Here is the audio recording for our Missional Training Sessions . If you were unable to attend, please take some time and review the content in community. There are additional resource for further study below
Summer Missional Training Week 2 — | Pastor Joshua Michael Soto | June 9, 2011 | 46mn:18sc
Missional Training #2- Who is The Church?
The Gospel Gap
There tends to be a disconnect between our relationship with Jesus and our mission for the sake of Jesus. Most Christians desire to grow in their relationship with Jesus but very few Christians live out the missional implication of that relationship with Jesus. But even for those that feel the weight of God’s call to be on mission in the world, their activity tends to spring from non-gospel motivation that further hinders the mission of God.
(Discussion) Which of these non-gospel motivations do you tend to default to? How has it hindered your missional readiness?
Gospel Motivation
The motivation of guilt, shame, performance, personal responsibility, etc. is contrary to the gospel and the bible. It is interesting to notice how Paul motivated the churches to which he wrote letters. In most cases, Paul (whether addressing a messed up situation or trying to encourage those who were being faithful) starts his letters with Who God Is, What He Has Done in and through the person and work of Jesus, and then moves on to Who We Are In Christ. He does all of this before he begins to instruct them on how they should live.
This is the pattern you see throughout the Scriptures. First comes the Indicative, which is followed by the Imperative (You even see this in the very beginning – In the beginning was God…He creates…We have our existence as Image Bearers…then he tell us what to do). The Eternal God and His work precede our existence and our obedience. Our Doing does not justify our Existence or give us identity. Rather His Work gives us our existence, identity and meaning – Our Being. Then, our Doing proceeds out of our Being which proceeds out of His Being and His Work.
Gospel Mission
The mission of the church is clearly seen in what many call the “Great Commission.”
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in [2] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:18-20
The Church Makes DISCIPLES/LEARNERS
Statement- We are disciples of Jesus who take responsibility for our growth in the gospel and the growth of others.
As a young man Jesus grew in both height and wisdom. He learned from local religious teachers, by living in community, and through regular times of listening to God. Jesus called others to follow his ways, to be his disciples and to live in obedience to all that God commands. He then sent these followers out to make new disciples. We believe we are also called to be followers of Jesus who take responsibility for our own development and the development of others. This includes being personally formed by the truth of the gospel and regularly speaking the gospel to others so they can be rescued from sin and selfishness, and grow up into maturity in Jesus Christ. (Luke 2:52; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Timothy 2:2)
Baptize Into the Name of…
Jesus’ commission was to make disciples. This begins with us leading people to faith in Jesus and all he has accomplished on our behalf. To accomplish this we must be a people who are continually submitting our lives to the gospel and growing in our ability to speak the gospel fluently. As the gospel is shared and the Holy Spirit brings about repentance and faith, people become Jesus’ disciples who now have a new identity. We need to establish people in this new identity as God’s Gospel People. The way Jesus commanded us to do this is through baptism – we are to baptize into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Baptizing people into the name of is about establishing them into their new Trinitarian Identity.
In Christ, God is our Father and we are His Family; Jesus is our Lord and we are His Servants; the Holy Spirit is our Guide and Sender and we are His Missionaries.
(DISCUSSION) In what ways are you failing to take responsibility for your personal growth in the gospel? Are you taking responsibility for the growth of others? What does it mean to make disciples? Are you making disciples? If not, why?
Gospel Identity
Peter reminded the church of their identity before he exhorted them to the work of the Gospel. He states that the church is God’s chosen race – God’s family; a royal priesthood sent as missionaries and ministers of reconciliation (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17-20); and a holy nation of servants with Jesus Christ as Lord.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10
All three of these identities define our vertical relationship to God as Worshippers who submit to God and our horizontal relationship to people as Disciples who make disciples. We submit to God in light of Who He Is (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), What He Has Done and Is Doing (Loves Us, Saves Us, Sends Us) and Who We Are in Christ (Sons, Servants, Sent Ones).
