What Does A Missionary Do?

By Mary Vee
Matthew 11, Luke 10 

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee
Land near Jerusalem

My name is Peter, I am a disciple of Jesus. By that I mean I am one of the close, twelve disciples. There are many many more followers of Jesus who are His disciples as well.

In my last post, I told the story of how Jesus had healed the ten lepers. Once the men left, Jesus called all his followers for a meeting. 

More than seventy huddled close to hear what Jesus had to say. 

"I have instructed you, teaching and showing you what My Father expects of His followers."

Jesus motioned to a group of men to separate from the others. It looked like seventy or seventy-two men. "You are to go in groups of two ahead of me into every town and place. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field. Go. I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Don't take a wallet or suitcase or new shoes. Don't stop to chat with anyone on the road. Your journey cannot be delayed.

"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him. If the man is not peaceful, your peace will return to you. Stay in the house that first welcomes you. Eat and drink whatever they give you. This is your wage for your work. Don't go from house to house for lodging. Stay at the same home. 

"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick and tell them this message: 'The kingdom of God is near you.' 

"If you enter a town that does not treat you well, go into its streets and say, 'We wipe off the dust of your town that sticks to our feet. Know this, the kingdom of God is near.' 

"The town that treats you rudely will be punished more than Sodom. If the miracles performed in Korazin, Capernaum, and Bethsaida had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago. The people would have put on sackcloth and sat in ashes. Tyre and Sidon will have an easier time at the judgment than those cities who rejected me.

"Anyone who listens to your message listens to me. The one who rejects you rejects me. That person who rejects me rejects Him who sent me. Now go. Spread the message to everyone you see. Teach them what I have taught you."

Photo by Mary
Land near Jerusalem

  
Some days later the seventy-two disciples returned. They laughed and had so much to say! 

"Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." They seemed very proud of their work.

Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you. Rejoice instead that your names are written in heaven."

Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

Jesus Asked Us To Go and Tell His Message

By Mary Vee
Matthew 10

From Matthew's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Matthew. I am a disciple, a follower of Jesus. I and the other disciples have listened to Jesus teach for a while and have learned a lot from Him. 

Jesus spoke to the twelve of us, whom He called His closest disciples, away from the crowds many times. He taught us deep truths, their meanings, and today, He gave us warnings. 

The warnings are to prepare us for when we go out and share Jesus' teachings. Here is what He told us today: 

"Those who stand up for me and my teachings I will stand up for to my heavenly Father. Those who are embarrassed or don't stand up for me to others, I will do the same before my heavenly Father.

"If you think I came to bring peace, you're wrong. I came with a sharp sword to divide 
a man against his father
a daughter against her mother
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law
a man's enemies will be the members of his own household

"Those who love anyone or anything more than me have nothing to do with me. Give up everything that holds your attention. Focus your thoughts and actions on me. 

"When you go out and teach people, there will be those who will accept you. Those who accept you, accept me, the One who has sent you. Those who accept Me, accept the Father who has sent Me.

"Anyone who accepts the words of a messenger of God will receive the same reward as the messenger."


And with those last words of instruction, Jesus sent us on our way. Jesus took on the same assignment as we twelve disciples: go to the towns in Israel. Teach and preach the gospel and heal people in the name of Jesus.

This was our chance to remember and show what Jesus taught us. As the days went by, the job became easier. The disciple who went with me and I figured out a system and traded duties. 

When I first listened to Jesus I was interested in learning. I didn't think I would become one who would teach others His message. But here I am. And I find I truly enjoy this work.

 Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

The Man Who Sneaked Up to the Roof At Night

By Mary Vee
John 2-3

From Nicodemus's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee
Taken in Joppa, Israel. This was typical
housing used even in Jesus' day.
See the one section of roof above the light?

I was in Jerusalem during passover week. My name is Nicodemus and I have studied many years to become a Pharisee and be called one of the ruler of the Jews. I know a lot about the Scriptures, can quote words and tell you what they mean. There are many requirements and tests to pass before someone earns the right to be a Pharisee and I placed high in my class. But I must admit I have unanswered questions.

I've listened to the priests, read the Scriptures everyday, and spent so much time trying to find the answers to my questions. Then I saw this man who came to Jerusalem whose name was Jesus. From the moment I first saw him I knew this passover week would be different. 

People watched Jesus. They saw Him do miracles. They followed Him wherever He went and said things like they believed on His name. Jesus didn't seem moved by their words. It was as if He knew those people said those words just so they could see more miracles. 

I liked His honesty.

I wanted to speak with Him alone, maybe ask Him my questions. I didn't want to be seen by any of the other Pharisees so I went to the place where Jesus stayed. I waited until it was late at night. He was with a few other disciples on the roof. In Israel the weather is warm enough to use the roof as a room. Some use it for a bedroom, some use it for dining, or a gathering room.

Photo by Mary Vee
Taken in Joppa, Israel.
This shows how close the houses were
and the narrow streets. 

I went up the stairs to the roof and asked to speak with Him. He offered me a place to sit and patiently waited for me to speak. "Rabbi," I said. Rabbi means teacher. I know, a learned man such as myself wouldn't normally call someone he didn't know, Rabbi, but it just seemed to be the right thing to do. 

The other Pharisees had talked about Jesus and they seemed to agree that He was a teacher who had come from God based on the miracles he did and the words he spoke. I said, "Only someone who had God with him could do the miracles you do."

