Interface Ideas

Assumptions 1. The Great Commission defines the Church’s existence on Earth 2. God has purposed that the Great Commission fulfil His (two-fold) agenda of gathering people from all peoples into His Kingdom and maturing His Church for eternal purposes. 3. The Church universal consists of, primarily, two redemptive structures – Modality and Sodality! James Jesus/Paul Modality: A nurturing structure responsible for evangelism and church planting within the church’s representative people group! Sodality: An outreach structure responsible to take the Gospel to unreached people groups. 4. Modality and Sodality are intrinsically connected and only in unity together can fulfil God’s agenda of a mature Church representing all peoples.

Sodality Model Sodality Local churches (Modalities) T r a i n i n g P A T H W A Y T r a i n i n g GOV Affinity bloc or People cluster COSI CPT LRPG

The Incredible Expansion of the Kingdom of God through the Early Church

Amazing Growth of the Early Church First Century Growth Second Century Third Century This amazing growth took place in the face of 10 major persecutions This all began with just one local church and 120 believers 5

Early Church Model Great Commission Evangelism Mission Praise/ Worship/Prayer Discipleship Service Fellowship Act 1:6-8 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking Him, "Lord, are you going to free Israel now and restore our kingdom?" He replied, "The Father sets those dates,” he replied, “and they are not for you to know. But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (NLT) This New Testament age, is not about YOU, its about extending the Kingdom of God throughout the world! 6

New Testament Church INPUT OUTPUT Making Disciples of all Nations Priesthood of all believers Ministry of all believers The Apostles Teaching The Apostles Training (2Ti 2:2) Nurturing (Acts 2:42) Equipping (Eph 4:11-12) Making Disciples of all Nations (Mt 28:18-20, Acts 1:8) For Service Releasing Into Service D I S C I P L E S H I P

Evangelicals in 1790 8

The Roman Church INPUT OUTPUT HEAVEN Laity Clergy Nurturing Ministry (Acts 2:42) Personal Life Family Church Evangelism Discipleship Teaching HEAVEN Ministry Serving/helps (ministry IN the church)

Two Church Models Attractional Missional Great Commission Evangelism Mission Praise/ Worship/Prayer Discipleship Service Fellowship Missional Praise/ Worship/Prayer Fellowship Discipleship Evangelism M Attractional Act 1:6-8 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking Him, "Lord, are you going to free Israel now and restore our kingdom?" He replied, "The Father sets those dates,” he replied, “and they are not for you to know. But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (NLT) This New Testament age, is not about US, its about extending the Kingdom of God throughout the earth! 10

Patrick Johnstone: “Scripture, theology, the Church and even Christians would not exist without mission. Therefore a theology without mission is not a Biblical theology, a Church without mission is no longer truly the Church and a Christian without mission is no true disciple.” From, The Church is Bigger than You Think pg 23

Two Great Themes Summarized by Jesus LK 24:44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. "Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

The Finished Work of Christ and the Unfinished Work of Christ

Mar 8:34-35 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

INPUT OUTPUT The L O C A L C H U R C H The Great Commission Equipping Priesthood of all believers Ministry of all believers Apostles Teaching Apostles Training Church. The work IN the church Equipping Nurture Evangelism Discipleship Serving/Helps Teaching Community Social (Drugs,poor etc) Intercession Cross-cultural mission etc For Service: 1. Discovering ministry gifts 2. Developing ministry skills Spirituality, Church Personal Life, Family Work, Community The Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20, Mk 16:15, Acts 1:8) (local/global or same culture/ cross-culture) Transition Releasing (Service) Into Service: 1. Local church ministry 2. Agency ministry 3. Training Institution Evangelism Helps World. The work OF the church D I S C I P L E S H I P 15

Communicators Role - Example Jesus Teaching MK 9:31 For He taught His disciples and said to them,… MENTORING/COACHING Jesus Ministered Training Mat 17:14-16 And when they came to the crowd, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and grievously vexed; for oftentimes he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him. Jesus Ministered the Disciples Watched Jesus Ministered the Disciples Ministered Challenge MK 6:37 He answered and said to them, You give them food to eat. The Disciples Ministered Jesus Watched Involvement Lk 9:1-2 And He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. And He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. The Disciples Ministered Celebrating Achievements MK 6:30 And the apostles gathered themselves to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.