"THREE FOUNDATIONS OF A MISSIONAL CHURCH"

Text: “And then he told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.’” (Mark 16:15) [NLT]

Open: Where is the most adventurous place you’ve ever traveled? What made it so?

Explore:
Welcome home Haiti Mission Team members: Veronica Flores, TJ Jasso, Rick Jasso and Pastor Ron Adams. It has been such a blessing talking with our team members and hearing their stories and experiences of their work in Haiti

Any time we have a team go on a mission trip and we don't go with them, I can't hardly wait for them to come back and share with us. Please make plans this Sunday to come and hear each of their testimonies. You will be blessed!

Since it's beginnings, Sierra Vista Community Church has been led by God to be a “missional” church. What do I mean by “missional?” "Missional living" is a Christian term that describes a missionary lifestyle; adopting the posture, thinking, behaviors, and practices of a missionary in order to engage others with the gospel message. In other words, it is God's desire that all Christians adopt the posture, thinking, behaviors and practices of a missionary in order to engage others with the gospel in a multi culture environment we call America. Too often we think that we will adopt this way of life when we go on an overseas mission trip. But, the reality is that if we are not doing it here what's going to change there. Las Cruces, Dona Ana County, New Mexico, America and then the ends of the earth is our mission field, but we need to start here!

I don't know if you've seen the movie titled, Field of Dreams. In one of the scenes the man with the vision of having a ball park in his community says this, “Build it and they will come.” It's funny how the American church has adopted that way of thinking.

I have an acquaintance that has written several books on church growth. Many years back we were having a discussion on this topic and he made the same statement as an encouragement to me as a new church planter, just as we were starting Sierra Vista. I in turn responded, “I don't agree with that. This is what I believe, “love them and they will come.” Obviously, part of loving people is GOING to where they are and meeting them where they are. The first word we find pertaining to missions in the Bible is “GO”.

Usually, when we think of missions we think of the Great Commission Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”. But missions didn’t begin with the Great Commission. Missions began with God. He came to us, He sent His Son to us in order that we might be saved. Missions first beat in God's heart before it was ever breathed as the life-sustaining force into His church.

Our God is Missions minded. If He wasn't, then there would be no Christian mission.

The Gospel He entrusted us with is a Missions Message. If it didn't have any saving power, then there would be no reason for us to take it to all nations (ethne-ethnic groups).

And the Great Commission,  is a Missions Mandate. It identifies the local church as the center for world evangelism, as the “distributor” of the Good News.

Jesus told his disciples to go into all the world, telling everyone that he had paid the penalty for our sin and that if we believed in Him we would be forgiven and live eternally with God. Christian's  today in all parts of the world, are preaching this gospel to people who haven’t heard about Christ. The driving power that carries them around the world, spend their own money to live in unthinkable places and conditions, and sets Christ's church in motion, is the faith that comes from the Resurrection.

Mark 16:15 “And then he told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.’”, records the commission (commission: engage, contract, charge, employ, hire, recruit, retain, appoint, enlist, book, sign up.) that was given by the Lord on the evening before His Ascension. (Ascension: the ascent of Christ into heaven on the fortieth day after the Resurrection.) Think about it, the God who defeated death by raising Himself from the tomb on the third day, commissioned you to take the most valuable message ever given to a lost world! What a privilege and awesome responsibility we have.

I have often said that missions-evangelism is a team sport. God has entrusted the local church with a global message. As a church, a “Missional Church” we need to be involved in reaching the world for Christ. The reality is that you can be involved in missions right now. You can pray for our missionaries, you can give towards our missions efforts and you can go. Honestly, you will never be the same once you have seen how the majority of the world lives.

Get it:
Have you ever gone on a mission trip? If not, why not?
Would you pray asking the Lord to make a way for you to go on our next mission trip?
Do you ever feel like you don't have the skill or determination to be a witness for Christ?
What scares you the most about sharing your faith? Is it lack of training? If so, let one of the staff know so that we can address your fear.
When was the last time you shared your faith with someone?

Apply:
How are you personally involved in missions currently?
Would you pray and ask God how you can be involved starting today?

