Category: Discipleship

Who Among Us are Missionaries and Where Does Their Mission Take Place?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, Evangelism, Pastoral, Practical2 Comments

Wednesday I put out a post seeking to define our mission as Christians. You can read it by clicking here. In it I determined that our mission is God’s mission, and I gave this succinct definition of God’s mission and how I believe we fit into His mission:

God is on mission to redeem all of creation, we are apart of that mission as His elect peoples, and our purpose in that mission is to present the gospel through our actions and words, by which God will redeem all of creation in Christ for His glory.

Today, I want to discuss where our mission takes place and determine who is involved in this mission by asking and answering these questions:

Is our mission strictly relegated to overseas, or does it happen in our backyard? Is mission relegated to a special group of people sent out by a church, or is it taken up by everyone in the church?

Both Overseas and Our Backyard

I believe our mission takes place both overseas and in our backyard by all those in the church. Granted a special group of people will travel overseas, but everyone should participate in mission in their city.

Throughout the New Testament we have examples of mission happening overseas by a select group of people and in our backyard by everyone.

Jesus commissions his apostles to go to all the nations with the gospel message, but first He commissions them to go to their city (Matt. 28:16-20).

In Acts, the apostles are seen going to all the nations to proclaim the gospel to unreached people groups.

During Paul’s mission, he visits a number of places some of which are: Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth, and Ephesus (Acts 16,17,18,19). In these areas, churches are established. Even though Paul continues to keep in touch with them, the church itself becomes responsible for evangelizing the area. This is evidenced by the apostle constantly calling these churches to holy living, so their conduct among their neighbors would be honorable, allowing them to proclaim the gospel unhindered (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:14-15; 1 Peter 2:12).

We see a prime example of a church who is living correctly and proclaiming the gospel to their neighbors in 1 Thessalonians. The church at Thessalonica was known in their region of Macedonia and Achaia because of their witness and example (1 Thessalonians 1). In fact, the Word of God had gone forth so faithfully from them in that region that Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy did not feel they needed to say anything.

How to Proclaim the Gospel in Your Backyard

If all the church is to proclaim the gospel in their own backyard, then we need to know how this works out. Does it work out by simply going door to door, or can it happen in other ways? In an effort to be succinct, but still answer the question, we will look at the church at Ephesus.

In Ephesians, we learn Paul expected their speech, sexual conduct, interaction with their neighbors, family life, and master slave interactions to be radically different than the culture in which they lived (Eph. 4-6). The purpose was so that they would shine as lights in a dark place and be witnesses to those around them.

From the example of the Ephesians, we learn how we can interact with those around us.

We are to live lives that are radically different than those who live next door. As we live lives that are different than those surrounding us, we put forth a model of what a redeemed community looks like and we hopefully earn the right to proclaim the gospel. Or when we proclaim the gospel to our neighbors, they are able to see how it has changed our lives, and hopefully they too will desire the same change.

Following the example of the Ephesians also means our everyday life is apart of our mission. As we go to work, play with our kids, date our wives, attend a movie, and interact with our neighbors, we are on mission. If we are on mission in our everyday lives, then we cannot fragment our lives into missional segments like so many in the church do.

Redefinition of Missionary

In order to be on mission all the time, we have to radically alter our current definition of a missionary. No longer can missionaries be thought of as a select group of people who go out to an area to proclaim the gospel and return home at a given time.

Rather, being on mission, and being a missionary, happens in every aspect of our lives, and is accomplished by everyone in the church.

Pastors, deacons, staff members, businessmen, lawyers, doctors, small business owners, blue collar workers, teachers, grandparents, stay at home moms, kids, etc are all on mission together. Meaning no one in our church is not on mission all the time, and there is no one in our church who are not missionaries.

Summary

From our limited examples, we can see that mission is not only reserved for a select group of people who go into other countries to proclaim the gospel, but it is reserved for the entire church, and it plays out in their own backyard.

If being on mission is to be taken up by everyone everywhere they live, work, and play, then we must redefine what we mean by the term missionary. Everyone in our church is a missionary, and their mission field is where they live, work, and play. Every aspect of their lives has to be included in their mission. The stores they visit, the places they live, the people they choose to hang out with, the restaurants they frequent, the places they take their kids to play, and the sports teams they play on are all apart of a strategic plan designed to meet and engage non-believers with the gospel.

Helpful Articles

The Geography of the Gospel

Chandler, Horton, and Keller on the Church in Mission

Image: Damian Brandon / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

How to Get Our People and Ourself on Mission

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, Evangelism, Leadership, Pastoral, Practical5 Comments

Have you ever wondered why it is so hard to get on mission for Jesus and stay on mission? For most of us, we are excited to say we are living missionally, we throw the vocabulary around because it sounds cool, but the actual practice of living missionally is difficult. Why is it hard to live missionally? How we can actually get started and sustain our mission?

