Category: Mission

Become Gospel Fluent

Missional churches not only teach their people to accept responsibility for sharing the gospel and making disciples, they also prioritize equipping their people to be gospel  fluent.

The gospel properly shared has the power to save people. We do not want to alter it in any way. If we want to see the promised results, we should apply ourselves to studying how God presents the gospel in scripture and teach our people to do the same.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." Romans 1:16-17 (NASB)

Many of us are not clear regarding exactly what is the gospel and how to share it properly. Modern evangelistic campaigns have worked to try to streamline the gospel message into something that can be easily remembered and quickly presented, but often at the expense of the beauty, breadth, depth, and impact of the true gospel. If you ask an average follower of Christ what they would tell a person who expressed a desire to become a follower of Christ, you would probably hear a response something like this. “Tell them to ask Jesus into their hearts.” If someone has already heard and understood the gospel message, this could be a proper next step, but it is not a good way to present the gospel. Others equate the gospel with the doctrine of justification by faith, but this is not the gospel. It is a benefit of believing the gospel.

What is the gospel?

Simply put, the gospel is the story of Jesus presented as an announcement of who he is, what he has done, and what he is going to do. The gospel asks for a response. The appropriate one is to surrender our lives to him, receive the benefits he died and rose to give us, become his follower, and join his mission on planet earth to go and make disciples.

John the Baptist was privileged to announce Jesus’ public ministry to Israel and the world. He told us three things about Jesus that are each important aspects of the gospel. Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Son of God, and the Baptizer in the Spirit. Every gospel presentation should present Jesus this way and explain the meaning behind these three titles. (Click here to read more about this.)

  1. Jesus died for our sins as the Lamb of God to reconcile us to God.
  2. Jesus rose from the dead in power as the Son of God, the messianic king, and the Lord of lords.
  3. As the Baptizer in the Spirit and the Lord of the harvest, Jesus ascended to the right hand of his Father in heaven and poured out his Spirit upon the church to equip and empower her to fulfill the Great Commission.

There are four books in the New Testament that are called gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. None of these are neat or brief theological summaries of the doctrinal implications of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Jesus is presented as an historical figure who fulfilled Old Covenant prophecies that God would rescue us from Satan’s dominion, bless the entire earth, rule forever as a king on David’s throne, be a prophet the likes of Moses, and come again in glory one day in the clouds as the divine and glorious Son of Man to judge the world in righteousness. Each of the gospels presents Jesus in such a way that the reader is invited to recognize that he is indeed the Messiah promised by God, the one sent to die for our sins as God’s Lamb, who also rose from the dead as Lord of lords, and who is coming back again to rule the nations. The gospel invites people to surrender to Jesus the Lord and receive forgiveness of sins and life everlasting from Jesus the Savior. The gospel also invites every person to bow his or her knee to Jesus and join him in his worldwide missional enterprise. It is an invitation to be a disciple – a follower of Christ who fishes for people and teaches others to do the same.

Missional churches commit to training and equipping their people to share the gospel and to grow in confidence in their ability and responsibility to share it.

Missional churches expect their people to share the good news themselves, not simply bring people to church meetings to hear the pastor. Missional churches believe that sheep beget sheep, that disciples are competent to minister, and that the Holy Spirit is equipping, empowering, and leading the entire missional enterprise.

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Three Calls from God

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God put eternity in our hearts. Nothing can ultimately satisfy us apart from God himself – not success, wealth, fame, power, or pleasure. Jesus told us to put eternity first.

But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you...” John 6:27 (NLT)

Yet we so easily substitute other things for God. We often busy ourselves in the pursuit of that which can never satisfy.

God issues three basic calls to his people, each of which resonates deeply in the hearts of those who love him. Each is tied firmly to God’s eternal purpose to glorify his Son, and each is a doorway into joy and fulfillment in life. Jesus combined all three in one beautiful sentence.

...“Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”  Matthew 4:19 (NLT)

Come… Follow… Fish. Each call invites us deeper into our relationship with God. Each has a higher personal cost associated with it, and each brings us to a new level of fulfillment and joy. Disciples embrace all three.

Come: The Call to Belong

The call to come is the gospel invitation to be forgiven, loved, and included in God’s own family through the new birth.

The call to belong to God satisfies our deepest longing and answers our identity question. No longer do we need to wonder who are we. We are beloved children of God.

And you... have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. Romans 1:6 (NLT)

People experience belonging in marriage, family, church, social clubs, and all sorts of other groups, but nothing is able to ultimately satisfy our deepest longing outside of belonging to God. Belonging to God automatically makes us belong to everyone else who belongs to God.

When Jesus launched his mission to die for our sins as God’s Lamb and recover all that Adam lost, as the risen Lord, God the Father spoke from heaven.

