Category Archives: Mission

Articles, Education, Evangelism, Mission, Prayer, Prophecy, Teaching

HOW TO FULFIL THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH PART 5

In our last article, we learned about the mission of the church. It included the following points:
1.      Glory to God;
2.      Edification;
3.      Holiness;
4.      Evangelism;
5.      Discipleship;
6.      Mission.
At this point
How do we fulfil Six – Mission?
God’s mission is the church’s mission; they are one and the same. God-pleasers will make the mission their highest priority. That leads us to the needful question: How do we fulfil the mission of the church? How do we begin to raise up disciples?
§  1. Evangelism (Mark 16:15);
§  2. Prayer (Matthew 9:38);
§  3. Sending missionaries (Acts 13:1-3; 14:26; Romans 10:15);
§  4. Going to the nations (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; Romans. 1:13-15; 15:20);
§  5. Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Acts 1:8). Pentecost gives power for mission.
§   
§  6. Giving (Philippians 4:15-18);
The Lord’s Church is experiencing an unprecedented amount of growth, especially in the developing world. Current figures forecast that we could have another one billion souls added to God’s Kingdom in less than a decade. What a wonderful prospect! But what a daunting task!
In order to service today’s church and tomorrow’s believers, we need more people serving God. But the fact is that we do not have enough ministers today, let alone for tomorrow. Even if every graduate of every Bible college and seminary entered and remained in full-time ministry, it would still not be enough.
Thank God, we have a Holy Spirit-inspired solution. It is found in Ephesians 4:11-13:And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Verse 12 speaks of equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry. It is simple:
§  If the Great Commission is only the responsibility of full-time clergy, we will be overwhelmed and the commission unfulfilled.
§  But if the saints are equipped to do the work of the ministry, the Great Commission becomes achievable in our time. In order to equip the church, we need to learn. We can divide the commission into three streams:
1.    CREED: Sound doctrine is the building block to the Christian faith and is essential for every believer if they are going to effectively serve God. Topics like the Tri-unity of God, the divinity and humanity of Jesus, the atoning redemptive death of Christ on the cross, the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, the second coming of Jesus, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, sanctification, and justification, are some of the essential doctrinal foundations of faith (also see Hebrews 6:1-2);
2.    CHARACTER: Christians are called to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world.’ Issues of Biblical integrity, the Fruit of the Spirit, Christian grace, love, truth, and holiness, should be emphasised;
3.    COMPETENCIES: Basic skills like prayer, Bible study, witnessing, hearing the voice of God, people skills, and discipline, should be taught.
Combined together, these three streams give the disciple/minister a well-rounded training program for fulfilling mission of the church by recruiting the Body of Christ to do the work of the ministry.
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God — Colossians 1:10


Articles, Education, Evangelism, Mission, Prayer, Prophecy, Teaching

HOW TO FULFIL THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH PART 5

In our last article, we learned about the mission of the church. It included the following points:
1.      Glory to God;
2.      Edification;
3.      Holiness;
4.      Evangelism;
5.      Discipleship;
6.      Mission.
At this point
How do we fulfil Six – Mission?
God’s mission is the church’s mission; they are one and the same. God-pleasers will make the mission their highest priority. That leads us to the needful question: How do we fulfil the mission of the church? How do we begin to raise up disciples?
§  1. Evangelism (Mark 16:15);
§  2. Prayer (Matthew 9:38);
§  3. Sending missionaries (Acts 13:1-3; 14:26; Romans 10:15);
§  4. Going to the nations (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; Romans. 1:13-15; 15:20);
§  5. Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Acts 1:8). Pentecost gives power for mission.
§   
§  6. Giving (Philippians 4:15-18);
The Lord’s Church is experiencing an unprecedented amount of growth, especially in the developing world. Current figures forecast that we could have another one billion souls added to God’s Kingdom in less than a decade. What a wonderful prospect! But what a daunting task!
In order to service today’s church and tomorrow’s believers, we need more people serving God. But the fact is that we do not have enough ministers today, let alone for tomorrow. Even if every graduate of every Bible college and seminary entered and remained in full-time ministry, it would still not be enough.
Thank God, we have a Holy Spirit-inspired solution. It is found in Ephesians 4:11-13:And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Verse 12 speaks of equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry. It is simple:
§  If the Great Commission is only the responsibility of full-time clergy, we will be overwhelmed and the commission unfulfilled.
§  But if the saints are equipped to do the work of the ministry, the Great Commission becomes achievable in our time. In order to equip the church, we need to learn. We can divide the commission into three streams:
1.    CREED: Sound doctrine is the building block to the Christian faith and is essential for every believer if they are going to effectively serve God. Topics like the Tri-unity of God, the divinity and humanity of Jesus, the atoning redemptive death of Christ on the cross, the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, the second coming of Jesus, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, sanctification, and justification, are some of the essential doctrinal foundations of faith (also see Hebrews 6:1-2);
2.    CHARACTER: Christians are called to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world.’ Issues of Biblical integrity, the Fruit of the Spirit, Christian grace, love, truth, and holiness, should be emphasised;
3.    COMPETENCIES: Basic skills like prayer, Bible study, witnessing, hearing the voice of God, people skills, and discipline, should be taught.
Combined together, these three streams give the disciple/minister a well-rounded training program for fulfilling mission of the church by recruiting the Body of Christ to do the work of the ministry.
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God — Colossians 1:10


