In what ways can we be "witnesses...to the ends of the earth"? Acting on Acts 1:8—Our Global Mandate “ ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ ” (Acts 1:8) Seeing the Pattern Jesus Gave • Jerusalem – where you already live • Judea – people culturally similar but a bit farther away • Samaria – people near you who are culturally different or even disliked • Ends of the earth – everyone else, right to the planet’s edge Ways to Witness Among Those Nearest (Our “Jerusalem”) • Share personal testimonies of salvation with family, friends, co-workers (1 Peter 3:15) • Live visibly holy lives that confirm the message (Philippians 2:15-16) • Open your home for Bible reading, meals, or small-group studies (Acts 2:46) Stepping into Broader Circles (Our “Judea”) • Volunteer in local schools, shelters, and crisis-pregnancy centers, bringing Scripture and hope (Matthew 5:16) • Partner with nearby churches to hold evangelistic events (Luke 10:1-2) • Use community celebrations—fairs, sports, concerts—to hand out Bibles and tracts Crossing Cultural Barriers Nearby (Our “Samaria”) • Engage immigrants and refugees through language tutoring, job-training, and friendship (Leviticus 19:34) • Support prison and recovery ministries that reach marginalized groups (Hebrews 13:3) • Reconcile ethnic tensions by modeling Christ’s unity (Ephesians 2:13-16) Reaching “the Ends of the Earth” • Short-term mission trips that strengthen long-term teams (Romans 10:14-15) • Vocational missions—teaching, medical work, engineering, business as mission (1 Corinthians 10:31) • Bible translation and distribution for unreached language groups (Psalm 96:3) • Media missions—podcasts, video, social platforms, livestream teaching (Mark 16:15) Practical Pathways to Global Witnessing • Pray daily for specific unreached peoples; use tools like the “Joshua Project” list • Give financially to sound, Scripture-faithful mission agencies (Philippians 4:15-17) • Adopt a missionary family—send care packages, messages, and logistical help (3 John 5-8) • Mobilize others: host mission-awareness nights, share field reports, encourage teens toward service • Learn another language or basic cross-cultural skills to remove barriers Promises That Fuel Our Boldness • The Holy Spirit empowers us (Acts 1:8) • Jesus has all authority, so He guarantees success (Matthew 28:18-20) • The gospel “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16) • A redeemed multitude from “every tribe and tongue” is certain (Revelation 7:9-10) Living It Out Today What began in Jerusalem now reaches us because earlier believers obeyed. By that same Spirit, we carry the torch forward—at home, across towns, over borders, and into every unreached corner—until the whole earth hears and Christ returns. |
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