understanding our true mission

Understanding OurTrue Mission

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• What is the purpose of GBBC? Why are we here?

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• What is the purpose of GBBC? Why are we here?

• What would you say our purpose is, as defined by what we are doing?

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• What is the purpose of GBBC? Why are we here?

• What would you say our purpose is, as defined by what we are doing?

• Is there a difference between what we said and what we’re currently doing?

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• Not missions—Mission

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• Not missions—Mission• We do not establish this Mission

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• Not missions—Mission• We do not establish this Mission• Vital for developing the framework

of ministry and action

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• The Mission of God: To bring glory unto Himself

Ezekiel 36:22-23; 32

22 “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone.

Ezekiel 36:22-23; 32

23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.

Ezekiel 36:22-23; 32

32 I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!

Isaiah 42:8

8 “I am the LORD; that is my name!I will not yield my glory to anotheror my praise to idols.

Isaiah 48:11

11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.How can I let myself be defamed?I will not yield my glory to another.

Jeremiah 14:7

7 Although our sins testify against us,do something, LORD, for the sake of your name.

For we have often rebelled;we have sinned against you.

Psalm 23:3b

3 ...He guides me along the right pathsfor his name’s sake.

Psalm 79:9

9 Help us, God our Savior,for the glory of your name;

deliver us and forgive our sinsfor your name’s sake.

Psalm 115:1 & 3

1 Not to us, LORD, not to usbut to your name be the glory,because of your love and faithfulness…

3 Our God is in heaven;he does whatever pleases him.

John 8:50

50 I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.

Understanding OurTrue Mission

“There are no rivals for the supremacy of God’s glory in his own heart…the most passionate heart for God in all the universe is God’s heart.” - John Piper

Understanding OurTrue Mission

What is our ultimate mission then?

Understanding OurTrue Mission

Our ultimate Mission is to bring glory to God.

Understanding OurTrue Mission

Our ultimate Mission is to bring glory to God.

• Predetermined—Does not change

Understanding OurTrue Mission

Our ultimate Mission is to bring glory to God.

• Predetermined—Does not change• Biblically based—Driven from

Scripture

Understanding OurTrue Mission

How we accomplish this at GBBC…

Understanding OurTrue Mission

How we accomplish this at GBBC…

This is called Vision

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• Vision = How a local church is going to fulfill the Mission

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• Vision = How a local church is going to fulfill the Mission

• What are our specific actions in this specific place for this specific time?

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• Vision = How a local church is going to fulfill the Mission

• What are our specific actions in this specific place for this specific time?

• Includes programming, events, budgets, personnel, etc.

Understanding OurTrue Mission

Where should we look to see how these two concepts come together?

Understanding OurTrue Mission

How about the Bible?

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• Mark 12:30-31• Matthew 28:16-20• Acts 2:42-47

Mark 12:30-31

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Matthew 28:16-20

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Matthew 28:16-20

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.

Acts 2:42-47

45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• Trains vs bumper cars!

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• Trains vs bumper cars! • Each car might be cool and slick but what do they

do?

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• Trains vs bumper cars! • Each car might be cool and slick but what do they

do?• They race around bumping into each other in a

circle! Fun but never go anywhere.

• Individual directions vs unified vision…

Understanding Our True Mission

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• We must carry out the vision by the power of the Holy Spirit

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• We must carry out the vision by the power of the Holy Spirit

• That means Bible-driven and prayer-powered

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• We must carry out the vision by the power of the Holy Spirit

• That means Bible-driven and prayer-powered

• If not, the church can look like this…

Understanding OurTrue Mission

Or even worse, this…

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• But when the missional, biblical vision comes together; when power and people meet, incredible synergy can take place

Understanding OurTrue Mission

• But when the missional, biblical vision comes together; when power and people meet, incredible synergy can take place

• When a church is on board with a biblical vision seeking to accomplish the mission, it will look like this…

• Worship

• Small Groups

• Small Groups• Evangelism/Discipleship

• Small Groups• Evangelism/Discipleship

• Koinonia

• Small Groups• Evangelism/Discipleship

• Koinonia

• Bible Study

• Ministry

• Ministry• Church Ministry

• Ministry• Church Ministry

• Community Ministry

• Ministry• Church Ministry

• Community Ministry

• Global Ministry

• Corporate Prayer Times

So our unique way (Vision) for accomplishing God’s

Mission at GBBC is:

Internalize it—understand it, and own it—so that we can help our church to go

from this…

To this…