..."This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." Matthew 3:17 (NASB)

Jesus knew (and knows) beyond a shadow of doubt where he stands with his heavenly Father, but sin and Satan seek to block us from knowing and experiencing God’s love, acceptance, and favor. Until we put our faith and allegiance in Christ, our sin actually does separate us from God. Up to that point, our sense of rejection is a self-imposed reality connected to our rejection of God and his rule in our lives.

Our biggest problem, deepest fear, and loneliest prospect is a life and an eternity separated from God.

Since Father God understands our plight and loves us deeply, he sent Jesus to earth to repair the breach and issue an invitation to be reconciled to God.

Listen to Jesus’ wonderful call to belong.

...“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

The first and most fundamental call anyone can receive from God is the gospel call to become sons and daughters of God through the new birth.

It is a call to belong to God’s family and to be loved and accepted by our heavenly Father. The only way this is possible is because Jesus paid the price for our sin and rebellion. When we put our faith and allegiance in Christ, Jesus shares his relationship with Abba Father with us.

Corresponding Baptism

There are three baptisms mentioned in the New Testament. The one which corresponds to the gospel call to belong is the baptism into the body of Christ which is done by the Holy Spirit at the new birth. 

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 1 Corinthians 12:13–14 (NKJV)

This spiritual baptism makes us one with Christ and his people.

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV)
Action Point

If you have never done so before, now is the time to respond to the gospel invitation to become a child of God. Jesus did the hard part on the cross, but we have our own responsibility in the matter. His hand is extended to offer us the gift of life. Our part is to reach out and receive that gift.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13 (ESV)
Prayer

Jesus, I receive you as my Lord and Savior. I believe you died for my sins and rose again as my Lord. I give you my life and receive yours. Thank you for reconciling me to Father God and making me a part of your eternal family. Amen.

Follow: The Call to Allegiance

Being loved and part of God’s family is deeply satisfying. Being faithful and loyal to Jesus fulfills another fundamental desire we all have – to be approved.

...and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." Matthew 3:17 (NASB)

First and foremost, we are human beings, not human doings. We must first discover who we are through the new birth before we can move forward. However, God did not create us merely to exist. He also intends for us to do good works of faith and love.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 (NASB)

We do not do good works to gain God’s approval and favor, which are a free gift. Our approval by God is first and foremost based on Christ’s performance on our behalf. He kept the law of God perfectly and served his Abba Father without deviation all the way to the cross.

When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, his right standing with God and the approval attached to his perfect obedience are credited to our spiritual “bank account”.

This is called justification, the judicial act of God’s imputing or crediting Christ’s righteousness to those who believe.

That’s the “being” part. In addition, because we are new creations in Christ, who already have a right standing with God and his approval, we (super)naturally desire to do good works. The indwelling Holy Spirit inspires and enables us to carry them out.

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit enables us to live and experience what has been given to us through justification.

He works to translate our inner identity into outward performance. In other words, through what is called sanctification or transformation we start to think and act more and more like Christ. We participate in this process by consecrating, dedicating, or surrendering ourselves to Christ’s lordship and the inner work of God’s Spirit.

This ongoing act of cooperating in the transformation process is a “work” of faith on our part.

When some of his disciples asked Jesus what works God wanted them to do, here is what our Lord said.

..."This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." John 6:29 (NASB)

The Greek verb pisteuo, which is translated “believe,” also carries the fundamental idea of allegiance.

It is a lot more than mere agreement with a set of doctrines or belief that Jesus lived, died, and rose again. Faith or belief in Jesus that does not include faithfulness or allegiance to him and his Word is mere lip service and is not biblical faith. Jesus’ call to follow him is a call to show allegiance to him above all else. This requires us to surrender our will to his. When we choose to do this by faith, the Holy Spirit helps us to enter into an experience of Christ’s allegiance to his heavenly Father.

By coming into alignment with Christ’s obedience through the Spirit’s help, we gain a deeper experience of God’s approval that previously was simply a free gift to us.

In other words, God imputes (credits to our account) Christ’s righteousness, but he also wants us to experience living out that righteousness. Some say this is when what was imputed becomes imparted.

Corresponding Baptism

The call to allegiance is our invitation to make a public declaration to loyally follow the One who called us to belong.

Following Jesus means we attach ourselves to him personally and follow his teachings. It means we seek to be continually “led by the Spirit.” It means we no longer belong to ourselves: we belong to God. Our first loyalty and allegiance is to Jesus. This is much different from merely being called a Christian or being a church goer. It means we seriously commit ourselves to Christ and are not ashamed to be known as one of his disciples.

Water baptism is our formal declaration of allegiance to Jesus. In it we lay aside our past self-directed way of living and launch ourselves into a life on mission.

Action Point

Receiving Jesus as Savior can be done privately, but the call to follow requires a public identification with our Lord. He wants us to unashamedly declare our allegiance to him.

