For a successful mission For a successful mission towards Jewstowards Jews

2013 Urban Mission2013 Urban MissionNew YorkNew York

Dr. Richard EloferDr. Richard Elofer

The gospel must be a The gospel must be a “Good News” for the “Good News” for the people we want to reachpeople we want to reach

If for you the Jews have been rejected and replaced If for you the Jews have been rejected and replaced by the Church in 34 ADby the Church in 34 AD

If you think that the Jews have been cursed If you think that the Jews have been cursed because they have rejected Jesusbecause they have rejected Jesus

If you think that the whole history of the If you think that the whole history of the Jewish people was only a story of failureJewish people was only a story of failure

If you have any of these ideas, don’t try to speak with If you have any of these ideas, don’t try to speak with Jews because you will not be able to present them the Jews because you will not be able to present them the

gospel as a “good news”.gospel as a “good news”.

Paul’s UnderstandingPaul’s Understanding

Romains 11:1-2 Romains 11:1-2 “I ask, then, has “I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no God rejected his people? By no means! … God has not rejected his means! … God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.”people whom he foreknew.”

Romans 11: 28-29 Romans 11: 28-29 “As regards the “As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”!”calling of God are irrevocable.”!”

Specific Adventist MissionSpecific Adventist Mission

Isaiah 40:3-5Isaiah 40:3-5 as the precursor of the as the precursor of the MessiahMessiah

His mission starts in verses 1 and 2 “Comfort, comfort my people says your God”

Specific Adventist MissionSpecific Adventist MissionMalachi 4:5-6Malachi 4:5-6 as Elijah at the end of time as Elijah at the end of time our role is our role is ““to turn the hearts of the fathers to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the to their children and the hearts of the children to their fatherschildren to their fathers””

Spiritual fathers are “Israel”

Spiritual children are the “Church”

The role of the SDA church as Elijah is to work for reconciliation between the “fathers” (Israel) and the “children” (the church)

E. G. WhiteE. G. White’’s propheciess propheciesMany Will Accept Christ Many Will Accept Christ

““When this gospel shall be When this gospel shall be presented in its fullness to the presented in its fullness to the Jews, many will accept Christ as Jews, many will accept Christ as the Messiah.” AA 380.the Messiah.” AA 380.

Approach method of JesusApproach method of Jesus

““Christ drew the hearts of His hearers to him by Christ drew the hearts of His hearers to him by the manifestation of His lovethe manifestation of His love, and then, little by , and then, little by little, as they were able to bear it, he unfolded to little, as they were able to bear it, he unfolded to them the great truths of the kingdom. them the great truths of the kingdom. We also We also must learn to adapt our labors to the condition must learn to adapt our labors to the condition of the peopleof the people,—to meet men where they are. ,—to meet men where they are. While the claims of the law of God are to be While the claims of the law of God are to be presented to the world, presented to the world, we should never forget we should never forget that love, the love of Christ, is the only power that love, the love of Christ, is the only power that can soften the heart, and lead to obedience. that can soften the heart, and lead to obedience.

Approach method of JesusApproach method of Jesus

Have you made a careful study of what I have Have you made a careful study of what I have written about the Jews? The gospel must be written about the Jews? The gospel must be preached to the Jews today. The appeals that preached to the Jews today. The appeals that were made to them by the apostles, will have were made to them by the apostles, will have great weight now. great weight now. This bookThis book should be of should be of value to the Jews, and to those who are value to the Jews, and to those who are working for the Jews, and also to those who working for the Jews, and also to those who ought to be working for the Jews. Take pains ought to be working for the Jews. Take pains to gather carefully what I have written about to gather carefully what I have written about Paul's work in appealing to the Jews.Paul's work in appealing to the Jews. ((GCB The GCB The General Conference Bulletin (June 1, 1913) PR61)General Conference Bulletin (June 1, 1913) PR61)

