I volunteer with a small missions agency, Vernacular Video Mission International, which focuses on bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to people using their “vernacular” language. According to Wikipedia, “A Vernacular, mother tongue or mother language, and less frequently one sense of idiom[1] and dialect,[2] is the native language of a population located in … More God ordained vernacular languages!
As I read through the Bible this year, I am focusing on finding missions-related texts. While Psalm 3 is really all about David fleeing from his enemy, his son Absalom, it is a beautiful prayer to remember while on a missions trip. Especially when you are in hostile territory. Let me explain. In March of 2005, my … More Missions Promises from Psalm 3?
In Acts 1 we have an unusual situation. The apostles have met and are deciding who should replace Judas, the betrayer of Jesus. Clearly, Jesus was the One who had chosen the 12. How should they choose a successor? They do two things: they pray and they cast lots. Hmm. In Proverbs 16:11 we read, … More Dice, prayer and missions
Matthew opens with a promise of salvation through Jesus, Immanuel, God With Us: Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his … More God With Us and Missions
I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. Psalm 2:7-8 In the Old Testament, we see picture after picture of the Messiah, the heir … More Make the nations Your heritage!
In the Passion of the Christ, my favorite scene is in the Garden of Gethsemene. The scene isn’t actually taken from the Bible accounts in the New Testament, but looks back to Genesis 3:15 where God tells the Serpent that a descendant of Eve will crush his head while he strikes his heel. So when, in the movie, … More Protoevangelium-First Gospel-and the implication for missions
In Acts 1, Luke tells us that, ” In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.” What commands did Jesus give right … More Commands, Power and Missions
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3 The psalmist draws a picture for us of a tree in a dry climate, which thrives because it is planted near a constant … More A Fruitful Tree and Missions
Noel Piper with some encouraging words in her blog post, “Never in January”- A year ago I set out to read the whole Bible. That’s nothing new; I’ve begun to read the whole Bible every other year for about 28 years-emphasis on “begun.” But with all the best intentions, I was never able to finish … More What will YOU hunt for this year?
One of the Most Important Principles in Reading the Bible by John Piper at Desiring God blog: Sometimes readers of the Bible see the conditions that God lays down for his blessing and they conclude from these conditions that our action is first and decisive, then God responds to bless us. That is not right. … More One of the Most Important Principles in Reading the Bible
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 