What on Earth am I here for?What on Earth am I here for?

Worship You were planned for God’s pleasure

Fellowship You were formed for God’s family

Discipleship You were created to become like

Christ Ministry

You were shaped for serving God

Yes but…Yes but…

What

I

on

here

am

Earth

for?

There are no missionaries in heaven!

“Mission exists because worship

doesn’t”John Piper

Purpose 5Purpose 5

To share the To share the Good News Good News about Jesus about Jesus

So should we all So should we all become become

missionaries?missionaries?

At the end of the first 40 Days of At the end of the first 40 Days of Purpose Jesus said…Purpose Jesus said…

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Who should we tell about Who should we tell about Jesus?Jesus?

Jerusalem the people closest to me

Judea/Samaria people near but different

from me

Ends of the Earth everyone else

Internet Black HolesInternet Black Holes

But isn’t But isn’t ChristianityChristianity in decline? in decline?

100,000 new Christians every day.

4,500 new congregations every week.

A Changing ChurchA Changing Church

In South KoreaIn South Korea

Seoul

Pusan

In 1900 there were no protestant churches.

Today South Korea is 30% Christian.

In 1900 only 3% Christian Today sub-saharan Africa is 50% Christian. 25,000 new believers daily

In AfricaIn Africa

In Latin AmericaIn Latin America

In 1900 there were 50,000 Protestants.

In 1980 there were 20 million Protestants.

In 2000 there are 100 million Protestants.

2000 Brazilian cross-cultural missionaries in 85 countries

In ChinaIn China In 1950: 1 million Christians Today: 70+ million Christians 35,000 new believers daily

God's promise to bless all the "families of the earth," (Gen. 12:3) first given to Abraham 4,000 years ago, is becoming a reality at a pace "you would not believe." Although some may dispute some of the details, the overall trend is indisputable. Biblical faith is growing and spreading to the ends of the earth as never before in history.

From Finishing the Task by Ralph Winter and Bruce Koch

What must we do here?What must we do here? “If you build it they

will come” “People need to

come to church to hear the gospel”

“We must make our services more attractive to non Christians”

which of the above are biblical?

What am I doing with the What am I doing with the Good News about Jesus? Good News about Jesus?

But I’m not cleverBut I’m not clever

Don’t let fools fool you about what is foolish

So what might mission cost So what might mission cost me?me?

Time Money Friends Career Parents Children

Security Ambitions Health Rights Liberty Life

Wouldn’t that be a waste?Wouldn’t that be a waste?

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose ”

Jim Elliot

Matthew 24:13-15Matthew 24:13-15

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Revelation 7:9Revelation 7:9

…before me was a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language

PrayerPrayer