Approach method of PaulApproach method of Paul

““Thus the apostle Paul describes His manner of Thus the apostle Paul describes His manner of labor. labor. He did not approach the Jews in a way to He did not approach the Jews in a way to stir up their prejudicestir up their prejudice. . He did not run the risk He did not run the risk of making them His enemies of making them His enemies by telling them in by telling them in His first effort that they must believe on Jesus of His first effort that they must believe on Jesus of Nazareth; but he dwelt on the promises of the Old Nazareth; but he dwelt on the promises of the Old Testament Scriptures, which testified of Christ, of Testament Scriptures, which testified of Christ, of His mission, and of His work. …/…His mission, and of His work. …/…

Approach method of PaulApproach method of Paul

Thus he led them along step by step, showing them Thus he led them along step by step, showing them the importance of honoring the law of God. the importance of honoring the law of God. He He also gave due honor to the ceremonial lawalso gave due honor to the ceremonial law, , showing that Christ was the one who instituted the showing that Christ was the one who instituted the whole system of sacrificial service. After dwelling whole system of sacrificial service. After dwelling upon these things, making it manifest that he had upon these things, making it manifest that he had a clear understanding of them himself, he brought a clear understanding of them himself, he brought them down to the first advent of Christ, and them down to the first advent of Christ, and proved that in the crucified Jesus every proved that in the crucified Jesus every specification of the prophecies had been specification of the prophecies had been fulfilled.fulfilled. This was the wisdom that Paul exercised. This was the wisdom that Paul exercised. ””Review & Herald, November 25, 1890 § 2Review & Herald, November 25, 1890 § 2

For a successful For a successful MissionMission

1. Catch a correct 1. Catch a correct vision of Jewish history vision of Jewish history and of the Jewish and of the Jewish responsibility for the responsibility for the death of Jesus. death of Jesus.

2. Be aware 2. Be aware of the of the importance importance of the State of the State of Israel.of Israel.

For a successful MissionFor a successful Mission

3. Be aware of 3. Be aware of Anti-Semitic speechAnti-Semitic speech- You, the Jews- You, the Jews……- This Jew- This Jew……- You look like a Jew- You look like a Jew……- You don- You don’’t look like a Jewt look like a Jew……

For a successful MissionFor a successful Mission

4. Avoid stereotypes like :4. Avoid stereotypes like :- - The Jews are richThe Jews are rich……- The Jews love money- The Jews love money……- The Jews are materialists- The Jews are materialists…… - The Jews dominate the world- The Jews dominate the world……- The Jews rule us- The Jews rule us……- Anti-Semites will speak about - Anti-Semites will speak about a Jewish conspiracy. a Jewish conspiracy.

For a successful MissionFor a successful Mission

5. Consider your theological approach 5. Consider your theological approach carefully.carefully.

6. Use appropriate language and 6. Use appropriate language and vocabulary.vocabulary.

7. Use our publications7. Use our publications Magazine Magazine ““Shabbatadventure.comShabbatadventure.com””, , Bible Study “Shema Israel”Bible Study “Shema Israel” Books: Israel and the Church …Books: Israel and the Church … Radio: ShemaIsraelRadio.comRadio: ShemaIsraelRadio.com

For a successful MissionFor a successful Mission

8. know and love 8. know and love your Jewish friendsyour Jewish friends

9. Act tactfully 9. Act tactfully and be friendlyand be friendly

What to do and What to do and What not to doWhat not to do

What you must What you must notnot do do

““ConvertConvert”” a Jew to Christianity a Jew to Christianity

““SaveSave”” your your ““lostlost”” friend friend

““TeachTeach”” your Jewish friend about religion your Jewish friend about religion

What you What you mustmust do do

• Be a genuine friend to your Jewish Be a genuine friend to your Jewish neighbour neighbour

- honest- honest- sincere- sincere- polite- polite- courteous - courteous - pleasant, kind- pleasant, kind- never intrude on his/her private life- never intrude on his/her private life

What you must doWhat you must do

•• Learn his/her interest, Learn his/her interest, needs and concernsneeds and concerns

•• When appropriate, When appropriate, share your experience share your experience with Yeshua haMashiah.with Yeshua haMashiah.