The Role of the Church in the Community

Urban Ministry in the End Time

Lesson #12 for September 17, 2016

Scriptures: [Acts 18:1-28; Exodus 2:23-25; Matthew 13:3-9,18-23; John 15:12-13; 2 Peter 3:9][1].

1.    This lesson will focus on one of the greatest challenges to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the 21st century. How do we reach the masses in the cities?

2.    Read Revelation 14:6-7[2]. We are supposed to be carrying the three angels’ messages to every race, tribe, language, and nation. And we now know as of 2007 the United Nations has declared in its statistical report that more than 50% of the world’s population live in cities. What are we doing about all those people? Why are cities a challenge? Unfortunately, in many nations Adventist outreach has accomplished more in the rural areas and small villages and very little in the metropolitan regions. In fact, there are many major metropolitan areas in the world where Seventh-day Adventists are hardly known.

3.    What is the reason for this huge problem? Is it because we do not have enough members committed to spreading the gospel? How many Seventh-day Adventists know how to properly explain the three angels’ messages? Could it be that the Holy Spirit is not blessing us because we are not carrying the right message? Or, is it that we do not have enough willing messengers? Or, is God expecting us to use modern media to accomplish the work?

4.    Cities are very complex in many ways. Many of the world’s large cities are made up of different cultures, ethnic groups, languages, and religions. In times past, major cities tended to be organized into cultural or language quarters. There would be Chinatown, Little Tokyo, and Little Mexico, etc. But, now, people are scattered around downtown and in the suburbs with all kinds of people living next door to one another. In most cases, this has led to a greater tolerance for new ideas, maybe even a greater willingness to listen to new religions. However, with the media the way it is, the challenge to a new religion is incredible. If we had an effective city ministry, we might be able to reach large groups of people whom we otherwise would never have the opportunity to touch.

5.    Read Acts 18:1-28[3]. In this chapter, Dr. Luke described Paul leaving Athens, going to Corinth, working with the Jews in the synagogue, taking up residence with Aquila and Priscilla, and preaching regularly in the synagogue until he was thrown out. The four largest cities in Paul’s day were Rome, Alexandria in Egypt, Antioch in Syria, and Ephesus. Paul worked in three of them. Initially, in Corinth, he was supporting himself by tent-making with Aquila and Priscilla; but, when Silas and Timothy arrived, he turned to full-time ministry. When the Jews opposed him, he moved to a Gentile home and focused on ministry to the Gentiles. When the Jews tried to take him to court, Gallio the Roman governor threw the case out. (Acts 18:12-17) After about a year and a half, Paul left Corinth and traveled back toward his home church in Antioch. He took Priscilla and Aquila with him. When they arrived in Ephesus, the Jews requested that they stay and spend more time. Paul left Aquila and Priscilla and moved on, traveling into northern Asia Minor, visiting Galatia and Phrygia.

6.    Aquila and Priscilla, working as laymen in Ephesus, welcomed Apollos who came from Alexandria-the second largest city of the time of the early church-to build up the church. They shared with him some additional information about Jesus Christ of which he had not been aware. Apollos then decided to go to the region of Achaia to work at Corinth. His strong arguments defeated the Jews in public debates and proved that Jesus was the Messiah. Paul and Apollos as well as Aquila and Priscilla worked in two large urban settings, Corinth and Ephesus. These cities were full of different languages, cultures, and ethnic groups. Paul used whatever he could think of to find an opening to talk with people and share his faith. To Jews he spoke as a Jew; to Romans he emphasized his Roman citizenship; to people in the tent-making business, he could speak their language. (See 1 Corinthians 9:20-23[4].) In what way could we be like that in our day?

7.    Unfortunately, the large cities can be very lonely, hurting places. There are more people, more buildings, more traffic, and more problems. In recent times, there have been terrible massacres taking place in cities-San Bernardino, Orlando, Paris, Nice. How can we reach out to those who are hurting? Could we demonstrate the compassion, grace, and hope that Jesus demonstrated? Are we capable of that?

8.    Read [Exodus 2:23-25; 6:5; Psalm 12:5; Romans 8:22; and Job 24:12[5]]. It is very clear from these verses that from ancient times even to our day, there are a lot of people hurting in our world. But, hurting people tend to reach out for any kind of help they can get. Are we meeting their needs? Some Adventist churches feel like they are doing outreach when they provide a meal to people in the community once a year on a special holiday like Thanksgiving. Other churches have groups that feed people virtually every day of the year. In some cases, they provide hot breakfasts. In other cases, they distribute free food. What would happen if every Adventist church had that kind of outreach?

