Contents

1. Kingdom Priority!

2. Missiological Signficance of God's Patience . . . that none should perish

3. Apostolic Way - The Way Forward New Wine in New Wineskins

4. Faith to Persevere for the Mission Possible

5. Missions & Ethno-worship

6. The Call to Leadership

7. The Reluctant and the Runaway Missionary - An Exposition

Whenever you read the Gospels you cannot miss our Lord's countless number of references to the "Kingdom of God." Every such instance is aimed at people coming into the Kingdom, to receive the "Good News" offered by Jesus and be saved.

It may seem paradoxical that whereas Jesus summoned men and women to receive the Kingdom, the apostles regarded those who responded to the Kingdom's message as members of the Church and heirs to the promises made to Israel (Rom 4: 13-15).

It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

Church Planting, Kingdom and the Church

This fact raises the issue of the relationship of the Kingdom and the Church and church-planting. Are they, then, the same or is there a difference between them. The purpose of this short article is to clarify this relationship, so that it can become a strategy for us in reaching the unreached.

Actually, when Jesus called people to repent and follow Him (Luke 9:23),

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

He provided the normative witness for the Church for all time.

The Meaning of This Invitation

This essential invitation to the Kingdom meant that God's reign (rule) could be accepted inwardly by men and women everywhere by simple submission in complete childlike obedience and trustful receptiveness.

Since the Kingdom of God had entered the human situation through Jesus and brought people into direct confrontation with Him to open one's heart to His mission, it meant that the Kingdom of God becomes dynamically active in one's life. Although the one responding may not be instantly transformed and translated into the future age of consummation when God makes all things new, this encounter does involve an 'upheaval' type of a transformational change.

This is only the beginning part of the book. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE BOOK IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Evangelism and Growth of the Assemblies of God Churches in Tamilnadu, India - From 1989 - 2003 | Africans into World Missions? | Am I the Keeper of My Sister? | Manhattan Declaration - A Call of Christian Conscience | Lloyd C. Douglas' Ministry through His Novels | Light | An Evaluation of the Growth and Expansion of the Protestant Missionary Movement in the United States | The Way Forward in Missions -- New Wine in New Wineskins | Celebration of Love in the Book of Ruth | You Are Valued! | The Light of Christmas | Jesus Christ | Freedom in Jesus Christ - Our Lord's Ministry | HOME PAGE of December 2009 Issue | HOME PAGE | CONTACT EDITOR