I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. 9  But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels. Luke 12:8-9 (NLT)

Water baptism is the perfect setting for us to do this. If you have never publicly declared allegiance to Christ, why not right now? If you have never been baptized in water, that is something that should be at the very top of your priority list.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for dying for me. This cost you everything, but required nothing from me. Now I see how important it is for me to respond to your love by giving myself back to you. I choose to follow you. I declare allegiance to you. Holy Spirit, help me to be loyal and unashamed of Jesus and the gospel from this day forward. Amen.

Fish: The Call to Mission

Some of Jesus’ first disciples were fishermen, whose trade or job was catching fish. It was what they did. Success for them would be measured by the number of fish they caught in a day. For men in general, our jobs often highly influence our self-concept. In most conversations among men, when we first meet, the question usually arises, “What kind of work do you do?”

No matter what our mission or job in life has been up to this point, Jesus gives his followers a new responsibility – fishing for people.

Jesus’ mission was multi-faceted. He was and is the perfect representation of what Father God is like. He lived in an exemplary way to illustrate what a God-directed and God-glorifying life looks like. He also came to die for our sins as God’s Lamb and to rise again as the exalted Lord of Lords. Finally, as the ascended Lord of the harvest, his continuing mission is to add large numbers of people to God’s family through the church preaching the gospel message. The way he accomplishes this is to pour out his Spirit upon his people and send us to keep working at what he began until the day he returns as the glorious Son of Man, who will judge the world in righteousness.

Responding to the first two calls of God prepares us for mission and propels us into fishing for people and making them into disciples.

God did not create us to be insignificant. He calls us to be actively on mission with him.

God created Adam and Eve to first of all love him and fellowship with him, but from the beginning he gave them a job to do – to be fruitful and multiply and rule over his creation. The church has the same mandate. Another way to put this is that he did not save us simply to go to church and eventually get to heaven. In between being born again and the death of our bodies, we have a mission – to go and make disciples.

Most missional activity takes place outside the church building.

Being on mission is a 24/7 calling. It causes us to look on our neighbors and community with new eyes. Being on mission asks us to be alert to the prompting of the Spirit, in expectation that he will open up doors of opportunity to meet and influence people toward God’s kingdom everyday.

God gave us new life so we can join him in his worldwide mission to fish for, catch, and disciple people.

Jesus formally announced the call to mission just before he ascended into heaven, when he gave his disciples and us what we now call the Great Commission.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)

The call to belong to God’s family is relatively pain free for us, but it cost Jesus everything. For us, it is mainly about discovering how much God loves us. The greatest number of people who call themselves Christians respond to this call. The call to loyally follow Christ introduces the cost associated with identifying with our Lord publicly and keeping his commandments, and fewer accept this call. It is an invitation to die to ourselves and live for our Lord and God’s glory. There usually are more people who identify themselves as Christians than as loyal followers of Christ.

The call to mission is the most costly of all, and fewer still embrace a Great Commission lifestyle. The call to mission invites us to expend ourselves for others for Jesus’ sake. It is our call to have great significance by having great impact in the world and others’ lives.

Because Jesus was God’s own son, and because he always did what pleased his Father, he was someone very significant. His words were to be heeded, just as the Father said when he spoke from heaven.

He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Matthew 17:5 (ESV)

When we share the good news of the Gospel, we become extremely significant, too. People should listen to us because we speak for God himself.

The devil will resist our responding to the Gospel’s call to belong because he wants you and me to be eternally lost. He will also resist our responding to the call to surrender our lives to Jesus’ lordship because he knows that will make us dangerous people with respect to his kingdom of darkness. He most firmly and fiercely resists any person or group who commits to being on mission because he knows that such a commitment will bring many others into the kingdom of God.

Corresponding Baptism and Action Point

One of the first steps to embracing the call to mission is to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which equips and empowers us to proclaim the Gospel boldly with signs following.

…he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5  John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” ... 8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:4-8 (NLT)

If you have never asked for this free gift, right now is the perfect time. Like all of God’s gifts, it is received by faith. It is for all of his children, and its purpose is to enable and empower us to fulfill the Great Commission.

You can read more about this amazing gift by clicking here.

Prayer

Jesus, I accept your call to mission. I ask you to baptize me in the Holy Spirit to equip and empower me to be your witness. I accept the call to be part of the solution to this world’s dark problems. Set up Holy Spirit encounters with people who will be open to the gospel. Help me to faithfully disciple my family and any others who respond to the gospel. Help me to get involved in my community to be salt and light in any capacity you choose, Lord. Amen.

Conclusion

I hope that you will respond to each of the three calls of God on your life. If you are interested in learning more about what it means to be a modern missionary right where you live, check out my other articles. If you do not have a church home and live in the Burlington, NC area, consider LifeNet. We are doing our best to help people respond to God’s three calls and accept the responsibility of being Great Co-Missionaries. Blessings to you on your discipleship journey!

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Developing a Culture of Mission in the Local Church – Part 5: Rely on the Holy Spirit

 

 

 

 

Christ’s lordship extends to all aspects of the church’s life and mission. One of his titles announced by John the Baptist is Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:11) Jesus taught his disciples that the Holy Spirit baptism is a necessity and a huge key to success in our pursuit of the Great Commission. 