How Can we GET on Mission and STAY on Mission?

If we want ourselves and our people to be on mission for Christ, our affection for Christ must be the dominating affection of our hearts. If something else is the dominating affection, such as acceptance, status, or materialism, then mission will not be fully realized, and it is probably not going to start. Living on mission and staying on mission is a heart issue. It is not a program or strategy issue, which means we must attack a lack of mission at the heart level.

How can we increase Our affections for Jesus?

(1) We must have an unwavering commitment to understanding the Gospel in a greater way.

We have to be willing to make a commitment to understanding how every aspect of our life is affected by the gospel, and how every aspect of our life can be a gospel moment. Here is what I mean. Our life is a gospel moment when others witness the radical change Christ has performed in our lives. For instance, when a Christian’s view of sex, money, and power is radically different than our cultures, the gospel’s power to transform our life is demonstrated, not only to the world, but to ourselves. But that gospel change won’t result unless we commit to understanding the gospel in a greater way. An understanding that should result in our affections for Jesus changing as we recognize how wicked and depraved we really are and how great Jesus’ salvation really is.

(2) We must be willing to fail.

In our willingness to fail, we show we realize we are not the ones who expand the kingdom; rather, it is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who expand the kingdom. As we depend on God, see Him sustain us, and even use us to expand His kingdom, our affection for Him should increase and stimulate us to further mission.

(3) The travailing of our souls should cause us to pray.

As we face the laborious task of mission, our soul will inevitably groan with pain, because, let’s be honest, being on mission is hard, much harder than we might have first thought. The difficulties of mission should drive us to pray more often and more fervently. Prayer creates intimacy with Jesus and that intimacy should increase our affections for Jesus.

(4) Become an expert in proclaiming Jesus.

We become an expert on proclaiming Jesus by studying Scripture. As we study Scripture, we should gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and that should increase our affections for Him.

Conclusion

Changing the affections of our heart is key to getting on and staying on mission, which we are able to influence by committing to understand the gospel more deeply, be willing to fail, praying, and becoming an expert in proclaiming Jesus’ message through the study of Jesus’ Word. Doing these things should change our heart’s affections and drive us to mission, one that is more joyful and sustainable.

Resources

This post was developed from Tyler Jones’ sermon “The Church Planters Mission,” which you can find on iTunes under the Acts29 Network Podcast, or by clicking here (Note: it will be the one initially highlighted in light grey).

A great article on the subject of evangelism is Brent Nelson’s article Woe to Me if I don’t Evangelize

Are You Asking the Right Questions?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, Evangelism, Pastoral, Practical1 Comment

Are you asking the right questions when you are talking with others about Christ? If you are wondering, you may want to read on.

I have been reading Randy Newman’s book Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People’s Hearts the Way Jesus Did. In his book, Newman provides five principles and questions that serve to help build plausibility structures. Plausibility structures are arguments, facts, or ideas that make a belief seem more probable or reasonable.

By keeping the following principles in mind and asking the questions associated with them, we can help people to see belief in Christianity is reasonable, while at the same time showing them that their belief is the one that is not plausible.

Newman’s Five Principles and Questions

(1) We must awaken people to see the fallacy of their argument

ASK: Really? Do you really think [all religions are the same]? Do you really think [your religion is the same as those who thought they would catch a ride on a comet]?

This question serves to wake people up so they will begin to think about their beliefs.

(2) Some things can’t be true – To say all religions are true is self-refuting because all religions cannot be true.

ASK: Can you explain that to me?

This question serves to soften hearts and demonstrates an unwillingness to be put on the defensive. It helps build the plausibility structure that some things can’t be true.

(3) Some things can be partially true – There is nothing wrong with admitting other religions get some things right.

ASK: So? [X Religion] is right about [X Topic] but what about [Mention a major tenet of their faith]? Have you studied [X Religion] much? What else do you know?

This question helps to build the plausibility structure that some things can be partially true without being fully true.

(4) Somethings might be true – You want them to admit that it is probable something might be true with hopes they will accept your probable statement as truth one day.

ASK: Isn’t it possible that [Jesus is Lord/Died on the Cross/God is real/God is a personal God]?

ASK: Would you like it if Jesus were Lord/There was a God?

These questions help to expose a flawed plausibility structure – one that says, we sometimes believe things because we want to, not because they’re true.

(5) Somebody sees the whole elephant – Someone who claims to see the truth when others are not is taking an arrogant position. The only way someone can claim that others get it wrong and they get it right is if they know the truth themselves.

ASK: How do you know that? What makes you believe that?

This question exposes the underlying issue of how we know what we know. In addition, the plausibility structure erected by these questions makes a more solid foundation for people’s beliefs than just a hackneyed illustration or story.