9.    Read Matthew 13:3-9,18-23[6]. In an agricultural setting, Jesus used a familiar story to make it clear that people are going to respond in different ways to our message and even to our efforts to help them. In big cities there are even more varieties of people, of needs, of languages, and of cultures than there are in rural areas.

10.    In some areas in certain cities, it is necessary to “prepare the soil” before one can consider doing evangelism. How does one prepare the soil?

11.    Read [1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4][7]. These are the chapters in which Paul described the spiritual gifts which God has given to the church-the members of the church. There are differences in these gifts. To break up the hard soil in our large cities, it may require a variety of gifts working together. Ellen White stated:

Men of varied gifts are to be brought in. One man has not all the gifts required for the work. To make a camp meeting [an evangelistic effort] successful, several workers are needed. No one man should feel that it is his prerogative to do all the important work....

New methods must be introduced. God’s people must awake to the necessities of the time in which they are living. God has men whom he will call into his service-men who will not carry forward the work in the lifeless way in which it has been carried forward in the past. Many who have not yet heard the message to be given to the world, have learned the meaning of self-denial and self-sacrifice. Men will accept the truth who will work with earnestness and zeal, tact and understanding. Let none discourage these zealous workers. In some things they will make mistakes, and will need to be corrected and instructed.—Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, September 30, 1902, par. 6,13; Evangelism 69.4-70.1. [Content in brackets and bold type are added.]

Are the Internet and satellite television some of the newer methods?

12.    We may get headlines by sending in a large, expensive team into a city to conduct a multiple media evangelistic series. A number of people may be baptized. But, if one goes back a year later, he may find that very few of them are still attending church. If we really want to make a difference in their lives, we need to reach out to people and befriend them.

13.    Read [John 15:12-13; James 1:27; and Galatians 6:2][8]. These verses are a tremendous challenge. How do we fill the furrow of the world’s needs? We must reach out to people with love and caring, even helping to bear their burdens. We need to remember that even in cities with their massive populations, the most effective witness is personal. If we can develop a personal relationship with people in the cities, we have a much greater chance of introducing them to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It has been demonstrated again and again that the most effective and lasting means of bringing people into the Seventh-day Adventist Church is through a personal relationship. And for many that involves death to self and a willingness to work for the good of others.

14.    Small group ministries are often the best approach. Sometimes, they take the form of house churches. Read Acts 2:46-47[9]. It may require two or three families even in a larger church working together as a small group to reach out. See Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, 21,22. If you live in a multicultural, multilingual area, it may be necessary for families to gather together in separate language groups. But, given what we know about the spread of the gospel, it seems unlikely that the gospel will ever be finished unless small group ministries become a major part of our outreach.

15.    Let us not deceive ourselves into thinking that this is going to be easy.

16.    Read Romans 7:14[10]. Even after ministering for a number of years and after that remarkable conversion on the Damascus road, Paul still said: “We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.” (Romans 7:14, GNB) If Paul could make a statement like that, having been through all of his experiences, what does that say about the rest of us? And what about the people that we are trying to reach?

17.    Cities have always had a bad reputation. There are so many temptations; avoiding them may be very difficult.

18.    One thing is very clear: God is doing everything within the limitations of the great controversy to save as many as possible. (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:3-4)[11] If we are working to bring souls to Christ, we are working with the Holy Spirit.

19.    We believe that by answering the Devil’s lies in the great controversy, the life and death of Christ were sufficient to provide salvation for anyone of whatever background who is willing to accept Him. God won the great controversy by decisively refuting every one of Satan’s claims or accusations against Him. Or, did God pay some kind of debt to the Law? Or, to Satan? Salvation is universally available to all from the days of Adam and Eve to the end of time. But, people will not respond and become Christians unless someone takes the message to them. This is how Paul put it:

Romans 10:14-15: 14 But how can they call to him for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have not heard the message?

And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed? And how can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out? As the scripture says, “How wonderful is the coming of messengers who bring good news!”—American Bible Society. (1992). The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation (2nd ed., Romans 10:14-15). New York: American Bible Society.