The Church is Sent by the Holy Spirit as MISSIONARIES
We are sent by the Spirit to restore all things to God through Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus to Earth to take on human form and live within the culture. He worked, ate and interacted among the people; living in such a way that those around him could see and experience what God was truly like. Jesus came so that all people, places and things could be restored to a right relationship with God. In the same way, we believe we are missionaries sent by God’s Spirit into our culture to restore all things to God through Jesus. (John 1:14; 20:21; Colossians 1:19; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21)
(DISCUSSION) How have you seen the identity of MISSIONARIES lived out in our church? How could you lead others to engage in mission within our church?
Worshippers- We submit to the sending and leading of the Spirit. If I believe the Gospel and can call God my Father it is because God has given me his Spirit (Romans 8:14-17). After Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father sent me I am sending you”, he breathed on them the Holy Spirit. Then, when he commissioned his disciples to be his witnesses, he told them to wait for power from on high (Acts 1:8). He was referring to the Holy Spirit that the Father and Son would send (John 14:16; 16:7). Just as Jesus was sent by the Father, empowered and led by the Spirit, now we are sent as his missionaries by the same power and leading of the Spirit (Matt. 3:16-4:1; John 20:21). If we have the Spirit of God it is so we might be the children of God who accomplish the mission of Jesus by the same Spirit that sent and empowered him.
(DISCUSSION) How does the “gospel identity of MISSIONARIES” help you practically address feelings of apathy, fear, and inadequacy in relation to God’s mission?
Disciples- We are sent and empowered by the Spirit to share and show Jesus to others. As missionaries we are sent to share the truth about God’s love for the world through the sending of His Son. The Spirit has been given to us so that we can know what is true of Jesus (John 14:26; 16:12-15), live fruitful lives as evidence of the gospel’s power to change (Gal. 5:16-24), be empowered to share it boldly (Acts 4:23-31) and trust that he is the one who convicts the heart and gives new life (John 3:4-8). All fruitful missionary work is a result of being people who are born of, filled with, and led by the Spirit. If we are not living lives as missionaries fulfilling Jesus’ mission it is either because we don’t have the Spirit or we are grieving the Spirit, living in disobedience to what he is leading us to do.
(DISCUSSION) If the church is truly Spirit sent MISSIONARIES, what are some practical ways we can live out this gospel reality?
Gospel Action
Identify some people groups (single moms, college students, artist, etc) that God has given you a heart for or placed you in contact with. Answer the following questions:
Where do these people spend their time?
What do they spend their money on?
What are some of their shared values?
What are some of their idols?
How would the gospel address their idols?
Make plans as a group to visit a place where your people group would spend their time. [Example] You want to reach out to musicians in the Bottom. Take an evening and go hear a band. After, as a group run back through the questions and note how your answers changed.
The Church Is God’s Chosen FAMILY
We are all children of God who care for each other as a family. We are God’s chosen people – His family – set apart to live in such a way that the world would know what he is like. Through faith in Jesus we believe we are Children of God and brothers and sisters with each other. As God’s family we see it as our obligation to personally care for the needs of one another – both physically and spiritually. We disciple, nurture and hold each other accountable to Gospel life together. (Genesis 12:1-3; John 1:12-13; Romans 12:10-16)
(DISCUSSION) How have you seen the identity of FAMILY lived out in our church? How could you cultivate a more full sense of family within our church?
Worshippers- We worship God as Father. We are God’s Children (John 1:11-13) who are adopted and fully accepted and loved apart from any good behavior. When I believe the Gospel I know I have a perfect Father who loves me and accepts me not because of what I’ve done but because of what Christ has done. This leads me to worship God as Father and obey his word because I love him. I don’t obey God in order to be loved by him. I obey God because he loved me while I was still his rebellious enemy.
(DISCUSSION) How does the “gospel identity of FAMILY” help you practically address feelings of insecurity, rejections, or failure?
