March 2, 2008

DNA: Our Core Personality: We Value Missions

Introduction

Well, this is it! Today we wrap up our study of the First Baptist Church Core Values.
Here’s a final pop test to see what you remember.

What are core values? (Deeply held and valued convictions)

Why are they important? (They give focus and direction to all that we do)
Where did our (FBC) core values come from? (Our Strategic Leadership Team determined
which values were already evident in our church.)
How many do we have? (10)
These are divided into two groups. What are they? (Core Practices/Foundational Five and
Core Personality/DNA)
What is the difference between these two? (Practices are universal-all churches should
practice them. Personality is unique to each church, just like DNA in a human.)
Name the Foundational Five. (Fellowship, Bible study, Service, Evangelism, Worship)
Name the five components of our DNA. (We value Cultural Relevance, Family, Lost
People, Prayer, and, today, Missions)

This morning we are looking at “Missions”, the final component of our unique DNA here
at FBC.

We value Missions.
Missions is at the center of God’s heart. Therefore, we encourage members to be involved
in “hands on” mission projects, both locally and abroad. (Acts 1:8)

It might be helpful as we begin our discussion to define our terms.

Define “missions”.
Define “service”.
Define “evangelism”.
How are they different?
How are they alike?

Missions may involve either service or evangelism, or both. Service is “hands on”
ministry, such as teaching Sunday School, building a Habitat House in Hattiesburg,
keeping babies in the nursery or working in a medical clinic in Kenya. Service may be
performed for either believers (Sunday School) or unbelievers (digging wells in a Muslim
country).
Evangelism is easy to define. It is telling people about Jesus.

Missions happens when we deliberately move outside the walls of the church in order to
make Christ known. This may involve service projects. It always, though, (this is
important!) has as its purpose seeing people come to Christ. Real, biblical missions always
addresses not just physical, but also spiritual needs. Agencies like the Peace Corps, United
Way, etc… do vital, important work, but not mission work. Real missions always has a
redemptive component.

The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention articulates this very
well. Their website states that their mission is “Making Jesus Christ known among all
peoples”. Their stated vision is, “We will lead Southern Baptists to be on mission with
God to bring all the peoples of the world to saving faith in Christ.” The IMB uses a variety
of methods to accomplish their mission, but at the end of the day, it is all about seeing
people come to faith in Christ.

You don’t have to read the Bible very long before you come to the conclusion that missions
is a big deal to God. Let me give you some examples.

Do you remember the story of Jonah? This is a missions story! God is sending Jonah as a
foreign missionary to Ninevah to call them to repentance.
What about Paul? Three extended missionary journeys!
Do you remember The Great Commission? Where is that found? (Matthew 28) Can
someone quote it? “…go and make disciples of all nations…” Sounds like missions,
doesn’t it?
What were Jesus final words before He ascended into heaven? Read Acts 1:8.
And of course, Jesus Himself was a foreign missionary, to us!

If you want to get near to the heart of God, get involved in missions. Following are three
ways to do so.

Three Ways to be Involved in Missions

Pray! I’ve heard a lot of missionaries speak during my life. There is one thing they all
agree on. Mission work is sustained by our prayers. (I can personally vouch for that. As
home missionaries in Las Vegas, Mary Ellen and I could tell when people were specifically
praying for us… and when they weren’t!)
Name some things that missionaries need for us to pray about:
Physical safety
Protection from discouragement
Pray for their children
Pray for open hearts
Pray for protection from loneliness
What else?

How easy would it be to spend a little time each week praying for our missionaries, praying
for specific countries, praying that Christ would be known all over the world?

Give! This morning we begin our Global Missions Emphasis for the month of March.
One major component of this emphasis is the first of two annual Global Missions
Offerings. (The other will be taken in October.) Historically, our church has taken A LOT
of offerings each year – Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong, Margaret Lackey, Harvest
Offering, Grace Offering, etc… This year we want to simplify the process. There will
only be the two Global Missions Offerings taken. All of the monies received in these two
offerings will be donated to missions (Cooperative Program, foreign missions, home
missions, etc…) Let me challenge you to make plans to give to the Global Missions
Offerings this year.

