The Mission of God

Missional Church

the Mission of Your Church

The Mission of God

Missional Church

the Mission of Your Church

What was God thinking?

What was God thinking?

Before creating the worlds? Before creating the worlds?

1. Did he know there would be

1. Terrible floods in Pakistan?

2. Earth quakes in Haiti and Japan?

3. Tsunamis in Indonesia & Japan?

4. Famines of Africa?

2. Did he know how cruel people could be?

1. Ancient and Modern day slavery?

2. So many wars? Mutilation and rape?

3. The every day meanness of human beings?

4. Did he understand the cruelty of death?

3. An all good & all knowing Creator designed this?

1. Did he know there would be

1. Terrible floods in Pakistan?

2. Earth quakes in Haiti and Japan?

3. Tsunamis in Indonesia & Japan?

4. Famines of Africa?

2. Did he know how cruel people could be?

1. Ancient and Modern day slavery?

2. So many wars? Mutilation and rape?

3. The every day meanness of human beings?

4. Did he understand the cruelty of death?

3. An all good & all knowing Creator designed this?

This must be

a very big story

This must be

a very big story

John 17:1 …Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

John 17:1 …Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

…we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.

I Corinthians 2:6-8

…we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.

I Corinthians 2:6-8

This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour.II Timothy 1:9 -10

This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour.II Timothy 1:9 -10

From GloryFrom Glory

To Greater Glory

To Greater Glory

The Mission of God?

The Mission of God?

Mission of God’s People?Mission of God’s People?

In between, we see and experience beauty, pain, joy, purpose…and death

In between, we see and experience beauty, pain, joy, purpose…and death

CreationVery Good

New CreationEverything New

GodBefore Time Began

Fall/RebellionProblem of Evil

Redemptionin History/Time

Return of ChristResurrectionJudgement

New Creation

PentecostHoly SpiritMission of

Church

DeathResurrection

of ChristNew Covenant

IncarnationGod in Christ

Sinai, LawMonarchy, Exile

ProphetsCovenant

ExodusRedemption

Call of AbrahamElection/Chosen

for a Purpose

Participation in the Mission/Purpose of Godadapted from The Mission of God's People by Chris Wright

OpenRelationship

with God

Respect PeopleImage of God

Value ofCreation

Dignityof Work

FruitfulMarriage

1st GreatCommission?Model of Faith

Walk in His wayYour "Seed"

Bless all Nations

RedeemedPeople

A CommunityWalk in His

wayThe Nations

will See/Knowand be

Attracted

God DependentSacrifices/MercyWalk in His Way

Advance: Compassion Justice Righteousness Health Knowledge Wisdom Care for land Worship

Light to nationsPersistence

of God!

God With UsPeoples

Have Seena Great Light

Redeemer &King

Sin, Death &Satan defeated

Fulfillment of AllEvery Blessing

in ChristOne People of

all Nations

Bear witnessto lavish grace

Filled with SpiritWalk in the lightImitators of our

Redeemer Children of God: One Body Servants Gathered Scattered Telling Showing In but not of Make Disciples All NationsSufferings, notworth comparingwith the glory tocome!!

His AppearingMercy TriumphsUltimate Justice

CreationLiberated

No more curseHealing of

NationsHe Shall Reign

Come!Be With Him

Forever & Ever

18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. John 17

18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. John 17

God’s People Become Sharers in His Mission

God’s People Become Sharers in His Mission

9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.

Ephesians 1:9-10

9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.

Ephesians 1:9-10

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"

I Corinthians 2:9

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"

