missionary journey

Paul suggested to Barnabas that they re-visit the churches they had established on their 1st missionary journey.  Before leaving Antioch, he and Barnabas disagreed over who they should take with them, so they took different people and went to different places.  Paul re-visited churches and attempted to enter new areas to teach people about Jesus.  The Holy Spirit actively guided Paul and his companions, and one night, Paul had a vision of a man from the region of Macedonia standing and begging him to come and help. By entering Macedonia on this, his 2nd missionary journey, Paul will now taking the Gospel to Europe for the first time.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Acts 15:36 through 16:1-10

Outline:

1. A Rough Start to the Journey (Acts 15:36-41)
2. Timothy joins Paul in Strengthening the Churches  (Acts 16:1-5)
3. Missionaries Led by the Spirit (Acts 16:6-10)

Tips for teaching children:

• Learn about missionaries.  You might interview one, send letters, or print pictures of places where missionaries work.
• Trace Paul’s missionary journey on a map.
• Sing  I Can Be a Missionary

Tips for teaching adults:

• Look at a map of Paul’s 2nd mission journey to put his travels in context.  The show notes will have a link to the Viz Bible maps
•  A good question that calls for some imagination is:  What might Timothy’s growing up be like in a mixed race and faith home? What challenges might he have faced?  What about those today growing up in a home with different ethnicities and faiths?  How can the church best serve them?
• Guide the class into exploring the possible dynamics of Barnabas and Paul not budging on their view of John Mark.  Who was right?  Why?  Who was wrong? Why?  Why do you think Paul was so adamant against John Mark joining them on this journey?  What is helpful to us as we read and reflect on this incident and its results?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  Macedonian Vision 

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

Do you know what the greatest supply-chain shift in all history has been, at least so far? Well, it could have been the “Macedonian Call,” where God directed the Apostle Paul and his team to shift their focus across the Aegean Sea to Macedonia, opening up the whole new geographic area of modern Europe to the gospel of the Kingdom of God! Wow, you talk about long-term impact! And the vital ingredient was the Holy Spirit re-vectoring the missionary efforts of the Apostle Paul. Join Kevin as we focus on fostering the fullest possible direction and betterment from God in our lives!  // Download this episode's Application & Action questions and PDF transcript at whitestone.org.

Ever wondered how you can step out of your comfort zone and truly be the church scattered?

Join Karen and Deanna Sanders in this enlightening episode as they unravel the impactful story from the Gospel of Mark—bringing people to Jesus, reaching out, and igniting faith. Delve into the crucial importance of sharing your faith across diverse cultures, understanding the challenges, and embracing the call to be the light.

So, how can we engage with the unseen people around us, transcending cultural and faith barriers? Deanna's incredible journey and insights reveal the way. Overcoming fears, intentional faith-sharing, and partnership with missionaries—these are just the beginnings. It's about opening our eyes to the needs and being willing to extend the hope of Christ beyond our comfort zones.

Tune in, and let's collectively embrace the call to scatter, share, and shine the light of hope where it's needed the most. Ready to step into this transformative mission? Join us, and let's be the church scattered, making a difference one heartfelt connection at a time.

Show Notes

**About The Guest(s):**​Deanna Sanders is a writer with a heart for reaching people of different faiths and cultures. Growing up as a preacher's kid, she developed a passion for sharing the love of Jesus with those who have not yet heard the message of hope. Deanna has written a book titled "Unseen People: Sharing Light and Life with Your Neighbors in the Nations," which focuses on reaching out to Muslim communities. She is actively involved in her local church and seeks to inspire others to look beyond themselves and see the unseen.​**Summary:**​In this episode of the Blue Cord Podcast, Karen and Deanna discuss the story in the Gospel of Mark about bringing people to Jesus to touch his hem. They explore the importance of sharing one's faith across cultures and the challenges and fears that may arise. Deanna shares her personal journey of reaching out to Muslim communities and the impact it has had on her life. They emphasize the need to open our eyes to the needs of those around us and to be willing to step out of our comfort zones to share the hope of Christ.​**Key Takeaways:**​1. The story in the Gospel of Mark shows the importance of bringing people to Jesus for healing and the faith and passion of those who sought him.2. It is essential to overcome fears and be intentional about sharing one's faith with people of different faiths and cultures.3. Living in a small town is not an excuse to not engage with the nations, as there are unseen people everywhere.4. Praying for people and partnering with other believers can be powerful ways to engage with different cultures and share the love of Christ.5. The goal is to open our eyes to see the needs of those around us and to be willing to step out and share the hope of Christ.​**Quotes:**​- "We're great at going to Bible studies and going to worship services. And now it's time to be the church scattered." - Deanna Sanders- "God didn't call us necessarily to a safe bubble. He calls us to share faith in our world, in our cities, our communities, and into all the world." - Deanna Sanders

About The Guest(s):

 Growing up as a preacher's kid, Deanna Sanders developed a passion for sharing the love of Jesus with those who have not yet heard the message of hope. Deanna has authored a book titled "Unseen People: Sharing Light and Life with Your Neighbors in the Nations," which focuses on reaching out to Muslim communities. She is actively involved in her local church and seeks to inspire others to look beyond themselves and see the unseen.

Summary:

In this episode of the Blue Cord Podcast, Karen and Deanna discuss the story in the Gospel of Mark about bringing people to Jesus to touch his hem. They explore the importance of sharing one's faith across cultures and the challenges and fears that may arise. Deanna shares her personal journey of reaching out to Muslim communities and the impact it has had on her life. They emphasize the need to open our eyes to the needs of those around us and to be willing to step out of our comfort zones to share the hope of Christ.

Key Takeaways:

1. The story in the Gospel of Mark shows the importance of bringing people to Jesus for healing and the faith and passion of those who sought him.
2. It is essential to overcome fears and be intentional about sharing one's faith with people of different faiths and cultures.
3. Living in a small town is not an excuse to not engage with the nations, as there are unseen people everywhere.
4. Praying for people and partnering with missionaries on the ground can be powerful ways to engage with different cultures and share the love of Christ.
5. The goal is to open our eyes to see the needs of those around us and to be willing to step out and share the hope of Christ.

Quotes:

• "We're great at going to Bible studies and going to worship services. And now it's time to be the church scattered." - Deanna Sanders
• "God didn't call us necessarily to a safe bubble. He calls us to share faith in our world, in our cities, our communities, and into all the world." - Deanna Sanders

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the topic of engaging with people of different faiths and cultures
00:15 Importance of finding a church with a heart for the nations
00:18 The power of prayer and being ready to serve
00:19 The challenge of stepping out of safe bubbles and sharing faith
00:20 The need to open our eyes and share the hope of Christ
00:21 Growing our faith by engaging with people who are different
00:22 The Blue Cord movement and the importance of community
00:23 Reflection on personal action steps

In this episode Brooks and Brandon follow Barnabas and Paul through Cyprus into Paphos then sailing across to Perga, Pisidian Antioch, Lystra, Derbe and then home to a different Antioch. In each location, they explore briefly the background of the cities they entered and what Luke is trying to teach literarily with these stories. There is also the first announcement of available merch! Better listen to the end to see what you can get for free!