Daily Lesson for Monday 11th of December 2023

Despite challenges, external and internal, Jesus graciously extends the call to us for His mission to the cities.

Jesus was moved with compassion for the multitudes, such as are found in cities. Luke 19:41 describes how Jesus wept over Jerusalem. We may not understand the depths of Jesus’ love for His children, even for the “faceless masses” living in cities. This is why in Matthew 9:38 Jesus tells us to pray, so that our motives and hearts can be like His.

In Matthew 4:25, the multitudes following Jesus came from Galilee, from the ten city-states of the Decapolis to the east, from Jerusalem, and from Judea to the south. Besides Samaria, what region was missing? The coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, part of Phoenicia, along the Mediterranean Sea and northwest of Galilee. We now see why Jesus went to this area! This trip to the region of Tyre and Sidon was one of Jesus’ cross-cultural mission trips.

“After the encounter with the Pharisees, Jesus withdrew from Capernaum, and crossing Galilee, repaired to the hill country on the borders of Phoenicia. Looking westward, He could see, spread out upon the plain below, the ancient cities of Tyre and Sidon, with their heathen temples, their magnificent palaces and marts of trade, and the harbors filled with shipping.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 399.

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“God’s Mission – My Mission” consistently points us to our Gracious God and how He wishes us to portray what He has done for us. In response we will reach out to others: 
Hymn 573 – I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go, Dear Lord, hence our theme hymn. This is in response to 
So Send I You – Hymn 573.

This week we continue with 
Go, Preach My Gospel – Hymn 378 to keep on 
Seeking The Lost – Hymn 373 as we are asked to 
Tell It To Every Kindred And Nation – Hymn 202.

Having read in our Bible of the unfortunate choices of people long ago, may we learn from these mistakes and 
Stand Like The Brave – Hymn 610.

On Monday, Jesus tells us to pray so we will find our strength for stepping stones in life: 
Hymn 488 – At First I prayed for Light and may we enjoy the 
Sweet Hour of Prayer – Hymn 478.

The decision story is sung in 
Once To Every Man And Nation – Hymn 606.

So, dear people, be encouraged to go forward so that we and all our friends and neighbors will be rejoicing 
When We All Get To Heaven – Hymn 633.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Key Thought: In humility, we go into the cities seeking out those who, when presented with the truth, will respond to a saving faith in Jesus.
December 16, 2023

A. Have a volunteer read Matthew 9:35-38.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What does this tell us about mission to the multitudes, wherever we find them?
3. Personal Application: How can we help people see how futile their palaces and markets of trade are and why they need Jesus? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What are the challenges in reaching out to different cultures and religions in the urban areas of our cities?” How would you respond to your relative?

B. Have a volunteer read Matthew 15:22-28, Mark 7:24-30.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What differences do you see in how the woman was described?
3. Personal Application: What can you do to help those involved in urban ministry? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why did Jesus originally reject this Gentile’s request? Was it to show the Jews how cold and uncaring they were? Was it because the seventy weeks for the Jews was not fulfilled yet? Or was there another reaon?” How would you respond to your friend?

C. Have a volunteer read Acts 10:9-16, 28, 34,35.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How would you summarize the lesson taught here by the Holy Spirit?
3. Personal Application: How did you come to know Jesus and the three angel’s messages? How important is it to develop a personal testimony to share with others? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “How are we supposed to reach out to the enemies of God’s people? The Muslims hate the Christians, and the radical ones are trying to kill us. Why should we put our lives on the line to try and reach the enemies of God’s people who are trying to destroy us?” How would you respond to your relative?

D. Have a volunteer read Matthew 8:10,13; Matthew 9:2, Mark 2:5.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Whom did Jesus describe as having faith in these verses?
3. Personal Application: List three spiritual blessings that you have experienced from Jesus in your personal life.. Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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Daily Lesson for Sunday 10th of December 2023

We read that Jesus took His disciples from Gennesaret (Matthew 14:34) “and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon” (Matthew 15:21, NKJV). Why did He take them from Galilee to these pagan places? He leads His disciples on this field trip into the borders of these foreign regions so that they can learn, on location, what they could not learn so easily in Galilee. He wanted to teach His disciples lessons that would help prepare them for their calling to reach all people groups, including urbanites.

From Judges 3:1-6, we see that these ancient peoples were used by God to test the Israelites’ faith. Unfortunately, God’s people failed that test, too, at least in this instance: “And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons; and they served their gods” (Judges 3:6, NKJV). Thus, right from the start, these people were a stumbling block to Israel.

In 1 Kings 5:1-11, we can see the close relationship between the Sidonians and the Hebrews. Though on one level, the economic ties were mutually beneficial, no doubt the Hebrews were still negatively influenced by the paganism and idolatry of their trading partners.

1 Kings 11:1-6 reveals just how negative that influence even­tually became: King Solomon married Sidonian princesses, who led him astray. “For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians” (1 Kings 11:5, NKJV).

Yet, despite the history of paganism and idolatry, and their negative influence on the chosen nation, Jesus still brought His disciples to these places. In this way He initiated them in cross-cultural urban mission, confronting their bias and bigotry, and modeled for His followers wholistic urban mission to all cultures and nationalities.

Many challenges face the Adventist urban missionary, among them include health and environmental concerns. Others would include the high cost of living, racism, bigotry, nationalism, and constraints on religious freedom and expression. Nevertheless, despite these obstacles, we must work for the cities.

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Daily Lesson for Saturday 9th of December 2023

Read for This Week’s Study

1 Kings 11:1-6; Matthew 4:23-25; Matthew 15:22-28; Mark 7:24-30; Acts 10:34-35; Matthew 8:10,13.

Memory Text:

“Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour” (Matthew 15:28, NKJV).

From the beginning, a loving God sought His lost children (Genesis 3:9); and, to our day, this same loving God is still seeking to reach the lost (see Revelation 14:6-12), including the lost in the cities. In 2018, the United Nations published its latest findings, which say that 55 percent of the planet’s population lives in urban areas, and this will grow (if time should last) to 68 percent by 2050. We have no choice: we must witness to those in the cities.

Yet, many of God’s people act as Jonah did when called to witness to a city: for whatever reason, they flee from the task. “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4, NKJV). That includes what was written about Jonah.

When here, Jesus ministered not only to those in the cities of Israel but to those in foreign regions, as well; that is, to those outside of the Jewish nation and the chosen people.

This week we will study the Bible story of Christ’s mission to Tyre and Sidon and draw lessons to apply to our lives today.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 16.

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