With so many lost family members and friends around us, a common objection to sending our loved ones overseas is, “Why go overseas when there are so many lost people here?” This is one of the most common pushbacks we hear when those in the church have loved ones who want to go to reach people groups in far away places. How can we respond?

First, we should wholeheartedly agree that lost people matter to God and they should matter to us as well. We should care about all suffering and all needs but especially the eternal suffering of those who die without knowing Christ! 

So, with so many lost people around us, how can we help others understand why their loved ones would go to far away places? We need to help them understand the distinction between “lostness” and “access”. 

In our last toolbox, we shared Rick’s video to look at the distinction between people and peoples. In today’s toolbox, we are sharing one of Rick’s online videos to help you and others understand the distinction between “lostness” and “access”. Watch this video with a group of friends and have a discussion together using the discussion questions below.

Discussion Questions (Download in PDF format here)

1. Read Romans 15:17-19. What is so surprising about Paul’s statement, “So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.” (Rom. 15:19)?
   
2. What does it mean to be “beyond access to the gospel”?
   
3. Why do you think so many people are still beyond access to the gospel?
   
4. How should “access” to the gospel determine our priorities in sending missionaries?

5. How should the reality that there are people that still haven’t heard about Jesus impact us?
   
6. Are there people in your city without access because they don’t speak English? How could you share the gospel with them?

7. What missionaries do you know bringing access to people who previously had none?
   
8. Since your neighbor has access through you have you shared the gospel with your neighbor? How did it go? If not, how could you share the gospel with them?

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