“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me..” – Col. 1:28-19
In this 8 week series we want to help each follower of Jesus to take personal ownership of His call to go and to make disciples, who make disciples.
The 1st four messages focus on INWARD EXAMINATION; looking at who God desires us to be, as a church, and His people. (Click message below to jump to it on the page.)
The 2nd four messages are more OUTWARD PARTICIPATION; looking and consider how we should live, think, worship, plan, and strategize when we are “out” in our “normal” lives. (Click message below to jump to it on the page.)
5. “Mission Minded vs. Goal Oriented” by Stephen Schultze on July 26th
6. “Affecting Culture vs. Influenced by Culture” by Micah Clark (note: preached 2 weeks earlier on July 19th)
7. “Intentional vs. Aimless” by Jeremy Slate on Aug. 9th
8. “Team Sport vs. Solo Mission” by Matt Vohwinkel on Aug. 16th
Intro 1: Why each word in our Series Title matters.
Intro 2: Three “B”s which are part of every message.
Preached by Rob Blair on Sun., June 28th
Prior to preaching on Sun., June 28th, Rob recorded a brief pre-sermon message for consideration on how Jesus did far more, in Matthew 28, than simply commission us to make disciples, though that would certainly be enough. He also gives us with everything we need to fulfill our mission: Jesus equips, motivates, and trains us.
This is one reason why pastor/author Jerry Bridges encouraged followers of Christ, to… “Preach the gospel to yourself every day.”
Pastor Dwayne Eslick, asks, Should we stop saying “evangelism and discipleship” as if they were two different things?
In Gal. 3:3, Paul told the believers in Galatia how the same gospel God used to regenerate and convert them, is the exact same good news He was using to continually sanctify and transform them.
Once persuaded that the Great Commission isn’t just for missionaries in distant lands, professional pastors, or hardcore evangelists, but is also for every follower of Christ, then it begs the question: “HOW do we fulfill that which God has entrusted to each of us, in practical, real world, every day situations?”
Our friend Alex Kocman, with ABWE, wrote a very helpful article entitled: A Manual for Mission: 6 Lessons for Senders and the Sent From Luke 10.
This message is based on several chapters from Peter’s most recent book “REBELLIOUS; What If Christians Were Actually Different?” will help combat the self-defining cultural landslide in which we are currently being swept away.
NOTE: Don’t blow through the questions. Be painfully practical and courageously honest with each one. Engage others in many ongoing discussions over extended periods of time. Go slow and deep. Not fast and shallow.
TIP: Below are 5 specific sections of applications. This allows individuals and families to cycle through and focus on one a day for each week day, until you work through the entire list over the course of 4 weeks.
Small groups might discuss all 4 questions under one specific section. Then look at a different section a following time.
1. Have you personally understood the Great Commission as a command directed primarily towards a select few who are “sent out,” or as the mission entrusted to every believer wherever they go? What influenced this understanding?
2. Does the literal interpretation of Jesus’ command challenge you to think differently about your role? In what ways?
3. What specific steps can you take to embrace and take ownership of the mission Jesus gave to all His disciples?
4. How can you better embrace in the mission, both individually and collectively (with family, friends, small groups, local church, community)?
1. In the past, when you heard the word “evangelism”, did you think of sharing the gospel with unbelievers as the primary action? How does sharing the good news with those already saved alter your understanding?
2. How do the similarities and/or differences between outreach and discipleship encourage, or challenge you to grow in your actively sharing the good news of Jesus more with believers and unbelievers alike?
3. In what specific ways can you become more intentional and effective in sharing your faith with others—whether true believers in Jesus or not—in practical ways which honor God and clearly reflect Christ?
4. What practical steps can you take to grow in your ability to share the gospel, encourage others, and build meaningful spiritual conversations with those around you?
1. In first-century culture, people had to physically be on the move if they were to live, which made being on the go a natural part of everyday life. How does this compare to the culture in which we live today? In what way(s) is our culture similar as well as different from the one in Whihc Jesus and the first century lived?
2. How might such differences between the culture, and the call to be holy affect how we go about the mission?
3. What opportunities already exist in your daily routines, relationships, and communities where you can engage with others and communicate the message of the gospel in a loving way?
4. How can you cultivate a lifestyle of “going” rather than waiting for opportunities to come to you? What specific steps can you take to be more deliberate in going to where the people are?
1. In what ways do your various roles and responsibilities (e.g. as a spouse, parent, employee, employer, student, friend, etc.) support or challenge your participation in the mission of moving others closer to Christ?
2. How can you better reconcile/align personal priorities, goals, desires, interests, and passions with the paramount purpose and passion God has called us to embrace?
3. How can you use your unique gifts, passions, vocation, and life circumstances as avenues for advancing God’s kingdom and fulfilling His mission rather than “doing your own thing”?
4. What is one practical step you can take to keep God’s mission central as you pursue other priorities, passions, and responsibilities wherever God has you at this point in your walk with Him?
1. All of us lean EITHER towards truth OR grace/love. Which way do you tend to lean? Why do you think that is?
2. How does a biblical view of BOTH truth AND grace challenge as well as change the way you could engage with others better?
3. How can you practically maintain BOTH 100% truth AND 100% grace, and not compromise both by a 50/50 “balance”?
4. How can you focus more on what separates others from Jesus rather than becoming sidetracked by those things which separate us from those who might think/live very differently from you?
After preaching on Sun., June 28th, Rob addresses the question, “If both Outreach AND Discipleship rest on Evangelism–sharing the gospel, then what’s makes them unique or distinct?” While being different, there is some overlap. Both experience true believers, while also experiencing those not yet redeemed.
Preached by Fritz Good on Sun., July 5th
Prior to preaching, Fritz Good delivers this pre-sermon message on considering how we are called to become followers of Christ, not mere “fans”. Fritz walks through chapters 1, 2 & 3, of Ephesians, getting to the main passage he will preach from, in chapter 4.
Preached by Josh Simos on Sun., July 12th
Prior to preaching, Josh Simos shares a pre-sermon message on how serving and ministering to others, no matter how hard or long it may be, can seem but a few days when done for something of incredible value and worth.