20.    Ellen White commented:

There is no change in the messages that God has sent in the past. The work in the cities is the essential work for this time. When the cities are worked as God would have them, the result will be the setting in operation of a mighty movement such as we have not yet witnessed.—Ellen G. White, Medical Ministry 304.1; compare MM 331.3; RH, November 17, 1910, par. 8.

21.    Those who have carefully studied the writings of Ellen White might be inclined to say: “But we are told to get out of the cities.” A careful study of what she has said shows a somewhat different picture.

Out of 107 articles, 24 articles gave instruction on moving out or establishing institutions outside cities. But 75 articles gave specific instruction to move into the cities to reach the cities. The other eight articles were neutral. A church historian summarized Ellen G. White’s counsel on city work, showing that relating to institutions, she advocated working from outpost centers outside the city, and when dealing with local church work, she advocated working from within the city.—Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for Friday, September 16.

22.    So, what plans are your church making to reach out to cities in your area? Are you located somewhere close to a major metropolitan area?

Why should not families who know the present truth settle in these cities? ...

There will be laymen who will move into... cities..., that they may let the light which God has given them, shine forth to others.—Ellen G. White, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, September 29, 1891, par. 9.

23.    As Seventh-day Adventists, we have the greatest access to truth of any group of people in the history of the world. Shouldn’t we try to reach out to those people who are without hope and who think that life is nothing more than what we see here and now and believe that when they die they are just going to rot in the grave?

24.    Have you ever considered participating in Jesus’s model of wholistic ministry to the cities? It is not easy; but, we must do it.

25.    Considering all the sin there is in the great cities, how does God feel about them? “Should I not have concern for the great city?” (Jonah 4:11, NIV)

26.    Jonah 4:11: How much more, then, should I have pity on Nineveh, that great city.

After all, it has more than 120,000 innocent children in it, as well as many animals!”—American Bible Society. (1992). The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation (2nd ed., Jonah 4:11). New York: American Bible Society.

The Ninevites worshiped the god of war. They would sometimes beat people until they were black and blue and then skin them alive!

27.    In 1909, Ellen White had this comment to make about working the cities.

There is another line of work to be carried forward, the work in the large cities. There should be companies of earnest laborers working in the cities.

Men should study what needs to be done in the places that have been neglected. The Lord has been calling our attention to the neglected multitudes in the large cities, yet little regard has been given to the matter. —Ellen G. White, Fundamentals of Christian Education 537.3; RH, November 11, 1909, par. 16.

28.    Working the cities with their varieties of people, languages, professions, and sinful practices may seem like an insurmountable task. Have you talked to God about how you might be involved in an urban mission?

29.    It is interesting to read verses like Jeremiah 29:7[12]. God told the exiles in Babylon to settle down, to pray for the peace of the city where they were living, and to carry on normal activities. He had already told them that they would be in Babylon for at least 70 years.

30.    Their captors would come to them sometimes and say, “Sing for us a song of Zion.” Try to imagine how difficult that would have been under the circumstances. Are we as Seventh-day Adventists trying to reach out to cities a little bit like those captives in Babylonia? God seemed to be concerned about Nineveh, about Babylon, and about Jerusalem. Are we concerned about the cities in our area?

Jeremiah 29:7: Work for the good of the cities where I have made you go as prisoners. Pray to me on their behalf, because if they are prosperous, you will be prosperous too.—American Bible Society. (1992). The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation (2nd ed., Jeremiah 29:7). New York: American Bible Society.

31.    Consider this:

The old story is told of a man standing under a streetlamp, head down, intently looking for something. His friend David stops to help.

“What did you lose, John?” he asks.

“I dropped my watch and can’t find it anywhere.”

“That’s a shame,” says David. “Let me help.”

So, David drops to his hands and knees and for the next 10 minutes helps John look for his watch on the pavement under the streetlamp.

Finally, after covering every last bit of ground several times, he turns to John and says, “Are you sure you dropped it here?”

“Well, not exactly here,” John replies.

“What do you mean?” exclaims David. “Where did you drop it?” John points out into the darkness. “About 20 meters over there.” David can’t believe what he hears. “You dropped it over there, but we’ve been searching here all this time? That’s ridiculous. Why on earth have we been looking here?”

