1. THEME FOR MARCH – APRIL 2012 “DEEP CONVICTIONS”

2. THESSALONICA – AN ‘OPEN’ CITY Large Grecian city Major harbor Strategic ‘stopover’ point Progressive culture Culture of acceptance (anything goes)

3. ALONG THE VIA EGNATIA

4. A CHOICE… The Thessalonian Christians could be drawn into the world, enamored and influenced by the world OR They could see themselves as the hope of the world, with a great opportunity to impact the world

5. MAKING THE CHOICE… For the first time in the history of planet earth, we have 7 billion people living in it.

6. RESPONSE? How do you feel about the world having 7 billion people? The bigger question: How does God feel?

7. MISSION MIND-SET 1Th 1:8 The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia; your faith in God has become known everywhere. 1Th 2:14-16 …those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved.

8. 1Th 4:11-12 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1Th 5:6-9 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

9. RESULTS OF THE MISSION MIND-SET 1.They spread the gospel message that was given to them (1 Thess 1) 2.They endured persecution from opposing Jews (1 Thess 2) 3.They did their best to be good examples to non-Christians (1 Thess 4). 4.They were alert and self-controlled. They valued their salvation (1 Thess 5).

10. GOD’S MISSION We know about God’s heart We can share God’s heart It’s up to God to reveal how the mission will be fulfilled

11. Each existing church to plant another church by 2020 17+ churches planted between now and 2020 Estimated cost: P3M this year Already in the works for 2012-2013: Dumaguete, Naga, and Mindoro

12. CHALLENGES Have a mission mindset when you pledge tonight for the SMC 2012 (the goal of planting 20 churches by 2020). Build friendships with missionaries on the field. Consider becoming a missionary yourself (either short-term or long-term).

13. CONCLUSION CONCLUSIONS Despite the difficulties of living in Thessalonica, the young Christians chose to have a mission mindset. Despite the difficulties of living in Thessalonica, the young Christians chose to have a mission mindset. Like Paul and the Thessalonians, we can carry this mission mindset everyday of our lives! Like Paul and the Thessalonians, we can carry this mission mindset everyday of our lives!

14. THEME FOR MARCH – APRIL 2012 “DEEP CONVICTIONS”