Developing A Biblical World View

A SENDING AGENCY

God's method is one of sending. Out of love for us, the Father sent His own Son:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)

Jesus has commissioned us to go forth with the Gospel. Every local Church should become a sending church, going forth in love to a dying world.

God did not raise up the Church as special objects of His favor. The Church is called to purpose, not privilege. We are ministers of reconciliation. We are to follow the pattern set by God and Jesus. We are to go forth with the Gospel.

Every church is surrounded by multitudes without God and without hope. This is our first and greatest challenge, as Paul tells the Church at Philippi (Philippians 2:12-16). Similar words were spoken to the churches at Corinth, Ephesus, Thessalonica, and Colossee. The same message rings forth today.

In Ephesians, Paul summarizes the purpose of the Church:

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ;

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God.

According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:9-11)

A CHURCH BIRTHED BY POWER

Jesus left His followers with a great task. They were to reach the entire world with the Gospel message. But He did not give them the responsibility without giving them the authority. He promised them special power to accomplish the task.

Jesus said His followers would receive this power through the coming of the Holy Spirit:

But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)