Conclusion

By employing these principles and questions we are able to support facts and ideas about Christianity, which serves to build plausibility structures and make belief in Christianity more probable. These questions also serve to challenge people’s ideas and beliefs so they will begin to think about their religious system on a deeper level. Something all to often people do not do.

Resource

These Principles and Questions are taken out of Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People’s Hearts the Way Jesus Did, 54-71. You can check Newman’s book out by clicking here.

Image: vegadsl / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What is the Wrong and Right Way to Seek Change in Our Life?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, PracticalLeave a comment

I recently read an article by Tim Keller entitled: Gospel Preaching. In Appendix B: Applying Christ, he gives reasons people may say no to ungodliness before giving us the real way we can change. I would like to quote Keller at length, rather than attempting to summarize. Keller says,

The Wrong Way to Seek Change

Think of all the ways you can ‘say no’ to ungodliness. You can say “No-because I’ll look bad!” You can say “No-because I’ll be excluded from the social circles I want to belong to.” You can say “No-because then God will not give me health, wealth, and happiness.” You can say “No-because God will send me to hell.” You can say “No-because I’ll hate myself in the morning and disappoint myself and have low self-esteem.”

But virtually all of these motives are really just motives of fear and pride – the very things that also lead to sin. You are just using sinful self-centered impulses of the heart to keep you compliant to external rules without really changing the heart itself.

Also, you are not really doing anything out of love for God. You are using God to get things – self-esteem, prosperity, or social approval. So your deepest joys and hopes rest in other things beside God. This kind of ‘obedience’ does not issue from a changed heart at all.

How to Change

Paul is saying: If you want to really change and gain self-control you must let the gospel teach you – a word that means to train, discipline, coach you over a period of time. You must let the gospel argue with you. You must let the gospel sink down deeply until it changes the structures of your motivation and views of things. John Stott says on Titus 2:14: “Grace not only saves, but undertakes our training. Grace bases her teaching upon the great facts in which her first grand revelation of herself was made, and finds all her teaching power in those mighty memories!”

This Does Not Mean

This does not mean that Christians should not use every possible means to exercise self-control in the crucial moment. If you feel an impulse to pick up a rock and hit someone with it – do anything at all to keep yourself from doing it! Tell yourself “I’ll go to jail! I’ll disgrace my family!” Anything. There’s no reason why in the short run a Christian can not simply use ‘will-power’ like that to make a change that is necessary.

But in the long run change will only come from changing the heart’s deepest affections with the melting, moving grace of God.

Conclusion

In this article, Keller provides us with three things that are happening when we do not seek change at the heart level: (1) We will not truly change. (2) We end up using God to build our self-esteem, prosperity, or social approval because our hope lies in something other than God. (3) We end up using sinful self-centered impulses derived from fear and pride to exact external change in order to remain compliant to our social circles accepted actions, or because we believe compliance to rules will gain us favor with God; thus, meriting us health, wealth, happiness, and a ticket out of hell.

In contrast, the only way for us to really change is if our heart is affected by the Gospel. Instead of forcing ourselves to keep external rules, we need to seek change at the heart level by preaching the Gospel to ourselves and allowing the grace of God to melt away our hearts deepest affections for our own self promotion, glory, satisfaction, and pleasure.

X-Ray Questions: Where do you find your refuge?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, Practical, X-Ray Questions2 Comments

This week we continue our X-Ray Questions series, as we look at where you find your refuge. You can read the other posts in this series by clicking here.

X-Ray Question:

(10) Where do you find refuge, safety, comfort, escape, pleasure, security?

This is the question that Psalms invites. It digs out your false trusts, your escapisms that substitute for the Lord. Many “addictive behaviors” are helpfully addressed by this question. They often arise in the context of life’s troubles and pressures, and function as false refuges.

Understand

In what we take refuge becomes evident when troubles and pressures arise in our lives. The thing(s) we turn to in order to escape those pressures are our false refuge. When pressures arise at work, or in your marriage, to what do you turn for help? Do you turn to a mistress, a drink, or gambling? Do you lose yourself in your work hoping to avoid the situation by working late? Do you let the pressure build until you burst in uncontrollable anger? Do you begin to abuse an illegal substance like marijuana or cocaine hoping that it will relieve the pain?

All of these are ways we can deal with the troubles and pressures in our life, but they are all false refuges. They only provide momentary relief, and often times create more problems than they fix.

Repent

We must repent by realizing that God is our only true refuge. The Psalmist makes this clear because God is the One the Psalmist consistently turned to over and over again. He knew God was his refuge because God alone provided him with escape, safety, security, comfort, and pleasure.

In Psalm 27:1, the Psalmist writes,

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

And in 27:5, he writes,

For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.

