How to Lead a Missional Church that Expands God’s Kingdom

 

Practical Recommendations to Mobilize believers Glocally

Missional pastors need to give a good example to their members. The following are some practical recommendations to teach and mobilize believers both locally and globally.

Look around you. God has placed us in a particular city, neighborhood with a kingdom purpose. Missional is “adopting the posture of a missionary, learning and adapting to the culture around you while remaining biblically sound.”²² Can you imagine if every believer wakes up every day with the vision and passion to be God’s ambassador in their communities? There are many people without Christ who are desperately looking for hope. Go out, connect with people, ask God to give you divine appointments to make a difference. The Holy Spirit is with us, and God is looking for vessels that are obedient and willing to go every day.

Embrace the beauty of Ethnic diversity. Diversity is a gift from God, and the body of Christ needs to learn how to improve in celebrating differences. It is remarkable that God, the creator of the universe, enjoys diversity. “In the quest to recognize and to appreciate diversity of ethnic groups, care must be taken to avoid ethnic labeling and stereotyping.”²³ As the Apostle Paul points out, “There is no Jew nor Greek, no male nor female, no slave nor free. We are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28).”

Understand the power of unity. One of the most powerful principles that we find in the Scriptures is the principle of unity. Unity is a promise from God. There are great opportunities today for partnership and collaboration. This process needs to be intentional. The consequences of not walking in unity will ultimately affect the very people that need to be reached with the Gospel. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Eph 4: 4-7).

In the Gospel of John, Jesus powerfully mentions in his prayer the importance of oneness. “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17: 20-21, emphasis added). This unity needs to start in each of us. It involves different denominations, local churches, missionary agencies, and parachurch ministries. This is not optional. If we really want to expand God’s kingdom and reach the lost glocally, we must find different ways to work together for God’s glory.

Tags: church, expands, gods, kingdom, lead, missional

Category: Ministry, Winter 2011