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5  for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”… 8  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.” Acts 1:4-8 (ESV)

The Holy Spirit is our source of power and boldness for carrying out the church’s mission.  Receiving this baptism is part of what it means to surrender to Christ’s lordship.

Jesus operated in the power and gifts of the Spirit continually during his earthly ministry, which began officially at the synagogue in Nazareth.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 (ESV)

Jesus only did what the Spirit showed him to do. He spoke the Words the Spirit gave him to speak. He counsels us to do the same.

If we present the Gospel with only the power of words and logic, we fail to communicate the fullness of God’s message, which comes in word and power.

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5  because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 (ESV)

The wisdom and knowledge of the Spirit are also needed if we are going to minister as Jesus did. Can you imagine our Lord’s ministry devoid of the prophetic element? How would he have captured the heart of the woman at the well in Samaria, if he had not told her the hidden truth about her five husbands? How would he have so quickly won over Nathanael, if he had not related that he had seen him by the Spirit standing under the fig tree? The Holy Spirit brings a spiritual element into our ministry, without which it is much more difficult, if not impossible, to go and make disciples.

We are not simply to argue and debate that Jesus is Lord: we are to demonstrate.

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2  For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3  And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4  and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5  so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (ESV)

The early disciples were afraid of the Jews before they were baptized in the Spirit, but afterward boldly announced the gospel, even when threatened with persecution. Many of us are intimidated and sitting at home instead of going out into our communities to connect with our neighbors, make friends, and eventually make disciples. We need to receive the Spirit’s power and ability and realize that He is already working in the lives of those who live, work, and play around us.

Our job is to put ourselves “out there” where the Spirit can use us. We never know what God may do.

If we are going to develop a culture of mission in our churches, we must acknowledge that Jesus is Lord of the Harvest and Baptizer in the Spirit. Disciple making churches should encourage members to receive the baptism and gifts of the Spirit and become proficient in their use. We should encourage our people to listen to and obey the voice and promptings of the Spirit every day as they mingle with those who need the Lord.

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The Great Commission

Why would we want to develop a culture of mission and evangelism in our churches? The answer has to be because that is God’s heart as revealed in the Great Commission and throughout Scripture. Jesus gave his church a clear mandate before he ascended to his Father.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

Until we adopt Christ’s mission as our mission, we are missing the mark.

It is easy to substitute any number of good things for the mission. We can make great preaching and teaching our highest priority. If you ask average churchgoers why they like their churches, many will say that it is the great preaching, the wonderful worship, the kids’ programs, etc. Many churches opt for community service, potlucks, worship, prayer, you name it… anything but sharing the gospel. If you want to stir up enemy resistance, including that which comes from church members, try advocating for the centrality of the mission. People do not want to leave the comfortable confines of their church culture to pursue those who do not know Christ.

It is not enough to simply adopt mission as a subset of the church’s activity and effort. It must become the engine that pulls the train. Otherwise the mission will always be an option instead of the number one priority.

The Genesis command to be fruitful and multiply has not been rescinded.

The “Go” of the Great Commission

Most people want to stay put and enjoy the benefits of being part of a local church, which are many. The fellowship is wonderful. There is a comfort in knowing that the people around us are like-minded servants of Jesus. It is great to be enveloped in a culture that fosters sound biblical thinking and values.

The result is that many Christians adopt a fortress mentality in which we try to wall out the world and its negative influences. In this scenario, mission devolves into inviting people to enter the fort and become part of the enclave.

But this is not obedience to the first part of the Great Commission, which is “Go.” Jesus told his disciples that he was sending them.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20:21 (ESV)

Going requires us to leave our comfort and safety zones and venture into the world of those who do not know Christ.

For Abraham it meant leaving land, family, friends, culture, and familiar “gods” to serve the one true God in an unknown as yet place. It meant going by faith without the benefit of a well-designed plan or end game. All he had was the command to go coupled with a promise, and he went.

Jesus emphasized the “Go” when he taught the parable of the shepherd who left the 99 sheep to go after the one lost one. He emphasized the “Go” when he prayed the the Father would send laborers into the harvest. Then why do we find it so difficult to go?

Going requires sacrifice, courage, faith, and a willingness to suffer and endure uncertainty, inevitable disappointment and setbacks, heartbreak, loss, and enormous challenges. Some of the people we “go” to will not appreciate it. Some will be hostile. However, some will be forever grateful, which makes it all worthwhile. More importantly, Jesus will be pleased and honored, and we will accrue eternal reward.

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30  who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 (ESV)

The going of mission is both the most rewarding thing you will ever do and the most dangerous and costly.

That is why many of us shy away from obedience to the Great Commission. Jesus called it “falling away.”

