One Heart - PeacemakersSample

RESPONSIBILITY FOR A GENERATION

“And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,” Act.17:6 ESV

There are countless testimonies of how ordinary men and women influenced a whole generation. Noah's faith secured the existence of the whole human race. Abraham's faith caused God to covenant with him and all those who believe in the God of the Bible since then. Alexander the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and other great men left lasting legacies of empire building, destroying continents, and corrupting the minds of millions of people. From a purely historical perspective, the most influential man in history was a traveling preacher. His name was Jesus. H.G. Wells said: I am a historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very centre of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.

Here are just six ways Jesus’ legacy has changed the world for the better. - Tim Arndt.

1. Women's Rights. Throughout ancient history, we see endless examples of women treated inhumanely. About 2,000 years ago, we saw an incredible movement of women converting to Christianity. The early church was so saturated with women that it was often criticized as “a women’s religion.” Jesus treated women with dignity, respect, and pure love that stood in stark contrast to society. While women were worth less than men in the Roman world, in Jesus’ eyes, they were equally valuable, having been made in the image of God. Adultery was the norm in the Roman world, but Christianity demanded that a man be committed to his wife and love her sacrificially.

2. Human Rights. The idea that all humans should be treated with dignity was extremely rare before Christianity stepped onto the scene. Take slavery, for example. While it is true that there were Christians who owned slaves in early America, it was Christians who championed freedom for slaves. The secular philosophers and leaders of the day said or did little to emancipate slaves. It was Christians like William Wilberforce who led the charge against slavery. Even in the civil rights movement of the ’60s, the church was the centre of fighting against racism and segregation in society. To care for our fellow man is a very Christian idea rooted in the life and teaching of Jesus himself.

3. Humanitarian Aid. The apostle John says in 1 John 3:17: "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" Caring for the poor and needy has been a strong part of Christianity’s legacy since the beginning. We often see Jesus healing the poor and the outcasts, and in the early church, they cared for orphans, widows, and the helpless.

4. Education. Literacy came as a result of Christianity. Nearly all of the first universities in England and America were started by Christians. Missionaries planted schools, translated the Bible into different languages, sometimes inventing a written script for those languages, and demanded that children be raised with an education.

5. Science. For much of history, people saw the world as spirits, demons, and "gods" influencing the forces of nature. Christians believe there is one God who made both the world and everything in it (including us). Medieval Christians were the first to come to the understanding that since God made both the world and mankind, man should be able to experiment with nature and understand it better. All the early scientists, such as Newton, were religious in one way or another. Francis Bacon, Galileo, Newton, Copernicus, Kepler, Pascal—all these men were inspired by their faith to do science.

6. Changed Lives. Perhaps the most poignant example of how Jesus has changed the world for the better comes through seeing personal testimonies. Churches are full of people who can tell you how Jesus changed their life. If you do not believe in Jesus, I highly encourage you to start listening to people’s stories.

PRAYER POINTS

ME: Never underestimate the power deposited in you through the Holy Spirit to be a world changer. Your world may be only your family, your neighbourhood, or your city. Surrender yourself anew to God and answer His call: "Here am I. Send me."

US: The church has been used for centuries to transform nations, even continents. Pray that the church in our generation will take responsibility for this generation we live in to stop trusting politicians and world leaders to accomplish transformation and reconciliation. Pray that the church will enter into areas of conflict, war, and oppression to bring the solution Christ has given us.

THEM: Pray that the younger generation in your nation will be thoroughly evangelised. Most great men and women of God responded to God's call for ministry at a young age. Pray that the Lord will raise up people in the older generation to bless and guide the younger generation with the development of gifts and talents and the sharing of knowledge and experience. Pray for a generation that will prepare for the return of Jesus.

Remember your scripture memory of John 17.