Interestingly I read as Piper explained how prayer can often be too elevated above its intended role. Now, if you’re like me and thinking, you may say, huh? Let me further explain. He continued to explain that prayer is often elevated in our emphasis on it over the Word of God. His basic point was that the Scriptures clearly elevate the Word as the supreme active agent in missions, with prayer as a necessary supportive tool. His point was simply that we can often emphasize prayer in a misinforming way that misdirects our prayers. The end result is a prayer focus that centers on peripheral things, and misses what is really to be at the core of our passion for God.

Let me give you a few examples in Piper’s own words:

Speaking of the Ephesians 6 life is war context, John Piper writes, “Until you believe that life is war, you cannot know what prayer is for. Prayer is for the accomplishment of a wartime mission. It is as though the field commander (Jesus) called in the troops, gave them a crucial mission (‘Go and bear fruit’), handed each of them a personal transmitter coded to the frequency of the general’s headquarters, and said, ‘Comrades, the general has a mission for you. He aims to see it accomplished. And to that end he has authorized me to give each of you personal access to him through these transmitters. If you stay true to his mission and seek his victory first, he will always be as close as your transmitter, to give tactical advice and to send in air cover when you or your comrades need it.’ But what have millions of Christians done? They have stopped believing that we are in a war. No urgency, no watching, no vigilance, no strategic planning. Just easy peacetime and prosperity. And what did they do with the walkie-talkie? They tried to rig it up as an intercom in their cushy houses and cabins and boats and cars–not to call in firepower for conflict with a mortal enemy, but to ask the maid to bring another pillow to the den.” (John Piper, “Prayer,” an online sermon at www.DesiringGod.org.)

Much of Piper’s point centers on our misguided use of prayer. Do we approach prayer in a way that elevates our own selfish desires? Or, do we recognize the greater heart and mission of God (and therefore our mission), and then allow that to shape the way we pray?

Furthermore, the Scriptures are packed with references upholding Scripture as the active agent, the sword of the Spirit in the offensive effort to live for God’s purposes on this sin-racked earth (Acts 19:20; Romans 1:16, 10:17; Ephesians 6:17-18; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23).
The Word of God and prayer go together; one exalted as the means to do God’s work and the other upheld as a way of supporting the work of the Word. In John 17 and Acts 4:29 we read of the precedence of calling on God for boldness to speak His Word boldly. In 2 Thessalonians 3:1 we read of the prayer for God to amplify the working of the Word. In Colossians 4:3 Paul’s prayer is for a door of open opportunity for the Word to work. In 1 Timothy 6:12 and 2 Timothy 4:7 we see life depicted as a fight or a war. Finally, in Ephesians 6 Paul speaks of this life-wartime context. He writes that we wrestle not against mere flesh and blood, but against cosmic powers of darkness. The offensive weapon Paul then lists in verse 17 for this war is the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Then in the very next verse (18) we read the participle translated “so,” directly connecting verse 18 on prayer to verse 17 regarding the Word’s offensive work. Thus, prayers are seen as a supportive catalyst to the offensive weapon of the Word.

Do we pray in this way? Do we even view life in this New Testament depicted way? We do truly have so much to be thankful for, and a life lived with Jesus is indeed joyful. However, while we are promised God’s faithful presence and joy lived in Him, we also see the Scriptures depict a life lived in Him as a struggle against the cosmic powers of darkness. No, I’m not getting all Star Wars on us. Seriously, the powers of Satan, sin, and our own flesh are a very real thing. It is these struggles that we wage war against while walking through life. Do we view Scripture as paramount in this life-battle? Do we view prayer as necessary to commune with our Commander for strength and victory from His Word in the battle?

Here’s my last thought… Are our prayers then shaped by this mentality? Think about it. How many times do I catch myself praying in a misguided way? How many times do I pray for someone to get better from some sickness or bad thing in their lives rather than pray for Jesus to do His work of refining in their lives. Regarding missions, how often do we pray just for safety and vague concerns for well-being? Oh, we can and should pray for healing and safety, but do we pray for spiritual growth as well? How often do we pray for God’s Word to do it’s intended offensive work in people’s lives?

These truths are surely convicting. It is my prayer to simply offer them here for you to likewise consider.

For the Spread of His Fame,
Derek

The study itself finds it’s roots in a principle inseparably connected to the Scriptures as a whole. However, Psalm 67 rings clear on the study’s central premise.
“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon the earth. Selah
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear Him!”
- Psalm 67

The totality of the Scriptures are resoundingly clear that our fundamental existence on planet earth is for the spread of our God’s fame/glory. From the Old Testament way of dwelling amidst God’s presence through the promised land and the sacrificial system to the New Testament’s focus on Jesus’ redemption, the centerpiece is the exaltation of God’s great fame. The centerpiece of the Scriptures, really then, is worship. We are created for worship. Sin corrupts this. The Old Testament shows our gracious God’s dealing with His people to point them back to His holiness through their faith in His redemptive provision through His law and sacrificial system. The New Testament (that which the entire Old Testament pointed toward) shows our gracious God’s sovereignty and mind-boggling work of redeeming His own to Himself through faith in His provision in the form of Jesus.

Missions therefore exists because worship does not. Missions must exist therefore, to beckon fallen humanity back to worship. This, of course, is a provision and work that only God can accomplish. We post-New-Testament humanity have the incredible privilege (along with people like the Ephesians in Eph. 1:10) of heralding the truly, infinitely good news of Jesus and the redemption His work offers.

From texts like Ephesians 1:5-6, Romans 3:25, and 1 Peter 3:18, we see that Jesus’ purpose was consumed with His zeal for the spread of the Father’s glory. In John 11:1-6 we see a clear example of God’s love and the exaltation of His glory. After hearing of Lazarus’ imminent death, the text says that because of Jesus’ love for His friends, He remained for the purpose of glorifying God. Do you see the connection to God’s loving plan and the exalting of His glory?

Oh, this all carries such profound implications for us today! Do we recognize that our God is truly worthy of worship? Do we truly realize that our God is on mission to spread His worship throughout the nations? Do we truly realize that our fundamental existence on planet earth is inseparably connected to this purpose? Are we truly enamored in worship of our great God? It is then precisely that enamored worship that should be the flame in our missiological outlook, passion, involvement, and prayer!

