INTRODUCTION

Our world population is exploding!

World Population:

100 million ~ in the days of Abraham and Moses
275 million ~ at the time of Christ
900 million ~ when William Carey launched the modern missionary movement around 1800
1 billion ~ in 1850
2 billion ~ in 1930
3 billion ~ in 1960
4 billion ~ in 1975
5 billion ~ in 1987
6 billion ~ in 2000
7 billion ~ in 2013
7.8 billion~ as of this morning

Jesus has called us to be On Mission for Him. His last command needs to be our first concern.

“Jesus came near and said to them, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age’.” —Matthew 28:18-20

City United Church is committed to obeying Jesus’ last command. We exist to lead people in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, resulting in MORE disciples and churches both locally and globally.

During this collection of talks, we will explore how we can be On Mission for the Kingdom:

August 9        How to be On Mission
August 16       On Mission In New England – Special Guest Dr. Terry Dorsett (BCNE)
August 23       Funding the Vision – Faith Promise Commitment
August 30       On Mission in the World – Compassion Sunday

Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:1=8 (CSB, New Testament)

Today’s Takeaway:

BEING ON MISSION TAKES A COMMAND, A CALL AND A CHOICE.

ON MISSION WEEK 1: How To Be On Mission

THREE STEPS FOR BEING ON MISSION

I.

Reveal Answer

WHAT BEING ON MISSION IS

Definition: Making sure that everyone in our circle and in the world hears the Gospel of Jesus Christ correctly through the training, sending, and planting of New Testament churches.

“Then he said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” —Mark 16:15

II.

Reveal Answer

WHY WE SHOULD BE ON MISSION

A. The

of God

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” —Acts 1:8

1. The

   Reveal Answer
   of the Spirit’s Power (1:8a)

2. The

   Reveal Answer
   of the Spirit’s Power (1:8b)

3. The

   Reveal Answer
   of the Spirit’s Power (1:8c)
   
   

ON MISSION IS NOT ABOUT US, IT IS ABOUT OBEYING HIM!

B. The

of the early church

The progression of the book of Acts:

Acts 1-7 ~ Jerusalem – Homebase (People where we eat, work, shop and play) = Comfortable Zone

Acts 8-12 ~ Judea-Samaria (People near us but not like us) = Uncomfortable Zone

Acts 13-26 ~ Uttermost (People not near and not like us) = Doing whatever it takes - Risk

C. The

of the world

“12Since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. 13For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 14How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” —Romans 10:12-15

III.

Reveal Answer

YOUR PART TO BE ON MISSION

A.

1. Authentic Worship
2. Transparent Mission
3. Transformational Connection

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,” —II Corinthians 5:20a

B.

1. Pray for the missionaries and the Church.

   “Brothers and sisters, pray for us also.” —I Thessalonians 5:25

2. Pray for more missionaries, pastors, church planters, and leaders to be sent.

   “36When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. 38Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest’.” —Matthew 9:36-38

C.

30% of the world’s wealth is in the United States

“17Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us all things to enjoy. 18Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share,” —I Timothy 6:17-18

1. The

   Reveal Answer
   : The Gospel is free, but it takes a lot of money to train, send, and meet the needs.

2. The

   Reveal Answer
   : Faith Promise Missionary Offering

This system of giving is the Biblical plan for supporting the local and global outreach of our church.

(See II Corinthians 8-11)

A COVENANT BETWEEN YOU AND JESUS TO GIVE REGULARLY THROUGH YOUR LOCAL CHURCH AN AMOUNT THAT THE LORD LEADS YOU TO GIVE BY FAITH OVER AND ABOVE YOUR TITHES TO SUPPORT LOCAL AND GLOBAL MISSIONS.

The principles of a “FAITH PROMISE MISSIONARY OFFERING”:

Faith: This means we are trusting God for something we presently do not have.

Promise: This means that if God will do His part in providing the money, we will do our part in giving it back to Him for Kingdom work.

Missionary: This means that our designated gift will be used for supporting the missionary programs of our church.

Offering: This means we are giving this amount over and above our tithe (10% of your gross income.)

“And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. 17Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account. 18But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided ​— ​a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:15-19

D.

“Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ 3Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.” —Acts 13:1-3

MISSIONAL QUESTIONS TO ASK

Who’s next?
What’s next?
Where’s next?

CONCLUSION

Will you pray and ask God to speak to you about being on Mission?

DEEP DIVE:

1. How does Acts 1:8 bring us comfort as we begin to think about being On Mission?
   

2. Pastor Gary shared the example of the first church in Acts. Identify some people in your “Jerusalem” that you can share Jesus with this week.
   

3. Has God stirred up in you a desire to do more to be On Mission? If so, share how you can get started.
   

4. Start praying about your Faith Promise Commitment and what God would have you give to local and global missions.
   

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