Growing up in a small community in the U.S, I assumed my world was the world. Everyone looked like me and talked like me; English with a Southern draw! Everyone I knew was a “Christian” and almost everyone went to church most Sundays. I didn’t know a world existed beyond “my world.”  This led me to assume that everyone had a church they could attend and worship with other believers. I assumed everyone could read the Bible in their own language. 

I have found that many make assumptions like me. They assume that their experiences are universal. They assume that every person has access to the gospel. This is simply not the case!  There are still over 7,000 people groups that are beyond access to the gospel. They cannot hear about Jesus because there is no one there to tell them! 

Previously, we have shared three of Rick’s videos to look at the distinction between people and peoples, lostness and access and evangelism and missions.  In today’s toolbox, we are sharing another video to help you understand the distinction between “reached” and “unreached”. Watch the video and discuss the questions with a small group of others.

Discussion Questions (Download in PDF format here)

1. How would you describe what it means for a people group to have a “viable” church?
   
2. How would you describe what it means for a people group to have an “indigenious” church?
   
3. Why do you think nine out of 10 missionaries go to already reached people groups rather than unreached peoples?

4. Why do we keep sending people to peoples already reached with the gospel?

5. Visit https://peoplegroups.org/.  How can you use this website to help you and others grasp the unfinished task?

6. Visit https://www.joshuaproject.net/ and answer the following questions.

• How many people groups are in the world today?
  
• How many of these people groups are unreached?
  
• What is the total population living in unreached people groups (UPG’s)?
  
• Who is the UPG of the day?
  

Research the following countries:

• What are two reached people groups in Laos?

• What resources are available through the Joshua Project website to mobilize others for missions prayer and involvement?
  

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