Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

David McCrum shares from his 16 years of missionary experience in South Africa and his current role as Vice President of Education, discussing how to assess one's readiness for ministry calling. He emphasizes that God's calling often begins with a softened heart toward ministry, even when the specific direction isn't immediately clear.

Scripture Text

Acts 13; 1 Timothy 3; Titus

Main Points or Ideas

The message is structured around seven areas of measurement for ministry readiness:

• Health - Physical, emotional, mental, financial health, and family integrity must be regularly evaluated throughout ministry life
• Ministry Calling and Vision - Understanding God's burden on your heart, even when it can't be fully expressed yet; learning to articulate what God is doing in your life
• Church Partnership - Having a sending church and pastor who knows you intimately and will continue to guide major decisions throughout your ministry
• Theological Preparedness - Gaining appropriate biblical and theological knowledge for your specific ministry calling
• Philosophical Identity - Developing your ministry philosophy and understanding how it aligns with your calling and context
• Contextual Integration - Learning to adapt culturally and practically to wherever God sends you
• Strengths, Gifts, and Personality - Discovering and developing your unique giftedness through testing, experience, and practice

Conclusion

Ministry readiness is an ongoing process of measurement and growth in multiple areas, with the goal of being prepared when God opens doors for service wherever He calls you.

Nate Beckman shares insights from his ministry in Thailand since 2003, discussing the unique challenges and opportunities of working in Buddhist contexts, particularly things he wishes he had known before going to a Buddhist country.

Scripture Text

Revelation 7:9-10

Main Points or Ideas

Language Difficulties

• Thai language has 44 consonants, 37 vowels, and five tones where one word can have multiple meanings
• Different vowel lengths create additional complexity
• Language barriers can be deal-breakers for missionary families, especially when spouses don't both learn the language adequately

Buddhist Worldview and Practices

• Buddhism is atheistic - Buddhists don't worship Buddha or idols, but make transactional requests for money, health, jobs, or good exam scores
• What appears to be ancestor worship is actually sending merit to deceased family members in other lives
• The concept of "abad" - it's considered sinful to ask questions that have no answers, leading to spiritual apathy
• The belief that "if you don't believe it, don't disrespect it" creates tolerance for all beliefs

Cultural Challenges

• Honor is more important than truth in Buddhist thinking
• Fear of upsetting the unseen realm governs much of daily life through superstitions and spirit appeasement
• Family honor often prevents conversion even when people intellectually understand the gospel
• There's no perceived relationship between sexuality and morality in Buddhist culture

The Great Need

• Seven countries have Buddhist majority populations with very low Christian percentages
• The Buddhist world has never had historical opportunity to respond to the gospel like other regions
• This represents an area under Satan's control throughout human history that needs the gospel

Conclusion

The Buddhist world represents one of the most needy and unreached areas globally, requiring missionaries who understand the unique cultural and religious challenges while trusting that God will gather people from every tribe and nation as promised in Revelation.

Chip Wood shares his burden for the declining state of the church, noting that churches are closing at unprecedented rates while young adults are leaving the faith in alarming numbers. He emphasizes that while it's not the current generation's fault, it's his generation's responsibility to address this crisis through proper discipleship.

Scripture Text

Psalm 71:17-18; Exodus 12:25-27; Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Joshua 4:21-24; Psalm 78:4-8

Main Points or Ideas

The sermon follows God's consistent pattern throughout Scripture for passing faith to the next generation:

God's Process for Generational Discipleship:

• Older generations must actively teach younger generations about God's works
• Teaching should happen continually - when sitting, walking, lying down, and rising up
• Children naturally ask questions, providing teachable moments
• Memorial events and rituals help maintain remembrance of God's faithfulness

The Current Crisis:

• 75% of young adults with Christian backgrounds leave the church by their 20s
• Only 20% remain (called "the resilient few")
• Of those who stayed, 75% received help applying spiritual truth outside formal programs
• 77% received life wisdom from older generations through personal relationships
• 95% received intentional one-on-one spiritual guidance
• Of the 80% who left, less than 10% received any personal spiritual guidance

The Four Ships of Grace:

• Worship (our relationship with God)
• Discipleship (equipping the church)
• Relationships (reaching the world)
• Stewardship (managing resources)

Conclusion

True discipleship requires personal, intentional relationships between generations, not just programs. Every church member must participate in discipleship to reclaim God's glory in the church and reverse the current decline.

