The Mission of God
Missional Church
the Mission of Your Church
What was God
thinking?
Before creating the worlds?
1.
Did he know there would be
1. Terrible floods in Pakistan?
2. Earth quakes in Haiti and Japan?
3. Tsunamis in Indonesia & Japan?
4. Famines of Africa?
2.
Did he know how cruel people could be?
1. Ancient and Modern day slavery?
2. So many wars? Mutilation and rape?
3. The every day meanness of human beings?
4. Did he understand the cruelty of death?
3.
An all good & all knowing Creator designed this?
This must be
a very
big story
John 17:1 …Jesus looked up to
heaven and said, “4 I brought
glory to you here on earth by
completing the work you gave
me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring
me into the glory we shared
before the world began.
…we speak of God’s secret
wisdom, a wisdom that has
been hidden and that God
destined for our glory before
time began.
I Corinthians 2:6-8
This grace was given us in
Christ Jesus before the
beginning of time, but it has
now been revealed through the
appearing of our Saviour.
II Timothy 1:9 -10
From
Glory
In between, we see and
experience beauty, pain,
joy, purpose…and death
To
Greater
Glory
God’s People Become Sharers in
His Mission
18 Just as you sent me into the
world, I am sending them into
the world. 20 “I am praying not
only for these disciples but also
for all who will ever believe in
me through their message.
John 17
9 God has now revealed to us his
mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan
to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And
this is the plan: At the right time he will
bring everything together under the
authority of Christ—everything in
heaven and on earth.
Ephesians 1:9-10
I consider that our present sufferings
are not worth comparing with the glory
that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18
However, as it is written: "No
eye has seen, no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived what
God has prepared for those
who love him"
I Corinthians 2:9
So we fix our eyes not on what
is seen, but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal.
II Corinthians 4:18
We live by faith, not by sight.
II Corinthians 5:7
The Mission of God’s People
and...the missional church
1. Tell the
big story, including:
1. Pre-rebellion truths
2. OT justice, compassion, righteousness,
health, knowledge, wisdom, care for land
3. Of Jesus & NT good news of salvation to all
2. Demonstrate personally the grace of God
3. Consider the suffering…not worth comparing!
The Mission of God
1. Don’t let the big story get hi-jacked
•
By allowing parts of the story to pass for
the whole story
2. The Big Story is Complex
•
learn to tell it both simply and with its
complexity – so it fits each situation
3. The big story is bigger than any of us
•
May your church do its part by faith;
accept and respect others that are doing
their part…may be different than ours
A Missional Church
1. Views the whole of Scripture as the expression of
God’s mission; Creation, Redemption and New
Creation.
2. Adopts the mission of God as its primary
motivating focus, joining Him in what He is doing.
3. In terms of the world, is more about “go to” than
“come to”
1. Gathered to worship, equip, comfort & send
2. Sent to be among, to serve, influence & attract
3. Being sent is big. We are on mission with God.
A Missional Church
Embraces a three letter
Faith-demanding word.
AND
Theology Requires It
God is One and He is More
Jesus is God and He is Man
God wrote the Bible and People wrote it
Salvation is of God and People have to…
Sanctification God’s work and we pursue it
The church is for us and its for them
Ministry Requires It
Evangelism and Teaching
Orthodox and Gracious
Proclamation and Socially Engaged
Gathered and Scattered
In the world and not of the world
Established churches and new churches
Comfort one side and faith requiring…other
God loves it when we trust and obey
How will you spread the thinking that you’ve
developed here today?
We’ll send you an ecopy of the survey &
related materials
Tell us what is happening as a result of
today….within 2-4 weeks.
info@vision-ministries.org
If we don’t hear from you, we’ll call, just to
build in a bit of accountability.
Those that have not paid, please do.
• 15 per person.
• 10 per person if 7 or more from one
church
• 20 per married couple
• The mission of God’s people - $20
Information Sheet
1. Like to receive VMC newsletter?
1. Like to be on “monthly people” who
pray list?
“Thinking Shrewdly V”
May 10-12, 2012
“The Good News and Your Church in Word &
Action ”
Bruxy Cavey
(Teaching pastor, the Meeting House)
Gary Nelson
(President of Tyndale)
Greg Paul
(Founder of Sanctuary)
Waterloo or Guelph Location
Five Conference Streams
Communicating the Gospel in Canada
Church, Leadership & the Gospel
Compassion, Justice & the Gospel
New Canadians & the Gospel
New Initiatives & the Gospel
Regional gatherings in off years, like this
Three quick stories
– Chin Leadership development,
– Two people want to plant struggling in
their thinking about how to do this
– Spirit of Truth (Iranian, former Muslims)
– Vien et Vois (Congolese church)
– Jesus Network – Easter
Finances
1. Help new churches/initiatives get
started
2. Work to strengthen existing church
leadership people
3. We’d love to have your partnership in
our “make it happen budget”
Please give us your surveys
1. Fold them and leave them on the
table
2. If the staple has come out, fold it a
couple of times so it sticks together
Thank you for coming
Thank you to _________________
Prayer of Blessing