This month’s theme: Hey Christian, What’s Your Mission?

“It’s Important to Know Your Mission” Who You Are What You Are Doing Where You Are Headed

Our mission is to imitate Christ

Our mission is to be inspired!

Our Mission Is to Influence

Our Mission Is To Make An Impact

AS CHRISTIANS INVOLVES OUR MISSION AS CHRISTIANS INVOLVES TRUST AND TRANSFORMATION, Our Talents, TEAMWORK, And OUR TIME!

Here, There, and Everywhere Our Mission Is Here, There, and Everywhere

-Today’s Focus- “Our Mission: Ready to Respond”

Today’s lesson is not to criticize but to challenge! Matthew 16:24-25 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” To respond to our mission, we have to be ready to die to ourselves! Sacrifice is also expected. Today’s lesson is not to criticize but to challenge!

Christianity and the church are no longer at the center Our Present Reality: Christianity and the church are no longer at the center of our culture. This means it is not naturally the primary influence. It is simply A influence among many. Are you aware? Do you agree?

a response! That response also has to be different This reality requires a response! That response also has to be different than what we have always done. Our message is still the same but our method has to change. Here’s why…

People aren’t coming to the church as much so… We need to go to them! Why? Because we have been commissioned and need not be afraid.

Remember Romans 10:14-15… 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

What are the challenges? So, how do we do this? What stands in the way? What are the challenges?

#1 Are you a consumer or a contributor?

People are brought into the church because of what appeals to them and the numbers increase which appears to equal success (this in itself is not bad) But when it comes with no real expectations…

product is no longer appealing or when more is asked or expected! People leave when the product is no longer appealing or when more is asked or expected! This creates inconsistency in the church and pressure to be program driven rather than purpose driven!

These ratios don’t work in any other settings. 10% do 90% , 20 do 80, 30/70… These ratios don’t work in any other settings. We can’t afford to have them be this way with the people of the church any longer! The calling and standard are the same for all of us.

Matthew 9:35-38 “The Workers Are Few” 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

#2 We know the church is not the building, but… How much of what we do is all about what happens here? That really limits us and creates more challenges.

When the church’s primary function or focus is to insulate Christians, we isolate ourselves from the world around us and by default become inwardly focused!

Somehow, we want to be those who include and interact (not just when people come here) So that we can be about our work of influencing, inspiring, and impacting. But, in order for this to happen we have to be intentional!

Can you feed yourself and thrive as a Christian with Think about what percentage of what we do is here, and how much of what we do here is focused on ourselves and our personal spiritual growth and development. Can you feed yourself and thrive as a Christian with less of this in favor of more outreach?

Hebrews 5:11-14 “11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 6:12 “ We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”

#3 The contributors feel conflicted. How can we possibly do it all? It’s not like the ministries we are involved in are selfish and we don’t want them to end. This is true, but…

Something has to change… (and remember why) Either more consumers will be contributors or… We will have to change how much time is given over to certain “in house” ministries.

The opposite is instability We have a big need for A NEW BALANCE The opposite is instability

Let’s break down the barriers Individualism Consumerism Materialism And even Traditionalism If necessary

If we are going to do something different than what we have been doing there will be TENSION before TRANSFORMATION. Also, we will have to say NO to some things that are for us to be able to say YES to more for God.

LET’S BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THIS Includeourselves in The Body of Christ Identify what our unique talents are and use them for God Involveourselves in ministry and missions to be done Investtime and resources and whatever’s needed

PLEASE USE YOUR TALENTS HERE IN THE CHURCH (SIGN UP/ SURVEY SHEET) A WELCOME CHALLENGE… PLEASE USE YOUR TALENTS HERE IN THE CHURCH (SIGN UP/ SURVEY SHEET) AND FIND WAYS TO USE YOUR TALENTS AS A MISSION OUTSIDE THE CHURCH.

“As imitators of Jesus Christ, we want to be inspired to impact and influence our world. Therefore, we as Christians will include ourselves in God’s work to be done, identify what our talents and abilities are, and involve ourselves in missions and ministries for His glory.” Amen.