Disciples- We show ourselves to be Jesus’ disciples by our love for one another. As children of God we love one another as brothers and sisters. Jesus said this is the way the world will know that we are his disciples – by our love for one another. Paul said we were to be imitators of God as dearly loved children who love one another (Eph 5:1-2). The primary means by which we show the world what God is like and give tangible proof of the Gospel’s power to save is through our love for one another. If we don’t love one another, we show that we don’t know and love God (1 John 4:7-21)
(DISCUSSION) If the church is a truly a FAMILY what are some practical ways that we can help our people group experience this gospel reality?
Gospel Action
Make a list of unbelievers/dechurched that you are in contact with. As a community group plan practical ways that you can invite these people to experience the “gospel identity of FAMILY.”
[Example] You have an elderly neighbor. She has yard work that she can not complete. If your grandmother was in a similar situation, what would you do? Maybe you would call your cousins and the guys would do the yard work while, the girls spent time with grandma. The elderly neighbor can experience the gospel reality of FAMILY as you display the FAMILY as the loving care of the heavenly Father.
The Church is Made Up of Jesus’ SERVANTS
We are servants of Jesus who serve Him by serving others around us. Fully God–fully human, Jesus took on the posture of a servant. He gave his life, even unto death, so that others could experience salvation, peace and restoration. Jesus said, “I am among you as one who serves…” All those who follow Jesus are called to serve in the same humility. For us this means joyfully submitting to Jesus as Lord, to the leaders he has placed over us and to each other as we also serve whomever God brings into our lives. We do whatever He leads us to do, whenever He tells us and wherever He wants us to do it. (Matthew 20:25-28; 25:31-46; John 13:1-17; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:16)
(DISCUSSION) How have you seen the identity of SERVANTS lived out in our church? How could you cultivate a more full sense of family within our church?
Worshippers- We submit to Jesus as Lord If I believe the Gospel, I am being set free from slavery to false gods that keep me imprisoned, don’t feed me and eventually beat me to death. All of us are serving a master or many masters. The question isn’t “Am I a slave”, but “Who am I a slave to?” When I believe and live out my gospel identity as a Servant of Jesus, he is my master and he sets me free to live life as it should be lived. I now belong to him as His Servant and whatever I do, I do as unto Him (Matt. 25:40). My service and sacrifice for Jesus my Lord unto others is my spiritual act of worship.
(DISCUSSION) How does the “gospel identity of SERVANTS” help you practically address feelings of selfishness, entitlement, and materialism?
Disciples- We lead people to Jesus by living as Servants displaying his rule and reign in our lives. As the servants of Jesus we are a holy nation – a city within a city. We give a foretaste of what the eternal city will be like under the rule and reign of Jesus Christ. Living as servants to the King who serves others as he served us, presents a tangible witness of Jesus’ kingdom and the power of the gospel to change us. We serve in such a way that it demands a Gospel explanation – lives that cannot be explained in any other way than by the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus. Our humility points to his ultimate humility. Our servant hood is led by the Servant of all. And our sacrifice is motivated by the one who gave up his life for us. If we don’t serve others as Jesus served us it is because we have forgotten how we have been served by him, or we don’t really know him in the first place (Matt 25:31-46).
(DISCUSSION) If the church is truly a community of SERVANTS, what are some practical ways that we can help our unbelieving, friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers experience this gospel reality?
Gospel Action
Identify the places and people groups that God is calling you to serve. Make a list of some ways your community group can display the radical sacrifice of Jesus both individually in your place of influence and as a group.
[Example] God is calling you to love and serve international students. How can you radically serve these students? Maybe one family within your group would consider allowing that student to live with them. The group as a whole commits to provide one or two weekly meals, tuition assistance, or invites them over for the holidays. The international student can experience the gospel reality of SERVANTHOOD as you display as a community of servants, a glimpse of the radical sacrifice of Jesus.
