Following Jesus | Week 3 - Live out His Mission

Big idea:

Our mission is the same as Jesus’ during his time on earth—prioritizing self-giving love through our kingdom-ushering presence and proclamation of the good news.

The following is a teaching for Contrast Church’s launch team gathering on Sunday evening, Sept. 27th, 2020.

The biblical texts used throughout the teaching are:

  • Luke 4:16-22

  • Matthew 10:1-14:

  • John 16:7-10

  • Luke 24:44-48

  • Matthew 28:19-20

  • 1 Corinthians 3:5-11

Launch Team Training

*For those either on the Launch team, or anyone interested in answering the “how” for each teaching. This training teaches the VIM method (coined by Dallas Willard) and utlizes Hugh Halter’s Four components of “living out” one’s faith in a missional way. These four components are explained in his book Tangible Kingdom.

“More and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them. It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems. My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress. But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them.”  

- Henri Nouwen

Recommended Additional Learning:

Podcast

Teaching on Modern Evangelism
https://movement-church.simplecast.com/episodes/evangelism

Articles:

An Article Explaining VIM (Willard’s Spiritual Formation Model)
https://www.soulshepherding.org/my-vim-plan-for-teaching-like-jesus/

Books to Read:

  • The Tangible Kingdom, Hugh Halter & Matt Smay

    • Our inspiration for the missional living components focused on living among the sojourners and spiritually curious.

    • Is a great read for anyone learning how to live missionally within the marketplace.

  • Art of Neighboring, Dave Runyon & Jay Pathak

    • A great accessible, and short read on being a great neighbor centered on loving your neighbor well.

  • The Mission of God, Christopher Wright

    • This “textbook feel” book has the most holistic and cohesive theology of God’s mission throughout the entire bible (both OT and NT)

Trey Gilmore