And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. Mark 4:17 (ESV)

If we fall away from obedience to the mission in times of peace, what will happen to us when persecution arrives? In fact, will not the proper preaching of the gospel and obedience to the Great Commission actually invite persecution? Paul wrote:

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)

Perhaps the lack of persecution in our nation today betrays a lack of commitment to the Great Commission.

Making Disciples

The second part of the Great Commission is making disciples. There is a huge difference between a disciple and a mere churchgoer; although, disciples definitely have a strong commitment to the church.

Going to church requires a relatively small commitment, but being a disciple means that we make the ultimate commitment to Christ and his mission.

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33 (ESV)

Jesus violated just about every church growth principle in this passage. He comes across rather negatively, repeating the phrase, “cannot be my disciple,” three times. It is as if he were trying to weed out anyone who would not make the ultimate commitment. The leaven of partial commitment is contagious. He did not tell them to try following him as best they could in the hope that gradually they would be able to become more committed.

Although some move toward greater and greater commitment over a lifetime, the reverse is usually the case. People “backslide” from their initial devotion because the cost becomes greater than the price they are willing to pay.

Being a disciple means that we commit to Jesus the Lord as a person. We submit to his rule in our lives through obedience to his teachings and to the indwelling Holy Spirit. This will lead us to obedience to the Great Commission, which lays upon us the task of teaching others to be disciples who will also make disciples. Therefore, in order to create a missional culture in a local church, a commitment must be made to develop disciple-making disciples. In other words, church leaders and church members must prioritize duplicating themselves in the lives of others.

Churches that commit to making disciples will examine their values, priorities, programs… everything… in light of whether or not it advances disciple making.

Disciple making is much more than giving lectures at church meetings. It involves one-on-one and one-on-few instruction and mentoring. It includes demonstration of how to do ministry, followed by giving the disciple the opportunity to put into practice what was learned with follow up instruction as needed.

The goal of discipleship is to produce a practitioner, not a mere theologian, churchgoer, or moral paragon.

Churches that commit to creating a missional – evangelism culture will devote their energy, talent, and resources to pursuing the Great Commission.

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Developing a Culture of Mission in the Local Church – Part 1: Introduction

 

 

 

 

Here’s a novel idea that might shock some church growth proponents.

What works is not always what is best.

For example, advertisers know that sex sells products. If they can create the impression that using their product will enhance your sex life, they know we may be induced to purchase it. This is an easily recognizable ad strategy, but we still fall for it. What may not be so easy to discern is when local churches adopt methods designed to prey upon our human fleshly tendencies. It may be nearly impossible to see clearly how our own culture impacts the church because we think our culture is normal.

Modern churches are more greatly influenced by consumerism than we imagine.

How we measure success also may be culturally driven. Since the advent of the church growth movement, success is largely measured in numbers of people in attendance. Secondary success factors may be facilities, income, and internet presence and reach. Using these metrics, leaders are under intense pressure to draw and keep ever increasing numbers of people in attendance.

If our goal is simply to draw people to our meetings, we may (must?) adopt the strategy of providing what people want,  perhaps at the expense obeying Christ and giving them what they truly need. Let that sink in…

Modern American Christians have been conditioned by the culture and by the church itself to view the church experience through the eyes of consumers. We “shop” churches using consumerist criteria, sometimes looking for the one that provides the best value in exchange for the least commitment. This is how consumers are trained to think. Consumers tend to measure a church’s desirability or value by the main speaker’s abilities, the worship experience, the programs for children and other social sub-groupings, and the general presentation, which includes facilities, audio-visual, and professionalism. Attenders of smaller churches are not immune and may also be consumers looking for a different product. They may put experiencing a sense of family near the top of their list.

Consumerism begs us to adopt an attractional model for our churches.

Of course, none of the above are “wrong.” In fact, we hope that all of our churches do their best to be attractive, but never in subservience to consumerism. However, none of the criteria listed above is actually a “right” reason for joining a church.

Logically those who come in this way must be kept in this way, unless they can be moved away from consumerism to a discipleship orientation to life and ministry. If we allow that church leaders who use consumerist strategies have the best of intentions, we can believe that their reason for doing so is to simply have the opportunity to speak into a great number of people’s lives. Their thinking is that if they are not attracted to church meetings, they will never hear the truth and be changed. Some people use this strategy to gain a great number of conversions. Bringing a person to Christ is only the first step, however. After a fish is caught, it must be cleaned. This brings us to discipleship.

The opposite of consumerism is discipleship.

The message of discipleship actually tends to sift people out of the local church because it requires us to count the cost before advancing on the journey.

A disciple making church must adopt an equipping model for ministry, the goal being to equip the people to do ministry on their own outside the four walls of the building. Adopting missional strategies to equip and launch followers of Christ into evangelism and disciple making ministries will run counter to what our consumer culture wants, but it will satisfy Christ’s Great Commission mandate and bring glory to God. The next several articles will look at ways to develop a missional culture in our churches.

