Perspectives Lesson 15

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World Christian
Partnership

• Perspectives Lesson 15
• Dr. David Sills
• www.reachingandteaching.org

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World Christian Partnership

• Living decisively for Gods purpose is not a
  rare or extravagant calling.

• Key Questions
• What is a World Christian?
• What is the role of partnership
  in missions?
• How can someone know Gods will?
• How can believers grow as World Christians?

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World Christian Partnership

• Back to the Basics- Review of the Core
• People Groups
• Exclusivity of the Gospel
• Worldview issues- They are not a blank slate
• Quadruple Helix
• Theological Reflection
• Cultural Analysis
• Historical Perspective
• Strategy Formation

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World Christian Partnership

• The Power of Partnership
• The value of partnerships
• Effectiveness and efficiency
• The dynamic of partnership
• More comprehensive impact
• The shape of partnership
• Complimentary
  perspectives
• Examples of partnership

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World Christian Partnership

• Partnership Needed Consensus
• Theological Triage (R. Albert Mohler)
• Doctrinal Accountability/Commonality
• First Order Items
• Most fundamental truths of the Christian
  faith. To deny them is to
  ultimately deny
  Christianity
• Includes
• Deity of Jesus
• The Trinity
• Justification by faith
• Authority of Scripture

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World Christian Partnership

• Partnership Needed Consensus
• Theological Triage
• Second Order Items
• Believing Christians may disagree, but could not
  organize or partner together without difficulty
• Includes
• Mode of Baptism
• Role of women in the church
• Church governing structure

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World Christian Partnership

• Partnership Needed Consensus
• Theological Triage
• Third Order Items
• Believing Christians may disagree and still
  partner and fellowship together
• Includes
• Eschatology
• Style of worship music
• Ministry partnership must be
  careful and deliberate

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World Christian Partnership

• Lessons of Partnership
• Keep listening and learning
• Share ownership
• Evaluate comparisons of cost-effectiveness
• Enter with humility and wisdom
• Wise churches recognize what
  they cannot do

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World Christian Partnership

• Tentmakers
• What are tentmakers?
• Tentmakers use trades or professionals to support
  themselves
• Tentmakers do cross-cultural work
• Tentmakers do full-time ministry
• Tentmakers do workplace evangelism
• Tentmakers accomplish specific
  ministries
• Tentmakers are not second-rate
  witnesses
• Tentmakers are not lone rangers

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World Christian Partnership

• Defining a World Christian
• Take a stand with personal responsibility
• Pagan footsteps
• Integrating priority
• Day-to-day disciples for the
  global cause
• Location is secondary
• Serve wherever they are

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World Christian Partnership

• Becoming Growing as a World Christian

• Step One Catch a World Vision
• The influence of this class
• Missionary biographies
• The Bible
• Step Two Keep a world vision
• Stay in the Word
• Pray for missionaries
• Guard your heart
• Step Three Obey a world vision
• Obedience to act will lead to a
  deeper sense of
  conviction

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World Christian Partnership

• Wartime Lifestyle
• It is more helpful to think of a wartime
  lifestyle than a merely simple lifestyle.
  Simplicity may have a romantic ring or a certain
  aesthetic appeal that is foreign to the dirty
  business of mercy in the dangerous places of the
  world. Simplicity may also overlook the fact
  that, in wartime, major expenses for complex
  weapons and troop training are needed. These may
  not look simple, and may be very expensive, but
  the whole country sacrifices to make them happen.
  Simplicity may be inwardly directed and may
  benefit no one else. A wartime lifestyle implies
  that there is a great cause for which to spend
  and be spent (2 Corinthians 1215). John
  Piper, Dont Waste Your Life

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World Christian Partnership

• Serving as Senders
• The role of senders
• Specific sending supports missionaries
• General sending advances the larger global cause
• The work of mobilization
• Talk about missions
• Investigate that calling in
  the lives of others
• Core Activities
• Serving missionaries
• Giving to missions
• Praying

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World Christian Partnership

• Join the World Christian Movement
• Become a student of the Mission Industry
• Mission Agencies
• Training Institutions
• Associations Societies
• Local Churches- Starts Here!
• Mobilize!
• Your church
• Your SS class
• Those you influence

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World Christian Partnership

• Join the World Christian Movement
• Knowing Gods Will
• A Google search for knowing the will of God
  returns 6,400,000 sites.
• What do we want to know?
• Who should we marry?
• Where should we go to school?
• Where should we live?
• What car to buy?
• What shirt to wear?

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World Christian Partnership

• Knowing Gods Will
• How does God guide His people?
• Different types of call in the Bible
• Call to salvation
• Call to serve the Lord
• Call to specific service
• Guidance vs. Call
• The call comes first
• Guidance follows as the
  expression of the call

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World Christian Partnership

• Knowing Gods Will
• Is there a will of God that is specific for each
  person?
• Is Gods will a tiny dot on a huge football
  field?
• If there is a specific will, how far does it
  extend?
• Who to marry, where to live
• What clothes to buy
• What to wear to work on Monday?
• The Mind of God
• Gods will is not a tightrope, it is the
  wide-open field

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World Christian Partnership

• How can you know Gods will?
• Know God. (Proverbs 17, James 15)
• Know Gods Word. (Proverbs 35-6)
• Prayer
• Seek Counsel (Proverbs 1114, 246)
• Examine Life Experiences
• Consider Your Circumstances
• Consider Gods Timing (Ecc. 31-11)
• Identify the Desires of Your Heart
  (Psalm 374 with Proverbs 423
  and Jeremiah179)

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World Christian Partnership

• Reaching the World Now
• Continue to build your relationship with the Lord
• Explore local missions opportunities
• Learn a language
• Get involved with internationals where
  you are
• Teach ESL
• Volunteer-or start- the missions
  program in your local church

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World Christian Partnership

• What is it thats not being done, that if it were
  done would result in greater glory to God and the
  advance of Christs Kingdom?
• Whats your role?

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World Christian Partnership

• May God be gracious to us and bless us
  and make his face to shine
  upon us, Selahthat your way may be known on
  earth,your saving power among all nations.Let
  the peoples praise you, O Godlet all the
  peoples praise you!
• Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,for
  you judge the peoples with equityand guide the
  nations upon earth. SelahLet the peoples praise
  you, O Godlet all the peoples praise you!
  -Psalm 671-5

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• http//www.reachingandteaching.org
• mds_at_reachingandteaching.org