Missions Is Essential Author, Dr. David Emmanuel Goatley Lott
Carey Foreign Mission Convention Mission Study Course
Slide 3
Introduction My hope is that this workbook will be a tool to
help disciples of Jesus to discern, describe, and do missions more
effectively. 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course2
Slide 4
Contents Lesson One: A Definition of MissionsOne Lesson Two:
Some Characteristics of MissionsTwo Lesson Three: A Tool to Assess
Commitment to MissionsThree 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study
Course3
Slide 5
A Definition of Missions 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study
Course 4
Slide 6
A Definition of Missions -1 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course5 Can you Describe the difference? Essential means?
Important means? Interesting means?
Slide 7
A Definition of Missions - 2 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course6 Which of the following are essential, important, and
interesting? WaterJuiceSoft Drink Rigorous fitness program Healthy
living habitsImage makeover Satellite radioPower steeringAutomobile
engine
Slide 8
A Definition of Missions - 3 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course7 What are other examples of things that are Essential,
Important, and interesting? EssentialImportantInteresting
Slide 9
A Definition of Missions - 4 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course8 While there are many things related to the life of
local churches, what is at the heart of the church where you
belong? Where is energy, attention, and resources targeted most in
your church? EssentialImportantInteresting
Slide 10
A Definition of Missions - 5 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course9 Missions is as essential to the church as breathing
is to the body. Breathing is natural and normal for a healthy body.
Similarly, missions is natural and normal for a healthy church.
Missions is so essential to the church that without missions a
church isnt a church at all! Unless a church is engaged in
missions, it fails to reflect the nature and will of God in the
world
Slide 11
A Definition of Missions - 6 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course10 Mission speaks to Gods turning toward the world in
love. (John 3:16-17). God created the world. God loves the world.
God is redeeming the world. God will bring to completion what He
desires for the world. (2 Cor 5:19)
Slide 12
A Definition of Missions - 7 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course11 Missions refers to the activities of the church that
are born from Gods mission to the world. The missionary activities
of the church are always done in service to Gods mission for the
world. Missions bears witness to Jesus Christ. It is only authentic
when it reflects Gods mission to the world. (2 Cor 5:20)
Slide 13
A Definition of Missions - 8 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course12 Why is it important to be involved in missions near
and far? What are activities in your church that participate in
Gods mission to the world? What missions ministries does your
church carry out that bear witness to Jesus Christ?
Slide 14
A Definition of Missions - 9 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course13 Christian Mission is: The church sending disciples
of Jesus who are empowered by the Holy Spirit into the world to
touch lives with the transforming love of Christ.
Slide 15
A Definition of Missions - 10 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course14 The Church: Christian missions belongs to the life
of the church. The church should be engaged beyond financial
support. (Matthew 6:21) The church learns, the church pray, the
church gives, and the church goes.
Slide 16
A Definition of Missions - 11 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course15 The church provides the structure of accountability
and support that all missionaries need. The church provides a
prayer covering for those who do missions. This is important and
dangerous business. (Eph 6:12) We need prayer and support from the
church to succeed.
Slide 17
A Definition of Missions - 12 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course16 Sending Disciples of Jesus: Only disciples of Jesus
are able to do the missionary activities of the church that reflect
Gods mission to the world. (Mark 6:7, 12-13)
Slide 18
A Definition of Missions - 13 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course17 Who are empowered by the Holy Spirit: Disciples need
the overshadowing, the enveloping, the anointing, the indwelling,
the inspiring, and the empowering of Gods Spirit to accomplish the
tasks needed to make God known clearly throughout the world.
Without the spirit our work is impossible. With the spirit we can
fulfill our calling in every generation.
Slide 19
A Definition of Missions - 14 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course18 Into the World: The work of the mission of God is to
the world. The work of the church is in the world.
Slide 20
A Definition of Missions - 15 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course19 To touch lives with the transforming love of Christ:
We have the ability to touch peoples lives with the transforming
love of Christ. (Rom 12:2) Love is the key to the Christian Witness
and to Christian Missions. God is love!