Go! Look again at Acts 1:8. Jesus outlined a very specific strategy here. He said, “You
shall be my witnesses, both in…”

Jerusalem
Judea/Samaria
Ends of earth

Jesus was standing in Jerusalem when He said this. He is telling us to begin where we are.
Then move out to “Judea/Samaria”. Those are the surrounding regions. An accurate
paraphrase for us today would be our city, the Pine Belt, even North America. And then
“the ends of the earth”. This corresponds to foreign missions. Let’s look at this strategy a
little more closely.

First, begin where you are. Look for opportunities in “your world” to share Christ. The
International Mission Board refers to this as being “on mission”.

Let me make a rather bold statement. Your primary “missions responsibility” is not in
Africa, South America, Russian, or China. Your primary “missions responsibility” is right
here in Hattiesburg. It’s at your place of work; at the soccer field; in your neighborhood;
on your campus. How do I know that? Because if your primary place of service was to be
Russia, God would have put you in Russia! But He hasn’t – He’s put you in Hattiesburg.
Right here is where you will most likely make the greatest impact for the kingdom of God.
How do you become an “on mission” Christian right here in Hattiesburg?

Open Your Eyes! You don’t have to go looking for missions opportunities. They are right
in front of you, all the time. Look again at Matthew 28:19. “…go, therefore, and make
disciples…” A careful look at the grammar here reveals that the more appropriate
translation is, “…while you are going, make disciples…” What is the difference in those
two statements? (It means that I am always on mission, no matter where I am!) Take a
moment right now and think about the people you will probably see this week. How many
of them are probably unchurched and/or lost? Take a moment to picture their faces in your
mind. Say their names. Many are people you see all the time, but are not really aware of:

your waiter at your favorite restaurant; the soccer mom you’ve become friends with; your
mailman; your “across the fence” neighbor; your patient at the clinic.
Allow God to make you aware of these people this week.

Open Your Heart! It’s not enough to just be aware. We must be willing to open our hearts
to people. We have to care. Scripture commands us to “Serve one another”. “On mission”
Christians look for opportunities to serve those around them. This doesn’t have to be a
colossal act of service. Cut your neighbor’s grass when he’s sick. Offer someone a ride to
baseball practice. Send a note to a coworker who’s struggling. Look for simple ways to
serve others.

Open Your Mouth! Bill Hybels calls this “making the ask”. At some point you will find
that the door opens for you to share about Christ and/or church. When the door opens,
walk through it! Open your mouth! If you are growing in your own faith, you will find
that your friend becomes interested. Nothing is more attractive than a person who
genuinely knows, loves, and follows Jesus.

Jesus instructs us to begin in “Jerusalem”, that is, begin right where you are. However, we
do not have the option of doing missions only in “Jerusalem”. Jesus also tells to be His
witnesses in “Judea/Samaria”.

For us (FBC), that refers to local and home (North American) missions. We have
several opportunities for you to take advantage of this year.

“To Hattiesburg With Love” (March) – We’ll be building a Habitat House in one weekend!
Sign up has already begun.
Youth Mission Trip to Arlington, TX (July) – Our youth will be working with Mission
Arlington, doing a variety of projects.
Senior Adult Mission Trip (October) – Our seniors will again travel to St. Louis to work
with Child Evangelism Fellowship.
“To Hattiesburg With Love (October) – Citywide servanthood evangelism projects.
Finally, there’s the “ends of the earth”. That, of course, refers to foreign missions. We
have two trips scheduled for this year.

Honduras (May)
Brazil (May)

Here’s the challenge – move up one level. Are you completely uninvolved in missions
right now? Then pick one of the three areas we’ve talked about – praying, giving, going –
and get involved. Already doing one? Add a second! Don’t just pray – give, too!
Already doing two? Then go for it, and do all three! Pray! Give! Go! What’s holding
you back?

Close with a prayer of challenge.