Month of Missions Da ily Devotions.

Dear Friends and Colleagues

Greetings in the lovely name of our Lord Jesus!

Since 2014 the M&D committee has been sending out daily devotions for the month of October which has been set aside as Missions Month. These have been written by various ministers and members in the denomination and have been well-received. We also supply a preaching plan with sermon outlines for October which you can use in preparing sermons for each Sunday’s theme.

When she embarked on her moderatorial journey, the Rt Rev Lydia Neshangwe introduced her theme as “Stronger Together.” Taking our cue from her, the Mission and Discipleship Committee offers the 2024 Month of Mission devotions and sermon series under this same theme which captures the essence of unity in Christ, highlighting the power of collective action in fulfilling the Great Commission. As we enter this month of mission, we are reminded that the strength of our witness lies in our ability to work together, harnessing our diverse gifts and callings to bring the Gospel to every corner of our communities. Through this focused period of evangelism, we aim to renew our commitment to sharing the love of Christ, reaching out to the lost, and strengthening the bonds that unite us as a church.

For each week of October the devotions will follow a theme culminating with the Sunday Sermon. The themes are as follows: STRONGER TOGETHER
Week ending Sunday 6 Oct – Unity in God
Week ending Sunday 13 Oct – Unity in the Church
Week ending Sunday 20 Oct – Unity in Families
Week ending Sunday 27 Oct – Blessed are the peacemakers.
Last few days of October – Closing thoughts on Stronger together.

There are two parts to the Month of Mission:

1. The Daily Devotions.
   In the past we did devotions for the whole of October, but found that the uptake on weekends was lower. So we will only do weekdays.
   The Devotions can be received by email or whatsapp
   or found on our blog or UPCSA facebook page.The blog is at: https://emmdev.blogspot.com/
2. The Sunday Sermon Outlines:
   There are four Sundays in October and there are some suggested readings and titles below.
3. People can subscribe
   to the emails at: https://rb.gy/9uitp (This is case-sensitive )
   to the whatsapps at: https://rb.gy/batqp (Enter this into your phone’s browser)

You can help us!

The Going for Growth Project is about unleashing energy and creativity and inspiring growth throughout the denomination. We believe that these devotions will help with this,

Please share the this information as widely as possible.

In these challenging times we pray that these messages will be inspirational and a great blessing to many in the UPCSA.

Thanks and God bless,
Richard Mkandawire,
Matshidiso Piroe,
Brian Mazanhi,
Stewart Gordon
and Theo Groeneveld
(Your Mission and Discipleship Month of Mission Team)

Appendix A: Readings for the Month

Month of Mission Programme 2024

Stronger Together

Appendix B:Sermon Outlines

Sunday 6 Oct: “That they may be one…”

Introduction to the Reading

[Not many preachers do an introduction to the Scripture readings, but sometimes it is worthwhile to give a bit of background before a passage is read: This is one of those times…]

• Our Scripture reading comes from John 17
  It is known as “Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer.”
  He prays it in the Garden of Gethsemane.
  He prays it as the One who connects God and His people (The function of a Priest)
  He prays it as the Priest who will make a sacrifice (Himself) to connect God and His people.
  He prays, because it is the Priest’s task to bring the people before their God.
  But He also reveals and represents God to His people – another of the Priest’s tasks.
• The prayer is long and complex.
  Verses 1-5: Jesus prays for Himself—His glorification and completion of His mission.
  Verses 6-19: Jesus prays for His disciples—their protection, unity, and sanctification.
  Verses 20-26: Jesus prays for all future believers—their unity and witness to the world.
• Our reading overlaps from the end of the prayer for the disciples to the prayer for all believers.
  Notice how He prays for many things for the disciples.
  But for the wider church His prayers focus on one clear thing.

Reading John 17:13-25

“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. ¹⁴ I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. ¹⁵ My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: ²³ I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
²⁵ “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Introduction to Sermon

The Moderator of our General Assembly is the Right Rev Lydia Neshangwe.
She commenced her duties with an inaugural sermon entitled: “Stronger together.”

This is a well-accepted and well-recognised idea. There are a number of quotes from the library of common sense and the school of every day wisdom that reflect this same idea:

1. “United we stand, divided we fall.”
2. “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
3. “Divide and conquer.”
4. “There is no strength without unity.”
5. “Together we can do so much; alone we can do so little.”
6. “In union, there is strength.”
7. “One finger cannot lift a pebble.”
8. “Where there is unity, there is always victory.”
9. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
10. “Disunity is the enemy of progress.”

The Early Church had an exacting task.

When we examine Jesus’ prayer for the disciples, they had an exacting task.
They would later be called the apostles. This Greek word means “sent out”. It implies being a pioneer.

A pioneer explores, starts, plants and establishes.

We know from Early Church History that the church grew, but that it was not easy.