Articles, Discipleship, Education, Evangelism, Mission, Prophecy, Teaching

What is the Church Part 04: Its Mission

In this important series, we have been exploring the nature of the Christian Church. More than any other ideology or religion, Christianity strongly depends on its founder, Jesus Christ. Not only does it derive its identity from Him, He is alive, well, and highly interactive with His people. We also learned the key activities of the church based on Acts 2:42-47: teaching doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. To this we add acts of power, community, praise and worship, pastoral care, obedience, and discipleship. When the church functions properly, in enjoys community favour while God adds to the congregation more and more saved people.
Now we will explore the church’s mission. What ‘on earth’ is it meant to do?
One – Glory: The church is called to give glory to the Lord (Romans 15:6,9; Ephesians 1:5f, 12, 14, 18; 3:21; II Thessalonians 1:12; I Peter 4:11). We accomplish this through holy living (John 15:8), praise and worship. Though the Psalms are replete with exhortations to ‘praise God,’ the New Testament expects no less. Hebrews 13:15 Tell us to offer a ‘sacrifice of praise’ continually, which is the fruit of our lips. Eternity is not long enough to thank Jesus for such a great salvation.
Two – Edification: Our purpose is to ‘build up’ the church. This is the meaning of the word edification (Ephesians 4:12-16; Colossians 2:7; I Corinthians 14:26). It is like an athlete going to the gym and doing weight-training in order to build up muscle. Nasty, carnal people are adept at tearing down but those who are born again and spiritual are able to edify in a way that lasts forever. Our modern-day Barnabas’s spend much time encouraging others in the faith; this is one of the great aspects of edification. May their tribe increase.
Three – Holiness: Like so many wonderful doctrines like repentance, regeneration, justification, and sanctification, holiness is most necessary but it is also neglected. Our world is getting darker and without holiness even church people will be cast into the shadows. Holiness is to be separated for God’s purposes. It is to live a life without reproach, blemish, defilement, or corruption. Holiness is heavenly purity. It is also indispensable, because without holiness a person will not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:24). It is impossible to give glory to God, in the manner He deserves, if holiness is missing. It is time to return to ‘first things first’ (Ephesians 5:26; Matthew 18:17; Acts 5:11; Romans 16:17; I Corinthians 5:6-8, 13; I Peter 1:22).
Four – Evangelism: This means to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. ‘Gospel’ means good news (Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8). It is wonderfully summarised in I Corinthians 15:3-5: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. When you repent, believe, and receive, you have the gift of the new birth, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. No amount of money could ever purchase this great salvation; it came via the highest price, namely, the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. Evangelism is to the church what children are to marriage: it grows and perpetuates.
Five – Discipleship: This is the main objective of the church and evangelism. Evangelism leads the person to faith and discipleship establishes them in the faith. One way to describe discipleship is ‘to follow Jesus with all of your heart, all of the time.’ Following Jesus with some of your heart all of the time, or all of your heart some of the time, is to fail in the call of discipleship. A disciple will become like the Master, but this will be a process, not an event. Discipleship is not an option; it is a divine command (Ephesians 4:12; Matthew 28:20; II Timothy 2:2; Philippians 4:8). When a person is properly discipled, they will live a normal, Biblical, Spirit-empowered Christian life to the glory of God. Failure to disciple means the person may remain no more than an old wineskin, ready to burst asunder when the new wine comes. To ‘make disciples’ in Matthew 28:19 (Greek: matheteusate) is a command, even an imperative. It is of the highest priority to the Lord and thus should be to the church as well.
Six – Mission: This is merely an extension of four and five: to proactively and globally evangelise and disciple people. God is calling the (Gentile) nations to be His people (Acts 15:14). One person aptly said that a person with Christ in their heart is a ‘missionary’ and a person without Christ in their heart is a ‘mission field.’ Whether we go around the block or around the world, we need to put mission as our highest priority until the ‘fullness of the Gentiles’ comes in (Romans 11:25). Mission is another name for ‘the Great Commission,’ to go and make disciples of all nations. The Great Commission is found in all four gospels and in Acts (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-49; John 20:21-22; Acts 1:8). The Great Commission is the only mission Christ gave His church;
Next Time: How to Fulfil the Mission of the Church