For the Spread of His Fame,
Derek

Consider this quote that packs the punch of God’s plan for the ages and our involvement in it:

“The New Testament does not present a come-see religion, but a go-tell religion… (Matt. 18:18-20)… The implications of this are huge for the way we live and the way we think about money and lifestyle. One of the main implications is that we are ‘sojourners and exiles’ (1 Peter 2:11) on the earth. We do not use this world as though it were our primary home. ‘Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ’ (Phil. 3:20). This leads to a wartime lifestyle. That means we don’t amass a wealth to show the world how rich our God can make us. We work hard and seek a wartime austerity for the cause of spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. We maximize giving to the war effort, not comforts at home. We raise our children with a view to helping them embrace the suffering that it will cost to finish the mission.” (Let the Nations Be Glad, John Piper, p. 29)

Piper later writes, “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever. Worship, therefore, is the fuel and goal of missions. It’s the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory.” (Let the Nations Be Glad, John Piper, p. 35)

The entire storyline of God’s Revealed Word calls His followers to this God-glorifying among the nations purpose… from Exodus where God rescued His people to display His glory to the nations, to the countless Psalms where God’s glory among the nations is extolled, to Isaiah where God created His people for His glory among the nations, to the Gospels in the New Testament where Jesus submitted to the Father’s will to bring His glory to the nations, to Paul’s epistles where the very plan of redemption serves to give God glory throughout the nations, to John’s Revelation where we see the culmination of God’s redeemed gathered from all nations for His glory.

As we peer into Scripture’s story, we see our great, majestic, Redeemer God full of truth and grace sovereignly reigning over the nations. We see this, our great God unfolding HIs plan for the nations. We see this, our great God redeeming a people from every tribe and tongue to Himself through Jesus. We see this, our great God actively setting things back to His original plan before sin. As we see this is fundamentally God’s activity and plan in His Word, we begin to clearly deduce that our existence is fundamentally connected to it as well.

Do you see it? This is so fundamental to our very existence! Think about it for a moment. Why to you exist on this earth? If it is true that we indeed exist for the sole purpose of worshiping our great God and spreading His fame and plan of redemption, how are living up to it? Are we passionate about or worship of God? Are we passionate about missions. I’m not talking about the missions that subdivides a certain aspect of the church to “missions.” While we as the church are to have a missions program, we more deeply drastically need to see our calling to be missional as fundamental to our very existence! This goes far deeper and carries drastically wider implications than just for full-time ministry workers and missionaries. Whatever our calling in life, we are inseparably called to redeemed worship of our great God and the spreading of this through living missionally in this world.

If you’re like me and tracking with all this up to this point, you’d respond with a resounding, “gulp” or “wow!” This is quite the calling! It is something that continues to deeply uproot previous missiological assumptions and those ever present seasons of apathy in my own life. How are we doing living up to our fundamental purpose on this earth?

How are you engaging the nations as part of this calling?

This is the study that I am extremely amped to launch this Sunday in the Koinonia Sunday school. If you’re interested in getting a copy of Piper’s book for yourself, check it out!

Note, I will probably occasionally blog and/or share related resources about it as we go through the study in the coming weeks. Look for more content on the blog and the church app!

For the Spread of His Fame,
Derek

The other day I was sitting at an Alaska local coffee shop, Kaladi Brothers. As I sit it any coffee shop, it is quite interesting to observe this cultural epicenter of our society. Culture in general fascinates me and it is likely one of the interests that God gave me for mission work.

As believers we are called to live in this world for the spread of Jesus’ fame. We are called to be in the world, but not to live for the world. Right? Question…How are we to influence this world for the spread of Jesus’ fame? As you look through Scripture, we read about Jesus’ highly relational attention to people. We see Jesus living in the culture of that day and confronting it with the truth of His Father. We also read about Paul’s sensitivity to the differing cultural worlds surrounding him throughout each town he traveled. As we further read and examine the Scriptural letters in the New Testament, we see a redeemed people living in a real world, wrestling with the same issue we wrestle with today: living in our world/culture for the spread of Jesus’ fame in an effective and yet holy way.

One helpful paradigm I stumbled across a couple years ago goes like this: 1. Receive 2. Reject 3. Redeem. As we peer at culture and our responsibility to live in it as redeemed mankind fashioned in God’s now sanctifying image, how do we flesh this out in a Jesus-honoring and balanced way? This 3-point paradigm I believe helps in this process. Like Jesus, Paul, the other apostles, and the early church, we must develop a God-centered lens from which we peer at our cultural world.

There are always aspects of culture that we can receive, enjoy, and adapt. Although apart from God’s provision we are utterly marred in sin, humanity’s God-given expressions of culture have beautiful traces of our Creator. We must learn to develop eyes to see these visible traces of God’s creation reflected in culture.

Likewise, there will inevitably be many aspects of culture that are evidences of humanity’s depravity. These must obviously be rejected. God has chosen, called, and saved us out of this deprave world to live as salt and light. There are many examples of even believers who wrongly contextualize their lives and the Gospel in culturally compromised ways.

Finally, these rejected aspects of fallen culture must ultimately be pointed toward redemption. Every deprave and rejected aspect of culture can be pointed toward redemption in light of Jesus and the Gospel’s implications for us His people, the church.

So my question, How are you looking at our world, our culture? How are you receiving and adapting to some aspects of culture? Are you properly discerning in this area? How are you rejecting aspects of culture? Are you properly discerned in this area? Have you compromised in this area? How are you pointing toward the cross, toward redemption, in our fallen world? Do you recognize this as part of your calling as a Christian?

—–

As I sit in the coffee shop, I am observing culture. Coffee shops really are incredible epicenters in our cultural world today, at least in Western America (though I think it probably extends beyond just here). By studying in this environment occasionally, I get to see the continual flow of all kinds of people on their morning routine. Another observation, coffee shops are places where people (especially young people) love to hang out to study (like me) and to simply hang out with friends. This is an interesting aspect of culture.

Similarly, many movie theaters would reveal similar observations about culture. We could undoubtedly make many good and bad observations about culture from observing a typical movie theater.

Another obvious aspect to culture and values is observed in dress styles and how people choose to portray themselves in public. What does this tell you about some potentially good or bad observations of our culture?

Take any of these simple examples and apply them to numerous other scenarios…the grocery store, the home improvement store, any random restaurant, the outdoors (fishing, hunting), etc… What aspects of culture do you see from these different places?