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Quoted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; Life Application Study Bible, NIV, page 1654; Dictionary 2005-2007 Apple Inc.

"STRESS IS PROFITABLE"

Text: “But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:9-12) [NASB]

Open:

What one thing in your life have you done that you would say was very profitable?

Explore:

     God’s intentions for His tests are good. Some of the hardest questions you and I will ever have to answer is “Why do bad things happen to good people?” and “Why do good things happen to bad people?” Don’t think that we’re the first ones to ask this question. We know that even David asked that question. In Psalm 73:3-5 [NLT] he wrote, “For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.” Even Jeremiah wrestled with this. In Jeremiah 12:1 he wrote, “Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?” So, don’t be so arrogant to think you are the first one to come up with that question.

     Have you ever found yourself wondering what's the answer? Jesus’ answer to us is the same that He gave to His disciples when they walked past a man who was born blind. John 9:1-3 says, “As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” Jesus told them that this man had been blind from the time of his birth for a reason. He had to endure the tests of a physical handicap and the stresses it brings his entire life for one reason―to glorify God. God intended good for the tests, stress and trials of that man’s life. Just like He intends good for all the tests, stress and trials of your life.

     So, understanding that God’s intentions for His tests are good, James sets out to tell us a little bit about the nature of God’s testing. He shows us the pattern for God’s testing in James 1:9-11. Sometimes God tests by exalting the humble. We don’t normally think of that as testing do we? But it’s the first one test James lists here in (v. 9). God can test us with poverty as well as prosperity. Amen, let me get in line for the test of prosperity. That’s the one I want to volunteer for. Is it really? You can define prosperity a lot of different ways, but the one that comes to mind first is by money―big money. Here is a story of as woman who was exalted. Evelyn Adams won the New Jersey lottery―not just once, but twice, in 1985 and 1986. She went from average middle-class to multi-millionaire overnight. Now she’s in debt up to her eyeballs and lives in a trailer. This story is an example of God testing the humble by exalting them. But money is just one way God tests the humble. Have you ever seen someone get promoted and overnight change the way they treat people? Or see someone move into the “gated community” and act differently? How do you react to the blessings God gives you? When you’re given the test of prosperity? God can test you with prosperity. He can exalt the humble in order to test them. But He can also humble the exalted look at James 1:10-11. This is the kind of test we won’t volunteer to get in line for. This is the kind of test that we see as a tragedy or a trial. When someone loses a house. When they lose their job. When they lose a child. It’s the kind of test that people respond to by shaking their fist at God. They say things like, “God, how could you let this happen.” How do you react when these high stress tragedies strike? When you’re given the test of humility? God can exalt the humble and He can humble the exalted. That is His pattern for testing.

     I said that His intention for testing and stress is good and profitable. So if His intention for testing is good and profitable, then He must have a goal in mind and for a reason. God’s good intention for testing is found in (v. 12). God doesn’t test you with prosperity in order to trip you up and make you fail. He intends for you to pass the test of prosperity successfully. If He tests you with prosperity, He intends for you to be a good steward of what He gives you. He wants you to reject ill-gotten gain. He means for you to use all other gain according to His will and purpose. But remember, God doesn’t test you with humility just to be mean, add more stress and make you fail. He intends for you to pass the test of humility with flying colors. If He tests you with humility, He intends for you to look to Him in faith. He intends you to look to Him in contentment like Paul did. He intends for you to show His strength through the weakness of your humility. Whether God tests you through prosperity or through humility, His intention is the same. He intends for you to pass the test. And when you pass it, like (v. 12) says, you are truly blessed. You’re blessed with an eternal reward and a present reward. Your eternal reward is the crown of life. Your present reward is the hope of God’s promise. The security that comes from knowing you’re in the will of God. That you’re pleasing Him with your obedience. If you don't have security and are living a constant stress filled life maybe you have not trusted Christ with it. Stress and lack of security comes from one of two things. It can be that you’re not really saved. Or it can be that you’re not living like it by passing the tests God places before you. Either way, you need to take care of that today. Trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior or if He is your Savior, begin to treat Him like your Lord. Pass the tests He places before you. That’s what He wants you to do. Stress and trials can be profitable!