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The Lord’s Supper – A Reminder of Our Mission

 

 

 

 

 

We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, 75  in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. Luke 1:74-75 (NLT)

The Exodus marked the beginning of the nation of Israel. It was launched on Passover, which, fifty days later was followed by the first Pentecost at Mt. Sinai, where God gave the Law. The church was launched by the fulfillment of Passover at the crucifixion of Christ Jesus, which was followed three days later by his glorious resurrection and fifty days later by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church on the New Covenant fulfillment of Pentecost.

The Lord’s Supper serves to remind us of what Jesus accomplished for us and what he expects from us.

Gospel Memorial

For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24  and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” 25  In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26  For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NLT)

Communion is a ongoing gospel memorial to Jesus, the true Passover Lamb. Just as the blood of that first Passover lamb was smeared on the door posts and lintels of the homes of the Israelites to protect them from God’s judgment; Jesus, our Passover, shed his blood to deliver us from God’s judgment against our sin. We deserved condemnation and death, but it fell on Jesus instead.

Communion is a symbolic proclamation or announcement of the good news that Jesus died for our sins.

Those who understand and believe the gospel message, receive the benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection by faith. The Jews celebrate Passover with a feast once a year, but Christians remember what Jesus accomplished as the true Lamb of God over and over again throughout the year.

Mission Reminder

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)

God set Israel free from the oppressive power of Pharaoh and Egypt in one glorious event, but bringing them into the land of promise and transforming them into a nation that would bring glory and honor to God was much more difficult and is still ongoing.

Setting people free is easier than getting them to use their freedom to serve God from the heart.

Today followers of Christ are faced with the same challenge as the Israelites of old. Will we use our freedom in Christ to serve God or just go do our own thing? We have a distinct advantage over the Israelites, however: the Holy Spirit indwells every believer, giving each of us the internal desire and ability to serve him.

Jesus is not only the risen Lamb of God who suffered and died for our sins. He is also the ascended glorious Lord of lords, who poured out his Spirit on the church to commission and empower her to fulfill the Great Commission.

When we share communion, it is a chance for us to recommit ourselves to serve the Lord with all our hearts by taking the gospel to the ends of the earth and making disciples as we go.

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Spiritual Transformation

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29 (NLT)

In addition to exalting his Son as Lord of Lords, Father God’s purpose for us is to transform us into Christ’s image. Christ is the exact representation of the Father; so, Father is committed to the process of gradually making us more and more like himself while we live here on planet earth. When Jesus returns, the transformation will be instantaneous and complete when we receive our new resurrection bodies.

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54  When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55  “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (ESV)

Every day we are challenged to interact with God’s Spirit, the Scriptures, and other believers as he works from the inside out to make us more like Jesus.

Each day presents us with choices and opportunities to avail ourselves of the grace that is available to us in Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-8)

Each of us has what the Bible calls the “old man” or the “flesh,” which is the residue from the corrupt sin nature inherited from Adam. When we are born again, our spirits are transformed and joined to God’s Spirit, giving us the internal desire to love and serve God; however, the residual “flesh,” which is connected to the sin cursed pre-resurrection body, retains its antipathy towards God and his will, setting up within us a spiritual struggle that will continue until the resurrection. (Galatians 5:17 – I have written extensively about this elsewhere. If you wish to read more, click here.)

None of us is able to transform ourselves.

Misguided attempts to do so always result in the frustration of legalism. However, we do have a responsibility in the matter to cooperate with the Spirit and be open to correction from the Word of God and our brothers and sisters. This presupposes membership in a local church where we allow ourselves to be known by others and not just hide out in meetings where we can remain anonymous. (You can read more about our responsibility in spiritual transformation by clicking here.)

Ministers also are responsible before God to participate in this process. Paul told Timothy, his disciple:

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 (NLT)

Those who are wise will listen and respond.

God is also fully involved through a process called discipline. Like a good parent, he is committed to taking steps to insure that his children develop into responsible mature adults. God’s discipline can be minor or major. That is up to him. We should never presume that he will not play “hardball” with us. (Hebrews 12:5-13)

Spiritual transformation is designed to maximize God’s glory and our happiness.

God is glorified when his people reflect his character. Our joy is made complete as we become more and more like our Creator – Sustainer – Redeemer.

The missional church is committed to teaching, encouraging, and participating in this process with an attitude of love, patience, and mercy combined with a firm commitment to truth, while avoiding even a hint of legalism. (Ephesians 4:14-16)

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Spiritual Disciplines

Spiritual disciplines are an often neglected part of discipleship. I will highlight four in this article: prayer, fasting, alms giving, and service. It should be clearly understood that these disciplines do not earn or maintain for us a right standing with God. That comes by faith in Christ’s finished work, through which his right standing with God becomes our own.

Spiritual disciplines are God-given ways for us to connect with God’s heart in a greater way, which makes us more receptive to the indwelling Spirit’s voice and direction. The more we get in step with the Spirit, the more we grow and thrive as disciples.

