Multiply II:3 - The Global Church

We regularly pray for a spiritual awakening, for a revival, for the sleeping church to rise, for a lost and sinful world to discover the glory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ... but even with that kind of outward attitude, do we truly have the ultimate big picture in mind?

As Francis Chan writes in this week's reading, "If your church bands together and reaches out to every individual in your community, you are still not done with God’s mission. No matter how big of a revival you experience, your area is still only a small part of the world that God has sent us to transform through His gospel. Until our vision of the church encompasses the entire globe, we do not have an accurate view of God’s church or His plan of redemption."

To bring this point very close to home, while it's easy to imagine someone for whom you've been praying for a long time come to Christ, it's harder to imagine that one person who is the constant thorn in our side to also come to salvation.  Yet, this is exactly what God's plan of redemption entails!  The invitation to the Kingdom has been extended to ALL, and it is our role to make sure that the invitations are delivered.  We are not to show favoritism nor to judge another's potential receptivity to the Gospel.  Instead, just as Christ died for all, so we must clothe ourselves with this same attitude.

This week's chapter takes this concern to a global level, challenging us to think about our attitudes toward unreached people around the world, and to ask ourselves (and God) if we are being called to literally go to the ends of the earth to reach others.  It is an uncomfortable subject, but one that deserves discussion, nonetheless.

Hope to see you at Christ & Coffee!

Love in Christ,
Pastor Joe

Part II - Living as the Church: The Global Church

1. In your own words, why is it important to think about God’s plan of redemption in global terms?
2. When you think about the mission of your church, does the rest of the globe factor in at all? How so?
3. Take some time to think about the passages above (Romans 15:20–21, Isaiah 52:7–10, Romans 10:12–15). How should these truths affect the way we think about our calling?
4. Have you given much thought to the unreached people groups around the world? If so, how does this affect your thinking and lifestyle? If not, why do you think you have never thought about it?
5. Take a minute to pause and ask God what He wants for your life. Ask Him to break through any excuses you may be hiding behind and idols you might be clinging to. Ask Him to make you willing to follow Him in whichever direction He might lead. If you have any thoughts based on this time of prayer, make a few notes below.
6. How would you describe your role in furthering the gospel around the world? If nothing comes to mind, write down a few things that you can begin to pursue in order to make missions a part of your life.
7. In order to faithfully follow Jesus and play your part in God’s plan of redemption, what should your life look like right now? (This is a huge question, but try to write down a few things to guide you as you seek to put the things you’ve learned into practice.
8. Spend some time in prayer. Ask God to help you submit to Him entirely. Ask Him to guide you and empower you in anything He calls you to do. Pray that God would use you in your neighborhood and around the world in any capacity that He sees fit.

Disclaimer: These questions have been drawn from Francis Chan’s book “Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples,” and are posted here for further reflection and study in conjunction with the full text of the book found at MultiplyMovement.com.