The missional strategy of the local church is founded upon two key Bible passages. The first is what we know as the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to…
Listen very carefully: Your life matters. Your life counts. You have a purpose. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. In Jeremiah 1:4-10 we have the historical account of God’s call on the life of the prophet Jeremiah. In verse 5 we see a very powerful statement from the Lord. “Before I formed thee in the…
When God came down to man as a baby, He came with a purpose. As the incarnate of God, Jesus lived out His life on earth fulfilling the mission that He was sent to accomplish. That mission was prophesied by the Old Testament prophets and started with His birth and culminated in the cross and…
“God is a missional God.” What do you think about that statement? What does it mean to be missional and how is God a missional God? The word mission means to send. It also means to go or to engage. A mission is something that we purpose to do. To be missional is to live…
There are seven basic categories of spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to the church. Those categories are: leadership, missional, service, sign, encouragement, wisdom, and teaching. The final category of spiritual gifts is the teaching gifts. The teaching gifts are the gifts of prophecy and teaching. All of the spiritual gifts are needful in…
Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Every spiritual gift is given to us by the Holy Spirit as He wills. Though it is not our choice as to what spiritual gifts we have, we should pray for and seek to develop…
“George Truett was a tremendously effective pastor for decades in Texas. His heart was broken when he accidentally killed his best friend while they were on a hunting trip. His daughter said that she never heard him laugh after that day. Truett had a radio program, and each day when it came to a close…
One of the most confusing and controversial subjects in the church is the spiritual gifts of tongues, interpretation, healing, and miracles. These gifts are used to display the mighty power of God and, thus, are referred to as the ‘sign’ gifts. The reason such gifts have become so confusing and controversial is the fact that…
Do you know someone that is always ready to jump to the aid of others? They defend the defenseless and they are quick to offer forgiveness and a fresh start. They make sacrifices to meet the needs of others. They put the needs of others ahead of their own. They love to entertain and to…
As the vehicle through which God carries out His purposes in the world today, the church must be missional. We cannot just simply enjoy the comforts of our sanctuary and cathedrals and bask in the fellowship we enjoy with one another. We must fulfill our purpose as ambassadors of Jesus Christ and bring the Gospel…
Pastor Chris Noland 