Think for a moment about television. There are many aspects, good and bad, that we can observe from television, movies, and media in general. What kind of cultural agenda does today’s television and movies try to push? What are some good and bad observations we could make about our media?

Music is another great example. What type of music does our culture uphold as “accepted?” Why is that? What kind of lyrics are used in today’s music? What topics are referred to in music today? What are some good and bad observations we could draw out from music in our culture?

Maybe somewhat related to some other examples previously listed above, what type of places and times of the day do people gather for fun? Why do cities have such a big focus on nightlife? What age group of people are found hanging out together and when and where do they hang out? Why is that? What observations could we make?

——

As we learn to look at culture with attentive lenses filtered by the Gospel, we will begin seeing culture as a gift from our Creator God, but something also in dire need of redemption! How do you look at the culture around you? What are aspects of culture right now that you are enjoying? What are aspects right now that you are rejecting? How then are you seeking to point toward redemption in those rejected aspects of our marred culture?

These are I believe important Biblical principles for us to implement. As I stated, I have found this 3-point paradigm particularly helpful. It’s so easy to roll through life, either living in our own little world, missing opportunities to reach our culture for Jesus, or sometimes even living in culturally compromised ways. May we develop Jesus-centered cultural lenses as we seek to live for the spread of His fame in our world!

Grace,
Derek

Recently I did some study, writing, and teaching on the missional nature of the church. As I often do, I thought I would post the content in blog fashion. The Great Commission text seems so often mundane to those of us in church who regularly hear about having a heart for evangelism or missions. It’s so easy to forget though, that the command to make disciples relates to us still today. I mean, I know we all know that this is a command for us as believers. But so often, I find even myself as a missionary, losing the wonder, the motivation, and the compelling drive to be busy in the church’s mission. Furthermore, Scripture has much more to say about the missional nature of the church than just the great commission. So, I encourage you to think through the Scriptures with me as we delve in to study the missional nature of the church and our integral involvement in it. Do also note that this merely serves as an overview to the subject. We could easily spend much more time in various other passages digging deeper–something I would encourage all of us to do.

The Missional Nature of the Church

Introduction:

Why does the church exist?
To phrase it another way, What is the church’s mission?
What would you say is your place in the church’s mission?
Do you believe churches today are fulfilling this missional nature?

So, let’s talk about the church’s mission. The church indeed is on a mission. We as the gathered redeemed body of Christ are called out for a specific mission. Yes, the church is to be missional.

The Scriptures do have some key things to say about “The Missional Nature of the Church.”

Knowing that the church is to be on mission, a mission from God, how would we define that?
Think about it for a minute. How would you define the church’s God-given mission?
Now, how would you define your role in this mission?

As we said, the Scriptures do have some important things to teach us regarding God’s mission to us as the church.
Maybe even some of those truths and passages come to your mind?

Let’s spend some time looking at some of those passages.

Main Idea:
We the redeemed in Jesus are to see the missional nature of the church and our integral place in it.
So, let’s dive in and visualize from Scripture what exactly is involved in the mission of the church.

We see the the Main Thrust behind the church from Jesus’ teaching in 2 main passages:

1. The Church’s Advancement is Unstoppable: Christ will Build His Church
Matt. 16:13-19 – Jesus teaches his disciples on the coming church. He teaches on the unstoppable advancement of Christ’s church. It will be built through ordinary people like Peter, the disciples, and us. It will be built through the revelation-enlightening and Gospel-transformation made possible through the Father’s work of opening hearts. So we learn that this thing called the church is unstoppable.

2. The Church’s Commission: Command to be Involved in Christ’s Mission (the mission of building His church from Matt. 16)
Matthew 28:18-20 – Jesus’ last main command to his disciples before His ascension. (other recordings of this commission/command: Mark 16:14-18, Luke 24:44-49, John 20:19-23, Acts 1:8)

Contemporary Application Note [in response to those who advocate the Great Commission texts were only for the apostles]: While the time period was indeed different with the start of the church through the apostles, the core imperative of all of these Great Commission texts do apply to believers throughout church history, including us today. All 4 Gospels and Acts were inspired Scripture, written for the readership of the church. The Gospels give us a written record of Jesus’ earthly kingdom-declaring ministry. The Great Commission texts give us a written record of Jesus’ mission now in sending out His disciples to continue His earthly work. The Great Commission texts give us insight into the initial command, the motivation, and the record of Jesus’ mission for His followers. Furthermore, Jesus’ command in Matt. 28:20 involves a teaching that duplicates disciples and the Great Commission process. In this way, Jesus continues building His church to the end of the age through ordinary followers of Jesus who submit to the discipling process and who heed the Great Commission application in the missional nature of Christ’s church.

Matt. 28:18-20 – Jesus teaches his last word to His disciples with this Great Commission text. He commands that they be involved in spreading the Father’s Kingdom and heralding the Gospel. He commands them and us today to be involved in the unstoppable building of Christ’s church. They and we are to be involved in evangelism, discipleship, and basic involvement in building the body of Christ (the church).

Matthew 28:18-20 – Jesus’ last main command to his disciples before His ascension. (other recordings of this commission/command: Mark 16:14-18, Luke 24:44-49, John 20:19-23, Acts 1:8)

* The Jesus Follower’s Gospel Identity: “Going”
- As you are going (original language is participle “-ing” going idea)
The idea here is a regular presupposed going involvement in Christ’s mission. The Gospel and it’s implications for believers (the body of Christ) to be on mission permeates every facet of life. Jesus taught here that His followers were to apply this Great Commission throughout their everyday lives. Literally, the idea is, as you go about your everyday routines, this Great Commission is to be interwoven. To be on mission for Christ’s cause is the believer’s identity; it affects every aspect of life.
Note: Although this Greek word appears in participle form, it still can be translated and does apply with an imperative force. Making disciples (as we’ll soon see) is the main thrust of the passage, but going is also an integral aspect of the commission. This “go” translation over “going” (carrying the imperative aspect of the commission) is also consistent with Matthew’s usage (and the translation of these) involving similar occurrences of the participle “go.”

