Taking It OutsideTaking It Outside

Rediscovering God’s Missional Plan for Rediscovering God’s Missional Plan for His Church to Bless the WorldHis Church to Bless the World

God’s Call to Abram“Take It Outside”

      11 The LORD had said to Abram, " The LORD had said to Abram, "LeaveLeave your your countrycountry, your , your peoplepeople and your and your father's householdfather's household and go to the land I will show you.     and go to the land I will show you.    

        22 "I will make you into a great nation "I will make you into a great nation         and I will bless you; and I will bless you;         I will make your name great, I will make your name great,

        and you will be a blessingand you will be a blessing..         33 I will bless those who bless you, I will bless those who bless you,         and whoever curses you I will curse; and whoever curses you I will curse;

        and all peoples on earth and all peoples on earth         will be blessed will be blessed through youthrough you."."

Privatizing God’s Blessing

“Blessed to escape the consequences of sin” Forgiveness of sins Assurance of escaping hell for heaven Kept safe and healthy while the world perishes

Blessed with Salvation Not just from sin’s consequences But to bless all peoples on earth as God’s chosen

people, the Church

An Insider’s Gospel

Typical: “For God so loved MEME that he gave

his only Son, so that because I believe in him,

I will not perish but have everlasting life.

(Too bad about the rest of those losers.)”

I’m in and I am psyched!

WWJD?

1111In the old system, the animals are In the old system, the animals are killed and the bodies disposed of killed and the bodies disposed of outside the camp. The blood is then outside the camp. The blood is then brought inside to the altar as a brought inside to the altar as a sacrifice for sin. sacrifice for sin. 1212It's the same with It's the same with Jesus. He was crucified outside the Jesus. He was crucified outside the city gates--that is where he poured out city gates--that is where he poured out the sacrificial blood that was brought the sacrificial blood that was brought to God's altar to cleanse his people. to God's altar to cleanse his people. Hebrews 13:11-12Hebrews 13:11-12

Blessed Outside by JesusBlessed Outside by Jesus

        1313So let's go outside, where Jesus is, where the action So let's go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is--not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our is--not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. share in the abuse of Jesus. 1414This "insider world" is This "insider world" is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come. about to come. 1515Let's take our place outside with Let's take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus' name. lips to God in Jesus' name. 1616Make sure you don't take Make sure you don't take things for granted and go slack in working for the things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship--a takes particular pleasure in acts of worship--a different kind of "sacrifice"--that take place in different kind of "sacrifice"--that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets. kitchen and workplace and on the streets. Hebrews Hebrews 13:13-1613:13-16

Taking His Message Outside the CityTaking His Message Outside the City

A Missional “Take It Outside”A Missional “Take It Outside” GospelGospel

Biblical: "This is how much God loved the "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that And this is why: so that NO ONENO ONE need be need be destroyed; by believing in him, destroyed; by believing in him, ANYONEANYONE can have can have a whole and lasting lifea whole and lasting life. God didn't . God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the to point an accusing finger, telling the WORLDWORLD how bad it was. how bad it was. He came to help, He came to help, to put the world right again.to put the world right again. John 3:16-17John 3:16-17

Defining “Missional”

“It’s about a loving missionary God incarnating the world to save it. It’s about mission being at the heart of the Trinity, and many in the church have forgotten it. The missional church is about getting back to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. To go into the entire world while loving our neighbors as ourselves (Matt 28:19; 22:39). The missional church has the advantage of leaving behind traditions and politics… It must keep asking what it means to be the ‘called out community’ to our culture.” Kim Hammond from “The Junction”

The Missional RevolutionThe Missional RevolutionOverthrowing the Institutionalized Church

Revolution

izingRevolution

izing

From Inside to Outside

INSIDE Thinking We’re still prejudiced but

Jesus will change us in heaven

Jesus formed the Church to meet our needs and shield us from a sinful world

Our missionaries are the revolutionaries while we enjoy the status quo

OUTSIDE Thinking Jesus has already torn

down the barriers so we’d die to our prejudices now

Jesus formed the Church to save and bless a sinful world

Every disciple is a missionary and the mission field starts right here

Revolutionizing a Struggling Church

80 year history (LABCMS took it ‘outside’) Rollercoaster ride > ‘80s ROCKET SLED! Early ’90s – malaise and uncertainty Mid ’90s – Not Evolution, but Revolution!Revolution!

Restarted EBCLA with remnant Renewed vision to be Missional, Kingdom-driven

redemptive community Worship & Word > Discovering Jesus in the World

OUTSIDE!

Why does “taking it outside” have such Why does “taking it outside” have such potential to revolutionize churches in ways potential to revolutionize churches in ways that enhance Jesus’ reputation among that enhance Jesus’ reputation among those who don’t believe?those who don’t believe?

How “inside” has you and your church’s How “inside” has you and your church’s living out of the gospel of Jesus become?living out of the gospel of Jesus become?

If you heed God’s call to be a blessing to If you heed God’s call to be a blessing to the nations, what obstacles will you face in the nations, what obstacles will you face in yourself? In your church?yourself? In your church?