Missions - Robert Morrison Project

For more information on the this outreach, click here.

The year 1807 was a major milestone in the history of the church. On September 4, 1807, the Rev. Robert Morrison set foot on Chinese soil and became the first Protestant missionary to China. Serving under the London Missionary Society, Morrison labored tirelessly for 27 years to acquire the Chinese language, proclaim the faith, and translate the Scriptures for the first time. The early years were filled with untold hardship and toil. Yet from that humble beginning, by God’s grace, over the past 200 years, the church in China has grown from zero to millions today.

On the 200th anniversary of Robert Morrison’s entry into China another major milestone in Chinese church history is occurring. Over the last eight to ten years it has become possible to legally publish some genres of Christian literature. The door for publishing in China is not completely open. However, more and more literature is slowly becoming legally available.

Needless to say, this is a remarkable turn of events. Starting from just a handful of titles eight years ago, today approximately 600 Christian titles are in legal circulation. For many titles, sales figures are still quite low and have minimal impact within the Chinese church. Some believers have almost no Christian literature beyond a Bible. In many ways, it is fair to say that Christian publishing in China is still a blank slate with almost nothing written on it.

The good news is that reformed publishers can play a vital role in addressing this publishing vacuum. Reformed publishers have a unique set of circumstances that strongly favor the wide dissemination of their literature. The most significant circumstance is that the genres of literature that the Chinese government is allowing to be published are the same genres that reformed publishers have been focusing on for the past 50 years. In recent years the government censors have been allowing biographies, old literature by major historical figures (Calvin, Luther, etc.), and anything dealing with marriage and the family to be published. Providentially, over the last several decades reformed publishers in the West have been focusing on this same kind of literature.

The chief objective of the Robert Morrison Project is to begin to lay the foundation for the long-term, legal presence of quality reformed literature in China and beyond. On an annual or semi-annual basis the Board of Directors of the Project will select a number of titles that reflect the Puritan and Reformed tradition (as defined by confessions such as the 1689 London Baptist Confession and the Westminster Confession of Faith). Grants will then be given to various Christian publishing companies in China/Asia to legally publish these titles. The Project has no aspirations of establishing a company of its own but rather seeks to partner with existing ones to facilitate the publication of reformed literature. Our long-term goal is the establishment of financially independent, self-governing reformed publishing companies in Asia and will focus on regions where literature needs are greatest.

Will you consider partnering with us on this project by making a financial donation? Publishing these titles will begin to fill the publishing vacuum in China and help satisfy the church’s hunger for God-glorifying literature.

Soli Deo Gloria,

The Robert Morrison Project

Day 319

XVII The Ministries of Paul and Peter ~ cont.

D. Paul's first missionary journey (with Barnabas) ~ cont.

2. Antioch (Pisidia) to Derbe - Acts 13:14-51; 14:1-20

3. The return trip - Acts 14:21-25

4. At Antioch (Syria) - Acts 14:26-28

5. Attends council at Jerusalem - Acts 15:1-12; Galatians 2:7-10; Acts 15:13-35; Galatians 2:11-14

6. Gospel of Mark written

The word Sabbath, synagogue and first day caught my attention as I read through this passage and the days following.  Sabbath is used 60x in the NT - primary usage is in the gospels.  9 occurrences in Acts and 1 in Colossians.


I have not done an in-depth study yet on the difference between Sabbath and the first day of the week worship.  I know people in both camps that hold to either position.


This made me curious as to why we call the days of the week something other than how they are presented in Scripture.  :-)  An interesting google search on where and how the days of the week got their names.  A very brief overview:


Sunday - Sun's day;
Monday- Moon's day;
Tuesday - Tyr's day.  Tyr was the Norse god of combat;
Wednesday - Woden or Odin's day, the father of the Gods;
Thursday - Thor's day, Thor was the Germanic and Norse god of thunder;
Friday - Frigg's day, the Norse goddess of beauty Frigg;
Saturday - Saturn's day, worship of Saturn.


Synagogue is mentioned 45x - and first day is recorded in 12 verses.  I found it thought provoking that the apostles went into the synagogues on the Sabbath to preach about Jesus.  Paul reasoned 3 Sabbath days about the faith.


