Basic Elements of a NT Church: Mission

Review from last week:

Individual expression of worship

Preferences

The church is an assembly of baptized (Acts 2:41), gospel-believing (I Corinthians 15:1-4), and gospel-proclaiming (Matthew 28:18-20) individuals who have formally covenanted together (Acts 2:41, Matthew 18:17, I Corinthians 5:2), under the lordship of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18) and the authority of his word (II Peter 3:1-2), and who regularly affirm this sacred covenant through mutually edifying love (Ephesians 4:15-16), ordinance administration (I Corinthians 11:23-26), and the pursuit of biblical church restoration (Galatians 5:26-6:2).

Opening Exercise

If we are going to be a church on mission, what are three things that must be taking place or that we should expect of ourselves?

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What is the goal of this lesson?

To show that gospel-believing, gospel-proclaiming churches require a particular kind of missional structure

Why is this goal needed?

Because mission is sending, but it is not only sending.

Because missing requires giving, but it is not only giving.

Because mission requires training, but not just any kind of training.

How will you accomplish this goal?

By showing from Titus that mission requires the training and ordaining of qualified pastors, training in gospel-producing, sound doctrine, and an expectation of gospel-rooted sacrificial giving of ourselves.

Does Titus actually support and have this goal in mind? If so, how?

In a redemptive sense, we must see that the post-gospel New Testament is the fulfillment or continuation of Christ's commission to the church in Matthew 28.

What is the commission?

It is to make disciples. Matthew 28:18-20 “18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

How do we fulfill this?

By teaching and baptizing as we go.

What is to be taught?

Whatsoever Jesus has said

This is where Titus falls in. Titus is to establish pastors in every city. These individuals are to be given to the teaching of sound doctrine that is based on the truth of the gospel, and doctrine that is evidently sound by the godliness this doctrine produces in the lives of the Christians.

Titus 2:11-14 “11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Jesus gave both the message and the mission. He also inaugurated the church. The message must not be separated from the mission and the mission must not be separated from the church.

So we can easily say that the mission of making disciples requires that we have churches where qualified leaders are teaching sound doctrine for the edification of the believers and consequently the evangelization of the lost.

If Titus shows us the details of how churches are to carry out the mission and message, then Titus would give us three important thoughts that are fundamental to mission.

The polity within the body of believers has direct influence on our proclamation ministry outside of the church.

Goal: To show that gospel-believing, gospel-proclaiming churches require a particular kind of missional structure

Body:

Mission requires training and installation of qualified, word-committed pastors. (Ch. 1)

Who they are and what they do (1:6-9)

if we will have a proper mission outward then all of our teaching inside must be gospel-based. All leadership must understand what this kind of teaching is and how to conduct this kind of or assess teaching it.

By-product is that it exposes false gospels (1:9-10, 13)

Faithfulness to truth exposes divisive error.

If we will have a proper mission outward our internal unity must be fundamentally based on the truth that exposes frivolous divisive teaching.

True Gospel Unity is evangelistic. (John 17:21)

“21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

Gospel community that is based on true gospel unity, where there is true love and forgiveness is a powerful witness to a lost world, but the opposite of this to true too.

We must consider that we cannot offer to unite sinners to the congregation of saints, while those same saints are not united together over lesser matters. Titus 3:10

“10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;”

Mission requires sound doctrine that produces gospel-rooted good works. (Ch. 2)

Sound doctrine is to compel missional activity inwardly (2:1-6)

Missional activity inwardly is to build accountability (2:2, 3,4,6,7)

Sound doctrine, missional activity, and accountability is to lead to good works.

Sound doctrine, missional activity, accountability, and good works are the product of the gospel seed (2:11-14)

Mission requires reminders about the gospel-based expectation of sacrificial living. (Ch. 3)

Reminders about good works are biblical. (3:1)

Reminders about the motive for good works are crucial (3:3-4)

Reminders about being sacrificially devoted to good works are necessary (3:8)

Reminders about frivolous squabbles offer safety (3:9)

Practical outcomes:

If we will be gospel-believing, gospel-proclaiming, people-sending, missionary-supporting....then we must see that mission requires a particular kind of structure. Here are some practical take aways:

(1) As a church, we must be intently focused on training and ordaining qualified individuals for both paid and non-paid pastoral work. Acts 14:21-23.

We should strongly be considering from our current body, men who both possess this kind of character and have a desire for such a great work.

This should not be purely considered for teens and young adults.

This should not be primarily determined by stage presence, talents…etc

(2) As a church, we should be so intentionally focused on sound doctrine and missional activity that the false teachers and divisive persons are squeezed out.

Be careful with discontentment that manifests itself in a sedentary person.

(3) As a church, we should welcome gospel-accountability and provide accountability to those within the body.

Older have a responsibility to the younger.

Congregation has a responsibility to hold the pastors accountable.

(4) As a church, we should expect that all sound teaching be gospel-based teaching.

What is gospel-based teaching?

Dr. Prince, “If Jesus did not have to die to make what you are saying in the passage possible, then start over.” or “If your message could be preached or taught in a Jewish synagogue and be ok, then there is something missing.”

All expositional preaching is not Christ-centered.

If you hear a children’s teacher teach a lesson that encourages children to be more like David rather than to look to the greater David, you should be concerned.

There is no life in anything we give without the gospel.

Gospel-based teaching and giving the “Plan of salvation” are not synonomous.

Gospel-based teaching is teaching to Christians.

Gospel-based teaching exhorts the Christian to trust in the gospel as the power to obey.

Gospel-based teaching exhorts the Christian to see how Jesus fulfilled the command, and now how the Holy Spirit equips and enables us to obey the command.

Gospel-based teaching does not make anyone by Jesus the Hero of every story.

(5) As a church, we should expect all believers to be careful to devote themselves sacrificially to good works.

Because of Jesus, we should be willing to serve in Vacation Bible School.

Because of Jesus, we should be willing to sacrifice for nursery service.

Because of Jesus, we should be willing to supply for the urgent needs of the body.

Because of Jesus, we should be willing to be faithful in attending, singing, reading, and praying together.

Fruitless people are un-devoted people. Titus 3:14.

Conclusion:

The element of mission requires a particular kind of structure. We need to train and ordain pastors. We must be committed to gospel-based sound doctrine and good works. When the body is functioning this way, she becomes a powerful tool for evangelism.

For producing offspring that we send to other places in the world, our relationship in the home must be well.