Let the Nations Be Glad! Study Guide to the DVD

John Piper

• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9780801036422
• eBook ISBN: 9781441235060
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Ministry

This new study guide complements the Let the Nations Be Glad! DVD, further increasing comprehension of the book's themes. The eight lessons in the study guide correspond to the DVD's presentation topics. This resource is ideal for church and small group studies.

Lesson 1

Introduction to
Let the Nations Be Glad!

Lesson Objectives

It is our prayer that after you have finished this lesson…

•  You will hear how others in your group approach the subject of missions.

•  Your curiosity will be aroused and questions will come to mind.

•  The Lord will begin to enlarge your heart for greater capacities of joy because of his desires for all peoples.

About Yourself

1. What is your name?

2. Tell the group something about yourself that they probably don’t already know.

3. Briefly explain why you are participating in this study.

A Preview of Let the Nations Be Glad!

1. Tell the group what you know about missions. What do Christians mean when they say “missions”? Is missions foreign, domestic, or both? Must it be cross-cultural? How does missions relate to other important tasks like evangelism, church-planting, and Bible translation?

2. Do you believe the Bible is concerned with missions? If so, why is it? Do you believe the Bible speaks extensively about missions or is it just limited to particular New Testament texts? If possible, use Scripture to support your answer.

A Companion Study to
Let the Nations Be Glad!
DVD, Session 1

Lesson 2

Defining Missions and Defining Peoples

Lesson Objectives

It is our prayer that after you have finished this lesson…

• You will have a better grasp on what biblical missions is.

• You will have a better grasp on defining peoples and nations.

• Your heart will begin to see the depth of God’s concern for the nations.

Before You Watch the DVD, Study and Prepare

Day 1—Defining Missions

Before beginning this study, we will do well to clarify certain common terms. Many arguments and debates would be settled more quickly if each party involved in the discussion were to clearly define their terms. This particular discussion on missions is no exception.

Question 1: Write down in your own words a clear definition of “missions” using biblical texts as your support.

Question 2: Interact with the following statement: “All Christians are missionaries.” Is this true or false? Should we make distinctions between foreign or cross-cultural missions and domestic ministry? Explain your answer and, if possible, incorporate biblical passages.

Day 2—Defining Peoples

Even after defining “missions” and the differences between frontier work and domestic evangelism, more clarifications must be made in regard to what qualifies as frontier missions. Is it geographical, ethnic, political, or linguistic? It is important that we derive our definitions from the Bible and not impose our own notions on it.

Look at Matthew 24:14; Revelation 5:9; and Genesis 12:2–3.

Matthew 24:14

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Revelation 5:9

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Genesis 12:2–3

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Question 3: What do you think each of these passages means by “nations” or “families of the earth”? How do these texts help to illuminate each other?

What we have found, in fact, is that a precise definition is probably not possible to give on the basis of what God has chosen to reveal in the Bible. God probably did not intend for us to use a precise definition of people groups. That way we can never stop doing pioneer missionary work just because we conclude that all the groups with our definition have been reached.

For example, the point of Matthew 24:14…is not that we should reach all the nations as we understand them and then stop. The point rather is that as long as the Lord has not returned, there must be more people groups to reach, and we should keep on reaching them.1

The hope at this point is that you begin to feel the difficulty in precisely defining the parameters of a people group. The Bible has not given us these clear-cut distinctions.

Missiologists often distinguish between “reached” people groups and “unreached” people groups. Moreover, the same could be said concerning “unreached” and “reached” people groups.

Question 4: What do you think is meant by these two classifications? How would you determine if a people group has been “reached”?

There is a difficulty with defining the specific task of missions as planting an indigenous church in every people group. The difficulty is that our biblical definition of people groups may be so small and so closely related to another group that such a church would be unnecessary. How large was the family or clan of Carmi in the tribe of Reuben, or the family of Achan in the tribe of Judah? And are we sure that the families in Genesis 12:3 are so distinct that each must have its own church? When Paul said that his special missionary work was completed from Jerusalem to Illyricum, had he in fact planted a church in every family or clan? 2

These questions show that there will always be some ambiguity in the definition of “reached” and in the aim of missionary work.

Day 3—Our Suffering and Our Song

Jesus promises a hard life for those who believe in him and follow him. But the Bible also gives promises of everlasting life and joy in the Lord.

Examine John 12:24–25; Matthew 16:24–25; Proverbs 4:18; and Psalm 96:1.

John 12:24–25

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Matthew 16:24–25

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If an...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Introduction to This Study Guide
• Lesson 1 Introduction to Let the Nations Be Glad!
• Lesson 2 Defining Missions and Defining Peoples
• Lesson 3 The Urgency of Missions: The Reality of Hell and the Work of Christ
• Lesson 4 The Urgency of Missions: Preaching, Hearing, and Believing
• Lesson 5 The Goal and the Fuel of Missions
• Lesson 6 Prayer: The Power of Missions
• Lesson 7 Suffering: The Cost of Missions
• Lesson 8 Review and Conclusion
• Leader’s Guide
• Appendix: Leading Productive Discussions