* The Jesus Follower’s Gospel Command: “Make Disciples”
- Make disciples (central imperative thrust of the passage)
This central command of making disciples involves much more than just getting people to profess Christ. It extends beyond salvation to discipleship. We see the follow-thru with this principle in Paul’s example of church planting ministry. In Rom. 1:5 Paul says his commission involved working for the obedience of faith among the Gentiles. Paul had this central idea of making disciples in its proper balance. Furthermore, we read how Paul always left bodies of believers with organized and qualified church leadership. He and the other apostles and ministry leaders in the early church spent the necessary time to properly teach new believers as well as properly train potential church leaders to take over in his departure.
Now building on the first phrase involving the presupposition of going, Jesus’ followers are commanded to be on mission in making more disciples. The presupposition is already that the Jesus-follower views his disciple nature as intrinsically equal to his identity. In other words, his very identity as a Jesus follower makes him view life through the grid of the Great Commission. His daily activities and responsibilities are infiltrated with Gospel-centered “as you are going” thinking. Therefore, Jesus says, as you are going throughout life on mission for the Gospel, take part in my mission of making disciples.

(among all nations)
Next, Jesus specifies the application of this central missional command of making disciples. It applies to everyone; all ethnic groups. Jesus’ followers are to be on discipling mission activity to all nations; all people groups.
In fact, in Matthew 24:14 we read that the end of the world will not come until the Gospel of God’s Kingdom is heralded to all nations. The Greek word for nations is “ethnos,” speaking of ethnic/people groups.
Rev. 7:9-12 depict the awesome future scene of all the redeemed from every ethnic/people/culture group praising God in heaven.
So the disciples/followers of Jesus all throughout the history of the church (including us today) are to be on mission (overflowing from our Gospel identity) of making disciples among all people groups.

(2 aspects involved in the central command of making disciples):
1) baptizing them, the disciples, in the name of the Father, Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. (What a great inclusion of the Trinity)
Jesus teaches His followers here regarding the inseparable aspect to discipleship: identification with Jesus and entrance/inclusion into the church. Baptism stands as the inseparable declaration of one’s allegiance change from self (sin) to Jesus. Furthermore, it publicly declares one’s new inclusion into the body of Christ; the church. This initial public declaration and interwoven event with salvation (although not a necessity for salvation) sets the stage for the second aspect involved in making disciples (the teaching).

2) teaching them to observe all things (all things that Jesus had taught)
So, in other words Jesus’ followers are to be involved in evangelism and discipleship that will culminate in churches being planted who will continue to do the same throughout all the world’s ethnic groups.

* The Jesus Follower’s Christ-Centered Encouragement
- Lo, Jesus says, I am with you, even until the end of the age!
What an encouragement and what a promise as Jesus closes His commissioning. Picture the scene. Jesus has just finished giving what forms the central mission of the church. We are to be involved in going. We are to be involved in making disciples. We are to be involved in the growth and advancement of the church, through baptism (bringing into the church) and through teaching (discipling and growing as the church). However, the ultimate emphasis and responsibility for this growth lies not with us, but with God/Jesus/theSpirit. What a fitting way that God inspires Matthew to close his Gospel account. What a fitting way Jesus closes His commissioning address; likely one of the last things Jesus said to His disciples.
He closes with the encouraging truth, dovetailing with His teaching earlier in Matt. 16:13-19, that He is with them through this whole church expanding, church building process.

Yes, the church is on mission from Jesus. It is a mission that He is accomplishing through ordinary redeemed people like you and me.
Yes, the mission is not always easy. But, we can take great comfort and motivation that our risen Jesus is with us through it all!

How are you involved in the missional nature of the church?

Conclusion:

Therefore (based on all this teaching in Matt. 28:18-20), we clearly see that the primary mission of the church is the making and duplicating of disciples of Jesus.

We see this primary mission played out in the early church through the book of Acts and Paul’s various church letters. The early church operated with disciple-making as the central thrust.

Furthermore, the early church was concerned about duplicating this whole process through intensified discipling training…the training of leadership (Acts 14:23, 2 Tim. 2:2, Titus 1:5)

So, think with me here now regarding your own life.
How does what we’ve learned in Scripture about the missional nature of the church apply to your own life?

By looking at some other passages, we see some practical outworking of the church’s mission.
While each passage could have an entire study, we’ll just briefly mention each one as we develop a practical outworking of our involvement in the missional nature of the church.

1. Acts 2:42-47 – Sacrificial, Generous, Grace-centered, Others-focused, Christ-exemplifying Fellowship
The early church grasped the Gospel’s implications early on. Jesus’s salvation was given to them, and their identification as such was evidenced through the fellowship of their daily lives. The gracious generosity of God overflowed in their own lives to others in need about them.
Their lives truly were manifestations of the Gospel, and God continues saving many and adding them to the church.

2. Acts 8:1-4 – A Scattering Proclamation by the Common Jesus Follower (not just church leadership)
Due to the intense persecution in the days of the early church launch, the believers are scattered. We see their involvement in the church’s mission by preaching this Gospel everywhere they went as they were scattered.
Acts 11:19-21 – God saves a great number through the Gospel-spreading work of those scattered from the persecution recorded in Acts 7 & 8.

3. Acts 13 & various Acts passages – Formal Church Leadership Missionary Sending Activity (Recognizing & Sending Missionaries)
Paul and Barnabas launch the first “official” missionary journeys. We read throughout the rest of Acts about Paul’s missionary journey activities.

4. 1 Cor. 3:5-9, Phil. 4:10-19, 3 John – Partnering & Enabling Missionary Sending Efforts (Prayer & Finances, Possibly Going?)
Paul teaches the Corinthian church regarding the partnering work for God’s ministry work.
Paul thanks the church in Philippi for their generous financial partnership in cooperating in God’s fruit.
John teaches regarding believers praying and financially/providing resources for those involved in ministry outreach endeavors.

5. Eph. 3:10 – Church on Mission, Living Out the Gospel Daily, Pictures God’s Wisdom
Paul writes to the believers in Ephesus that their interaction as the church on mission in Ephesus was to boast the Gospel and wisdom of God. The church on mission (similar to Acts 2) God will use to draw others to Himself.

6. Rom. 12:3-8, 1 Cor. 12:1-11, Eph. 4:7-16 – Church on Mission through Serving with Spiritual Gifts
God apportions various gifts through the Spirit to assist in service as the body of Jesus. The use of these gifts give glory to God.
The whole church is to operate with their various gifts in the Spirit and in unity. In this way, the entire unified church pictures the character of Jesus throughout this broken world.