Christians were persecuted and martyred. They faced lions, gladiators, being set on fire in Nero’s garden and much more.

But the Church flourished and grew.

What does Jesus pray for them?

1. “They’re staying in the world after I am gone. May the things I say give them great (the full measure of) joy.”
   (May they find joy in my message)
2. “They have my Word, but the world hates them because, like me, they are not of the world any more”
   (May they continue to be heavenly minded in a world that hates them for it.)
3. “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”
   (May they not be escapist, but may they also not be sucked in (protect them from the evil one).)
   (They should not be sucked in because… They are not of this world.)
4. “Sanctify them by Your truth – Your Word is truth”
   Sanctification = Holy-making. Like a goldsmith refines Gold. It is the process of becoming holy or more like Jesus.
5. “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”
   May they go in my footsteps, in my ways. May they resemble me.

He then ends with this thought: “For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”
At first this doesn’t make sense – Jesus is Holy – Why must He sanctify Himself ???
The answer is that He has one more step to take: He must obey the Father – “Not my will by Your will be done.”
He must drink the cup of self-sacrifice so that we can be forgiven.

How can we summarise His prayer?

• May they find Joy in their connection to Me
• May they know they belong to heaven and not this world
• May they not be escapist or sucked in,
• But may they be in a process of becoming holy because they hear My/Your Word.
• May they go into the world as I did.

But then the prayer changes

But then Jesus takes the prayer even further.
He prays not just for the Disciples/Apostles/Pioneers/Planters

He prays for the whole church – even the church to come.

What does He pray?

“that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

This is HUGE:

All the complexity of the pioneer prayer gets summarised into two key thoughts.

1. That they would experience unity with each other
2. That they would experience unity with the Trinity

Let’s repeat that:

1. That they would experience unity with each other
   “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.“
   Because they’re created in our Image:
   A Triune God where the Father is in the Son and in the Spirit….
2. That they would experience unity with the Trinity
   “May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
   That they will truly encounter the “Us” of God.

So Jesus is praying that we will experience connection and love with our fellow Christians and with God.

And He goes on to say: “This unity of people isn’t hard.
You don’t have to like each other – they will find each other in Me – because I have unity with the Father.

And He goes on to say:
This unity will reveal God’s love to the world:
“May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me
and have loved them even as you have loved me.

This has Implications

1. Our Unity is not based on structure or resolution.
   It is based on the Triune One in who’s image we are created.
   This is our core-identity and purpose.
   The closer we get to our Triune God, the closer we get to each other.
2. Unity is not Uniformity:
   The Father, Son and Spirit are different.
   We reflect great diversity and unity is not found in disguising our differences.
   Paul hints at this when he talks about the gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1Cor12.

   1COR12:4-6
   There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
   There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. (Kurios – Jesus)
   There are different kinds of working, but the same God (Father) works all of them in all

1. Unity convinces the world of the truth of the Gospel.
   John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Conclusion

Jesus was about to face the cross.
He was going to face separation from God the Father as He became the scapegoat separated from God for our sins.

In the light of His impending sacrifice, Jesus prays for the thing we need most:

That we embrace what it means to be created in the image of the Triune God and discover that:

1. We are made for connection to God and each other.
2. We find connection to each other:
   NOT
   – in finding common ground
   – in rules and regulations and enforced community
   BUT in connection with Jesus.
3. Only In and through our connection to God and each other will we meaningfully reach the world.

Sunday 13^th A Sharp Disagreement

Acts 15:36-40 Sometime later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, ³⁸ but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. ³⁹ They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.

Introduction

In Acts 15:36-41, we find Paul and Barnabas parting ways. The situation between Paul and Barnabas gets tricky because it involved a difference of opinion over a cousin of Barnabas. Barnabas wanted to take his cousin John Mark with him on a missionary journey with Paul. But Paul had a bad experience where John Mark left them on a previous journey, so Paul is careful not to go through that again. He was also trying to set a boundary, of which he had a good reason for it. On the other hand, Barnabas wanted to keep his cousin with him and give him a second chance, which is understandable as well.

Body

The situation was tense and verse 39 tells us that there was a charged emotional response from both sides.

However, this disagreement, which was ultimately a goodbye between Paul and Barnabas, did not mean that either of them was a bad person. Quite the opposite — they both had boundaries, and when they held to their boundaries, there was a need for separation.

When we look at how Luke, the author of the book of Acts, presents this disagreement, we cannot place a label of “right” or “wrong” on either of these two men. Both are commended, they both had reasons for the parting of ways that made sense, and they both acted out of personal conviction about the boundaries they needed to establish. This is such an important example to look at because both men loved the Lord, they both loved people … and they both had the desire to do the right thing for God’s mission.

But still, they had to part ways.

