Sheep Among Wolves

[This is Chapter 10 of Disciple Maker: Fulfill Your Destiny in the Disciple-Making Movement Launched by Jesus Christ, by Phil Bickel (© 2020). Free download at www.philbickel.com/store.]

Christians in the West may wonder: Is the success of Discovery Bible Study due perhaps to less opposition to the message of Jesus in the far off places where it is used?  Good question!  Consider these historical developments —

The Bhojpuri of India

The low-caste Bhojpuri people live in northern India, east of Delhi and south of Nepal.  Almost two centuries of Christian missionary effort in this region dominated by Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam had resulted in only 10 thousand Christians among the nearly 100 million Bhojpuri.  That’s only 0.0001%.  No wonder it was called “the graveyard of missions.”  

North African Rebels

One of the most astounding descriptions of a Discovery Bible group comes from North Africa.  Thirty men dressed in desert camouflage lay down their automatic rifles in the evening to read the words of Jesus Christ.  They are a band of so-called “freedom fighters,” whom the local people know as dangerous thugs who impose their will on the surrounding villages.  The rebel leader reads the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5:38-42:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person.  But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.” (NKJV)

For an hour, the thirty men discuss the words of Jesus that are radically opposed to their own traditions.  As soldiers, they wrestle with the fact that if these are indeed the words of God, then they must begin to follow His orders.  Many of them including the leader, weep over their highway robberies and other crimes performed under the guise of fighting for independence.

Sheep Among Wolves

Jesus showed us His method for making disciples when he sent out the 12 apostles (Matt. 10) and later on sent out 72 disciples (Luke 10).  His instructions included these words: “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves.  So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.” (Mat. 10:16 NLT).  He meant that every place is a battleground where Satan opposes the advancement of God’s kingdom.  Here’s an interesting quiz:

• Today which nation’s government is most committed to wiping Christians and Jews off the face of the earth?  Isn’t it the Islamic Republic of Iran?
• Today in which country do we find the fastest growing number of new disciples?  Also Iran!

The story of the disciple making movement which is quietly turning Iran upside-down is told in this video, “Sheep among Wolves.”  Yes, it’s a 2-hour video, and you’re short on time.  But, Christ is returning, and we don’t have much time.  Let’s learn DBS and DMM from our persecuted Iranian brothers and sisters in Christ, so that we also may be as shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves.

The Closest Battleground

Every place is a battleground where Satan always opposes the making of disciples.  The examples above show that God can win on any battleground.  But perhaps your battleground is much smaller and nearer — and it seems overwhelming.  I’m talking about the battleground of your own family.  I know your pain.  My family is under spiritual attack too.

In fact, family was the initial battleground as Satan attacked Adam and Eve, then Cain and Abel, and then Joseph and his ten envious brothers.  Since Satan attacks every family, can Discovery Bible Study bring victory in the battleground of our families?  That is the topic of my next post: DBS in Your Home.