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Biblical Reflection “Churches That Transform”. Bob Moffitt Harvest Foundation Disciple Nations Alliance . . Story from Brazil. 2. Our Target…. God’s Glory Q. What is the chief end of man ? A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.
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Biblical Reflection “Churches That Transform” Bob Moffitt Harvest Foundation Disciple Nations Alliance
. Story from Brazil 2
Our Target… God’s Glory Q. What is the chief end of man? A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. It’s relationships to the Great Commission 3
The Cosmic Setting “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” Psalms 19:1-4 4
The Cosmic Setting Creation Infinite size Sunsets Molecular complexity 5
God’s Character in Words Supreme Worthy Honorable Beautiful Majestic Guileless Loving Pure Holy Merciful Just Patient Powerful Protective Glorious . Voluntary Self sacrificial Splendor
God’s Glory Awesome and Fearful But Winsome and Enfolding
God’s Glory - His Central Concern God wants his people to reflect his Glory A priest to observing nations – Deut 4:5-8 A light so observers praise our Father - Mt 5:16 Chosen for his glory (three times) - Eph 1:1-14 Do everything for glory of God - 1 Corn 10:31 Live so that observers glorify God - 1 Pet 2:12 8
God – our Glory, We His Glory God is our glory, our everlasting light Isa 60:19b We are God’s glory, a crown of splendor, a royal diadem Isa 62:3 9
God’s Glory is Reciprocal In the Trinity God glorifies the Son -Col 1:19; Jon 17:5 The Son glorifies the Father - Jon 17:4 The Spirit glorifies the Son - Jon 16:14 10
God’s Glory is Reciprocal We participate in this reciprocity Crown of creation - Gen 1:31 God is our glory - Isa 60:19b We are God’s glory - Isa 62:3 We glorify the Son - Jon 17:10 11
Loss of Birthright Creation to display - Genesis 1:1-24 Image bearers to reflect and participate Genesis 1:31 Loss of birthright - Genesis 3:1 - 6:7 12
Restoration through Sacrificial Love Reconciliationof all - Col 1:15-20 Grace - power to will and act - Phil 2:13 Reflect increasing glory - 2 Corn 3:18 Bear much fruit to God’s glory - Jon 15:8 13
What is God’s Glory? Loving, sacrificial relationship on behalf of the other in: The Trinity The Creation O.T. - Israel The Cross Eternity 14
The Great CommissionMark 16:15, Matthew 28:19 Proclamation - Go and preach the Gospel Church Planting - Baptizing Scripture knowledge - Teachingeverything 15
The Great Omission Discipling - Teaching to obey (application) 16
The Great Omission’s Consequence 1. Lots of conversions 2. Manychurches planted but 3. Littletransformation 17
Reinstating the Omitted2 Chronicles 7:14 Two Conditions: 1. Humility 2. Repentance/obedience Two Promises: 1. Forgiveness 2. Healing 18
The Great Commission and Transformation 1. Evangelism and church planting - stringing the bow, positioning the arrow 2. Teaching what Jesus taught - aiming, pulling arrow against the string 3. Discipling to obey in the power of the HS - releasing the arrow 4. Hitting the target - bringing God glory and being his glory
What Does God’s Glory Look Like in Us? • Passion for Restoration of the Broken – Mark…. • Voluntarily Suffering for Others – Phil 2:8 • Love for One Another – Acts 4:32 • Generosity toward “Neighbors” – II Corn 8:1-13 • Hospitality – Rom 12:13, Titus 1:8, I Pet 4:9 • Transformed Communities – Isa 58:10-12 • Works of Service – Eph 4:12
The End Task is not End Winning People to Christ Planting Churches Teaching people about what Jesus taught
The End Task is End Equipping God’s people for God’s glory by Equipping God’s people to be God’s glory How? By teaching to do all that he commanded
Question Do we see God’s glory (sacrificial love/service) in the work of: • our denomination, • our parachurch ministry, • our local church, • our personal life?
Suggestion If not, Examine our target
Our Father Forgive us for our unfaithfulness to Your full intentions. Help us to not only proclaim the Gospel, plant churches, and teach Your commands. But, help us to teach those you bring under our care to do Your will. Grant that we may increasingly make Your glory our goal. And, in the process, increasingly be Your glory. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done…” Amen.
Weakness of Current Equipping • Personal Piety • Knowledge of Scripture • Training in Evangelism/Church Planting • Without equipping for obedience
Principle 1 Reliance on Enabling Grace John 15:7-8 Abide in me and obey my commands
Principle 2 Integrity and Modeling Matthew 5:19 Whoever practices and teaches… (practice before teaching)
Principle 3 Ongoing Teaching (Including Repentance as needed) Hebrews 5:14 Milk to solid food by constant use Acts 20:35 A constant example
Principle 4 Application I John 3:18-19 Show love by our actions
Principle 5 Accountability Acts 15:4 They reported everything
Principle 6 Encouragement I Thessalonians 5:11 Encourage one another
Principle 7 Celebration Psalms 34:3 Exalt His name together
Summary Principle 1: Reliance on Enabling Grace Principle 2: Integrity and Modeling Principle 3: Ongoing Teaching/Repentance Principle 4: Application Principle 5: Accountability Principle 6: Encouragement Principle 7: Celebration
Illustration Story from Uganda
Implication 1 Keep our focus on the target God’s Glory
Implication 2 Build Discipleship on Principles that equip for obedience
Implication 3 Evaluate Not by numbers, but... by evidence of God’s glory (obedience) in your disciples