Jesus said to me, "I tell you the truth, unless a person is born from above, it is impossible to see the kingdom of God."

I heard his words but didn't understand what He meant. "How can a man be born when he is old? No one can go back inside his mother and be born again."

Jesus patiently spoke, "I will explain it differently. No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. As a human, you were given your human birth by your human mother, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. Look now, you can't be surprised at my words about being born again. All right, let's try again. The wind blows wherever it pleases, right?"

"Yes."

"You hear the wind, right?"

"Yes. At times more than others."

"Right. But can you tell where it comes from or where it is going?"

"No. It seems like we could but the wind changes without any reason, blowing in every direction."

"Life in the Spirit is like the wind of God."

All of this was new to me. I wanted to hear more. "I'm still not sure how this can be."

Jesus shook his head. "You are one of Israel's teachers and you do not understand these things? It is this way, we talk about what we know, and we tell others what we've seen, but even after the miracles and the words I've spoken people don't accept what I'm saying. I've even explained using things from the earth and you still don't believe. How then will you be able to understand the heavenly things?

He said, "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven, that is the Son of Man." Jesus paused. 

I was thankful because I really wanted to understand. I really did. 

He said, "Think of it this way, Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

He smiled gently and said, "God didn't send his Son into the word to condemn the word, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in his Son is not condemned. Those who don't believe in God's Son are condemned already."

Jesus said, "I have another way to explain, Light has come into the world. Men, though loved darkness instead of light because the things they did were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light because they know their evil deeds will be seen. Those who live by the truth aren't afraid to come into he light because the things they have done have been done through God."

I finally understood. "Thank you, Rabbi."  I walked back to my home that night and replayed all the words Jesus said in my mind over and over. I was so glad He was willing to answer my questions.

Note from Mary: Jesus knew which explanation Nicodemus would need but he also gave the other explanations because He also knew many people like us would read or hear this story and would need one of the other explanations. He thought of all of us when He answered Nicodemus.

Come back for the next story.

*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.

Summer Tip #5 Easy Tool for Kids

By Mary Vaitkevicius

Here is a handy tool to share the Gospel with people. 

WORDLESS BOOK

Each page of this book has a different color.  The colors represent the Gospel.

Here are tips to tell someone what Jesus did for them and how they can go to heaven using the Wordless book:

1.  Open the book to the Gold page. The gold, (or yellow) page represents Heaven.  Tell about Heaven as a perfect place  

Example:  I’d like to go to heaven someday.  God made heaven for people like you and me.  The Bible says there will be mansions and streets of gold. But more than riches, God will be there.  He’s the one who made me, the one who loves me.  Heaven is a perfect place where there is not pain, hunger, sickness or sadness.  I’d like to go to heaven but my sins stands in the way.

2. Turn to the next page-Black. The color black represents sins. Tell what sins are and how sins keep us from going to heaven.

Example: Sin is the word for the bad things I do.  When I cheat, lie, steal, refuse to do what my parents ask me to do, swear, and other bad things, I sin.  These bad things prevent me from going to heaven.  I could never be good enough to get to heaven on my own.  I need help.

3. Turn to the next page-Red. The color red represents God's love. Tell about God's love and Jesus' sacrifice to pay for our sins.

Example: God loves me. He loves you, too. He chose to send His only Son, Jesus, to take the punishment for all the sins of the world. Jesus lived a perfect life. He was the only one who could ever pay for our sins. Three days after He died, Jesus rose from the grave to show everyone the punishment had been paid. Days later, in front of several people, Jesus went to heaven.

4. Turn to the Blue page. The color blue represents faith.  Tell about the faith needed to be saved.

Example:  God said, “Believe on the Lord, Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” What would I be saved from? Well, when I die I will either go to heaven or hell.  God says if I believe Jesus came to live on earth as an example for me, that He lived a perfect life, and that He paid for my sins when he died on the cross and rose from the grave, I can go to heaven.

5. Turn to the White page. The color white represent forgiveness.  Tell how Jesus will forgive them for their sins if they ask.

Example:   I can pray to God (that means talk to God) and tell Him I’m sorry for the bad things I’ve done, and tell Him I believe Jesus already took the punishment for my sins, God promises to forgive me and wash my sins away. 


6. Close the book to show the Green page. The color green represents growth.  Tell them how to grow in a relationship with God. 
Example:  God wants me to learn everything I can about Him.  He wrote the Bible to help me learn what to do, how to talk and listen to Him, how to tell others about Him so they can go to heaven, and much more.  It’s like a plant--when I water and feed the plant good soil it grows.  I can also grow close to God by praying, going to church and joining in activities where people talk about God.

The last step is to ask the person if they would like to pray to Jesus and ask Him to save them from their sins and to be  in their heart.

Example:  "God, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

How to Make Your Own Wordless book
Supplies:

1 sheet of green construction paper
1 sheet of gold or yellow construction paper
1 sheet of black construction paper
1 sheet of red construction paper
1 sheet of blue construction paper
1 sheet of white construction paper
Glue sticks

Directions to make your own Wordless book

1. Fold each sheet of paper in half like a book.

2. Lay the green paper on the table.  Glue half of the gold paper to the left side of the green paper.

3. Fold the gold paper closed, like turning a page in a book.

4. Glue half of the black paper to the closed gold paper.

5. Following this pattern, glue the red paper to the black

6. Glue the blue paper to the red.

7. Glue the white paper to the blue

8. Finish by glueing the other side of the white paper to the green cover.