Now, the end result is what I see as a major lesson for all of us: There’s no evidence that either of them bashed or slandered the other for the choice he made. And there’s no evidence that either of them tried to discredit the other in ministry.

As a result, their goodbye actually allowed the gospel to spread in two different directions and go even further than if they had stayed together.

Even though this was a goodbye between Paul, Barnabas and John Mark, it wasn’t the end of the story. Years later, when Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:11, he asked for John Mark to be brought to him because John Mark was “very useful to [Paul] for ministry” (ESV). Though they had experienced a rough time, they still had respect for each other and eventually reconciled.

For Paul to say John Mark was useful to him in ministry indicates to us that Paul now saw him in a different way. And he realises that John Mark is needed for them to reach their goal for the mission of God.

Conclusion

There is beauty in good boundaries and goodbyes, when done appropriately, they give relationships the space for reconciliation. It might always be possible, but it is in some cases where boundaries and goodbyes help prevent destruction of a relationship.

With God’s help, even as we wrestle with disagreements or arguments we can find a way forward. I believe that Jesus is working in us as members of His church and that He is restoring us through it all. Reconciliation is possible, and so is redemption with God. So today, open your hands and surrender everything to Jesus. Release it to Jesus. The Moderator of the General Assembly the right Revd Lydia Neshangwe has challenged the church to revive the forgotten ministry of reconciliation for the unity of the church of Christ.

Sunday 20^th Unity in Families

Ephesians 5:21-6:4

Background

The family unit is an important part of the Christian Church, for God in His wisdom, chose to model the relationship within the family to the relationship between Jesus Christ and the Church. The relationship of members of a Christian family should also mirror how members of the church should relate as members of one body.

Introduction to the Reading

The letter to the church at Ephesus is more systematic and well laid out than most of Paul’s letters. The structure is very clear, with the first part of the letter focusing on our relationship to God in Christ, while the second part of the letter focuses more on our relationship to others in Christ. So the part that we focus on is concerned more about Christian behavior and relationships, and how we ought to have those relationships governed by Christ.

Our response to what God has done for us should be evidenced in how we relate to one another. If we are walking in the Spirit then virtues like humility, unity, maturity, love, charity, among others, should be part of our everyday life. This should be what guides family life and Christian relationships. Paul therefore encourages submission, sacrificial love, respect for others as well as unity if the family is to be a good model of the church in the world.

Introduction to the Sermon

Paul argues that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, it will show by our mutual submission to each other; and that submission is done in the fear of God, not the fear of man. The idea of submission has to do with a God-appointed order. Even in the army if the there are no levels of authority, confusion will reign supreme. Likewise the family setup would be marred by serious confusion and chaos without submission.

Submission has to do with being stripped of individuality so that one becomes a member of a unit or a team. This helps us as Christians in the home to always think of others, where there is submission, members are never self-seeking but have an attitude of being part of a bigger cohesive team.

Motive for Submission

The motive for submission to one another should always be the fear of God. Submission should be driven by our respect for Jesus Christ, and our fear of disappointing Jesus Christ. It is a fear compatible with love.

Submission does not mean inferiority, but rather it is an acknowledgement that the Christian family has a role to obey and glorify God. Therefore where we glorify God the individual is not more important than the cohesion of the team or the unit. Submission is encouraged for the smooth cohesion and coordination of the team for the glorification of God.

Headship

Headship has to do with authority and the appropriate responsibility to lead and also be accountable. As Jesus leads the church with authority, while also being accountable to God, so the husband has to be accountable to Christ for how he leads his family. The relationship of the husband and the wife is modeled on the union between Jesus Christ and the church. The family unit is therefore to be respected for it has far deeper implications in the plan of God.

As Christ nourishes and cherishes the church, so should the husband nourish and cherish his wife. The protection and provision of the wife is the responsibility of the husband.

Sacrificial Love

Paul makes it clear that the family setup is a place of sacrificial love (agape). This is a love that is always giving without expecting anything in return; a love that loves even when it is rejected; a love that is never-ending. This is the love that grows families into Christian maturity, and a love that models after Jesus Christ’s love for the church.

Children In the Family Unit

Children are the blessings that God has given to families. Children strengthen the Christian family unit when they are obedient to their parents. It is therefore important that the children are raised to fear the Lord and not to dishonor the family name. Parents have this responsibility to ensure the faith is taught in the home.

Conclusion

Paul makes it clear that the home should be bound by love and members should be united, as the unity of the home points to the unity of the church as well as the submission of the church itself to Jesus Christ. The unity can be realized when we understand that our different roles do not make one inferior but it makes the unit cohesive and it is in the plan and wisdom of God. Let us therefore play our part in raising strong, united families that fear God.

SUNDAY 27 OCT: “Great Peacemakers”

(1Samuel 25:1-39; Matthew 5:9; James 3:18)

Introduction

In a world of war and strife, we see that the world needs great peacemakers who want to see God’s Kingdom a reality in communities and the world.