7. Luke 10:1-23, John 20:19-23 – Missional Activity Continuing Jesus’ Work as Evidenced in the Gospels
As Jesus sends out the 72, the 12, and the 11 to continue the work He was doing through His public ministry.

So we see Biblically that the church, the body of Jesus, is on mission. We are to be involved in the missional nature of the church in the various ways depicted throughout the Scriptures:

* To be a gathering of believers who are sacrificial, generous, grace-centered, and others focused.
* To be a gathering of believers who scatter to intentionally herald the Gospel.
* To be a gathering of believers who recognize, prepare, and send Spirit-directed church planters/missionaries for formal missional service.
* To be a gathering of believers who partner and enable church duplicating efforts through prayers, sacrificial financial giving, and willing short-term service.
* To be a gathering of believers whose daily lives and corporate church interaction boasts/displays God’s wisdom.
* To be a gathering of believers who willingly serve in the church through Spirit-endowed gifts in unity as a full picture of Jesus.
* To be a gathering of believers who joyfully continue Jesus’ activity of loving God and others throughout this hurting world.

Do you the redeemed church in Jesus see the missional nature of the church and your integral place in it?

Are you involved in some way in the various Scriptural example of the church on mission?

Are you on mission along with Jesus’ Matt. 28:18-20 Great Commission?

Let us gain a fuller picture of the church’s mission!
Let us then submit to be more integrally involved in the missional nature of the church, as commanded by Jesus, for the Father’s glory!

My attention was recently directed toward a missions message preached by John Piper back in 1999. Piper, the pastor of Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis, preached the text of Romans 15 as a part of his focus on church missions. The thought that really struck me most was this: Paul essentially uses the book of Romans as a support letter, seeking the Roman church’s partnership in his future missions plans to Spain. How many of us involved with missions really focus (like Paul does in Romans) on the rich doctrine of our salvation and God’s grace in our own lives as the actual platform, theme, and motive for our missions involvement? Obviously, the Gospel is at the center of missions, but so many other foci vie for our attention and slowly erode what truly is the main emphasis of missions. I won’t say much more, as the link below provides the full message text and audio. If you are at all interested in missions and have time, please check it out.

Follow the link below for Piper’s full message entitled:
“Where There is No Church”

I am fully convinced from the truths I’ve studied in Acts that God works and leads in absolute Divine sovereignty. The apostle Paul is continually referring to his calling as according to the very revealed and sovereignly led will of God. Acts 18:1-17 and 1 Corinthians 1 provide a case in point. Paul’s frustration over the Jews’ rejection in Corinth builds. He is evidently frustrated and God sends a message to him assuring him of His salvific work that will be done there. Knowing this little background information about Paul’s heart and God’s reassurance of His sovereign leading and future work in Corinth really enlightens our understanding of Paul’s glorying in the Corinthians’ salvation throughout his introduction in chapter 1 of 1st Corinthians. Paul’s delight in the gathering of the Corinthian believers to salvation really carries a punch when we view his introduction of 1 Corinthians 1 with the background information from Acts 18. Everywhere Paul went, he was sovereignly led by the Spirit of God. Every convert, every disciple, every church planted, and every decision to move to a new area was sovereignly orchestrated according to God’s providential plan of redemption. What we see played out in Paul’s life is a keen awareness, sensitivity, and (continued from 1 page version)–> submission to the Spirit’s continual sovereign leading. It is then quite evident why we often see Paul worshiping in the beginning or even in the middle of his epistles.

Think about it. You as Paul encounter Jesus HImself appearing before you, redeeming you, and then commissioning you to proclaim this gracious redemption to all (Acts 9). You then as Paul follow through with God’s calling. You fully trust God’s leading and you rely on the Spirit’s sovereign work as you faithfully proclaim the incredible redemption you have experienced (and continue to experience). Furthermore, you actually are privileged to see men, women, children from all backgrounds coming to faith in this Jesus that is so dear to you. They are coming and responding not to your mere human-crafted words, but in response to the very work of God’s sovereign Spirit! What a joy! What a rock-solid confidence! What more can you do than to worship along with the apostle Paul with your fellow redeemed, adopted children of our great, gracious, merciful, sovereign God! You along with Paul worshipfully proclaim “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge– even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you– so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by who you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:4-9 ESV)

Similarly, Paul worshipfully proclaims in Romans 8 in response to his explanation of the glorious workings of salvation and the life-long redemption/sanctification work of God, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died–more than that, who was raised–who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in (continued from 3-page e-zine)–> all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39 ESV)

Again in Ephesians 1 Paul worshipfully opens his letter to the redeemed in Ephesus, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:3-14 ESV)

Oh, can you picture this and feel the truth-filled passion behind Paul’s adoration and awe at God and His sovereign work of redemption for mankind! Every road Paul traveled, every city visited, every house stayed in, every public message proclaimed, every opposing outburst, and every spiritual fruit came in response to God’s sovereign rulership and leading in Paul’s life and ministry.

Now, how does this relate to us? I believe these incredible truths, which quite apparently meant much to Paul, are immensely practical for us the redeemed living today! We serve a sovereign God who is actively pursuing the lost, whose Spirit is continually right now drawing the elect to salvation from every corner of this earth. Furthermore, we serve a God who is actively then sanctifying us the justified through a lifelong process of redemption. It is at these crossroads that we soon realize that our stories are merely His stories as we seek to live out His story for our lives. Hence, we the redeemed are all on this journey of life, this story of redemption together.

As we truly realize our sovereign God’s role in our lives, this glorious revelation will not be a detriment to evangelism, ministry involvement, and spiritual living, but will rather be a powerful catalyst propelling and constraining us to live for Him–to love Him because of His gracious, incredible love for us! This sovereign perspective will then permeate every facet of our lives in fully redeemed, motivated, and worship-infused passionate ways.

