Theological Foundation of Church Growth Entering Jesus’ Mission

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Jesus & the Great Commission Five Occurances Mt. 28:18-20 Mk. 16:15-16 Lk. 24:46-49 Jn. 20:21-23 Acts 1:8 Sending Motif of John

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Important concepts from Great Commission Command to go Sent as Jesus was sent Every ethnic group important Make disciples Teach all Jesus commanded God is with those who go Mission to continue till Christ returns

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Limited commission as an example Mt. 10:5-15; Mk. 6:7-13; Lk. 9:1-6 Target group Stay with receptive Don’t force the non-receptive Rely on the people Harvest principle Pray for workers Preach the gospel Preach repentance

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Seven principles from Jesus’ mission Search – Have a desire for the lost Harvest – Have a deep will to make disciples Fruit – Work for the spread of God’s kingdom Quantitative – Seeking numerical growth Qualitative – Deepening spiritual growth Kingdom – Value of God’s rule Judgment – Preparing for eternity

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Principle one – Searching Mt. 18:10-14, not wishing any to parish Lk. 12:6-8, desires all to confess Jesus Lk. 15, searching parables

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Principle two – Harvest Jn. 4:35, white unto harvest Mt. 9:37-38, harvest in plentiful Mk. 4:26-29, parable of growing grain

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Principle three – Fruit Mt. 7:15-23 Mt. 13:1-9, 18-23, parable of the sower Mt. 21:33-46, parable of the wicked tenants Mt. 25:14-30, parable of the talents Lk. 13:6-9, bearing fruit is the purpose of the fruit tree Jn. 15:1-11, Christ the true vine

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Reasons for Bearing Fruit We are told by Christ to bear fruit (Jn. 15:16) Being fruitful glorifies God (Jn. 15:8) Being fruitful is pleasing to God (Col. 1:10) Jesus is not please with unfruitfulness (Mt. 21:19)

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Principle four – Quantitative Mk. 1:17; Lk. 5:8-10 fishers of men Mt. 13:47-52 Parable of the Dragnet Mt. 13:31-32; Mk. 4:30-32 Parable of Mustard Seed Mt. 13:33-35 Parable of Leaven Incorrect use – 1 Chron. 21:1 Correct use – Nu. 1:17-19; 26:1-4

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Reasons for Counting for God’s Purpose To know if someone is lost To acknowledge God’s blessing of growth Check fruit bearing To know what resources God has given us to accomplish His mission Wrong reasons to count For our own pride For the sake of numbers only

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Principle four – Qualitative Mt. 5:4-11 Beatitudes Mt. 7:24-27 Two foundations Mt. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all commanded Mt. 19:7-10 Hand causes you to stumble Mt. 19:15-17 Going to a brother Lk. 7:41-43 Parable of the Two Debtors Lk. 10:30-37 Parable of Good Samaritan Lk. 14:7-11 Parable of the Lowest Seat Lk. 18:1-8 Parable of the Persistent Widow

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Principle five – Kingdom Mt. 13:44 Parable of the Hidden Treasures Mt. 13:45-46 Parable of Pearl of Great Price Mt. 21:28-32 Parable of the Two Sons Mt. 6:10 Thy kingdom come, will be done

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Principle six – Judgment Mt. 7:21-23 Those who do the Father’s will Mt. 20:1-16 Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard Lk. 19:11-27 Parable of the Ten Minas Mt. 22:1-14 Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Pattern of Church Growth in Acts People sent out Guided by Holy Spirit Message proclaimed People hear People respond Believers form into a church Community appeal Worship, service, fellowship, edification, ministry, evangelism

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Areas of Church Growth – Acts 2:41-47 Growing in knowledge: continued steadfastly in the apostles teachings Growing together: fellowship and the breaking of bread Growing in service: had all things in common Impacting the community: finding favor with all people Growing numerically: Lord added to the church daily

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Acts Missionary Journeys Sent out to make disciples (Antioch) Breaking new ground (unreached) Proclaiming the gospel (Christ centered) Planted churches (Community emphasis) Nurturing churches (Christian living teaching) Leadership instillation (Responsibility for church) Leadership development (Maturation process) Churches sent out workers (Mother churches)

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Paul’s Missionary Letters Paul was contextually sensitive Paul planted church that fit the community Paul followed up on planted churches Paul provided theological teaching Paul provided practical Christian living teaching Paul kept contact with church leadership Paul encourage local leadership Paul trained leaders Paul continued to have contact with churches Paul continued his own mission work (Spain?)

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Paul & Church Growth Need for preaching the gospel Power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:14-16) Need for people to believe (Rom. 10:8-15) The message preached to save (1 Cor. 1:21-25) Ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21) Word of reconciliation Ambassadors for Christ Begging people to be reconciled

Entering into Jesus’ Mission Paul & Church Growth Growth from God (1 Cor. 3:5-11) Paul planted Apollos watered God gave the growth God’s fellow servants in ministry Christians are God’s field and building Jesus is the foundation of the building (v. 11)