Exploring God’s World With God’s Word: 5 Days of Biblical AdventuresSample

In his work spreading the gospel, Paul faced all sorts of danger, including but not limited to imprisonment, three shipwrecks, a daring escape in a basket, and, as we read today, a bite from a deadly viper. (You can read Paul’s account of his struggles in 2 Cor. 11:25-30.) But Paul did more than tell people about God; he showed God’s love to those he visited, lived, and worked with. In the case of Paul’s snake bite, after the people of Malta took him in, Paul healed many people and lived as part of their community all winter before sailing on to Rome. The joy of the gospel meant that Paul was willing to travel far distances and risk great danger, but a constant mark of his travels was how he lived out the same gospel he told others about.

Did you know that the church today is on the same mission? Jesus gave his disciples what is called the Great Commission in Matthew, and his command extends to us too! But don’t forget, what we show others about who God is with our actions is just as important as what we tell them.

Here are some fun facts about missions work, the business of spreading the gospel:

• There are nearly 7.5 billion people worldwide, and over 3 billion people have never heard about Jesus.
• The total number of Christians worldwide grows by 1.2% a year.
• The gospel is spreading the most quickly in the country of Nepal.
• There are 6,909 language groups in the world.
• Most people who haven’t heard the gospel live in areas of North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia known as the 10/40 window, an area named for its location between 10 and 40 degrees above the equator. Nearly 5 billion live in the 10/40 Window, and over 3 billion have never heard about Jesus.

While Paul and many early disciples traveled far from home, anyone can share the gospel and show God’s love to others, including you!

Was this Plan helpful? We adapted this Plan from the CSB Explorer Bible for Kids.