I Corinthians 2:9

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. II Corinthians 4:18

We live by faith, not by sight. II Corinthians 5:7

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. II Corinthians 4:18

We live by faith, not by sight. II Corinthians 5:7

The Mission of God’s Peopleand...the missional church

1. Tell the big story, including:

1. Pre-rebellion truths

2. OT justice, compassion, righteousness, health, knowledge, wisdom, care for land

3. Of Jesus & NT good news of salvation to all

2. Demonstrate personally the grace of God

3. Consider the suffering…not worth comparing!

1. Tell the big story, including:

1. Pre-rebellion truths

2. OT justice, compassion, righteousness, health, knowledge, wisdom, care for land

3. Of Jesus & NT good news of salvation to all

2. Demonstrate personally the grace of God

3. Consider the suffering…not worth comparing!

The Mission of God

1. Don’t let the big story get hi-jacked• By allowing parts of the story to pass for

the whole story

2. The Big Story is Complex• learn to tell it both simply and with its

complexity – so it fits each situation

3. The big story is bigger than any of us• May your church do its part by faith;

accept and respect others that are doing their part…may be different than ours

1. Don’t let the big story get hi-jacked• By allowing parts of the story to pass for

the whole story

2. The Big Story is Complex• learn to tell it both simply and with its

complexity – so it fits each situation

3. The big story is bigger than any of us• May your church do its part by faith;

accept and respect others that are doing their part…may be different than ours

A Missional Church

1. Views the whole of Scripture as the expression of God’s mission; Creation, Redemption and New Creation.

2. Adopts the mission of God as its primary motivating focus, joining Him in what He is doing.

3. In terms of the world, is more about “go to” than “come to”

1. Gathered to worship, equip, comfort & send

2. Sent to be among, to serve, influence & attract

3. Being sent is big. We are on mission with God.

1. Views the whole of Scripture as the expression of God’s mission; Creation, Redemption and New Creation.

2. Adopts the mission of God as its primary motivating focus, joining Him in what He is doing.

3. In terms of the world, is more about “go to” than “come to”

1. Gathered to worship, equip, comfort & send

2. Sent to be among, to serve, influence & attract

3. Being sent is big. We are on mission with God.

A Missional Church

Embraces a three letter

Faith-demanding word.

AND

Embraces a three letter

Faith-demanding word.

AND

Theology Requires It

God is One and He is More

Jesus is God and He is Man

God wrote the Bible and People wrote it

Salvation is of God and People have to…

Sanctification God’s work and we pursue it

The church is for us and its for them

God is One and He is More

Jesus is God and He is Man

God wrote the Bible and People wrote it

Salvation is of God and People have to…

Sanctification God’s work and we pursue it

The church is for us and its for them

Ministry Requires It

Evangelism and TeachingOrthodox and Gracious

Proclamation and Socially EngagedGathered and Scattered

In the world and not of the worldEstablished churches and new churches

Comfort one side and faith requiring…other

God loves it when we trust and obey

Evangelism and TeachingOrthodox and Gracious

Proclamation and Socially EngagedGathered and Scattered

In the world and not of the worldEstablished churches and new churches

Comfort one side and faith requiring…other

God loves it when we trust and obey

How will you spread the thinking that you’ve developed here today?

We’ll send you an ecopy of the survey & related materials

Tell us what is happening as a result of today….within 2-4 weeks. info@vision-ministries.org

If we don’t hear from you, we’ll call, just to build in a bit of accountability.

Those that have not paid, please do.

• 15 per person.

• 10 per person if 7 or more from one church

• 20 per married couple

• The mission of God’s people - $20

Information Sheet

1. Like to receive VMC newsletter?

1. Like to be on “monthly people” who pray list?

“Thinking Shrewdly V” May 10-12, 2012

“The Good News and Your Church in Word & Action ”

Bruxy Cavey(Teaching pastor, the Meeting House)

Gary Nelson (President of Tyndale)

Greg Paul (Founder of Sanctuary)

Waterloo or Guelph Location

Five Conference Streams

Communicating the Gospel in Canada

Church, Leadership & the Gospel

Compassion, Justice & the Gospel

New Canadians & the Gospel

New Initiatives & the Gospel

Regional gatherings in off years, like this

Three quick stories– Chin Leadership development,

– Two people want to plant struggling in their thinking about how to do this

– Spirit of Truth (Iranian, former Muslims)

– Vien et Vois (Congolese church)

– Jesus Network – Easter

Finances1. Help new churches/initiatives get

started

2. Work to strengthen existing church leadership people

3. We’d love to have your partnership in our “make it happen budget”

Please give us your surveys

1. Fold them and leave them on the table

2. If the staple has come out, fold it a couple of times so it sticks together

Thank you for coming

Thank you to _________________

Prayer of Blessing