Through God's EyesVoorbeeld

The early church is recorded in Acts and the Epistles (the letters in the New Testament). They are filled with motivation and lifestyle examples for us to study and understand missions. We will get to take a deeper look at the love of Christ and the early church.

As we study and learn from Paul’s letters and the disciples’ actions in establishing churches around the world, we can see their struggles, their suffering, and their determination. They are “on fire” for Jesus, setting their lives as an example for people to see Christ’s love for them.

According to 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2, The early churches are being founded everywhere, and they welcome all people to meet Jesus and receive his love/gift. Let's go ahead and watch.

We have watched how Jesus died for all of us and our sins, and later, Jesus was raised. Through Christ’s death, he has allowed us to have a relationship with God. And when we are in Christ, our old life is dead. But our lives started new in Christ.

As we have a new life in Christ, we also have a new perspective. Is our perspective fixed on worldly things? No, as we are with Christ, we look forward to and focus on Christ. Now, you are probably wondering, As our perspective changes, how do we focus on our mission?

Next, we will watch Acts 20:22-24. We have seen Paul travel to share the Good News. Regardless of where God calls Paul to go, there can be hardships. But Paul reminds us that no matter if he is in prison or suffering, his life is about doing God’s work. Through sharing the Good News, the most important of all is to share God’s grace with people.

We must learn how to apply the Great Commission to ourselves, self-analyze our values, and adjust our hearts to do His commandments. Sometimes, it is not an easy task to do. Paul shows many great examples of his struggles in his life and shows us that we’re not the only ones.

When we struggle and adjust our hearts, we must remember what the Lord has said to Paul during his struggles in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” This is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

As what Paul went through adjusting His heart, we do that too. If you are Deaf, some people may view your Deafness as a weakness and barrier to experiencing God’s grace. But His power is made perfect in our weakness. As we understand our mission to share the Good News with anybody, God will use us.