“Well, that’s obvious,” says John. “The light’s better here.”—Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for Saturday, September 10.

32.    Is that a description of our attempts to reach out to the cities? Do we find it much easier to reach out to those who already have a strong Christian base, that is, “where the light is stronger”? How well are we doing at reaching out to Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and even atheists and members of the secular society such as bankers and lawyers?

33.    When you look at your own church budget, what percentage of the money that is available is spent on taking care of the local building and the local membership as opposed to efforts to reach out to others?

34.    Will Jesus be able to come back if we fail to do our job in reaching the cities? Or, will He send angels to do our work? Or, will He just have to continue waiting?

35.    The cities may seem like an almost impossible task to us. But, how do you suppose Jonah felt about the warlike Assyrians in Nineveh? Jonah had to walk about 500 miles to Nineveh.

36.    Read Nahum 3:1[13]. Nahum described Nineveh as “the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims!”(Nahum 3:1, NIV). He asked: “Who has not felt your endless cruelty?”(Nahum 3:19, NIV)

37.    And yet, God sent Jonah a long distance from his home in Galilee to preach to the people in Nineveh; and the whole city repented! However, Jonah felt like a failure.

38.    Jesus often was exhausted from His long days of teaching, healing, and preaching. But, when He saw the crowds, “He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36, NIV)

39.    Are some of the largest barriers against working in cities really our own fears and prejudices? What would it take to change our attitudes about working in cities?

40.    Read [Jeremiah 29:7; compare Jeremiah 25:11 and 29:10][14]. We are not sure how these writings from Jeremiah in Jerusalem got to Babylonia and the people there. Perhaps they did; perhaps they did not. But, considering the fact that God gave the message for them to Jeremiah, it is likely that provision was made by God for them to receive the messages. They were told that they were not to set up some separate Jewish ghetto in the region of Babylonia. That, of course, would be the natural inclination. In a Jewish ghetto, it would be easier to keep the Sabbath, to eat kosher food, to stay separate from idolatrous Babylonian practices, and to share memories and hopes. But, God told them to do exactly the opposite-to mix and mingle and bring peace to the city of their occupation. Historically, the Adventist Church has not done well in the “neglected cities.”

As a people we greatly need to humble our hearts before God, pleading His forgiveness for our neglect to fulfill the gospel commission. We have made large centers in a few places, leaving unworked many important cities. Let us now take up the work appointed us, and proclaim the message that is to arouse men and women to a sense of their danger. If every Seventh-day Adventist had done the work laid upon him, the number of believers would now be much larger than it is.—Ellen G. White, Testimonies, vol. 9, 25 (1909); Ev 17.3.

41.    If you live not too far from an urban center, when was the last time you walked through that area and tried to understand the challenges of the people who live there? What are those people reading, watching, listening to, and doing? And what are they worshiping? Everyone worships something. What are their sources of income? What are their needs? What are their interests and activities? These are the things that we need to explore if we are going to reach out to them. Are we ready?

1-Acts 18:1 After this, Paul left Athens and went on to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, for Emperor Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and stayed and worked with them, because he earned his living by making tents, just as they did. 4 He held discussions in the synagogue every Sabbath, trying to convince both Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul gave his whole time to preaching the message, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. 6 When they opposed him and said evil things about him, he protested by shaking the dust from his clothes and saying to them, "If you are lost, you yourselves must take the blame for it! I am not responsible. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." 7 So he left them and went to live in the house of a Gentile named Titius Justus, who worshiped God; his house was next to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, who was the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with all his family; and many other people in Corinth heard the message, believed, and were baptized. 9 One night Paul had a vision in which the Lord said to him, "Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not give up, 10 for I am with you. No one will be able to harm you, for many in this city are my people." 11 So Paul stayed there for a year and a half, teaching the people the word of God. 12 When Gallio was made the Roman governor of Achaia, Jews there got together, seized Paul, and took him into court. 13 "This man," they said, "is trying to persuade people to worship God in a way that is against the law!" 14 Paul was about to speak when Gallio said to the Jews, "If this were a matter of some evil crime or wrong that has been committed, it would be reasonable for me to be patient with you Jews. 15 But since it is an argument about words and names and your own law, you yourselves must settle it. I will not be the judge of such things!" 16 And he drove them out of the court. 17 They all grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the court. But that did not bother Gallio a bit. 18 Paul stayed on with the believers in Corinth for many days, then left them and sailed off with Priscilla and Aquila for Syria. Before sailing from Cenchreae he had his head shaved because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived in Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He went into the synagogue and held discussions with the Jews. 20 The people asked him to stay longer, but he would not consent. 21 Instead, he told them as he left, "If it is the will of God, I will come back to you." And so he sailed from Ephesus. 22 When he arrived at Caesarea, he went to Jerusalem and greeted the church, and then went to Antioch. 23 After spending some time there, he left and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the believers. 24 At that time a Jew named Apollos, who had been born in Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker and had a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm he proclaimed and taught correctly the facts about Jesus. However, he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home with them and explained to him more correctly the Way of God. 27 Apollos then decided to go to Achaia, so the believers in Ephesus helped him by writing to the believers in Achaia, urging them to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who through God's grace had become believers. 28 For with his strong arguments he defeated the Jews in public debates by proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.

