The Missional Church

The Missional Church

INTRODUCTION

     A.      ….going global…going missional…

B.        Slogans come and go! It used to be: ‘We need to be a Mission Minded Church’. That was replaced by ‘We need to be a purpose driven church.’ Then came ‘We need to be a emergent church.’ Recently the phrase ‘We need to be a missional church’ has caught on.

C.        Today I want to talk to you about what it means to be a missional church and explain how we are trying to be missional. Then I want call all of us to commit ourselves to being missional.   Read <Luke 10:1-12>

I.  <What is a missional church?> (vv. 1-4)

   A.   <It’s a ‘sent’ church > <(vv. 1,3).>

      1.   Jesus was sent to this world with a mission.

2.   We, his followers similarly are sent into this world with a mission.

<Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”    - John 20:21>

   B.  <It’s a  compassionate church > <(v. 2)>.

      1.   Jesus had compassion for this lost world.

<For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

                                                                                 - Luke 19:10>

<The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

                                                                      - 2 Peter 3:9>

      2.   So should we have compassion for our unsaved neighbors and friends.

<Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

                                                                        - Luke 14:4-6>

   C.  <It’s an obedient church.>

      1.   Jesus came to this world on a mission and he calls us (commands us) join him in accomplishing his mission on earth.

<Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

                                                              - Matthew 28:18-20>

<But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

                                                                                       - Acts 1:8>

      2.   A missional church hears this call and obeys it.

   D.   <It’s a courageous church > <vv. 3-4>.

II.  <What does the missional church do?> (vv. 5-10).

   A.  <It looks for ways of blessing  people> <v. 6>.

      1.  We are to ‘speak peace to our neighbors.’

      2.  Our tendency is to curse nonbelievers and then wonder why they’re not attracted to Christ.

     3.  The key to our mission is our willingness to bless those around us.

   B.  <It looks for ways of developing genuine, long-lasting relationships > <v. 7>.

      1.   We are not jump from person to person, or to house to house, but to stick with people for the long haul.

      2.   We demonstrate the presence of God by sharing a meal, giving a ride, showing interest in another person’s activities, and listening to their concerns.

     3.   Jesus was an expert at relational ministry, We can too, when we meet people right where they are at in life and love them in spite of their sin.

   C.   <It looks for ways to respond to felt needs > <vv. 8-9a>.

1.      To “heal the sick” can be interpreted, “discover a persons felt needs and respond to them.”

2.      When a person is sick, really sick, not much else matters. Sometimes there are deeper sickness that is not so easy to discern.

3.      The point is to minister to a person’s felt needs first, so that over time their deeper needs can surface as well.

B.        <It looks for opportunities to share the gospel > <v. 9b>.

1.      When we take the time to respond to the felt needs that people we are able to tell people “the kingdom of God is near.”

2.      The missional church never loses sight of the fact that sharing the gospel is the main point for ministry – we need to tell people about Christ and their need for Him.

   C.  <It looks for ways of warning people >of the consequences of not turning to Christ <vv. 10-12>.

III.   <How are we trying to be a missional church?>

   A.   <By following a biblically based strategy>.               

1.      Starts in the community

2.      People try the church. (class 101)

3.      They become regular attendees (class 201)

4.      They commit.(class 301)

5.      They join the core. (class 401)

B.      <By following a plan of discipleship> that leads people into becoming reproducing followers of Jesus Christ.

1.      Committed to learning: Class 101: Discovering the Christian Life.

2.      Committed to Membership: Class 201: Discovering SBF Membership

3.      Committed to Ministry: Class 301: Discovering your Ministry

4.      Committed to Missions: Class 401: Discovering your Mission

APPLICATION

   Illus. of Ben Patterson…He finally realized his purpose in life: to accomplish something only possible if God did it.

A.       You’ve heard about what it means to be a missional church. You’ve also heard how we are trying to be a missional church. Are you willing to commit to helping us become this missional church?

B.       Start by going through the four discipleship classes we have designed for you to grow into reproducing followers.

C.       At the same time get involved in the community…start blessing people…start building relationships…respond to felt needs of those you develop relationships with…share the gospel…warn those who reject it…

<Will you help us become a missional church?>