Articles, Discipleship, Education, Evangelism, Mission, Prophecy, Teaching

What is the Church Part 04: Its Mission

In this important series, we have been exploring the nature of the Christian Church. More than any other ideology or religion, Christianity strongly depends on its founder, Jesus Christ. Not only does it derive its identity from Him, He is alive, well, and highly interactive with His people. We also learned the key activities of the church based on Acts 2:42-47: teaching doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers. To this we add acts of power, community, praise and worship, pastoral care, obedience, and discipleship. When the church functions properly, in enjoys community favour while God adds to the congregation more and more saved people.
Now we will explore the church’s mission. What ‘on earth’ is it meant to do?
One – Glory: The church is called to give glory to the Lord (Romans 15:6,9; Ephesians 1:5f, 12, 14, 18; 3:21; II Thessalonians 1:12; I Peter 4:11). We accomplish this through holy living (John 15:8), praise and worship. Though the Psalms are replete with exhortations to ‘praise God,’ the New Testament expects no less. Hebrews 13:15 Tell us to offer a ‘sacrifice of praise’ continually, which is the fruit of our lips. Eternity is not long enough to thank Jesus for such a great salvation.
Two – Edification: Our purpose is to ‘build up’ the church. This is the meaning of the word edification (Ephesians 4:12-16; Colossians 2:7; I Corinthians 14:26). It is like an athlete going to the gym and doing weight-training in order to build up muscle. Nasty, carnal people are adept at tearing down but those who are born again and spiritual are able to edify in a way that lasts forever. Our modern-day Barnabas’s spend much time encouraging others in the faith; this is one of the great aspects of edification. May their tribe increase.
Three – Holiness: Like so many wonderful doctrines like repentance, regeneration, justification, and sanctification, holiness is most necessary but it is also neglected. Our world is getting darker and without holiness even church people will be cast into the shadows. Holiness is to be separated for God’s purposes. It is to live a life without reproach, blemish, defilement, or corruption. Holiness is heavenly purity. It is also indispensable, because without holiness a person will not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:24). It is impossible to give glory to God, in the manner He deserves, if holiness is missing. It is time to return to ‘first things first’ (Ephesians 5:26; Matthew 18:17; Acts 5:11; Romans 16:17; I Corinthians 5:6-8, 13; I Peter 1:22).
Four – Evangelism: This means to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. ‘Gospel’ means good news (Matthew 28:19; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8). It is wonderfully summarised in I Corinthians 15:3-5: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. When you repent, believe, and receive, you have the gift of the new birth, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. No amount of money could ever purchase this great salvation; it came via the highest price, namely, the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. Evangelism is to the church what children are to marriage: it grows and perpetuates.
Five – Discipleship: This is the main objective of the church and evangelism. Evangelism leads the person to faith and discipleship establishes them in the faith. One way to describe discipleship is ‘to follow Jesus with all of your heart, all of the time.’ Following Jesus with some of your heart all of the time, or all of your heart some of the time, is to fail in the call of discipleship. A disciple will become like the Master, but this will be a process, not an event. Discipleship is not an option; it is a divine command (Ephesians 4:12; Matthew 28:20; II Timothy 2:2; Philippians 4:8). When a person is properly discipled, they will live a normal, Biblical, Spirit-empowered Christian life to the glory of God. Failure to disciple means the person may remain no more than an old wineskin, ready to burst asunder when the new wine comes. To ‘make disciples’ in Matthew 28:19 (Greek: matheteusate) is a command, even an imperative. It is of the highest priority to the Lord and thus should be to the church as well.
Six – Mission: This is merely an extension of four and five: to proactively and globally evangelise and disciple people. God is calling the (Gentile) nations to be His people (Acts 15:14). One person aptly said that a person with Christ in their heart is a ‘missionary’ and a person without Christ in their heart is a ‘mission field.’ Whether we go around the block or around the world, we need to put mission as our highest priority until the ‘fullness of the Gentiles’ comes in (Romans 11:25). Mission is another name for ‘the Great Commission,’ to go and make disciples of all nations. The Great Commission is found in all four gospels and in Acts (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-49; John 20:21-22; Acts 1:8). The Great Commission is the only mission Christ gave His church;
Next Time: How to Fulfil the Mission of the Church