Exodus 2:23 Years later the king of Egypt died, but the Israelites were still groaning under their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry went up to God, 24 who heard their groaning and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 He saw the slavery of the Israelites and was concerned for them.

Matthew 13:3 He used parables to tell them many things. "Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. 4 As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some of it fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The seeds soon sprouted, because the soil wasn't deep. 6 But when the sun came up, it burned the young plants; and because the roots had not grown deep enough, the plants soon dried up. 7 Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 But some seeds fell in good soil, and the plants bore grain: some had one hundred grains, others sixty, and others thirty." 9 And Jesus concluded, "Listen, then, if you have ears!"

18 "Listen, then, and learn what the parable of the sower means. 19 Those who hear the message about the Kingdom but do not understand it are like the seeds that fell along the path. The Evil One comes and snatches away what was sown in them. 20 The seeds that fell on rocky ground stand for those who receive the message gladly as soon as they hear it. 21 But it does not sink deep into them, and they don't last long. So when trouble or persecution comes because of the message, they give up at once. 22 The seeds that fell among thorn bushes stand for those who hear the message; but the worries about this life and the love for riches choke the message, and they don't bear fruit. 23 And the seeds sown in the good soil stand for those who hear the message and understand it: they bear fruit, some as much as one hundred, others sixty, and others thirty."

John 15:12 My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. 13 The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.

2-Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying high in the air, with an eternal message of Good News to announce to the peoples of the earth, to every race, tribe, language, and nation.

7 He said in a loud voice, "Honor God and praise his greatness! For the time has come for him to judge all people. Worship him who made heaven, earth, sea, and the springs of water!"

3-Acts 18:1 After this, Paul left Athens and went on to Corinth.

2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, for Emperor Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them,

3 and stayed and worked with them, because he earned his living by making tents, just as they did.

4 He held discussions in the synagogue every Sabbath, trying to convince both Jews and Greeks.

5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul gave his whole time to preaching the message, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah.

6 When they opposed him and said evil things about him, he protested by shaking the dust from his clothes and saying to them, "If you are lost, you yourselves must take the blame for it! I am not responsible. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

7 So he left them and went to live in the house of a Gentile named Titius Justus, who worshiped God; his house was next to the synagogue.

8 Crispus, who was the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with all his family; and many other people in Corinth heard the message, believed, and were baptized.

9 One night Paul had a vision in which the Lord said to him, "Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not give up,

10 for I am with you. No one will be able to harm you, for many in this city are my people."

11 So Paul stayed there for a year and a half, teaching the people the word of God.

12 When Gallio was made the Roman governor of Achaia, Jews there got together, seized Paul, and took him into court.

13 "This man," they said, "is trying to persuade people to worship God in a way that is against the law!"

14 Paul was about to speak when Gallio said to the Jews, "If this were a matter of some evil crime or wrong that has been committed, it would be reasonable for me to be patient with you Jews.

15 But since it is an argument about words and names and your own law, you yourselves must settle it. I will not be the judge of such things!"

16 And he drove them out of the court.

17 They all grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the court. But that did not bother Gallio a bit.

18 Paul stayed on with the believers in Corinth for many days, then left them and sailed off with Priscilla and Aquila for Syria. Before sailing from Cenchreae he had his head shaved because of a vow he had taken.

19 They arrived in Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He went into the synagogue and held discussions with the Jews.