We began this week looking at a devotion on Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the Peacemakers” and have journeyed with the theme of peacemakers in “God’s Word of Peace”, “Seeking Peace”, “Prince of Peace” and “Sowing Peace”.

The Bible is full of great examples of peacemakers. Today we take time to reflect on “Great Peacemakers” in 1 Samuel 25:1-39, namely Samuel, David, The Servants and Abigail and see what we can learn from them, so that we can be great peacemakers in our communities.

1.2. Background to 1 Samuel 25:1-39

This is the period where David has been anointed king, but Saul is on the throne. Samuel, the great peacemaker, prophet and judge over Israel, dies. It is at this time that David arose, as God continues God’s work in David in a remarkable way that sees Samuel’s heritage live on.

This places David in danger from Saul, so David puts some distance between himself and Saul. David camps in the region of Carmel. There, David and his men have a good influence in the area. Their presence repels poachers and criminals and Nabal and other farmers in the area would have felt the benefit of their presence and protection of their flocks when raids were common.

David and his men are near the farm of a man named Nabal (which means “fool”). Nabal is wealthy in what he has, being thousands of goats and sheep. It’s interesting that the passage mentions that Nabal is Calebite.

It is ironic for two reasons:
1. Nabal isn’t loyal and faithful like Caleb the spy who went into the promised land with Joshua.
2. It means that Nabal is also from the tribe of Judah like David, but he rejects his tribesman.

David’s Request, Nabal’s Insult and David’s Fury

At shearing time David approaches Nabal with a request. “Please share some of your abundance with us”, which is a reasonable request for what David had done so far:

Firstly – Because Nabal has benefited from David’s presence, protection and humility; David calls his group Nabal’s servants and he calls himself Nabal’s son.

Secondly – Because in those times hospitality was prized and respected and it was considered an honour to be a host.

Nabal’s response is a direct insult to David and is terrifying in its ignorance and arrogance.

David is furious – a moment we have all no doubt found ourselves in and thoughts of peace-making have gone out the window.

David does not show Nabal the same kindness and longsuffering that he showed to Saul. In just the previous chapter, David spared Saul’s life when Saul not only insulted David but also actually attacked him and tried to kill him.

David decides that Nabal must pay with his life and that of his family and servants, not one of the finest moments in David’s life.

The Servant Peacemakers

Thankfully the servants are wise.
They realise the danger.
They also realise that Nabal won’t listen.
They go to Abigail.

It is clear they have a good relationship with her and that she trusts them and they her.

They speak so well of David and his men and they recognise the enormity of Nabal’s insult.

This is often true of great peacemakers. Even when they don’t have power – they can have influence. It’s all about relationships and connections.

Abigail the Peacemaker

There are many things we can learn from Abigail as a great peacemaker.

1. She acts quickly and generously – when there is great insult, a great apology should be made. Ironically, after all that she gives David, Nabal still feasts like a king – so there was always more than enough.
2. She acts humbly – she bows before David and apologises profusely, backing her words with actions.
3. She speaks wisely – she acknowledges Nabal’s foolishness and she acknowledges David’s men.
4. She sees the bigger picture – she knows that David has many enemies and that he is fighting for his life.
5. She also recognises that David is furious and gently but firmly warns David against vengeful bloodshed. Look at the wisdom of her words: “And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal.” (1 Samuel 25:26).
6. Then a bit later on she repeats the same idea: “When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself.” (1 Samuel 25:30-31).
7. She realises that David’s anger is a bit like “the straw that broke the camel’s back” and so she adds the line “may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal.” What she is doing here is underlining the principle that “vengeance is the Lord’s” and her words are prophetic, because Nabal will collapse and die the very next day (1 Samuel 25:38).
8. She speaks blessing and hope over David, basically calling David to be the best version of himself. She recognises that Saul is pursuing him and uses the image of a sling to remind David of his victory over Goliath. Look at her wise words: “Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling.“ (1 Samuel 25:29).

David’s Instant Response.

This simple gesture from a farmer’s wife stops David in his tracks. David immediately realises that he was out of control and thanks God for sending Abigail. Again, we see that David is a great peacemaker at heart.

Conclusion

We’ve acknowledged various great peacemakers in this passage

Samuel who kept peace by Spiritual Leadership and Influence

David who kept peace by being honourable (sparing Saul’s life twice) and by distancing himself.
And was quick to realise he was out of control.

The Servants who used their insight and influence to good effect

Abigail who shows amazing peace-making skills.

We, likewise are called to be great peacemakers.

In a world where people are furious, divided, hurting and stressed.

In Matthew 5:9, Jesus says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

In James 3:18, James says: “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

May we be great peacemakers so that we can be Stronger Together.