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TeacherAide Common Unity SESSION 2
ILLUSTRATING THE POINT
Teen Brought Luggage to Her Baptism When Texas pastor Jim Denison was in college, he served as a summer missionary in East Malaysia. While there he attended a small church. At one of the church's worship services, a teenage girl came forward to announce her decision to follow Christ and be baptized. During the service, Denison noticed some worn-out luggage leaning against the wall of the church building. He asked the pastor about it. The pastor pointed to the girl who had just been baptized and told Denison, "Her father said that if she was baptized as a Christian she could never go home again. So she brought her luggage." Raymond McHenry, Stories for the Soul (Hendrickson, 2001), p. 48
“The Apprentice”: You’re Hired The first season of the TV show The Apprentice tracked the lives of 16 up-and-coming business people as they vied for a highly coveted job with Donald Trump. It was the top-ranked-show among new TV series in the first half of 2004, with over 20 million viewers. In this scene, Donald Trump faces two of his apprentices at the opulent boardroom table. On the left is Kwame, the polished Harvard MBA, and on the right is Troy, a business-savvy risk-taker without a college education. They have earned their place among the final few contestants, but now, one of them must leave. Trump turns on Troy and in his gruff manner says, "Troy in reality we're dealing with multibillion dollar companies here. The consequences of hiring a live wire like you could be costly and devastating. So I have to say, you're fired!" The camera fades to Troy, head bowed in disgrace. How different from the scene Jesus promises his people. In the opulent boardroom of heaven, Jesus turns to us and says, "In reality, we're dealing with something far greater than multibillion dollar businesses here we're talking about the salvation of the world. The consequences of hiring someone like you could be costly and devastating. So I have to say, you're hired!" In a world full of un-grace, Jesus gives grace. "The Price Is Height," The Apprentice: The Complete First Season
THE MORE YOU KNOW
Approximate number of practicing Christians in the U.K.—1 million Approximate number of practicing Muslims there—750,000 _____________________________________________________________ $.02—The amount spent on overseas missions for every dollar donated to a congregation, based on a survey of 28 Protestant denominations. $.10—Amount spent on overseas missions for every dollar donated in 1920. Percentage of Christians who lived in Europe in 1990: 70 In 2000: 28 Number of Christians in Africa in 1900: 10 million In 2000: 360 million _____________________________________________________________ A recent study of teenagers who attended church during their childhood found that for most of them their church experience was a positive part of their lives. Nearly 9 out of 10 churched teenagers said their church experience exposed them to Bible stories (95 percent), taught them about the lives of great people in the Bible (92 percent), and gave them fun experiences related to religion (89 percent). But only half (53 percent) said their church experience helped them understand the Bible enough to help them make decisions based on biblical principles.
THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY
“If Jesus makes you feel comfortable with your agenda, then he's not Jesus. Once you domesticate Jesus, he isn't there any more.” Andrew Greeley
“Without God we can’t; without us he won’t.” Lloyd John Ogilvie
“Being an extrovert isn’t essential to evangelism—obedience and love are.” Rebecca Manley Pippert
“The best way to prepare for the coming of Christ is never to forget the presence of Christ.” William Barclay
“When I go to a place where God has met me before, a Gilgal place, I often find he meets me again.” John Huffman
“The richest topsoil for growing dollars for ministry is a vision for the Great Commission.” Wayne Pohl
“The glory of God, and, as our only means to glorifying him, the salvation of human souls, is the real business of life.” C.S. Lewis
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