20 The people asked him to stay longer, but he would not consent.

21 Instead, he told them as he left, "If it is the will of God, I will come back to you." And so he sailed from Ephesus.

22 When he arrived at Caesarea, he went to Jerusalem and greeted the church, and then went to Antioch.

23 After spending some time there, he left and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the believers.

24 At that time a Jew named Apollos, who had been born in Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker and had a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.

25 He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm he proclaimed and taught correctly the facts about Jesus. However, he knew only the baptism of John.

26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home with them and explained to him more correctly the Way of God.

27 Apollos then decided to go to Achaia, so the believers in Ephesus helped him by writing to the believers in Achaia, urging them to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who through God's grace had become believers.

28 For with his strong arguments he defeated the Jews in public debates by proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.

4-1 Corinthians 9:20 So then, where does that leave the wise? or the scholars? or the skillful debaters of this world? God has shown that this world's wisdom is foolishness! 21 For God in his wisdom made it impossible for people to know him by means of their own wisdom. Instead, by means of the so-called "foolish" message we preach, God decided to save those who believe. 22 Jews want miracles for proof, and Greeks look for wisdom. 23 As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, a message that is offensive to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles;

5-Exodus 2:23 Years later the king of Egypt died, but the Israelites were still groaning under their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry went up to God, 24 who heard their groaning and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 He saw the slavery of the Israelites and was concerned for them.

6:5 Now I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians have enslaved, and I have remembered my covenant.

Psalm 12:5 "But now I will come," says the Lord, "because the needy are oppressed and the persecuted groan in pain. I will give them the security they long for."

Romans 8:22 For we know that up to the present time all of creation groans with pain, like the pain of childbirth.

Job 24:12 In the cities the wounded and dying cry out, but God ignores their prayers.

6-Matthew 13:3 He used parables to tell them many things. "Once there was a man who went out to sow grain. 4 As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some of it fell on rocky ground, where there was little soil. The seeds soon sprouted, because the soil wasn't deep. 6 But when the sun came up, it burned the young plants; and because the roots had not grown deep enough, the plants soon dried up. 7 Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 But some seeds fell in good soil, and the plants bore grain: some had one hundred grains, others sixty, and others thirty." 9 And Jesus concluded, "Listen, then, if you have ears!"

18 "Listen, then, and learn what the parable of the sower means. 19 Those who hear the message about the Kingdom but do not understand it are like the seeds that fell along the path. The Evil One comes and snatches away what was sown in them. 20 The seeds that fell on rocky ground stand for those who receive the message gladly as soon as they hear it. 21 But it does not sink deep into them, and they don't last long. So when trouble or persecution comes because of the message, they give up at once. 22 The seeds that fell among thorn bushes stand for those who hear the message; but the worries about this life and the love for riches choke the message, and they don't bear fruit. 23 And the seeds sown in the good soil stand for those who hear the message and understand it: they bear fruit, some as much as one hundred, others sixty, and others thirty."

7-1 Corinthians 12:1 Now, concerning what you wrote about the gifts from the Holy Spirit. I want you to know the truth about them, my friends. 2 You know that while you were still heathen, you were led astray in many ways to the worship of lifeless idols. 3 I want you to know that no one who is led by God's Spirit can say "A curse on Jesus!" and no one can confess "Jesus is Lord," without being guided by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. 5 There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served. 6 There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service. 7 The Spirit's presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all. 8 The Spirit gives one person a message full of wisdom, while to another person the same Spirit gives a message full of knowledge. 9 One and the same Spirit gives faith to one person, while to another person he gives the power to heal. 10 The Spirit gives one person the power to work miracles; to another, the gift of speaking God's message; and to yet another, the ability to tell the difference between gifts that come from the Spirit and those that do not. To one person he gives the ability to speak in strange tongues, and to another he gives the ability to explain what is said. 11 But it is one and the same Spirit who does all this; as he wishes, he gives a different gift to each person. 12 Christ is like a single body, which has many parts; it is still one body, even though it is made up of different parts. 13 In the same way, all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptized into the one body by the same Spirit, and we have all been given the one Spirit to drink. 14 For the body itself is not made up of only one part, but of many parts. 15 If the foot were to say, "Because I am not a hand, I don't belong to the body," that would not keep it from being a part of the body. 16 And if the ear were to say, "Because I am not an eye, I don't belong to the body," that would not keep it from being a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were just an eye, how could it hear? And if it were only an ear, how could it smell? 18 As it is, however, God put every different part in the body just as he wanted it to be. 19 There would not be a body if it were all only one part! 20 As it is, there are many parts but one body. 21 So then, the eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" Nor can the head say to the feet, "Well, I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, we cannot do without the parts of the body that seem to be weaker; 23 and those parts that we think aren't worth very much are the ones which we treat with greater care; while the parts of the body which don't look very nice are treated with special modesty, 24 which the more beautiful parts do not need. God himself has put the body together in such a way as to give greater honor to those parts that need it. 25 And so there is no division in the body, but all its different parts have the same concern for one another. 26 If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it; if one part is praised, all the other parts share its happiness. 27 All of you are Christ's body, and each one is a part of it. 28 In the church God has put all in place: in the first place apostles, in the second place prophets, and in the third place teachers; then those who perform miracles, followed by those who are given the power to heal or to help others or to direct them or to speak in strange tongues. 29 They are not all apostles or prophets or teachers. Not everyone has the power to work miracles 30 or to heal diseases or to speak in strange tongues or to explain what is said. 31 Set your hearts, then, on the more important gifts. Best of all, however, is the following way.