     But what happens so often is, when we’re given a tough test, what do we do? We want to blame God and shake our fist at Him accusing Him of being mean or unfair. But why do we do that? We do that because we’ve failed the test He’s placed before us. And when we’ve failed the test, we’ve done exactly what our enemy the devil wants us to do and we've missed out, we have failed to profit from the stress we're going through.

Get it: Read: Psalm 73:3-5 and Jeremiah 12:1 Have you ever found yourself wondering what the answer is? How do you react to the blessings God gives you?

When someone loses a house, loses their job, or loses a child, that’s the kind of test where people respond by shaking their fist at God. They say things like, “How could you let this happen, God?” How would you react if these “high stress” tragedies were to strike you? How do you respond when you’re given the test of humility?

Apply: What test/stress are you facing right now that God could be using to profit you?

"STRESS IS PURPOSEFUL"

Text: “... knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:3-8)

Open: How many times did you have to take your driver’s test before you got your first license?

Read the Back Ground Comments that I excerpted from my “Life Application Study Bible” in preparation to answering the questions below. Enjoy this weeks “Refresco”!

(v. 4) We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. It’s easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly? God wants to make us mature and complete, not to keep us from all pain.  Instead of complaining about our stress and our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth. Thank God for promising to be with us in rough times. Ask Him to help you solve your problems and face your stress and to give you the strength to endure them. Then be patient. God will not leave you alone with your problems; He will stay close and help understand how you can profit from them and grow close to Him at the same time.

(v. 5) By wisdom, James is talking not only about knowledge, but about the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances and to understand how God is using them in us. The wisdom that we need has three distinct characteristics: (1) It’s practical. The wisdom God relates to life even during the most trying times. It’s not a wisdom isolated from suffering, stress and trials. this wisdom is the tool by which trails are overcome. An intelligent person may have profound ideas, but a wise person puts profound ideas into action. (2) It’s divine. God’s wisdom goes beyond common sense. Common sense does not lead us to choose joy in the middle of trials. This wisdom begins with respect for God, leads to living by God’s direction, and results in the  ability to tell right from wrong. It is a wisdom that James describes at length in chapter 3. (3) It is Christlike. Asking for wisdom is ultimately asking to be like Christ. The Bible identifies Christ as the “wisdom of God”. (1 Cor. 1:24; 2:1-7)

(v. 6) To “believe and not doubt” means not only believing in the existence of God, but also believing in His loving care. It includes relying on God’s direction, and results in the ability to tell right from wrong. It includes relying on God and expecting that He will hear and answer when we pray. We must put away our critical attitude when we come to Him. God does not grant every thoughtless or selfish request. We must have confidence that God will align our desires with His purposes.

(v. 6) A mind that waivers is not completely convinced that God’s way is best. It treats God’s Word like any human advice, and it retains the option to disobey. It vacillates between allegiance to subjective feelings, the world’s ideas, and God’s commands. If your faith is new, weak, or struggling, remember that you can trust God. Then be loyal to Him. To stabilize your wavering or doubtful mind, commit yourself wholeheartedly to God.  
    
(v. 6-8) If you have ever seen the constant rolling of huge waves at sea, you know how restless they are - subject to the forces of wind, gravity, and tide. Doubt leaves a person as unsettled at the restless waves. If you want to stop being tossed about, rely on God to show you what is best for you. Ask Him for wisdom to understand what you can profit from the stress you are facing. Trust that God will answer your prayer. Then your decisions will be sure and solid.

Explore:
What is your attitude towards taking test? Read (v.3), what is your attitude towards this test? Why? What task of project have you accomplished that required great perseverance?

Get it:
According to James, what should a Christians’ attitude be when facing trials? How often is this your attitude in your own difficult stressful times? Why is enduring important? What reward/profit comes with enduring in the faith?

Apply:
What does it mean to be “mature and complete” (v. 4)? Who do you know that you think could be described this way? What characteristics do you see in this persons life? Are there any that you could emulate or apply in your life? What is a trial you have faced in your life? What helped you through it? In what area of your life do you need wisdom from God right now? What has kept you from asking for it?

Quoted from “Life Application Bible”