we value missions - first baptist church hattiesburg

8/14/2019 We Value Missions - First Baptist Church Hattiesburg

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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.

Heres 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 shouldpractice 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 Gods 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).


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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, UnitedWay, 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 dont 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,

doesnt 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! Ive 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 werent!)


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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 lonelinessWhat 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 willonly 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/SamariaEnds 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. Lets 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. Yourprimary missions responsibility is not in

Africa, South America, Russian, or China. Your primary missions responsibility is right

here in Hattiesburg. Its 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 hasnt Hes put you in Hattiesburg.

Right here is where you will most likely make the greatest impact for the kingdom of God.


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How do you become an on mission Christian right here in Hattiesburg?

Open Your Eyes! You dont 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 thosetwo 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 youve 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! Its not enough to just be aware. We must be willing to open our heartsto people. We have to care. Scripture commands us to Serve one another. On mission

Christians look for opportunities to serve those around them. This doesnt have to be a

colossal act of service. Cut your neighbors grass when hes sick. Offer someone a ride to

baseball practice. Send a note to a coworker whos 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 whogenuinely 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) Well 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.


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Finally, theres the ends of the earth. That, of course, refers to foreign missions. We

have two trips scheduled for this year.

Honduras (May)

Brazil (May)

Heres the challenge move up one level. Are you completely uninvolved in missions

right now? Then pick one of the three areas weve talked about praying, giving, going

and get involved. Already doing one? Add a second! Dont just pray give, too!

Already doing two? Then go for it, and do all three! Pray! Give! Go! Whats holding

you back?

Close with a prayer of challenge.

we value missions - first baptist church hattiesburg

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