Romans 12:1 So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. 2 Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God - what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. 3 And because of God's gracious gift to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be modest in your thinking, and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you. 4 We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. 5 In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body. 6 So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; 7 if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; 8 if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully. 9 Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. 10 Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another. 11 Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. 12 Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. 13 Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers. 14 Ask God to bless those who persecute you - yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. 16 Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise. 17 If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. 18 Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. 19 Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, "I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord." 20 Instead, as the scripture says: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame." 21 Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.

Ephesians 4:1 I urge you, then - I who am a prisoner because I serve the Lord: live a life that measures up to the standard God set when he called you. 2 Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. 3 Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 there is one God and Father of all people, who is Lord of all, works through all, and is in all. 7 Each one of us has received a special gift in proportion to what Christ has given. 8 As the scripture says, "When he went up to the very heights, he took many captives with him; he gave gifts to people." 9 Now, what does "he went up" mean? It means that first he came down to the lowest depths of the earth. 10 So the one who came down is the same one who went up, above and beyond the heavens, to fill the whole universe with his presence. 11 It was he who "gave gifts to people"; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. 12 He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ. 13 And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature. 14 Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent. 15 Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head. 16 Under his control all the different parts of the body fit together, and the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided. So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love. 17 In the Lord's name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless 18 and whose minds are in the dark. They have no part in the life that God gives, for they are completely ignorant and stubborn. 19 They have lost all feeling of shame; they give themselves over to vice and do all sorts of indecent things without restraint. 20 That was not what you learned about Christ! 21 You certainly heard about him, and as his followers you were taught the truth that is in Jesus. 22 So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to - the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. 23 Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, 24 and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy. 25 No more lying, then! Each of you must tell the truth to the other believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ. 26 If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day. 27 Don't give the Devil a chance. 28 If you used to rob, you must stop robbing and start working, in order to earn an honest living for yourself and to be able to help the poor. 29 Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. 30 And do not make God's Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God's mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. 32 Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.

8-John 15:12 My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. 13 The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them.

James 1:27 What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world.

Galatians 6:2 Help carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ.

9-Acts 2:46 Day after day they met as a group in the Temple, and they had their meals together in their homes, eating with glad and humble hearts,

47 praising God, and enjoying the good will of all the people. And every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

10-Romans 7:14 We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a mortal, sold as a slave to sin.

11-2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.

1 Timothy 2:3 This is good and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to know the truth.

12-Jeremiah 29:7 Work for the good of the cities where I have made you go as prisoners. Pray to me on their behalf, because if they are prosperous, you will be prosperous too.

13-Nahum 3:1 Doomed is the lying, murderous city, full of wealth to be looted and plundered!

14-Jeremiah 29:7 Work for the good of the cities where I have made you go as prisoners. Pray to me on their behalf, because if they are prosperous, you will be prosperous too.

Jeremiah 25:11 This whole land will be left in ruins and will be a shocking sight, and the neighboring nations will serve the king of Babylonia for seventy years.

29:10 "The Lord says, "When Babylonia's seventy years are over, I will show my concern for you and keep my promise to bring you back home.

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