Slide 21
A Definition of Missions - 16 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions
Study Course20 A time for reflection My earlier definition of
missions was My developing definition of missions is
Slide 22
Some Characteristics of Missions 2011 Lott Carey Annual
Missions Study Course 21
Slide 23
Some Characteristics of Missions 2011 Lott Carey Annual
Missions Study Course22 What does Mission look like? What are some
ways that you have heard missions described?
Slide 24
Mission can be expressed in four ways 2011 Lott Carey Annual
Missions Study Course23 1.Evangelism 2.Compassion 3.Empowerment
4.Advocacy
Slide 25
Evangelism 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course24 Good
News The message of what God has done for the world through Jesus
Christ Christian Missions Sharing the good news that God has come
to us in Jesus Christ and that through him we have eternal
life.
Slide 26
Evangelism 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course25 What
was your life like before Jesus? (30 Sec) How did you come to know
Jesus? (30 Sec) What difference does Jesus make in your life now
that you are his disciple? (30 sec)
Slide 27
Compassion 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course26 How
do you see suffering people? Eyes of Criticism? Eyes of cynicism
Eyes of compassion What is your response?
Slide 28
Compassion 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course27 Can
you think of times when you had eyes of criticism? Can you think of
times when you had eyes of compassion? What made the difference?
How can we encourage compassion?
Slide 29
Empowerment 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course28 One
aspect of missions is building the capacity for people to live with
more dignity and security. To engage people who are poor with the
gospel is critical to the work of the church. To fail to engage
them around areas that can help them to provide for themselves
effectively, however, hampers the Christian witness.
Slide 30
Empowerment 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course29 What
are some of the symptoms of disempowerment in your community, in
the country, in the world? What are some specific areas that your
church could address that could help people who are down and out
start to get up and going?
Slide 31
Advocacy 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course30 We are
called to challenge the systems that make people vulnerable. Are
there policies and practices in your community?
Slide 32
Advocacy 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course31 Are
there policies and practices in your community? How might you
and/or your church be advocates for justice? What are some of the
big rocks in the community, country, or world that need to be
broken so the oppressed can be set free?
Slide 33
Some Characteristics of Missions 2011 Lott Carey Annual
Missions Study Course32 What does it look like when a church has
missions as its first priority? What would the rhythms, emphases,
and special occasions look like? How would leaders (e.g., pastors,
preachers, teachers, deacons, lay leaders, etc.) be sought and
function? How would budgets be shaped? What facilities would be
needed? What impact would be realized?
Slide 34
Four Characteristics of Christian Missions 2011 Lott Carey
Annual Missions Study Course33 Missions is definitive for the
church Mission is normative for the church Mission is evaluative
for the church Mission is responsive for the church
Slide 35
A time for reflection 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study
Course34 What is a working definition of missions? How are missions
in the life of the church related to the mission of God to the
world? How essential is Christian missions in my life as a disciple
of Christ and in the life of the church to which I belong? How is
it demonstrated ?
Slide 36
A time for reflection 2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study
Course35 What are key characteristics of missions? What might a
church look like with missions as a priority? Why is it critical to
engage in local AND global missions? How can I demonstrate my
commitment to missions in response to Gods mission?
Slide 37
Self-Evaluation Profile for the Local Churchs Missions Ministry
2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course36
Slide 38
Self-Evaluation Profile for the Local Churchs Missions Ministry
2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course37 1.Start with a good
definition. 2.Measure your progress so far. 3.Decide where to go
from here.
Slide 39
Self-Evaluation Profile for the Local Churchs Missions Ministry
2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course38 Leadership Doing
Great Coming along. Threshold level Lets get started
Slide 40
Self-Evaluation Profile for the Local Churchs Missions Ministry
2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course39 Strategy Doing Great
Coming along. Threshold level Lets get started
Slide 41
Self-Evaluation Profile for the Local Churchs Missions Ministry
2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course40 Stimulation Doing
Great Coming along. Threshold level Lets get started
Slide 42
Self-Evaluation Profile for the Local Churchs Missions Ministry
2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course41 Sending Doing Great
Coming along. Threshold level Lets get started
Slide 43
Self-Evaluation Profile for the Local Churchs Missions Ministry
2011 Lott Carey Annual Missions Study Course42 Support Doing Great
Coming along. Threshold level Lets get started