Copyright Church of God Ministerial Development The Global Mission and Ministry of the Local Church Adapted from a manuscript by R. Terrell Brinson Administrative Assistant Church of God World Missions

Introduction In order to fully understand the global mission and ministry of the church, one must go back to its origin.

Introduction In the past one hundred and eighteen years, the Church of God has experienced many changes:

Introduction But there is one thing for sure, the global mission and ministry of the church has never changed nor will it ever change.

What Makes the Church Work? What Makes the Church Grow? This is what makes the church work and grow! Miracles! Signs! Wonders! God’s presence!

The Church and its Mission The church, which includes the Church of God, is to be an agency of God for evangelizing the world.

The Church and its Mission Involvement in missions, at home and abroad, is not an option; it is a command! “Go ye therefore,” Jesus said, “Teach all nations, baptize them, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you and lo I am with you even until the end of the earth” (Matthew 28:19).

The Church and its Mission In Robert Hall Glover’s book entitled The Bible Basis of Missions, he states: The missionary enterprise is no human conception or undertaking, no modern scheme or invention. Its originating source was in the heart of God himself.

The Missionary Heart of the New Testament The Gospels are, “living recordings” of missionary preaching, and the Epistles are not so much some form of missionary apologetic as they are authentic and actual instruments of mission work.

The Great Commission The Great Commission was not recorded just once but actually fives times in the New Testament.

The Great Commission “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark. 16:15). Luke 24:47 says, “That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations.” In John: “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (20:21). The missionary task is the responsibility of Christ’s followers, the body of Christ, and each Christian as we are the ones entrusted to the spreading of the gospel in the Christian movement.

Church is About Worship

The Church and the Scope of Salvation Even a casual look at the world quickly reveals man’s condition in sin and the awful plight in which this fallen condition has left him.

The Church and the Scope of Salvation The Bible speaks, however, of God’s gracious plan to provide a solution to man’s problem. We call it salvation or soteriology.

The Church and the Scope of Salvation The greatest priority of the body of Christ and the highest missions is to bring salvation through out the world.

The Church and the Scope of Salvation This is where the church can define the importance of its ministry and mission. Before one can accept Christ as his/her personal Savior, he/she must become informed of the elements of the gospel. Evangelism is at the center of the global mission and ministry of the local church.

The Church and the Scope of Salvation The apostle Paul described the salvation experience in these words: “Wherefore if any one is in Christ he is a new creature; the old has passed away, behold it has become new” (II Corinthians 5:17).

The Church and the Scope of Salvation The global mission and ministry of the local church and body of Christ clearly prioritizes the message of salvation.

The Church and the Scope of Salvation Sinners, turn, why will you die? God, your Savior, asks you – Why? He who did your souls retrieve, Died Himself that you might live. Will you let him die in vain? Crucify your Lord again? Why, you ransomed sinners, why Will you slight his grace and die? John Wesley

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