A GREAT COMMISSION CONGREGATION Dr. Paul D. Borden

A Great Commission Congregation Bottom Line of Congregational Health A Continual Stream of New Disciples Coming into the Kingdom of God

Great Commission Congregations Practice - Evangelism (The Presenting of Good News) - Variety of forms and formats - Basic DNA of the congregation - This is the most basic CORE value of the congregation A Great Commission Congregation

Great Commission Congregations Could Also Be Called: Disciple Making Congregations Outward Focused Congregations Missional Congregations Healthy Congregations A Great Commission Congregation

Making a Disciple Means: Exposing People to the Gospel Message Inviting People to Respond to the Gospel Message Helping People Live Out the Gospel Message, Individually and In Community Leading People to Reproduce the Gospel Message in terms of Both: Salvation: The Great Commission Kingdom: The Great Commandment A Great Commission Congregation

Great Commission Congregations Reproduce Disciples Leaders New Congregations While Working to Change Communities Advance God’s Kingdom A Great Commission Congregation

MAJOR QUESTION: How Do We Instill a Great Commission Value in Congregations That Do Not Have that Value as Core or Foundational?

THE BELIEF ISSUE The Purpose of the Church (The Body of Christ) Did God Design the Church for Believers As An Institution that Encourages Those Believers to Live and Act Together in order to Bring God Glory? Did God Design The Church As A Missional Entity Designed to Mobilize Believers to Bring God Glory By Evangelizing Those Not In the Church Currently?

THE BELIEF ISSUE Support for The Church Being Primarily a Missional Entity Jesus’ Statement about the Church Mt. 16:18 The Mystery of the Church Eph. 3:1-13 The Ministry of Reconciliation II. Cor. 5:16-21 Christ Must Be Preached to Reach Others Phil. 1:12-18 Jesus Christ Has Two Bodies Eph. 4:4

THE LEADERSHIP ISSUE Do the Leaders Embrace the Belief? If So Then Leaders Lead Congregations in Two Cross-Cultural Ways Reaching Those Not in the Church Currently Mobilizing the Christians

THE CULTURE ISSUE Is the Culture a Friend or Enemy to the Presentation of the Good News? Enemy (extreme): Isolation Friend (extreme): Assimilation

THE CULTURE ISSUE Willowbank Report – Culture “the patterned ways in which people relate to one another” Trinity Eden: Pre-Fall Incarnation – John 1:1-14 Loved by God – John 3:16 Multiple Outreach Strategies – I. Cor. 9:19-23

THE CULTURE ISSUE Culture is neither moral nor immoral but amoral All Evangelistic Strategies are Acceptable Unless the Essence of the Message of the Gospel is Violated

THE SOCIOLOGICAL ISSUE(S) 1. Salvation is about both the individual and the community 2. Key concept is faith, not timing 3. Salvation Responsibility of Both Individuals The Community of Faith

THE METHODOLOGICAL ISSUE(S) Salesperson or Travel Guide Travel Guides: Help Others See God’s Clues Share Struggles Connect Stories to the Bigger Story Focus on Relational Involvements Journeys To/From God Invite People to Join God

THE METHODOLOGICAL ISSUE(S) Invite People to Respond Jesus Did – John 1:43, Mark 1:15-17, John 11:26 Peter Did – Acts 2:38 Paul and Silas Did – Acts 16:31 Paul Implored People to Be Reconciled – II. Cor. 5:20

THE METHODOLOGICAL ISSUE(S) Rod/Reel Fishing And Net Fishing

A STRATEGY FOR MAKING THE GREAT COMMISSION THE VALUE OF THE CONGREGATION

A STRATEGY … Become a Staff Led Congregation Elders/Deacons/Board/Council – Govern Pastor – Leads Staff – Manages Congregation – Does Ministry Staff Members Set Goals – All Staff Members Have These Goals Evangelism Leaders Growth

DEVELOP FOUR MISSION FIELDS

First Mission Field – Your Congregation Geographically Close Relationally Connected Culturally Similar Assimilation Programs – Present and Invite Large Events – Help Serve DEVELOP FOUR MISSION FIELDS

Second Mission Field – Those in Your Community Like the Congregation Geographically Distant – Not on your Campus Relationally Unconnected Culturally Similar Develop Ministries that Involved Participation with These People Conduct Outreach Events Based Upon New Developing Relationships DEVELOP FOUR MISSION FIELDS

Third Mission Field – Those in the Community Not Like the Congregation Geographically, Relationally and Culturally Disconnected (Often these are the Powerless and People without Resources) Encourage Laity to Target Specific Groups Encourage Freedom of Methods, Funding and Recruiting Teach on Varieties of Ministries Not Just Gifts Create Birthing and Support Systems for These Ministries DEVELOP FOUR MISSION FIELDS

Fourth Mission Field – Home and Foreign Missions Usually Quite Distinct in Culture, Distant in Geography and No Relational Connections To Produce Various Levels of Commitment – Short Term Mission Trips Send Teams Comprised of Disciples and Non-Disciples to do Service and Conduct Relational Evangelism DEVELOP FOUR MISSION FIELDS

CONGREGATIONS CAN BEHAVE BASED UPON A GREAT COMMISSION VALUE SYSTEM WITHOUT BECOMING A SEEKER CONGREGATION IN STRATEGY