Overall Question: Why is witnessing and evangelism a perpetual ministry? Does Satan's "ministry" have something to do with it?
Memory Text: Luke 13:18-19 English Standard Version 18 He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?19It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."
Sunday – Never-Ending Witnessing and Evangelism
John 4:7-30 New Living Translation “7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” 10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” 11 “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12 And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” 13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” 15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” 16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. 17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” 21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus told her, “I AM the Messiah!” 27 ¶ Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” 28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” 30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.”
John 4:7 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE The Jews say that those who wished to get wives went to the wells where young women were accustomed to come and draw water; and it is supposed that women of ill fame frequented such places also.
John 4:27 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY Marvelled. Or, “were surprised.” Among the Jews it was considered highly improper for a man, and beneath the dignity of a rabbi, to converse with a woman in public. An ancient Jewish literary work, Aboth R. N. 2 (1d), advises, “Let no one talk with a woman in the street, no, not with his own wife” (cited in Strack and Billerbeck, vol. 2, p. 438). In the Mishnah the men are admonished, “Engage not in too much conversation with women” (Aboth 1. 5, Soncino ed. of the Talmud, p. 4; cf. Talmud ‘Erubin 53b, Soncino ed., p. 374).
John 4:28 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY She had experienced desire, conviction, and decision, and the next logical step was action—she went to tell others of her great discovery. This testified to the reality of her decision. The waiting waterpot was mute evidence of her intention to return without delay.
Monday – A Nurturing Environment
1 John 1:7 Common English Bible But if we live in the light in the same way as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.
Acts 2:42 New Century Version They spent their time learning the apostles' teaching, sharing, breaking bread, and praying together.
Acts 2:42-47 COMMENTARY BY MATTHEW HENRY the Holy Ghost filled them with such love, as made every one to be to another as to himself, and so made all things common, not by destroying property, but doing away selfishness, and causing charity. And God who moved them to it, knew that they were quickly to be driven from their possessions in Judea.
Acts 11:19-23 20th Century NT “19 ¶ Now those who had been scattered in different directions, in consequence of the persecution that followed upon the death of Stephen, went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the Message--but only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, who were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, on coming to Antioch, addressed themselves also to the Jews of foreign birth, telling them the Good News about that Lord Jesus. 21 The power of the Lord was with them, so that a great number who had learned to believe came over to the Lord’s side. 22 The news about them reached the ears of the Church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 On coming there he saw to his great joy these tokens of the loving-kindness of God, and encouraged them all to make up their minds to be faithful to the Lord.”
Acts 20:35 Lexham English Bible I have shown you [with respect to] all [things] that [by] working hard in this way it is necessary to help those who are in need, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Acts 20:35 COMMENTARY GENEVA BIBLE NOTES As it were by reaching out the hand to those who otherwise are about to slip and fall away, and so to steady them.
Romans 1:11-12 God’s Word to the Nations “11 I long to see you to share a spiritual blessing with you so that you will be strengthened. 12 What I mean is that we may be encouraged by each other’s faith.”
Tuesday – Training Trainers
2 Timothy 2:1-7 Holman Christian Standard Bible “1 ¶ You, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 To please the recruiter, no one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of everyday life. 5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hardworking farmer who ought to be the first to get a share of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”
2 Timothy 2:2 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE the apostle gave him the proper form of sound words which he was to teach; and now he tells him to commit those truths to faithful men in the same way that they were committed to him, that the truth might be preserved in the Church, and holy men appointed successively to preach it. These truths are still continued in the Church, and still there are faithful men who proclaim them.
Wednesday – Reclaiming Former Members
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 God’s Word to the Nations “18 God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships. 19 In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. He didn’t hold people’s faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others. 20 Therefore, we are Christ’s representatives, and through us God is calling you. We beg you on behalf of Christ to become reunited with God.”
2 Corinthians 5:20 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES Be ye reconciled to God. This is the sum and burden of the message which the ministers of the gospel bear to their fellow-men. It implies that man has something to do in this work. He is to be reconciled to God, he is to give up his opposition, he is to submit to the terms of mercy. All the change in the case is to be in him, for God cannot change. God has removed all the obstacles to reconciliation which existed on his part. He has done all that he will do, all that needed to be done; in order to render reconciliation as easy as possible. And now it remains that man should lay aside his hostility, abandon his sins, embrace the terms of mercy, and become in fact reconciled to God. And the great object of the ministers of reconciliation is to urge this duty on their fellow-men. They are to do it in the name of Christ. They are to do it as if Christ were himself present, and were himself urging the message. They are to use the arguments which he would use; evince the zeal which he would show; and present the motives which he would present, to induce a dying world to become in fact reconciled to God.
Thursday – The Back Door
Hebrews 10:25 Common English Bible Don't stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:25 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES Why those here referred to neglected public worship is not specified. It may have been from such causes as the following: (1.) Some may have been deterred by the fear of persecution, as those who were thus assembled would be more exposed to danger than others. (2.) Some may have neglected the duty because they felt no interest in it--as professing Christians now sometimes do. (3.) It is possible that some may have had doubts about the necessity and propriety of this duty, and on that account may have neglected it. (4.) Or it may perhaps have been, though we can hardly suppose that this reason existed, that some may have neglected it from a cause which now sometimes operates--from dissatisfaction with a preacher, or with some member or members of the church, or with some measure in the church.
Romans 14:13 New International Version Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
Romans 14:13 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES If every Christian, instead of judging his brethren severely, would resolve that he would so live as to promote peace, and so as not to lead others into sin, it would tend more, perhaps, than any other thing to advance the harmony and purity of the church of Christ.
Galatians 5:13 New Century Version My brothers and sisters, God called you to be free, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful self. Serve each other with love.
Ephesians 4:32 New International Reader's Version Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive each other, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done.
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James Brenneman
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