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Lesson 1 God’s Mission to Us: Part 1 – 1.5 The God Who Will Come Back for Us
“The God who returns to us” illustrates the connection between Jesus’ promise in John 14:1–3 and the end-time message of the Bible. In these verses, Jesus tells His disciples that He will come back to take them to Himself so that they can be with Him. This promise is of great significance as it points to the return of Jesus in the end times when He will gather His followers to Himself.
The Book of Revelation confirms this promise by showing that God’s desire to be with humanity will be fulfilled in the new earth. There, God will dwell with people, and they will be His people, and He Himself, God with them, will be their God (Revelation 21:3). This marks the culmination of the divine mission aimed at restoring and maintaining the communion between God and His creation for eternity.
Redemption and God’s work will be complete in this context. The redeemed will live in the presence of God and enjoy His boundless grace and presence. This will be a sublime privilege and the fulfillment of God’s mission.
The weekly challenges encourage us to consciously engage with God’s mission, open our hearts to His work, and become more involved in His mission. The challenge to pray daily for the mission and the people around us is a practical way to actively participate in God’s work and carry the love and mission of Jesus into the world.
The “Challenge Plus,” which encourages us to learn the names and situations of people in our surroundings and pray for them, demonstrates how, as Christians, we can contribute to continuing God’s mission of love and salvation. It reminds us that mission is not only happening in distant lands but also in our immediate vicinity as we carry people in our prayers and hearts.
Lesson 1 God’s Mission to Us: Part 1 – 1.1 The God Who Reaches Out to Us
The text “The God who comes to us” impressively reflects on the theological significance of the story of Adam and Eve as well as the divine mission of redemption. It becomes clear how humanity, created in the image of God, fell from its original perfection due to the decision of Adam and Eve to disobey God’s commandments.
God’s question to Adam, “Where are you?” in Genesis 3:9-15, is considered a central element. This question symbolizes God’s search for His fallen creation and reveals His missionary nature. In this question, God’s desire is expressed to find and save humanity despite its sin and lostness. This reflects the idea that God always approaches us, seeks us, and is ready to save us and be with us.
The question “Where are you?” can also be understood as an appeal to our personal experience. It reminds us that God is seeking us in our spiritual journey and asks if we are near to Him. How we respond to this question is crucial. It encourages us to reflect on our own relationship with God and reconsider our decisions in this relationship. It reminds us that we have the choice to respond to God’s search for us and be touched by His love and redemption.
Overall, the text is a profound contemplation of divine love, free will, and God’s mission of redemption. It encourages us to reflect on our own relationship with God and realize that despite our mistakes and sins, God always comes to us and is willing to save us.
Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-1-gods-mission-to-us-part-1-1-1-the-god-who-reaches-out-to-us/
God’s Mission, My Mission – Lesson 1: God’s Mission to Us: Part 1 | Sabbath School with Pastor Mark Finley
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Series GOD’S MISSION, MY MISSION with Pastor Mark Finley |
Lesson 1: God’s Mission to Us: Part 1 |
Memory Text: 1: Genesis 3:9 – Then the Lord God called Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ |
Content: |
1.1 The God Who Reaches Out to Us
This text reminds us that God created us in His image and likeness to have an intimate relationship with Him, characterized by love. He has also given us free will so that our love for Him is authentic, while providing us with clear instructions to protect us from the consequences of disobedience. Despite the entrance of sin into the world, God’s mercy and determination to fulfill His mission of redemption to save fallen humanity are evident. This reminds us that God always approaches us and seeks us, even in our most difficult moments.
1.2 The God Who Longs to Be With Us
God’s promises to Abraham and his descendants in the Old Testament repeatedly emphasize God’s deep longing to be with His people and to serve them. This shows us that God has a missionary nature and actively works to extend His love and blessings to the entire world. The establishment of the Old Testament sanctuary and the sacrifices therein were symbols of the coming work of Jesus Christ, which would ultimately fulfill God’s mission of redemption for humanity. This reminds us of how much God is interested in being with us and saving us.
1.3 The God Who Became One With Us
The Old Testament illustrates God’s missionary strategy, in which He implemented a plan through a chosen people to reveal His nature and purpose to the world. This strategy continued in the New Testament when God, through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, revealed a new dimension of His relationship with humanity. The birth of Jesus shows us that God concretely fulfilled His desire to be with us by coming in human form. The Incarnation of Christ emphasizes that God actively continues His mission of redemption by becoming one with us to show us the way to God.
1.4 The God Who Continues to Be With Us
The life and ministry of Jesus were a revelation of God that went deeper than anything before. In Christ, God’s missionary nature was fully revealed, and Jesus Himself declared His mission to seek and save people. John 3:16 shows how God’s love and mission are intertwined as He sent His Son to bring us redemption. The events of the last week of Jesus’ life, including His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection, connected the hope of the past with the future. His death was part of the reconciliation process, and His resurrection defeated death. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18–20 assures us that Jesus has all authority and is always with us as we engage in God’s mission.
1.5 The God Who Will Come Back for Us
John 14:1–3 is deeply connected to the end-time message of the Bible. This verse reveals the blessed hope that Jesus will return to take us to Himself so that we may be with Him forever. This promise reflects the Creator’s desire to be with His creatures for eternity. In Revelation 21:3, this hope is eventually realized when God will dwell among people, and they will be His people. This is the most uplifting picture of redemption in which the God of mission fulfills His ultimate plan to be with His children forever. It is a privilege to partake in this glorious reality.
Adventist News Network – September 29, 2023
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jVvfvvtGLE?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-GB&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=640&h=360]
Adventist News Network – September 29, 2023 |
This week on ANN: |
New Netflix documentary highlights healthy habits of Adventists in Loma Linda. |
Hybrid evangelism promotes thousands of opportunities to talk about Christ. |
First museum on the History of the Adventist Church and Resource Center opens in Haiti. |
The Sabbath Gift initiative reaches 1.4 million views in the South Pacific region. |
Stay tuned for these top stories from around the world.
Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/adventist-news-network-september-29-2023/
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