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

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

3. Our mission is to
imitate Christ

4. Our mission
is to be inspired!

5. Our
Mission
Is to
Influence

6. Our Mission Is To
Make An Impact

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

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

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

10. 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!

11. 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?

12. 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…

13. 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.

14. 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!”

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

16. #1 Are you a consumer or a
contributor?

18. 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…

19. 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!

20. 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.

21. 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.”

22. #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.

23. 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!

24. 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!

25. 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?

26. 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.”

27. #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…

28. 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.

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

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

31. 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.

32. 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

33. 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.

34. “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.