The references to first day are when the women were at the sepulchre, Jesus appeared to the apostles, Paul preached, saints encouraged to lay up (offerings?).


According to Scripture a day begins and ends at dusk (approximately 6 p.m.), our 1st day (or Sunday) would start on the 7th day (Saturday).  Passages about Jesus (John 20:19) and Paul (Acts 20:7) state evening or a time of breaking bread.  This makes me wonder if they meant the 7th day evening (1st day) or actually the 1st day's evening (which would be the 2nd day).  Quite perplexing.


I will be ruminating over this passage - Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.  As it appears that the apostles were meeting together regularly on the Sabbath to preach and teach.  I am sure they were preaching and teaching on the other days, as situations and circumstances allowed, but it would appear that a gathering of the people corporately continued to be primarily on the Sabbath.  Much prayer and diligent searching to be made on this topic.  Praying that Father will clarify to me what HE desires.


The passage, "Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on."


Which put me in mind of this passage:  1Co 14:26  How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 


I don't know of many fellowships in which all the men are able to give forth the Word.  This is a sad indicator of how anemic the Bride of Christ has become.  Very sad.  All men ought to be able to give forth a morsel of the Word to those with whom they are fellowshipping.


The worship service started with a presentation of the law and the prophets.  Fascinating thought - how can someone truly understand who Jesus is, why he came, and what he accomplished if their is a disconnect between the preaching/teaching of the OT with the New?  Paul's discourse (similar to Stephen's) in Acts 13:19-41 (coupled with the previous presentation of the law and prophets) is an awesome 'sermon.'


I liked that the Gentiles were already there...listening and hearing - Father's preparation for them as Paul begins to minister.  I also noted they were meeting on the Sabbath day and besought Paul to return the next Sabbath day to share.


"When the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy..." (Acts 13:45a)  Jealous, vengeful, destructive.  Looking at #'s rather than God.  Is that happening in our day?  Where someone is more focused on how many people are 'hearing' and 'following' them versus whether or not the TRUTH is being rightly divided and presented?


More later....

Day 318

XVII The Ministries of Paul and Peter ~ cont.

B. Book of James (brother of Jesus) ~ cont.

3. Evils that cripple true faith - James 4:1-17; 5:1-20
C. Other event preceding missionary journeys
1. Peter imprisoned and delivered - Acts 12:3-19
2. Death of Herod - Acts 12:20-23
D. Paul's first missionary journey (with Barnabas)
1. Cyprus to Perga where Mark leaves - Acts 12:24-25; 13:1-13


Peter, in prison, again!  If my count is correct, this would be his third trip - he's managed (by God's provision) to get out each time.


I sometimes marvel at the industriousness of those who oppose the gospel and against those who proclaim it.  After being thwarted time and again, one would think that the enemy would disengage.  Or is he truly being thwarted?  Have we (or are we) as the Bride of Christ, really giving any true resistance?  Or are we simply 'playing' at being the church?  How much do we really care to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel?


Who much different from the world does the Bride of Christ look?  Can anyone tell a difference?


Herod imprisons Peter - And when he (Herod) had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Passover to bring him forth to the people.  (Acts 12:4)


apprehended - G4048 - Probably another form of G971; to squeeze, that is, seize (gently by the hand [press], or officially [arrest], or in hunting [capture]).


quaternions - G5069 - Neuter of a presumed derivative of τέτρας tetras (a tetrad; from G5064); a quaternion or squad (picket) of four Roman soldiers.


Soooo (perplexedly computing) - a quaternion is 4 soldiers and 4 of this set = 16 soldiers.  Quite a few fellows.  Ahhh...Gill settled the question for me.  :-) 16 men to guard one.  Quite a lot for 1 fellow.  I'd be slightly overwhelmed by 16 burly (I am assuming they didn't pick wimps) men.


Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.  (Acts 12:5)


I like that - prayer without ceasing - reminds me of the passage instructing the Bride to pray without ceasing.  (1 Thessalonian 5:17)


prayer - G4335 - From G4336; prayer (worship); by implication an oratory (chapel).


without ceasing - G1618 - From G1614; intent: - without ceasing, fervent.


