Mission Twenty-One: Global Culture

Forward movement call. Unknown isn’t unwanted is a faith call.

Mission21

1.    Be a Gospel Witness in a Spiritually Hostile Culture.

4 Tenets of Evangelical Faith

·      The Bible is the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God and is the highest authority for what I believe and how I act.

·      Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that can remove the penalty of my sin.

·      Salvation is a free gift for anyone who will receive it.

·      Sharing the Good News with others is a critical aspect of my faith and crucial to others discovering the love of Jesus.

1.    Be a Gospel Witness in a Spiritually Hostile Culture.

2.    Be a Gospel Witness in a Politically Divided Culture

4 Central Biblical Mandates

·      Racial Justice – Politically Left

·      Poor and marginalized – Politically Left

·      Pro-Life – Politically Right

·      Human sexuality – Politically Right

Racial Justice

·      If we get caught up in defending ourselves from general or personal attacks we will miss our call to do justice as Christians.

·      In picking up offense we have put down the cross of Christ. We can’t carry both.

·      I am spiritually commissioned to bring peace (shalom - wholeness) where I am.

·      My actions are not motivated by guilt, but by grace!

Poor & Marginalized

Micah 6:8 And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

In a passion to see people eternally saved we cannot neglect the temporal significance of acting mercifully and humbly with people in physical need. Humility and mercy empower dignity.

Pro-Life

·      To be pro-life isn’t to be anti-woman and we can’t allow the culture to define our Biblical mandate of justice for the unborn as such.

·      We have to find ways to aid women in crisis, advocate for adoption and care for unwanted and abandoned children.

Human Sexuality

·      Gender and sexuality are no longer behind closed-door conversations.

·      As an Evangelical church we believe that Satan has blinded eyes and minds around this very personal issue and that those who go down this path are harming themselves.

·      We can be for an individual and compassionate in their struggle while still maintaining this is not God’s design.

·      In terms of ministry, we can’t make the mistake of only seeing people’s sexual preferences and not seeing people trapped and oppressed in deception.

·      We have to find ways to befriend and counsel those who are struggling and who are open to that guidance.

Mission21

1.    Be a Gospel Witness in a Spiritually Hostile Culture.

2.    Be a Gospel Witness in a Politically Divided Culture.

3.    Be a Gospel Witness in a in a Global Culture.

Revelation 7:9-17 9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” 13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

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

 “Mission exists because worship doesn’t.”  Pastor John Piper

“Why should anyone hear the Gospel twice before everyone has heard it once?” Pastor Oswald Smith