Pastor Matt Recker draws from the prophet Micah, a country boy who had a burden for the cities of his homeland. He explains how capital cities often become the centers of both influence and corruption, making urban ministry crucial for reaching nations with the gospel.

Scripture Text

Micah 6:9; Micah 1:1,5; Psalm 29

Main Points or Ideas

The Importance of Cities:

• Capital cities are the heartbeat of nations and fountainheads of moral rebellion
• What happens in cities affects entire nations
• Key cities determine the ultimate destiny of nations
• Urban ministry is crucial because cities have powerful influence on society

The Lord's Voice Cries (Micah 6:9): The word "cry" speaks of urgency - a compelling and critical need. God's voice cries with the same power that thunders through creation, and He wants to use us to be His voice in the cities.

Three Characteristics of Urban Ministry:

1. It's Adventurous: Urban ministry offers constant adventure and unexpected encounters. Biblical examples include Nehemiah, Jonah, Jesus, and Paul who all experienced adventures in cities. Personal stories of street encounters and witnessing opportunities demonstrate the adventurous nature of city ministry.
2. It's Joyous: When God's voice cries and people respond, there is great joy. Examples from Jonah's ministry to Nineveh and Philip's ministry in Samaria show how entire cities can experience joy when the gospel transforms lives. Personal testimonies of salvation and baptism demonstrate the joy found in urban ministry.
3. It's Serious: The urgency comes from the reality that people are dying without Christ. Stories of Gregory (shot in the head), Anita Smith (Wendy's massacre victim), and Leandra (car accident victim) illustrate the serious nature of reaching people before it's too late.

Conclusion

Cities need the gospel desperately. Just as mayors call for more police officers to bring peace to troubled streets, we need more gospel preachers flooding the cities with the message of salvation.

On the first night of Global Reach Conference 2023, Steve Anderson addresses the student body about showing God's glory through faithful evangelism and missions. He emphasizes that knowing God leads to properly serving and worshiping God, connecting Moses' cry to "show me your glory" with the believer's call to declare God's glory to the nations.

Scripture Text

Psalm 96; Exodus 33:18; Revelation 5:9-10

Main Points or Ideas

God's Glory as Creator and Savior (Psalm 96:1-6):

• We are commanded to sing a "new song" - referencing God's redemptive work
• The call to "proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day" emphasizes ongoing evangelism
• Declaring God's glory among the nations is directly connected to proclaiming salvation
• God is glorified through the work of redemption, revealing aspects of His character that creation alone could not show
• All other gods are worthless idols, but our God made the heavens

God's Glory as Sovereign of All Peoples (Psalm 96:7-10):

• All families and peoples are called to give God glory and strength
• We must recognize God's sovereign control over every aspect of our lives
• "The Lord reigns" must be declared to all nations
• This is not about making Christian nations, but making individual disciples from all nations
• God has established the world and controls the boundaries of nations

God's Glory as Just Judge (Psalm 96:11-13):

• All creation anticipates God's coming judgment with joy
• The repetition "for he is coming, for he is coming" emphasizes the certainty of His return
• He will judge with righteousness and truth/faithfulness
• The resurrection of Christ is our assurance that judgment is coming
• This should motivate urgent evangelism, not celebration of condemnation

The Connection Between Glory and Evangelism: Each aspect of God's glory (Creator, Savior, Sovereign, Judge) should motivate believers to proclaim the gospel. The knowledge of coming judgment should hasten our resolve to reach the lost with the good news of salvation.

Conclusion

Psalm 96 is both a declaration of worship and a call to evangelistic action. As we seek to see God's glory, we must actively participate in declaring that glory to all peoples through faithful gospel proclamation, knowing that He is coming as the just judge.

Dr. Lounsbrough gives an exposition of Moses' request to see God's glory, examining the tests God gave Moses and what motivated this great man of God.

