Why Reach Out to the Unreached
What moves the Mission of God forward?
God’s missionary message (slightly abbreviated!)
- The universal offer of God’s unique mercy, salvation, reconciliation,
deliverance
- The counter-work of His Kingdom against evil, poverty, and structures of sin
- The Name of God above all other names, the deposing of all false gods
The Expectation of God for the Church
- To all nations, each and every nation (Luke 24:45, 46, Mt. 28:19)
- To the whole person (Isaiah 58 and 61)
- The Jealousy of God for His name (Joshua 6:7-9)
- God’s window display (Genesis 12:1-3, I Peter 2:9; Eph. 1:5,6)
What thinking moves the Kingdom of God forward in our mission?
- Area
Priority on those who have not heard for the first time
- Attention
On them, their language, culture, practices (Acts 17,John 4)
- Approach
Many workers and unity among them: I Cor. 12
- Attitude
Sinners redeemed who can point to the Giver of grace: I Cor. 15:8
- Advance
Where the need is greatest: Romans 15
- Message
Boldness and confidence in the Name: Acts 4:23-31
What thinking impedes the Kingdom of God in our mission?
- Area
To those who are already inside the Body of Christ
- Attention
On ourselves who go, what we gain, impact on us
- Approach
Duplication and repetition, isolation from others
- Attitude
As if we are the first, have gone to the ends of the earth with the
whole story
- Advance
Held in check while we get our house in order
- Message
Unsure of the message, of how to speak it, giving way to pluralism and
universalism
Trends in the Church’s mission today
- Area
Research on the unreached
- Attention
Context, profiles, insights on their life and religion
- Approach
Unity and cooperation, work under the national leaders
- Attitude
Facing persecution, knowing joy
- Advance
Leadership coming from outside the West
- Message
Forgiveness, justice, eternal life, deliverance
