“REACHING PEOPLE CROSS-CULTURALLY”

Egyptian Women at the Community Training Center

Scripture(s):
(Matthew 28:19-20) [NASB] “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 




(Acts 1:8) [NASB] “... you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” & (John 4:1-26)

Open: 

What type of group of people make you most uncomfortable? Xenophobia is defined as an intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries or of people who are different than you are. Would you consider yourself as xenophobic? Be honest!

Personal comments: 

As you may already know, Gayla and I spent ten days in a part of the world that we had never been before. We were put in situations where all our prejudices and biases would be put to the test.
     

We visited several orphanages: a boys, one for disabled kids and finally an all girls one. We also got to visit a Community Training Center that is a Buckner International supported ministry. This was an awesome experience. However, I was put to the test. I was in an unfamiliar place, looking into the eyes of people who spoke an unfamiliar language and who the majority of worshipped an unfamiliar deity.
     

The food was different. I’m sure you heard already that I spent a day and a half in bed with terrible diarrhea due to a “wonderful” dish, according to the locals, that I ate.
     

The sounds were different and the smells were definitely different.
     

Yet, in the midst of all the differences in Egypt, Israel and Palestine, I found myself strangely comfortable with these people who looked so much like me. There were even times when I would hear a word that I recognized and sounded like Spanish to me. You see, there are a couple of thousand Spanish words that are the exact word in Arabic and another several thousand Spanish words that have Arabic roots. No wonder I felt comfortable. In fact the day I started feeling a little better we were ordering lunch and I asked the waiter if they could make me a cheese sandwich. I had a grilled cheese in mind thinking my selection would not upset my stomach. As the waiter approached the table another Hispanic pastor from Texas and I started laughing as we looked at my plate. Simultaneously we both said, “Quesadilla.”
     

Oddly enough, as we were a world apart from what we know as familiar, we found ourselves understanding, connecting and relating to these people better as we learned about their culture, their history and their religion. Our bridge to sharing the gospel with our Muslim friends through this priceless experience has now been shortened.

Back ground comments: 

In John 4 when Jesus approached the Samaritan woman there was a lot at stake for Him. You see no Jewish man would ever have anything to do with a woman in public who was not his wife and especially a sinful Samaritan woman.
     

Instead of avoiding Samaria as Jews often did, Jesus intentionally passed through this area that Jews considered inhabited by spiritual and ethnic mestizos (half-breeds). Not only that, but Jesus stopped to talk to a woman of questionable reputation.
     

This woman tried to distract the real issue by trying to take Jesus off track. She wanted to discuss her culture, she wanted to discuss her history and she wanted to discuss religion. Yet, Jesus in His all knowing wisdom redirected her to the real issue. Her need for “living water”. You see, we need to learn from the Master. Don’t be afraid of people who are from other countries or are different than you. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all the nations!” Are you?

Explore:
How would you translate the word Samaritan in Acts 1:8 and the verse into your own contemporary paraphrase? Write it down.

Get it:
How would you describe the Samaritan woman’s response for most of her conversation with Jesus? What most convinced her to believe that the man she was talking to was the Messiah? What convinced you?

Apply:
Jesus overcame social and cultural differences to reach this woman. How can you overcome those same barriers? Would you take a moment and pray that Jesus Christ the Savior of the world be made known to all nations?

It speaks for itself!