We too must find our refuge in the Lord, and we must repent of our unbelief. When we make other things our refuge, we show that we do not believe God has the power to protect us, to provide us with a refuge. We must cast off our unbelief by preaching the gospel to ourselves daily. For it is only in the gospel that we realize the power of God. Paul tells us that the same power God used to raise Christ from the dead is available for those who believe. He says,

And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above very name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come (Eph 1:19-21).

If God is able to raise Christ from the dead, seat Him at His right hand, and give Him authority over all of creation, He certainly has the power to protect us. We must realize this and repent of our unbelief.

Scripture

Here are a few passages from God’s word to meditate on this week, as you consider where you find your refuge: Pss 23, 27, 31, 46.

All X-Ray questions taken from David Powlison’s book Seeing with New Eyes.

Doubt: Why it can be a good thing

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, Practical4 Comments

I have been reading Tim Keller’s The Reason for God, and he has raised an interesting point in the introduction regarding doubt. He recommended that each side, Christians and Skeptics, look at doubt in a radically new way.

Everyone has doubt and it should be acknowledged and addressed. In order to explore what I mean, we will look at Christian doubt first before addressing the Skeptics doubt.

Christian Doubt

He likens the Christian without doubt to “a human body without any antibodies in it” (xvii). A body without antibodies is defenseless when attacks come. Likewise, a faith without doubt will be defenseless when attacks from skeptics, or a time of trial enters into life because of personal tragedies. Those who enter these situation without having thought about the hard questions, the objections to the faith, will not be able to “provide grounds for [their] beliefs to skeptics” or even themselves when they are faced with trying circumstances (xvii). Not facing our doubts will result in a faith that could collapse over night when challenged.

On the other hand, facing our doubts will lead us “to a position of strong faith” and a respect and understanding of those who do doubt (xvii). As Christians, we must examine our doubt, being able to provide a defense for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15). It is no longer acceptable to hold a position just because our family does; we must ask ourselves the hard questions. If we do not, we will find ourselves in a position where we are not able to offer a defense for the Gospel, our faith will be shaken, and we may be left wondering why we ever believed Christianity in the first place.

Skeptic Doubt

Those who doubt the veracity of Christianity can be labeled Skeptics. Most Skeptics of Christianity will say outright it is false while trumpeting their position as truth. This is where the problem begins. Most Skeptics are quick to disregard Christianity, but are not equally as quick to challenge their own beliefs. Some may not even admit that they have an alternative belief. But denying Belief A (Christianity) means you hold to Belief B, even if you are not willing to admit that you hold to another belief.

In addition, not only do Skeptics hold to another belief when they deny Christianity, but the belief they hold to is by faith. For instance, when Skeptics say there cannot be “any exclusive claims to a superior knowledge of spiritual reality”, they are making a religious claim (12). They are assuming God is unknowable, or that God is an impersonal force, rather than someone “who speaks in Scripture” (12). All of these are unprovable faith claims. Furthermore, when someone says there are no moral absolutes in the world, they are making an unprovable faith claim because there is no empirical evidence to prove otherwise. In fact, any belief that has no empirical evidence to prove it is a leap of faith. This means all religious systems, even those that are secular in nature, claiming there is no God, is based on a leap of faith because they cannot prove God does not exist.

Once one realizes they hold an alternative faith-based position to Christianity, they need to subject their position to the same scrutiny Christians should subject their position to. Skeptics, like Christians, should examine their belief system by asking themselves: How do I know my belief is true? Can I justify these beliefs to someone else who does not share them?

The Result

Once one has examined their beliefs by wrestling with an unexamined “blind faith”, and their personal and culture’s objection to their faith, they will be in a position to provide a coherent defense for their belief system, that is, barring they find their position to be true.

Tim Keller says,

At the end of each process, even if you remain the skeptic or believer you have been, you will hold your own position with both greater clarity and greater humility. Then there will be an understanding, sympathy, and respect for the other side that did not exist before (xix).

He goes on to say,

Believers and non believers will rise to the level of disagreement rather than simply denouncing one another. This happens when each side has learned to represent the other’s argument in its strongest and most positive form. Only then is it safe and fair to disagree with it. That achieves civility in a pluralistic society, which is no small thing (xix).

Conclusion

Both Christians and Skeptics must examine the doubt associated with their belief systems. Christians needs to answer questions on their own, not holding to a system because their family does. On the other hand, Skeptics need to first admit that they hold to a “faith-based” system, and then examine their system with the same rigor they ask of Christians. The result for both groups will be a greater level of clarity and understanding of their own position, helping them to think deeper about the system they hold.

In addition, as each group examines their own beliefs, they should also become more humble and understanding to those outside their religious system which could achieve a level of civility in our pluralistic society that does not currently exist.

However, apart from a deeper understanding and a greater level of civility, my ultimate hope is that those who are not Christian would realize the Gospel is the only hope for salvation, and that their initial doubts of Christianity were not as strong as they first believed.