These thoughts on God’s sovereignty make me reflect on our time this fall in the southeast Alaska fishing town of Wrangell. At the outset of our trip in August, I previously shared some thoughts regarding God’s sovereignty in leading us to a completely unexpected area. Even prior to those thoughts, I posted a message/keynote presentation of a study I compiled on “Embracing the Waits in Life.” My point is that this is an area God is refining in my own life. Furthermore, I believe that the subject of God’s sovereignty and it’s relation to our everyday lives is immensely practical for all of us. I therefore share my thoughts about God’s refining work in my own life and trust they serve as a more-informed prayer update as well as a form of mutual encouragement for your own journey with God. If you’re like me, you prefer everything in your future all planned out (at least so you know what and where you may be heading for the next few months or year). Unfortunately, this is not always the way God leads and works in our lives. Our trip to Wrangell is a perfect example. Back in August we found ourselves doing partnership development at a missions conference in Denver. Our plans for the fall were centered on Alaska, specifically the southwest–never had we considered the southeast. As you know by now the southeast is exactly where God led us. Ok, so this is now where it gets confusing. During our time here God continues intensifying our passion for the Eskimo areas of southwest Alaska. My September visit to Bethel also contributed to this increased passion. However, our hearts also go out hearing the southeast missionaries’ pleas for help in this area. There is a young couple serving with Central Missionary Clearinghouse with a camp ministry based out of Wrangell. It is their sincere desire to expand this ministry throughout the southeast islands and even be involved in further church planting efforts in these areas. They continue to pray for more assistance to make this ministry vision a reality. One further prayer request for our ministry is God’s leading and provision for a ministry co-worker. So if you you’re following my train of thought, you can understand my slight confusion in God’s leading. On the one hand, God continues building our passion for southwest Eskimo ministry. On the other hand, God is showing us the needs and ministry team available in this southeast ministry. I will tell you that at this point we are still focusing on our original plan of working in southwest Alaska. However, we know that God does not lead in anything by accident. Therefore, we are considering various scenarios whereby we may be led to assist in the Wrangell Bible camp ministry in some form. This involvement could be part-time just for a month in the summer for one, two, or three years, providing the necessary help to this assembling ministry team (while we continue preparing and even beginning work in the southwest). As another scenario, we are thankful for the friends in the ministry God is giving us in Wrangell. Maybe God will build some ministry partnerships throughout the southeast, expanding beyond even Wrangell. If this occurs, then maybe our furlough visits in this area could be based out of Wrangell and possibly coincide with the Bible camp ministry (thereby enabling us to serve in these partnering ministries). At any rate, please continue to pray for God’s sovereign leading and our increased faith to follow His leading as we enter ministry across Alaska!

Going back to the apostle Paul’s worshipful expressions regarding Corinth, Rome, and Ephesus, he recognizes God’s sovereign orchestration of his whole life and ministry. What an encouragement for Paul that everywhere he went, lived, and served, God maintained a sovereign purpose behind it all. Likewise, what an encouragement for us that everywhere we go, live, and serve God maintains a sovereign purpose behind it all! Oh what a truthful and needful perspective that we all need to develop! Do you realize that the places you live right now and the people around you right now are sovereignly orchestrated for your redemptive good and your potential for evangelistic/discipleship outreach? We serve a gracious sovereign God! All praise and exaltation be to Him!

Relishing in His Grace,
Derek

Does your view of culture need a redemption tweak?

As I sit here in my usual Wrangell, Alaska sitting position, I can see the dull-grey colored tint of this southeast fishing town panorama that fills our window. Being away in a variant culture from my own for 7 weeks now causes me to reflect on several things. What makes a people group attain what we call a culture? Furthermore, can we as a people (wherever we are from) articulate the aspects and tenants of our own culture?

We as mankind are gloriously fashioned in the very image of God Almighty (Genesis 1:26-27). He molded us as the creatures we are today. Sin, of course has taken it’s toll on humanity; subjecting us all to sinful depravity (Romans 5:12). Still though, the very fact that God fashioned us in His very image maintains some precedence (albeit a marred one). Combine this original imago Dei truth with the diversifying act of our God at Babel so many years ago (Genesis 11). Yes, it was at that Divine-defying tower that our Creator God forcibly scattered the current mankind population into what would become the various people groups of the world. God already fashioned humanity with the creation-dominion responsibility and the ingenuity to accomplish such activities earlier at creation’s inception (Genesis 1:28-30, 2:15-17). Thus, we clearly see that (though marred) we as mankind maintain elements of God’s image as we approach this world created for our God-exalting rulership and care. The human intellectual, emotional, and physical aspects are mysteriously amazing and reflect our Creator God. Combine God’s intentional design for humanity with the Divine purposeful scattering of the earth’s population at Babel and we can begin to see the underpinnings of culture itself.

The word culture itself hails from Latin meaning to cultivate. While there are many varied definitions of culture, one basic related idea involves the uniquely developed ways that a particular institution or people form and live according to a set of attitudes, values, goals, and practices. Every culture, every people group has a unique way of viewing the world and successfully living in it. We call this a worldview. Cultures really are fascinating. Laura and I both have an inherent love for culture and new ones fascinate us. It is this fascination that causes many to live for traveling. It is this fascination that allures the masses to new and exciting vacation destinations.

Now as I previously mentioned, the fact that cultures are a part of God’s design does not make them godly. We are inherently deprave in our sin, alienated without Jesus in depravity. Therefore, every culture contains aspects of depravity throughout it’s various nuances. Hence we have New Testament warnings like James 4:4 regarding the believer’s enticements with this world. It is this dually opposing nature of culture to which we must be aware; created and initiated by God but also fatally flawed in sin. It is our duty as Christians to respect both of these truths regarding culture. Culture can be God-exalting (and really should aim to be such in light of redemption). When we the redeemed body of Christ live in light of our amazing redemption and in submission to the Spirit’s working, then the fallen aspects of our cultures will likewise be redeemed. Culture is not bad. Rather, culture is intended to be God-exalting. It, like us, just stands inherently in need of redemption. As we the church live in step with God’s work of redemption within the context of our own cultures, we fulfill God’s early design as we glorify our Creator through reflecting His nature in our innovative, humble, compassionate (etc.) approach to living on this earth as His redeemed, Jesus-exalting image bearers. What an incredibly glorious thought!

So, maybe our views of culture themselves need a redemption tweak. Let us allow Scripture to permeate our views of the world’s cultures. Let us allow Scripture to permeate our view of our own culture.

We have really enjoyed this extra time in Alaska preparing for increased ministry across the native villages! God is using our time up here this fall to expose us to yet another culture of the massive state: AK Southeast Inside Passage culture and Pacific Northwest Indian culture. Our time here also affords opportunity for further study of the Eskimo culture throughout the area of the state that continues growing in our interest. As you may recall in previous updates, God recently allowed me to visit Bethel in southwest Alaska. Stepping off the plane, I was immediately reunited with a far-different culture than my own. As God gave me opportunities to explore, read, and talk with locals from within this Eskimo culture, my curiosity and passion for this people continues to grow. Furthermore, two specific books continue to be a great help in furthering my education of another unique manifestation of a people created in God’s image for His redeeming purposes. What a privilege to serve our great God in offering His redemption to a people so wondrously created in His very image!

