Radical Love: Embracing God's Call and Forgiveness
Summary
Today’s focus is on the extraordinary power of God’s call, love, forgiveness, and redemption, as seen through the true story behind “End of the Spear.” The narrative of five missionaries who gave their lives to reach the Waodani tribe in Ecuador is not just a tale of sacrifice, but a living parable of what it means to follow Jesus with everything. These men, fully aware of the dangers, chose obedience over comfort, embodying the call to deny oneself, take up the cross, and follow Christ. Their willingness to risk everything challenges us to examine whether we are truly surrendered to God’s purposes, or if we are still clinging to our own comfort and control.
The story does not end with tragedy. The families of the slain missionaries, instead of retreating in bitterness, chose to forgive and move toward the very people who had taken their loved ones. Their forgiveness was not a one-time act, but a daily, embodied presence among the Waodani, serving, loving, and building trust. This radical forgiveness opened the door for transformation—not only for the tribe, but for the families themselves. The love that stayed, even in the face of pain, became the proof of true forgiveness and the seed of redemption.
God’s love, as demonstrated by these families, is not sentimental but self-sacrificial. It moves us beyond fear, empowering us to act courageously even when it costs us dearly. The missionaries’ refusal to defend themselves, choosing instead to love their enemies, echoes the heart of Christ and the early church. Their story reminds us that courage is not the absence of fear, but the conviction that God’s mission is more important than our comfort or safety.
Ultimately, God’s redemption is far greater than our plans or pain. What looked like defeat on a riverbank became the beginning of a new story—one of reconciliation, healing, and generational transformation. The scars of loss became testimonies of God’s grace, as relationships were restored and the gospel took root in a once-violent tribe. We are invited to trust that God can weave even our deepest wounds into His greater story, using our pain for His glory and the good of others.
Key Takeaways
- Surrendering to God’s call means letting go of comfort and control, embracing a life where obedience is worth any cost. The example of the missionaries challenges us to ask whether Christ is truly living through us, or if we are still holding back out of fear or self-preservation. True discipleship is not about safety, but about saying yes to God, whatever the risk. [01:09:20]
- Love that is greater than fear is not a feeling, but a choice to move toward others even when it is costly or dangerous. The missionaries’ refusal to defend themselves, choosing instead to love their enemies, demonstrates that perfect love casts out fear and empowers us to act courageously for the sake of the gospel. God calls us to live boldly, not timidly, trusting His Spirit to lead us beyond our fears. [01:15:16]
- Forgiveness is proven not by words alone, but by a love that stays and serves. The families’ decision to move in among the Waodani, caring for those who had caused them pain, shows that forgiveness is an ongoing, embodied act. This kind of forgiveness unlocks freedom, not just for those forgiven, but for the forgiver as well, and becomes a channel for God’s healing and restoration. [01:19:25]
- God’s redemption is always bigger than our pain or our plans. What seems like defeat or loss in our eyes can become the very soil in which God plants seeds of transformation and new life. Trusting God with our wounds allows Him to write a story far more beautiful than we could imagine, turning scars into testimonies and pain into purpose. [01:32:31]
- Our past, no matter how broken, can become part of God’s greater story of hope and redemption. When we surrender our shame and wounds to Him, He not only heals us but uses our stories to bring hope to others. The invitation is to live courageously, to forgive generously, and to trust that God is still writing His story through us, even when we cannot see the ending. [01:36:23]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[59:09] - Addressing Concerns and Disclaimers
[01:05:27] - The Missionaries’ Call and Sacrifice
[01:09:20] - Surrendering Comfort for Obedience
[01:10:32] - The Cost and Reward of True Obedience
[01:12:18] - Love Overcoming Fear
[01:13:21] - The Missionaries’ Ultimate Sacrifice
[01:15:16] - Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
[01:18:09] - Forgiveness in Action: The Families’ Response
[01:19:25] - Living Among the Waodani
[01:21:47] - The Power of Restored Relationships
[01:24:45] - Forgiveness Unlocks Freedom
[01:26:32] - God’s Redemption Beyond Our Plans
[01:27:22] - Steve Saint’s Return and Reconciliation
[01:32:31] - Generational Transformation and Legacy
[01:34:01] - Trusting God with Our Pain
[01:36:23] - Personal Reflection and Response
[01:38:14] - The Cost of Mission and Surrender
[01:39:56] - Prayer and Invitation to Respond
[01:41:12] - Living Boldly for Christ
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: “End of the Spear” – Surrender, Love, Forgiveness, and Redemption
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### Bible Reading
Matthew 16:24 (ESV)
> Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
1 John 4:18 (ESV)
> There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
> And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Matthew 16:24, what does Jesus say is required to follow Him? What does “take up his cross” mean in the context of this passage?