And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. (Acts 12:6)


sleeping - G2837 - From G2749; to put to sleep, that is, (passively or reflexively) to slumber; figuratively to decease.


keepers - G5441 - From G5442; a watcher or sentry.


kept - G5083 - From τηρός teros (a watch; perhaps akin to G2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from G5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from G2892, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), that is, to note (a prophecy; figuratively to fulfil a command); by implication to detain (in custody; figuratively to maintain); by extension to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively to keep unmarried).  [Note: This is the same word used in verse 5.]


I liked Gill's commentary on verse 6 - (I like Gill's commentaries in general :) ) - the same night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers; fearless of death, being in a good cause, and having nothing to ruffle and disturb his mind; and though he was in a prison, and in such company, God gave him, his beloved, sleep.


Regarding the chained issue - bound with two chains; one on one hand, and one on the other, each of which were fastened to the soldiers; that on his right hand was fastened to the left hand of the soldier, that was on that side; and that on his left hand to the right hand of the soldier, on the other side him; such security was made, that he might not get away from them; to which is added.


I am trying to figure out - 16 soldiers initially - were these the ones chained to him?  Or were they the keepers of the door?


Herod determined he was NOT going to lose this prisoner!  What an encouragement from our brother Peter - in prison, destined for apparent death, yet resting in the Lord, HIS provision and protection enough to sleep - and quite heartily it would appear.


And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell of from his hands. (Acts 12:7)


Slumbering well enough NOT to notice a bright light in what was obviously a very dark place and had to be smitten to be awakened.  O Lord, help us Your people to rest so fervently in You regardless of the trials, tribulations, tests and bondages which You allow.  Help the Bride to pray for those who are bound for the sake of the gospel, to give diligence to intercede for Your chosen people.


Peter is out - seeking his spiritual family - I found it interesting that the damsel who answers the gate - her name is recorded.  Rhoda = rose.  Would we be worthy of having our name recorded if Scripture were still being written?  Something so simple as answering a knock on a garden gate and Father deemed it noteworthy to acknowledge her name.  Simply amazing.  Thanks be to Him who has ensured that our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life!


I used to think the ending verse to this passage was unfair.  Yet, Father is not unfair.  He completely organizes events and circumstances to bring out HIS divine will and plan.  Knowing when each man will pass from this temporal plane to the eternal state.  Some to everlasting life, others to eternal torment.  Do you know your final destination?


And when Herod had sought for him (Peter), and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. (Acts 12:19a)


Herod departs to Caesarea - and until recently I never made the connection of this verse:


"...and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost."  (Acts 12:23) - I had always wondered how Herod could be eaten of worms and then give up the ghost.  Isn't that backwards?


Within the last year or so, I have studied and researched how people can have internal parasites - oh YUCK!  internal worms - quite appalling!  But that makes sense, Herod, could have had intestinal worms or some other type of internal worm infestation which caused him to expire.  All obviously by the divine direction of God.


Gill, Henry and Poole all concur - he was eaten of worms prior to his demise.  I will quote Poole on this one, "He was eaten of worms; either breeding in his bowels, or in his flesh, after a more unusual manner; as it is recorded of Herod the Great, that he was eaten up of lice.  No creature so little or contemptible, but it can execute God's judgments on whom HE please."


Reminds me of the verse:  Luke 11:39  And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.


There are many within the visible church which give the appearance of being righteous, moral, reformed, upright, say the 'right' words, do the 'right' things, etc. etc., but it is all an outward show.  Then there are the 'churches' which say they are churches, but are of the synagogue of satan, pretending to 'preach' the gospel, but in reality full of dead men's bones.   Acquiescing to the culture and making 'church' fun, seeker friendly, not giving out the medicine of the Word.  Lord, help us as the day of Your return draws ever nearer to be cleansed and made holy, meet for Your use, desiring to give a proper estimate of You in all that we say do and think.  God preserve us from being full of worms, eaten from the inside out with the ways of the world.  Give us a heart to hear, see, read, study and know You and Your Word with a growing intimacy which brings health and life.