Revelation 7:9

How Jesus Prayed

John 17:21-23 V21 “that all of them may be one. Father,

just as you are in me and I am in you….

V22 “I have given them the glory that you have me, that they may be one as we are one.

V23 “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that that you send me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Jesus prayed for one thing –

That Church, we would

“Be One”

“Complete Unity”

Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-19

Make Disciple

All Nation [People of every nation, tribe, people, tongue]

“WORSHIP AS ONE”

Rev 7:9-10

Acts 1:8

Cross-Cultural Ministry

in Bible

[Jews to Samaria?]

John 4:4-26 – Jesus → Samaritan Woman

Acts 8:10-12 – Philip in Samaria

Cross-Cultured Ministry was a great

success

Why Ethnicity being Mentioned?

Acts 8:26-27 Samaritans and Ethiopian

[The Holy Spirit is telling “Go preach Good News to all”

Acts 10:9-10, 14, 17, 28

Peter → Gentile Cornelius

Peter’s Conclusion V34-35

“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism

but accepts men(women) from every nation who fear Him and

do what is right.

Acts 11

V 17-18, 19

V 20 – The most significant

important moment in the entire NT

- The growth and development of

the Church begins.

JEWS AND GENTILES ALIKE

Cyprus – Mediterranean island

Cyrene – African Coast (Libya)

They chose not to return to their own land, but

Determined to speak to Gentiles.

THEN, What Happened? V21

“The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”

Three times in the next 6 verses read

“LARGE NUMBERS”

V21-26

V21 – A great number of people

V24 – A great of number of people

V26 – great number of people

So, what’s the results of this?

Jesus said “go and make disciples of all the nations.”

And this we can do right where you/we are, that is, by embracing all people in and through the local church.

The Church at Antioch

Acts 13:1-4

In the church at Antioch, there were people of varying ethnic and cultural backgrounds-converted Jews and gentiles alike.

<Diverse Leadership for a Diverse People>

Acts 13:1

In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.

In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers:

a. Simeon called “Niger” – He is from Niger(right next to Nigeria) West Africa

b. Lucius from “Cyrene” – Northern Africa (Libya)

c. Manaen – From Palestine (Herod)d. Barnabas – from Cyprus (Acts 4:32)e. Paul–Roman, City of Tarsus-Asia Minor

(Acts 9:11)

5 Leaders of Antioch Church

2 African

1 Mediterranean

1 Middle East

1 Asia Minor

WHY?

Because of Multi-Ethnic Congregation

Community Church

International (Corps) Church

What does society look like in light of the existing cultural diversities?

Table 1: Numerical Size and Share of the Foreign-Born Population in

the United States, 1970-2012

Population Demographics for California 2014 and 2015

Population by Races

Race Population % of Total

Total Population 37,253,956 100

White 21,453,934 57

Hispanic or Latino 14,013,719 37

Some Other Race 6,317,372 16

Asian 4,861,007 13

Black or African American 2,299,072 6

Two or More Races 1,815,384 4

American Indian 362,801 Below 1%

Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander 144,386 Below 1%

Three or more races 141,883 Below 1%

Native Hawaiian 21,423 Below 1%

Alaska Native tribes 2,329 Below 1%

What culture are you belong to?

Are you able to identify?

Are you ready to accept

and adopt?

The question should never have been,

“How fast can I grow a church?”

Rather, it should have been, as it should be now,

“How can I grow a church biblically?”

This is the fundamental question that pioneered of the

Multi-Ethnic church, sending off Missionaries…

ACTS 1:8

The Holy Spirit enables us when we are willing.

Evangelism in a Multicultural

Context involves a diverse set of

considerations.

OUR MISSION

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an

evangelical part of the universal Christian Church.

Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is

motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach

the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in

His name without discrimination.

Things to consider

• Roadblocks and Hindrances

• Cornerstones

• Methods

Roadblocks and hindrances

Fear rooted in misconceptions and tradition

A refusal to embrace change

Lack of commitment on the part of leaders

and soldiers

Language barriers

Breaking barriers to reach out

I Corinthians 9:19-23

Cornerstones

Prayer, Preparation & Patience (3P)

Vision of Leadership (Dream)

Achievable Goals – (Both short and Long

term)

Methods

Carefully crafted outreach events

Visitation

Meet and Greet

Door to Door

Corps Programs

Evangelistic efforts vs Relationship based effort

“After this I looked, and there before

me was a great multitude that no one

could count, from every nation, tribe,

people and language, standing before

the throne and before the Lamb…”

Revelation 7:9 NIV