Prayer

When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6  But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:5-6 (NLT)

Prayer is a lifeline with God. It can be broken down into four types of prayer: worship, thanksgiving, petition, and intercession.

Worship opens the door for us to get in sync with God’s heart and purposes. As we focus and delight in the Lord, we grow in faith and gain his perspective, which helps us pray in line with his will. When we do that, we can be assured that our prayers will be effective. (1 John 5:14-15)

Thanksgiving is closely aligned with worship. Whereas worship focuses on God’s person, character, power, and worthiness; thanksgiving is the way we consciously and deliberately remember and show our gratitude for his many mercies and blessings. Being thankful is perhaps the most important character quality a person can have. Developing a habit of thankfulness is a primary concern for growth as a disciple. (Philippians 4:6)

Every healthy relationship involves conversational give and take. If all we do is talk during prayer and ask God for things, we miss out on a most important element of petitionary prayer – listening to God. We all have needs and desires, but not all of them are God’s best for us. If we learn to delight in him first, he will fulfill our deepest longings. (Psalm 37:4)

Intercessory prayer is when we go to bat for someone else. God loves his people to take on a Spirit inspired prayer burden for other people and the things God wants and plans to do on the earth. Jesus continually makes intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25) and delights when we join him in that ministry.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)

 

Fasting

And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17  But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18  Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18 (NLT)

Good things happen when we fast; even though, it may not always seem so initially. Fasting can be done in any number of ways, from complete abstinence from food and water to some more specific sort of fast, such as limiting oneself to liquids only. Fasts can be for any duration.

The important thing with fasting is to be led by the Spirit and use the fast to set aside time to focus on and listen to God through praying and reading the Scriptures.

Sometimes fasts are directed toward a specific purpose, such as asking God for direction at a particularly confusing, difficult, or important crossroad in life. At other times, we may fast simply to draw closer to God. Fasting shows that we value God more than food itself. It is a way for us to deny ourselves in order to pursue God. As with prayer, we do not gain or maintain our right standing with God through this discipline. It is a matter of the heart.

While fasting sometimes we clearly hear God’s voice. At other times, we may seem to receive nothing. We may receive a spiritual breakthrough that may be accompanied by spiritual warfare, as God opens a door for us that Satan seeks to block. Remember that Jesus encountered severe temptations just as he completed a long fast. After conquering those temptations, he launched his public ministry.

Alms Giving

Giving is a very important part of discipleship. Jesus warned his followers that we must give up all we have to be his disciple. (Luke 14:33) Tithing was an old covenant concept that continues to be practiced by many disciples today. Generally it is understood that tithing involves giving ten percent of our “increase” or income to God. Usually this is done through the local church. The idea is that the tithe is not ours to direct; so, we put it into the hands and under the authority of church leadership.

Alms giving is when we freely give beyond the tithe at our own discretion to whatever or whomever the Spirit directs.

Jesus advocated giving to the poor, as does the Bible in general. In the Sermon on the Mount, he elevated it to the same level as prayer and fasting.

Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2  When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3  But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4  Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4 (NLT)

If we are going to be disciples after Jesus’ heart, we will ask the Spirit to develop in us a generosity toward the poor combined with wisdom in how to give without inadvertently causing more harm. (See When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.) God promises that the generous will receive abundant blessings in return.

Serving

Serving is one of the hallmarks of true discipleship. Jesus taught his followers to elevate servanthood to an exalted status in the kingdom of God.

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26  But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27  and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT)

I included serving as a spiritual discipline because serving does not come naturally to most of us. It must be cultivated and deliberately pursued. Growth as a disciple can be measured in terms of how willing we are to serve others. All ministry is service, and, when we serve others, Jesus taught us that we are actually serving him.

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matthew 25:40 (NLT)
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How Can Churches Equip Disciples to Make Disciples? Part 10: Teaching Basic Life Skills

 

 

 

 

 

Due to the breakdown of the family and society in general, many people are not learning basic life skills at home or in school.

They arrive at our churches having never seen or experienced a biblical family structure, learned personal discipline, some social skills, or how to manage finances, a home, or a business.

Discipleship builds the whole person; so, remediating these deficiencies is important.

Every person is unique; so, I believe we should use a diagnostic and prescriptive approach for each individual. Over time it will become apparent to the disciple maker what areas needs to be shored up. Diagnosis can happen quickly by using precise questions and gradually over time by observation. Once we know what needs to be taught and demonstrated, we can begin the personal remediation process.

As with all discipleship, life change happens through personal devotion to God, interaction with others, sound teaching, and practical application with feedback.

Discipline is a huge key to success in life. When a disciple maker encounters a lack of this in a disciple, it must be addressed. Of course, discipline can only be encouraged, not mandated, but those who show little or no interest or progress in this area disqualify themselves from further development. Those who have never been part of a biblical family situation, with a father and mother both being present, should be invited to participate at some level in a healthy family dynamic. Those who grew up in broken families may never have seen a good marriage. They should be exposed to couples who have exemplary marriages. In addition, foundational teaching on the subject can be shared one-on-one or in groups.