What tenants of your own culture (or maybe another one to which God is giving you a passion) can you identify? Now, what aspects of that culture manifest His inherent glorifying Genesis 1 purposes and which ones manifest mankind’s Genesis 3 rebellion? Are you aware of these things? Once you’ve identified these important characteristics, how is God leading and enabling you to offer His glorious message and work of redemption? So, as we wrap up these thoughts, I trust you can see God’s desire for culture. Let us not misrepresent God’s definition and desire for culture with a view that sees all culture as bad. Allow God through His Word to tweak your view of culture in light of redemption. May we as believers seek to be an extension of God’s incredible work of redeeming all cultures back to Himself in graciously redeemed ways!

In His Grace,
Derek

You may be asking at this point, What is my point? Well, I am not saying that the current model of raising missionary support is wrong. I also believe the apostle Paul’s “tentmaking” approach can be a valid support basis. I do, however believe that we may need to look at some of the deeper motivations and intentions at the core level of our support raising efforts. What is our motive for raising support? What is our intent for raising support? These questions must be answered in terms of God’s calling on our lives and the faith we are to hold as we endeavor to fulfill that calling. I have learned that it is so easy to lose one’s focus in deputation. It can quickly turn into being all about meeting our budget or providing money for our needs. Obviously, the meeting of our financial needs is kind-of important! But, we must retain our perspective to the calling of God on our lives to live for the Gospel! What is missions all about? Christ commissioned us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel and disciple believers into local assemblies of Christ’s body, the church. Missions is all about the proclamation of the Gospel and it’s outworking for the church. We are called by God to stand in the gap for these Gospel purposes throughout remote Alaska. This is our God-given calling. Now, we are presented with bridging the reality gap between life at home to life on the field. There are obviously certain financial realities that must be met to make this transition possible. This brings us back to the options of “tentmaking” (working a trade on the side to meet financial needs) or “deputation” (raising a monthly committed budget to meet financial needs). Both can be valid, but both must be undergirded with the proper perspective and faith. Our perspective must remain on our calling to proclaim the Gospel and our faith must be rooted in God’s provision to fulfill that calling. We must work in ways that God provides to meet the reality of our financial needs, while also being sensitive to His faithfulness to provide. It cannot be all about what we have to do to meet our budget. What other side job can I take? What else can I do to make some extra cash? What else can I do to get more church meetings? What can I do to get pastors and missions committees to support us? You see what I mean? If we are not careful, our support raising efforts can easily drift from seeking God’s support through faith in His provision to seeking support any possible way that we can acquire it. So as we continue this transition journey to full-time Gospel service in Alaska, please continue to pray for us to retain this proper perspective and faith!

I also really believe these truths that God recently taught us can apply to you as well! Often God takes us down roads in life that require us to find our complete refuge in His limitless resources. You don’t have to be raising financial support amidst a struggling economy to learn about faith in God’s provisions. In our past and partially in our present, we are learning to trust God regarding finances, jobs, housing, family issues, contacts, ministry opportunities, timing, and general leading throughout life. I am sure that you too can track ways that God is teaching you to trust and wait on His provision. Life often involves a series of waits, whereby we must learn patience to acquire the desired result. I recently read through a small-group study booklet on the subject of life’s waits. Through the study, the author develops the premise that God often takes us through periods of waiting for His master purifying purposes. You see, the Gospel is far more than just a prayer we pray. The Gospel is far more than just fire insurance and a home in heaven. The Gospel gives us freedom, a joyful life, an abundant life in Christ now! While faith in Christ (the Gospel of salvation) brings us eternal life in heaven, it enters us into a lifelong journey for God’s full redemptive purposes. God is working with you and me to develop us into the restored image of God, the very image of Jesus. Therefore, everything in the believer’s life occurs for our sovereign Lord’s redemptive purposes. Romans 8:28 and the surrounding context speak to this sanctifying purpose. Hebrews 12:5-11 also speak to this sanctifying purpose of God in the lives of the redeemed. When we come to the subject of waiting in life, we must view these periods through the lens of God’s sanctifying redemptive purposes. The study booklet I read pointed to the faith-exemplified waiting examples of Joseph, David, and even Jesus. Joseph endured a lengthy process of waiting for that which he did not know. As he was faithful to God and rested in His purposes, he became the redeemer of all Egypt and his own family (the very family that would birth the nation of Israel)! David, likewise endured much waiting. He was promised a kingdom. God called him to this crucial purpose. David knew his calling and yet he patiently waited for God’s timing in making this calling a reality. In fact, he waited for 17 years before God promoted him to king of Israel. David learned what it meant to find a refuge in God throughout life’s waiting periods! Even Jesus endured a 30 year wait for the mission to which He was born. Jesus, being God and man, willingly subjected Himself to the Father’s timetable and means of fulfilling His purpose. Satan even gave Jesus an opportunity to short-circuit this wait, but Jesus faithfully waited on the Father’s timing in the Father’s way. In the Old Testament Isaiah beautifully writes to the exiled Israelites regarding God’s faithfulness through their wait. Isaiah 40 exalts God in all of His majesty and glory. The chapter then ends by pointing Israel toward a full reliance on God’s faithful hand of guidance, protection, and provision amidst their wait.

I trust that by now (if you’re still reading at this point) you can see the relevancy and applicability of this waiting thing to our everyday lives! All of us have just finished waiting for something, are currently waiting for something, or will soon enter into a waiting period in life. I mutually encourage you to view your waiting period through God’s purifying perspective and the Gospel’s full redemptive outworking in your life! God is on a mission to conform you to the image of Jesus. He loves you so much that He providentially orchestrates all of life to your greatest Christ-like benefit. As we wrap our minds around this glorious truth, we gain great confidence and unshakeable faith regardless of the surrounding circumstances!

Thanks for reading! I trust God will use this in your life!

Embrace the wait!
Derek

Additionally, I was given the opportunity to preach at our home church recently. Since God has been working on my own heart regarding my waits, this study was a natural pick for me. I pray God can use His awesome Word in your life as well. If it can be of any use, I have included links to 2 file types of the recent Keynote Presentation entitled, “Embracing the Waits in Life.” One file type is a movie file of the slides with transitions. The other file type is a .pdf with the slides and full sermon notes.
Blessings!

