Mission, Missions & Missional Mission to Missional Mission, Missions & Missional

Definition of Mission & Missions Mission – Mission refers to the mission of God (Missio Dei), God’s work in this world including through human ambassadors to reconcile sinful humanity to Himself (Jn. 3:16-18; 2 Cor. 5:18-20). God is the theological foundation God is the source of power God provides the guiding principles God provides the saving message

Definition of Mission & Missions Missions – is the plans and strategies used by committed believers to accomplish the mission of God. Christian’s response to God Practical implementation of guiding principles and saving message

Central Missions Themes Orientation Focus Scriptures Action Principle God Directed Source of Mission Jn. 17:2, 18, 21 God calls people to Him God of Relation-ship Christ Centered Core of Mission Jn. 3:16-17 Christ is the Way Ministry of Reconcilia-tion People Focused Heart of Missions Mk. 16:16 Peoples’ may hear Contextual Message Missional Life Outcome Missions Acts 1:47 1 Cor. 3:7 God gives growth Ambassadors & Good Stewarts Service Seeking Plan of Mt. 28:18 Make disciples Holistic Strategies

Strategy: Who to Send & Preparation Three core requirements Love God Love of people All created in God’s image Preparation (2 Tim. 2:1-7; 3:10-17) Apostles training

Preparation for the Mission Field Three Areas of Personal Preparation Spiritual Preparation Interpersonal Relationships Intellectual Development

Preparation for the Mission Field Spiritual Preparation Participate in ministry experiences now Have a close spiritual advisor, accountability Set aside times of spiritual refreshment Develop a schedule of study, prayer, and preparation Develop spiritual disciplines Prayer Service Outreach

Preparation for the Mission Field Reasons for Spiritual Preparation In mission areas you not have the spiritual support of a congregation and more mature Christians. Times of stress call for spiritual strength Misunderstanding to think one will increase in spiritual activities and develop. Dealing with daily problems, strange living conditions, and busy work can consume the missionary.

Preparation for the Mission Field Interpersonal Relationships Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Dissension between missionaries cause most of the break-ups among teams. Team retreats Maintenance time Refresh time Selflessness consideration for others is necessary Develop relationships with community people

Preparation for the Mission Field Interpersonal Relationships Missionaries voluntarily put themselves under a lot of pressure. Group dynamics experience in controlled situation with means of continuing on the field. Know yourself, leader or a follower; highly social vs. non-social. Personal and family considerations must be examined. Work verses family time. Responsibilities verses capable of assuming.

Preparation for the Mission Field Intellectual Development Bible training Deal with variety of belief systems and religions Confront new questions not a part of home culture Missions training Culture understanding

Preparation for the Mission Field Intellectual Development Training programs Combination of training and experience Be prepared for a lifetime of study Informal study Formal study Local evangelistic experience Special seminars for cross-cultural experience Identify ethnocentric views and behavior Campaigns, internships, apprenticeships Advanced training after years of experience

Preparation for the Mission Field Intellectual Development Significant areas of study Missiology Theology Theology of missions Church development Linguistics Cultural anthropology Administration Para-medical and survival training Appropriate technology Leadership training

Qualifications for Missionaries People who know God (relationship) People who share God’s love for the lost People of prayer People committed to the body of Christ People obedient to the Lord People who are energetic and creative People who are maturing

Two Types of Biblical Mandates Cultural Mandate – is the Biblical concept of Christians being socially responsible to the poor and under privileged. Mt. 22:39; 25:34-46; Lk. 10:25-37 Social gospel if cultural mandate only emphasized Evangelistic Mandate – is the Biblical expression of Christians’ responsibility to go and make disciples so people may be in a proper relationship with God. Mt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15-16; Lk. 24:46-47

Three Views of Evangelism Presence Evangelism This type of evangelism is the idea that evangelism is basically passive but living as Christians among none Christians and doing good works. It does not actively try to make disciples.

Three Views of Evangelism Proclamation Evangelism This type of evangelism believes in the idea of presence with good works but also believes that the word should be proclaimed so people hear and understand but stops short of persuading people. It would not push the urgency of accepting the gospel message.

Three Views of Evangelism Persuasion Evangelism Persuasion evangelism has both the elements of presence evangelism and proclamation but a person must become a disciple of Jesus Christ and a member of a local church. A person is not evangelized by just hearing and understanding (Matt. 13:1-9, 18-23).

Holistic Mission Definition: Holistic mission is the intentional integration of building the church and transforming society (EDWM, 448).

Holistic Mission Emphasis of Holistic Mission: Spiritual life Restoration of the physical situation Restoration of communities Socio-economic improvements Improved life now

Holistic Mission Scriptures for Holistic Mission: Mt. 25:31-46 Lk. 4:16-21 Jn. 9:25 Rom. 12:19-21

Four Dimensions of Human Life Holistic Mission Four Dimensions of Human Life PHYSICAL ECONOMIC SPIRITUAL SOCIAL Jean-Paul Heldt, Revisiting the “Whole Gospel”: Toward a Biblical Model of Holistic Mission in the 21st Century. (2004)

Integrated View Human Nature Holistic Mission Integrated View Human Nature Physical Economic Social Spiritual Individual Health Well-being Poverty Literacy Depression Captivity Hopelessness Powerlessness Peace Oppression Guilt Shame Salvation Family Heredity Environment Employment Child labor Prostitution Divorce Abuse Gender relations Religion Beliefs Rituals Community Sanitation Pollution Social Welfare Education Land distribution Culture Social injustice Violence Worldview Godview Evangelism Nation(s) AIDS Health-care Economy Exploitation Wars, conflicts Human rights Slavery Racism Ideology Religious liberty Redemption Jean-Paul Heldt, Revisiting the “Whole Gospel”: Toward a Biblical Model of Holistic Mission in the 21st Century. (2004)