2. In the story of the missionaries, what actions showed that they valued God’s call above their own comfort and safety? [[01:05:27]]
3. How did the families of the missionaries demonstrate forgiveness to the Waodani tribe after their loved ones were killed? [[01:19:25]]
4. What does 1 John 4:18 say about the relationship between love and fear? How was this truth lived out by the missionaries? [[01:15:16]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus connects following Him with denying oneself and taking up a cross? What does this say about the cost of discipleship? [[01:09:20]]
2. The missionaries chose not to defend themselves, even when their lives were at risk. What does this decision reveal about their understanding of love and obedience to God? [[01:13:21]]
3. The families’ choice to move in among the Waodani and serve them was not a one-time act of forgiveness, but a daily commitment. How does this challenge common ideas about what forgiveness looks like? [[01:19:25]]
4. Romans 8:28 promises that God works all things for good for those who love Him. How does the story of the missionaries and the Waodani tribe illustrate this truth, even in the midst of tragedy? [[01:32:31]]
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### Application Questions
1. The missionaries surrendered their comfort and safety to obey God’s call. Is there an area in your life where God might be asking you to let go of comfort or control in order to follow Him more fully? What would it look like to say “yes” to God in that area? [[01:09:20]]
2. The families of the missionaries forgave those who hurt them, not just with words, but by moving toward the Waodani and serving them. Is there someone in your life you need to forgive—not just in words, but through ongoing love or presence? What would a first step look like? [[01:19:25]]
3. The sermon said, “Love is greater than fear.” What is one fear that holds you back from loving others boldly or sharing your faith? How can you take a small step this week to move past that fear? [[01:15:16]]
4. The story shows that God can use even our deepest wounds for His glory and the good of others. Is there a painful part of your past that you have struggled to surrender to God? How might God want to use your story to bring hope to someone else? [[01:34:01]]
5. The missionaries’ story challenges us to examine whether Christ is truly living through us, or if we are still holding back out of fear or self-preservation. What is one practical way you can live more courageously for Christ this week? [[01:41:12]]
6. The sermon asked, “Am I willing to say yes to God’s call even if it comes at great cost?” What would it mean for you to say “yes” to God today, even if it’s difficult or risky? [[01:38:14]]
7. The families’ forgiveness unlocked freedom and healing, not just for the Waodani, but for themselves. Is there an area where you need to experience freedom by choosing to forgive or ask for forgiveness? What is one step you can take toward that this week? [[01:25:39]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for courage to surrender to God’s call, for the strength to forgive, and for trust that God can redeem every part of their story for His glory.
Devotional
Day 1: God's call is worth our whole life.
God’s call is not a part-time commitment or a comfortable add-on to our lives; it is a call to surrender everything, even our safety and desires, for the sake of Christ and His mission. The story of the missionaries who risked and ultimately gave their lives to reach the unreached tribe in Ecuador is a powerful reminder that following Jesus means denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and living for something greater than our own comfort. True obedience to God will always cost us something, but what we gain in Christ is infinitely greater than anything we give up. Are you willing to let go of your own plans and comforts to say yes to God’s call, whatever the cost? [01:09:20]
Matthew 16:24 (ESV)
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Reflection: What is one area of comfort or control in your life that you sense God is asking you to surrender so you can follow Him more fully today?
Day 2: Love is greater than fear.
Love that comes from God is not sentimental or weak; it is a courageous, self-sacrificial love that moves us to act even when we are afraid. The missionaries chose not to defend themselves against the tribe, believing that their own readiness for heaven was less important than the tribe’s need to know Christ. This kind of love casts out fear and empowers us to step forward in faith, even when it is costly or dangerous. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind, calling us to live courageously and love fiercely, trusting Him to work through our boldness. [01:15:16]
1 John 4:18 (ESV)
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
Reflection: Where is fear holding you back from loving or acting boldly, and how can you ask God to help you step forward in love today?
Day 3: Forgiveness is proven by a love that stays.
Forgiveness is not just a word or a feeling; it is demonstrated by ongoing love, presence, and service, even toward those who have hurt us deeply. The families of the slain missionaries chose to move in among the very people who killed their loved ones, caring for them, learning their language, and sharing the gospel. This radical forgiveness was only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit and became a living testimony of Christ’s love. True forgiveness unlocks freedom and healing, both for ourselves and for those we forgive, and it is a reflection of the forgiveness we have already received in Christ. [01:24:45]
Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Reflection: Who is one person you need to forgive—not just in words, but by showing ongoing love or kindness this week?
Day 4: God’s redemption is bigger than our pain.
God’s ability to redeem and transform our pain far exceeds our understanding or expectations. What looked like defeat and tragedy on the riverbank became the seed of transformation for an entire tribe, as God wove loss and suffering into a story of new life and redemption. Even when we cannot see how God could use our wounds or disappointments, He is able to bring good out of every circumstance for those who love Him. Trusting God with our pain allows Him to write a story more beautiful than we could ever imagine, turning scars into testimonies and defeat into victory. [01:32:31]
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Reflection: What is one painful experience or disappointment in your life that you can surrender to God today, asking Him to use it for His greater purpose?
Day 5: Mission is for every believer, not just a few.
The call to live on mission is not reserved for a select few who go overseas; it is for every follower of Jesus, wherever God has placed them. Most of us may never board a plane to the jungle, but God asks each of us to step out of our comfort zones, to live courageously, and to make His love known in our everyday lives. Whether it’s sharing your faith at work, forgiving someone who has hurt you, or serving those in need, God’s mission is accomplished through ordinary acts of obedience and surrender. Will you say yes to His call, even if it comes at a cost? [01:39:56]
Acts 1:8 (ESV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Reflection: What is one specific way you can step out of your comfort zone and live on mission for Jesus in your daily life this week?
Quotes
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