Embrace the Waits Video File

Embrace the Waits PDF with Notes

I would like to consider what really is the core content of missions. In such consideration, several passages come to mind (Isaiah’s here am I passage, the other great commission texts, etc.). Let’s come at it from a little different angle. In fact, let’s come to the subject of missions by looking at it’s core content. What is missions all about? What is ministry in general all about? What really is life all about?

Now, we could say that the answer to all of these questions could be the glory of God, just Jesus Himself, or the worship of our God. While all of these answers really would adequately answer our questions, allow your mind to focus on the core content behind these things. Thought in this way, the core content of missions, ministry, and life really is the Gospel. The text of Romans 8 brings us front and center to a glorious exposition and proclamation of this glorious Gospel!

Paul writes to the Roman church familiarizing himself, his ministry, and his calling to these scattered house churches. He lays the foundation for this precious Gospel by using the first few chapters to explain mankind’s desperate condition in sin…hopeless on our own! He then begins in chapter 5 to introduce the Gospel as God’s plan for salvation through faith for all humanity; past, present, and future. Even Abraham and the OT generations were saved through faith in Jehovah. Paul also compares the all-encompassing work of Adam (to sin) to that of Christ (to redemption). Chapter 6 further builds on the Gospel’s call to freedom over sin’s enslaving power. Chapter 7 relates to the continuing struggle over the flesh and sin even after salvation, but directs the reader toward great hope in the freeing power of the Gospel!

We then come to Romans 8, an incredible passage upholding and declaring the sufficiency of the Gospel of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ!

The truths of Romans 8 boldly declare the sufficiency of the Gospel and should be our motive for living and ministry! It is for these reasons that I believe the sufficient Gospel (as expounded in Romans 8 as well as other texts) is the core content of missions. Now that may sound like a “duh!” statement, but hear me out. I’m not just saying that missions is about the Gospel. I’m trying to get us to go deeper here; deeper into the glorious truths of the Gospel. A proper understanding and fresh appreciation of the glorious sufficient Gospel must be the core motive for life, ministry, and missions. Do you get yet? I trust you will as you read on and study the awesome truths of Romans 8!

Let’s dive in and catch a glimpse of the Gospel’s sufficiency through four glorious truths!

1. The sufficiency of the Gospel viewed in comparison to the OT law and any form of legalism. (8:1-13)
This truth is awesome! Our salvation depends completely on God’s work, not us! Paul explains that human efforts to live completely holy lives end in utter failure. The law stood as a neon sign pointing to this depravity. In fact, any sort of law or legalistic set of rules cannot make us holy because we will inevitably continue failing. This is one of the glorious truths of the Gospel; that it is a work that has totally been complete by God Himself! Our sovereign God calls and we respond-glorious! The Gospel is glorious and should propel our desire to love our God through life, ministry, and missions!

2. The sufficiency of the Gospel viewed through the glorious truths of adoption and inheritance. (8:14-17)
Adoption in our world is such a great thing, because it points to the glorious truth of salvific adoption! How awesome is this truth! Think about it. Our Creator God is holy and Ruler of all things. We, on the other hand are rebels, alienated from our Creator in sin. God in His great grace and mercy, freely extends His way of salvation to us. Christ substitutes His righteous life, death, and conquering resurrection to our account. Our Creator God adopts us into His family. He credits Christ’s righteousness to our account! Furthermore, Paul writes about the great inheritance we have in Christ. As adopted children of God, we now are joint heirs with Christ for a glorious eternity in heaven! The Gospel is glorious and should propel our desire to love our God through life, ministry, and missions!

3. The sufficiency of the Gospel viewed through it’s purifying affect in the lives of the redeemed. (8:18-30)
This third truth is really cool as well! You may recognize verse 28 where Paul says that all things work together for good in the lives of God’s own. Well, verse 28 is beautiful set in its proper context! Notice in the preceding verses (26-27), Paul refers to God’s will and the Spirit’s work of interceding for believers. You see, our great God is so sovereign that He has a perfect plan that implements all things for His good intentions in our lives. As believers, we share in the Gospel’s saving power, in it’s adoption, and in it’s inheritance. But, we also share in the Gospel’s glorious intentions and fruit in live after our salvation. God’s intent is to make us more like Christ, eventually fully glorifying us in heaven with Him. In this light, you can understand Paul’s statements regarding the creation’s eager longing for this full redemption. This life-long redemption (or sanctification) is wrought through God’s gracious, refining work on our lives. When viewed properly, every single thing that happens in life, occurs for God’s gracious sanctifying intent on our lives. Our God loves us so much! He is worthy of our praise! The Gospel is glorious and should propel our desire to love our God through life, ministry, and missions!

4. The sufficiency of the Gospel viewed through the passionate response of the redeemed. (8:31-39)
Well, if you’ve been really following the progression of Romans 8 at this point, the remaining verses don’t need much commenting! Can you see the glorious truths of the Gospel? We are totally deprave, alienated from our God. Nothing we can do can repair our sin’s gap of separation. God in His infinite grace adopted us and gave us a glorious inheritance. It is now throughout our life that our God continues His gracious refining purposes as He works all things for our good. The Gospel is sufficient! The Gospel is glorious! At this point in Romans 8, Paul can do nothing but respond in passionate worship of our awesome God! Read 31-39 and relish along with Paul in God’s glorious Gospel! Oh, do you see it? The Gospel is glorious and should propel our desire to love our God through life, ministry, and missions!

Wrapping up:
You see, it is as we relish in our great God and the awesome Gospel that we really understand the glorious redemption we share! This glorious understanding will then be the best and really only appropriate motive to life, ministry, and missions! I trust this has made sense. It is my prayer that God would wet your appetite for a fresh study of His Word relating to the Gospel. Spend some time working through Romans 8 or the entire book. Ask God to give you a fresh understanding and appreciation for this awesome Gospel that, I pray, we all share! Allow your appreciation of the Gospel to evidence in your life (as Paul evidenced through the glorious praise of 31-39) through worship, submission, and service. As we personally continue our preparation for missions service in Alaska, it is my conviction that the best motive and core content of missions is a Romans 8 understanding, appreciation, and passionate response to the Gospel.

In His Grace and all for His Glory,
Derek