Four Dimensions of Ministry Found in Luke 4:18-19 Holistic Mission Four Dimensions of Ministry Found in Luke 4:18-19 ECONOMIC “Preach good news to the poor” PHYSICAL “Recovering of sight to the blind” SPIRITUAL “Set at liberty those who are oppressed” SOCIAL “Proclaim release to the captives” Jean-Paul Heldt, Revisiting the “Whole Gospel”: Toward a Biblical Model of Holistic Mission in the 21st Century. (2004)

Systems Approach to the Study of Humans GOD History Eternity Holistic Elements Physical System Cultural Spiritual Social Personal Biological Revelation

Missional Church Definition: The missional church is a church that sees its mission to represent Christ and operates as being sent into the world to reach the lost. OR “A community of God’s people that defines itself, and organizes its life around, its real purpose of being an agent of God’s mission to the world.” Alan Hirsh, The Forgotten Ways

Missional Church Nature of Missional Church: Mission is the central purpose of the church. Contextual in nature by making the gospel relevant and meaningful to people. Community centered in going into communities to share the gospel. People recognized and treated as created in God’s image. Incarnational by representing Christ through our lives and interaction with others. Kingdom living – teaching and living God as ruler of life.

Missional Church Six Recontextualizations for Modern Churches: From a cognitive cathedral to a spiritual walk with God From attenders to community involvement From members to ministers From position of strength to position of weakness From culture accommodators to kingdom participants From monocultural to multicultual

Shaped by God’s mission The Missional Church Shaped by God’s mission Missio Dei – church enters God’s mission Kingdom of God – church reflects and proclaims the rule of God Incarnational – church represents Christ in the world and He is are example of incarnational ministry Sacrifice – willing to sacrifice for humanity as Christ Eschatological – ultimate victory in Christ in death or life

The Missional Church Community Action Leavening influence in community Kingdom living (showing God’s rule in our lives) Life sharing Outward focused Social action reflecting Christian ethics Holistic view of ministry Connecting and discipling the receptive

Strategy of Receptivity Definition: The state of being open to responding to the gospel message.

Strategy of Receptivity Reasons for prioritizing receptive people It follows the biblical example Limited commission (Mt. 10:1-15; Mk. 6:7-13; Lk. 9:1-16) Nicodemus (Jn. 3:1-21) Our time is limited Our resources are limited We want to be as faithful as possible Follows open doors (Col. 4:3; Rev. 3:8)

Strategy of Receptivity Signs of receptivity FRANs – Friends, relatives, & neighbors Trust in established Relationships established Experience Christian presence positively A meaningful gospel message Church visitors Looking to fill a need Want to be part of a group Spiritual seekers

Strategy of Receptivity Signs of receptivity Life situation changes Major personal & family life changes Work changes Political & economic changes Cultural changes

The Rainer Scale & Receptivity U5 – highly resistant to gospel, antagonistic U4 – resistant to the gospel, not antagonistic U3 – no apparent receptivity, neutral, open to some degree U2 – receptive to the gospel and to the church U1 – highly receptive to the gospel D1 – “baby” in Christ D2 – signs of early maturity in Christ

The Rainer Scale & receptivity U5 – Antagonistic (5%) U4 – Resistant (21%) U3 – Neutral (36%) U2 – Friendly (27%) U1 – Very friendly (11%) 74%

The Engel Scale Spiritual Decision Process Model -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 Awareness of a supreme being only Initial awareness of the gospel Awareness of gospel fundamentals Grasp of implications of the gospel Positive attitude toward the gospel Personal problem recognition Decision to act Repentance & faith in Christ The person is regenerated & becomes a new creature +1 +2 +3 Post-decision evaluation Incorporation into the Body Lifetime of growth in Christ Make Disciples ETERNITY Nurture Source: Spectrum, Winter, p. 5 rejection

Gray Metrix – Desire for people to move toward “C” PLANTING CHURCHES Gray Metrix – Desire for people to move toward “C”

Ed Stetzer Planting Missional Churches PLANTING CHURCHES Ed Stetzer Planting Missional Churches

Strategies for MISSIONAL CHURCHES Four major types of growth Internal growth Expansion growth Extension growth Bridging growth

Strategies for MISSIONAL CHURCHES Internal Growth Inside the body Christians become better Christians Quality growth = spiritual maturity Organic growth = growth in ministries

Qualitative Church Growth: Nurturing Nurturing is facilitating believers’ to grow in faith and dependence on God, equipping them for ministries, toward redemptive service to others for the growth of the church internally and externally.

Strategies for MISSIONAL CHURCHES Expansion Growth Evangelistic growth = unsaved brought to Christ & incorporated into local church Transfer growth = Christians moving their membership from one congregation to another Biological growth = Children of Christians become Christians

Strategies for MISSIONAL CHURCHES Extension Growth Unsaved reached & new church planted Church experiences internal and expansion growth Affords the greatest opportunity for growth

Strategies for MISSIONAL CHURCHES Bridging Growth Unsaved reached & new church planted in another culture Degrees of bridging because of cultural differences Cultural barriers to be bridged

Strategies for MISSIONAL CHURCHES Foundational spiritual factors for missional churches: They have strong biblical goals They have effective teaching ministries They have personal contact in communities that lead to sharing the gospel Outreach programs are developed in concert with the members Active in prayer Outward focus is emphasized by the leadership