Crossing a “missional” church

“Missional” Church : Missions is not just a program, but a descriptor of everything we do.

“Missional” People : Men, women, boys, and girls who see mission not just as a calling, but as a way of life.

A Missional Model Part Two The Apostle Paul In Athens Acts 17:23-34

“Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men,

that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone-- an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." At that, Paul left the Council. A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. Acts 17:16-34 NIV

Missional Principles for Normal People : 1. Speak to Points of Contact. A.He is the Creator—the Lord of heaven and earth. (v.24a) SO WHAT? We should listen to Him. Establishes RELEVANCE.

Missional Principles for Normal People : 1. Speak to Points of Contact. B. He does not live in temples built by hands. (v. 24b) SO WHAT? He is not like these gods. Establishes UNIQUENESS.

Missional Principles for Normal People : 1. Speak to Points of Contact. C. He does not need anything because He gives everything. (v. 25) SO WHAT? This God is the source of all of life—he doesn’t ‘need’ any of us. Establishes SUFFICIENCY.

Missional Principles for Normal People : 1. Speak to Points of Contact. D. He made all people and determined when and where they would live. (v. 26) SO WHAT? He is Sovereign over all of His creation. Establishes ULTIMATE AUTHORITY.

Missional Principles for Normal People : 1. Speak to Points of Contact. E. He wants to have a relationship with His creatures. (v. 27a) SO WHAT? He is a good God. Establishes His CHARACTER.

Missional Principles for Normal People : 1. Speak to Points of Contact. F. He is near. (v.27b) SO WHAT? You are looking for a God that can be found. Establishes ACCESSIBILITY.

Missional Principles for Normal People : 2. Speak a language they can understand. A. There are things in every culture that can be used for the Kingdom. B. At their best, these things have been marred by sin. Even so, we need to use them to communicate Truth.

Missional Principles for Normal People : 3. Tell them how to respond to God. REPENT. Lit. “to have a change of heart, turn from one's sins, change one's ways.” To make a U-Turn. WHY? Because a day of judgment is coming. Jesus has been raised to prove it.

Missional Principles for Normal People : 4. People WILL respond. Some heard the Message with contempt. Others were made curious. Others were convinced and converted.

the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 ESV