Scripture Text

Exodus 32:7-14; 33:1-18; 34:6-10

Main Points or Ideas

Moses Faced Two Tests:

• First Test (Exodus 32): When God offered to destroy the people and make Moses a great nation, Moses refused, recognizing it was about God's honor, not his own
• Second Test (Exodus 33): When God offered the Promised Land with an angel but without His presence, Moses again refused

Moses' Heart Revealed:

• He refused to take credit that belonged to God
• He understood his role as a servant in God's house
• He valued God's presence above all earthly success and provision
• His request "Show me your glory" came from needing a fresh glimpse of God's greatness

Conclusion

The greatest motivation for Christian service is the glory of God. When believers seek God's face and glory, He can do awesome things through them.

Missionary Nate Beckman uses the analogy of Thai food missing key ingredients to illustrate what may be missing in our approach to world evangelism.

Scripture TextMatthew 9:35-10:1

Main Points or Ideas

What Jesus Saw:

• A Hopeless Humanity: People harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd
• A Coming Harvest of Judgment: The harvest represents separation and judgment, not just salvation
• A Woeful Lack of Laborers: Despite all Jesus had done, there were still too few workers

The Missing Ingredient:

• Jesus' Command: "Pray earnestly" (literally "beg") the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers
• The Problem: We pray for the salvation of the lost but rarely beg God fervently for more missionaries
• The Challenge: If we're going to pray fervently for laborers without being hypocritical, we must include "Lord, do you want me?"

ConclusionThe missing ingredient may be fervent prayer for God to send laborers, coupled with our willingness to be part of the answer to our own prayers.

Michael Blackstone shares about a Bible given to him by his grandmother and reflects on true repentance through the story of the prodigal son's "silent speech."

Scripture Text

Luke 15:17-20

Main Points or Ideas

The Prodigal's Silent Speech Showed True Repentance:

• "I have sinned": Taking full responsibility without blaming others
• "Against heaven and before thee": Recognizing sin is primarily against God
• "I am no more worthy": Coming with genuine humility
• "Make me as one of thy hired servants": Not caring about consequences, just wanting to make it right

The Key Difference:

• Many people feel sorry and feel guilty, but true repentance requires action
• "He arose and came to his father": The difference between thinking about repentance and actually doing something about it
• Verse 20: "He arose and came to his father" - this is what separates true repentance from mere emotion

Conclusion

True repentance is not just having silent speeches or feeling bad about sin - it's actually arising from where you are and going back to the Father who is waiting for you.

Dr. Jim Tillotson opens with a humorous story about mistaken identity on an airplane, emphasizing the importance of not assuming someone is saved just because they attend a Christian college.

Scripture Text

Hebrews 2:1-4

Main Points or Ideas

The Warning Against Neglect:

• Drifting Away: The danger is not active rebellion but passive neglect and drifting
• God's Certainty: There is no excuse to go to hell - Romans 1 shows God has revealed Himself clearly
• Two Types of Atheists: Intellectual atheists (who deny God exists) and practical atheists (who live as if God doesn't exist)

The Reality of Hell:

A detailed description based on biblical passages about the eternal punishment awaiting those who reject Christ

The Plan of Salvation:

• Romans 3:23 - All have sinned
• Romans 5:8 - Christ died for us while we were sinners
• Romans 10:9-13 - Confession and belief lead to salvation

Conclusion

With recent events like the Israel conflict showing life's uncertainty, today is the day of salvation - don't neglect this great salvation that God has provided.

Morris Gleiser shares personal encounters with celebrities to illustrate how some people are approachable while others are not, leading to the truth that Jesus is completely approachable.

Scripture Text

Matthew 8:1-4

Main Points or Ideas

The Leper's Approach:

1. Historical Context: Lepers were commanded to stay away from people, making this approach remarkable
2. The Leper's Appeal:

• Came earnestly with a genuine burden
• Came reverently, worshipping and calling Jesus "Lord"
• Came definitively with a specific request: "make me clean"
• Came confidently: "I know you can, if you will"

Jesus' Approachability:

• Throughout the Gospels, Jesus constantly invites people to come to Him
• He responds to the lowly, needy, and humble
• He touches the untouchable and shows compassion

Application for Believers:

• Don't gaze at your problems - glance at problems and gaze at God
• Pray for things that only God can do
• Focus on the greatness of God when you pray
• Be specific enough in prayer to recognize when God answers

Conclusion

God can change the hardest situations in your life - approach Him with confidence, humility, and expectancy because He truly cares for you.