The absence or ignorance of basic etiquette and social skills can hold people back in a big way and should be addressed by the mentor. The same is true when a lack of understanding of how to budget and handle finances rears its head, and likewise regarding skills in how to run a family or operate a business.

This aspect of discipleship can provide an avenue of service for those in the church who may not be motivated or gifted to teach the Bible, but who have a wealth of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom in practical matters.

Each person in the church is capable of being part of the discipleship making network of resources.

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How Can Churches Equip Disciples to Make Disciples? Part 9: Developing Ministry Skills – Leading / Pastoring a Small Group

 

 

 

 

 

If churches choose to adopt a structure that is best for developing people as disciples, they will use small groups extensively.

Churches that focus on having fantastic Sunday morning services will end up producing people who are mostly spectators. Whether we consciously realize it or not, those who attend such churches often come to see and hear a “show” or a production; even though they will not likely describe it that way. You will hear comments that laud the power of the message, the inspirational quality of the worship, and the efficiency of the organization. I remember hearing a big fan of such a church tell me that you can tell a good church by the quality of the sermon. Really? I thought the measuring stick should be the quality of the disciples we are producing.

Such spectator-based churches put most of their time, money, and effort into developing a Sunday event that will keep people coming back. To do this they employ their most talented people or hire professionals, leaving the rest doing important but less visible jobs and administrative type duties. People who attend such churches realize that their role is to help pull off the main event for the week. As a caveat, it must be said that many event focused churches involve people in lots of worthwhile ministries outside of Sunday morning, but please stick with me philosophically as I continue to explore this idea. In production focused churches, many do nothing more than attend the Sunday show and hopefully contribute financially. I think it goes without saying that the people who attend such churches like it that way, as do the church leaders. The very best reason for doing church this way is that it is incredibly efficient at gathering people to receive ministry. But should that really be our goal?

If our pursuit, however, is to equip, develop, and launch people into ministry, small groups provide a much better format. Every small group needs a leader, a host family, a worship leader, a Bible teacher, a kid’s minister, etc. If the group grows and splits into a second group, which should be the goal, double that number of leaders and ministers. The requirement to provide a show is non-existent. Generally the challenge is to find people who are willing to accept responsibility and grow in leadership and ministry skills, no matter what their current level of development.

At the small group level of church, when people begin to do something outside their previous comfort zone or ability, it is celebrated and encouraged, since growth is the goal, not an excellent production.

Another benefit to small groups, if they are run properly, is that they involve everyone in discussing God’s Word together, worshiping, prayer, interpersonal ministry, and growth as a person, often around a fellowship meal. If groups are kept small enough, it is impossible to hide forever. We become known as we bare our souls to share our thoughts honestly with one another. Some of you might be thinking at this point that you would prefer the anonymity of a larger church. If so, you are not alone, but we should ask ourselves, “Why do we go to church?” Are we attending to listen and mind our own business, or we choosing to grow as a disciple who takes seriously the Great Commission?

If, as we do at LifeNet, you are convinced that small groups provide the greatest opportunity and venue to develop disciples; then, our greatest need is to develop new leaders. Groups cannot multiply unless leaders do.

Apprenticeship is the best method to develop leaders in a disciple making church.

Time can be devoted to teaching basic concepts and principles in a one on one or classroom setting, but most of the useful training will happen by observation and by doing, especially when the doing is accompanied by feedback afterward. A streamlined way to maximize the apprenticeship process is for the church leader to meet weekly with apprentice and current small group leaders to teach them the Bible lesson that all the small groups will use the following week.

Teaching teachers is a wonderful way to multiply ministry.

The small group leaders can be instructed to take what they learned and translate it into their own ministry style, without losing the essence of the message. Those top leaders who want to retain complete control over content will balk at allowing any deviation from the official script, but once again we must ask, “What is the goal?” Are we trying to duplicate the official church teaching or develop people who are capable ministers in their own right? In order to clarify, as parents, what is our goal? Do we want children who grow up to lead their own families, or do we want them to live at home forever under our leadership and decision making? Should we not have similar goals for those we disciple?

No matter what method we use to grow people as disciples, there will always be risk.

There is the danger of leaders taking the people and running off with them. There is the concern that they may distort the truth and lead people into error. There is the possibility that small group leaders might be spiritual bullies or lazy do nothings. The list goes on, but developing people is always hazardous. Ask any parent. Even God had his kids go astray, and he is the perfect parent. Even Jesus had a disciple go off the deep end. It is part of the danger of the world in which we live. We have no guarantees how things will turn out, but when we see a child or disciple develop into a loving, responsible adult or leader, it is well worth it. And let’s not forget that this is how God wants us to do things.

Jesus said for us to go and make disciples, not stay and grow a church.

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