welshie's wanderings

Barcelona - Highlights from "Why Do We Do Mission?" Toni Coulton

Everyone has a ‘mission statement’ these days. It’s taken the world 2000 years to catch up with the church!

Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

Why? Well, it’s a command! But also – Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We have this to share with people!

2 Corinthians 5:11 “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.”

Mission isn’t something we do to earn something from God.
We don’t FORCE people to become Christians.
Mission shouldn’t be a burden
Matthew 28:18 “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” – What a boss!!!
Matthew 28:20 “’…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” – We’re not alone!

It’s not us serving the world, it’s us serving the King.

Matthew 28:20 – “always”. Continuous tense, not future, not past.

Jesus uses two pictures to help us understand fellowship:-

Fishermen. Go out in groups together. String nets from one boat to another. Sometimes they catch nothing, other times they couldn’t carry it they caught so much. They never knew which way it would go. We don’t know, so great to work as a group. Fish don’t want to be caught. We have a small window of opportunity. Be friendly, understanding. Commend them to God! If we don’t ask, they have no opportunity.
Sower. Working alone, as we do when we talk to people.

posted by Welshie @ 10:21 pm