Session 1: The Foundations of Ambassador Church

Becoming An Ambassador Course  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Icebreaker: 3 Words About Me (Rapid Fire) - 10 Minutes

Goal: Help people quickly introduce themselves while sparking curiosity.

How It Works:

Instruct participants to think of three words that describe themselves (e.g., “teacher, foodie, servant”).
Go around the room popcorn-style, letting each person say their three words without explanation.
After everyone has shared, ask reflection questions:
Who heard a word that intrigued them? (Give space for a few people to respond.)
What do our words reveal about the kind of people God has gathered here?

Our Purpose

Acts 1:6–9 ESV
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

We are a sign of God’s Kingdom here and now—and a preview of what’s to come.

At very beginning of the book of Acts, Jesus points to the purpose of the church…what it will be in the world to do…
YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER & YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES

The church is called to be a living sign that Jesus has already begun His Kingdom on earth. Together and as individuals, we show the world what life under His rule looks like now—and give a glimpse of the fullness to come when His Kingdom is complete.

Life Under His Rule

Mutual love
Cross-cultural, intergenerational, multi-class unity

Foretaste of the Future

Miracles and Healing
Heaven & Earth touching through prayer and worship

Our Passion

Helping people find their purpose and live on mission with Jesus.

Our mission is born out of the church’s general purpose. 
Find purpose. Live on mission.

Your place of purpose is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.

We do not embrace the “one grand destiny” myth
We do believe that God designed each of us with unique passions and gifts so that we can find joy and make an impact through the work we do and the ways we serve.
Vocation is about living into those passions and gifts.

Our People

The church for people who love people.

Congregations organize around different principles:

Geography (church for people in South Holland)
Personalities (church for people who like to hear Chris Butler preach)
Race, class, creed (church for Black pentecostals or Rich presbyterians)

Our organizing principle is one of vocational calling:

Ambassador Church is a home for people who love people—those who feel called to serve and seek to be a force for good in their families, workplaces, and communities. We disciple “God’s helpers”—those who desire to make an impact through faith and action.

It’s important to know where you belong!

Philippians 2:19–30 ESV
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

The Body of Christ Divided, But Not Divided

Timothy was going to the Philippians, but he belonged with Paul.
Epaphroditus had been serving with Paul, but he belonged with the Philippians.

Our organizing principles is born out of the vision God has given AND the people God has already called to this place:

Police Officers and Parents
Social Workers and Social Entrepreneurs
Creatives and Care-takers
Medical People and Military Service Members
Educators and Activists
Civil Servants and Social Scientists
Customer Service Experts and Mental Health Counselors

Our Playbook

Remember the Titans (PLAY THE VIDEO IN PROCLAIM…It does have audio)

We only run three plays. Keep It Simple Saints!

We Gather:

Sundays Together: Worship, teaching, prayer, and fellowship in dynamic, fresh forms.
Connect Groups: Small group ministry fostering connection and growth.
Special Events: Larger gatherings for outreach, celebration, and discipleship.

We Grow:

Ambassador Institute: Vocation-centered Bible study and leadership development.
Ambassador College: Offering undergraduate and master’s degree programs at the church.
Discipleship Circles: One-on-one mentoring relationships using the Small Circle Discipleship platform.

We Go:

Evangelism and Outreach: Sharing the gospel through local and global missions.
Go Sundays: Church-wide outreach every 5th Sunday, mobilizing the entire congregation.
Sending & Support: Train, send, and support traditional and vocational missionaries (intentionally reaching people for Christ in their communities and careers).

Q&A

Reflection Questions

What does “Find Purpose. Live on Mission.” mean to you personally?
We say we are a home for “God’s helpers.” Who are “God’s helpers” in your life—people you’ve seen live this out? How do you see yourself fitting into this description?
What excites you most about Ambassador Church’s Purpose, Passion, and Playbook? What’s one way you see yourself engaging with it?
The church is meant to be a “sign” of God’s Kingdom now and a foretaste of what’s to come. What’s one way we can live this out in our everyday lives?

Membership Commitments

What does it look like to be a good member?

Participate & Serve
Live The Values of Love
Humility: Maintain a sense of moral smallness (not functional smallness).
Gentleness: Be patient and tender in disposition. Always seeks to honor others.
Mercy: Choose grace over judgment. Extending to others the kindness, forgiveness, and care that Christ has shown us.
Unity: Do all you can to be welcoming and functionally agreeable. Prioritize our shared mission over personal preferences and siloed groupings.
Be Generous
Share your talent.
Share your time.
Share your treasure.

Build Toward Abundance Giving

Giving for the first time
Sporadic giving
Committed giving
Tithing
Abundance giving (tithing w/offerings)
END
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