praise be to the God … of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Cor. 1:3,4).

56 - Apostolic suffering (3) 3

Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church (Col. 1:24).

56 - Apostolic suffering (4) 4

Discussion & dialogue

Tell your study group some of the ways in which you have experienced apostolic suffering yourself, and how the Lord helped you to endure it or saved you out of it

Discuss how a biblical theology of suffering can be taught to a younger generation of missionaries: how can today’s ‘Pauls’ teach this to today’s ‘Timothys’?

57 - From aroma to persuasion (1) 5

But thanks be to God, who … through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life (2 Cor. 2:14-16).

57 - From aroma to persuasion (2) 6

I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18:3).

57 - From aroma to persuasion (3) 7

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts (2 Cor. 3:2,3).

57 - From aroma to persuasion (4) 8

Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men … For Christ’s love compels us (2 Cor. 5:11,14).

57 - From aroma to persuasion (5) 9

Discussion & dialogueCompare in your study group your plans for cultural- and language preparation with those, indicated in this chapter, and see if you need to apply modifications

How can you ‘smell like Christ’ to your target-population, as long as you do not yet speak their language fluently?

Assess the benefits – or disadvantages – of studying the religious writings of the people group you want to share the Gospel with. For instance, could reading the Koran contaminate you spiritually, or could your Koran knowledge help you to ‘persuade’ Muslims of the superiority of the Gospel message?

58 - Sowing & reaping (1) 10

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously … God loves the cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:6,7).

All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do (Gal. 2:10).

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability (2 Cor. 8:1-3).

58 - Sowing & reaping (2) 11

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality (2 Cor. 8:13,14).

58 - Sowing & reaping (3) 12

Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account (Phil. 4:17).

If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? (1 Cor. 9:11).

58 - Sowing & reaping (4) 13

Discussion & dialogue

Discuss with your study group how to handle the following financial situations:– If gifts are given for special projects, can the

money be spent on something else?– If gifts are given for a special project, how

should the money be transferred in a way that guarantees transparency and accountability?

59 - Back to Jerusalem & on to Rome (1)

14

He [Paul] was accompanied by Sopater … from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. These men … waited for us at Troas (Acts 20:4,5).

59 - Back to Jerusalem & on to Rome (2)

15

When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart?

I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:12,13)

59 - Back to Jerusalem & on to Rome (3)

16

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome” (Acts 23:11).

59 - Back to Jerusalem & on to Rome (4)

17

Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me (Acts 27:23-25).

59 - Back to Jerusalem & on to Rome (5)

18

Discussion & dialogueDiscuss the advantages and disadvantages of multi-national, multi-racial, multi-denominational and multi-generational missionary teams of about 4-8 people

Discuss what components of Paul’s attitude gave him such tremendous freedom, that he preferred suffering over comfort, was free while in prison, did not care about corruption that worked against him and didn’t even mind to die

Explain how Paul acted as saving ‘son of promise’ (theme ten) during his last sea voyage and also how themes three, four and eight feature

60 - James versus Paul? (1) 19

Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? (Matt. 13:55).

I saw none of the other apostles – only James, the Lord’s brother (Gal. 1:19).

Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born (1 Cor. 15:7,8).

60 - James versus Paul? (2) 20

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1).

You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone (James 2:24).

60 - James versus Paul? (3) 21

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why … do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? … Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence (Col. 2:20,21,23).

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent … Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says (James 1:21,22).

60 - James versus Paul? (4) 22

Discussion & dialogue

Explain briefly as if to a Roman Catholic, how faith and works relate, doing justice to both