A missional church is a church designed to reach members of a non-Christian culture. America, especially urban America, is becoming increasingly post-Christian and needs missional churches in order to engage those whose worldview is profoundly non-Christian. Yet, a missional church is much more than a church with an evangelistic program. It means creating a church where all ministry is conducted with the mindset that non-Christians will be present.

Christians need to be devoted to cities. Cities have a disproportionate impact on the wider culture. The population of cities around the world is exploding, and Christians need to be wherever people are. Christians can effectively reach cities through proclaiming the Gospel, through acts of mercy and justice, and through living in such a way that embodies racial reconciliation.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: Genesis 12:1-3; Jeremiah 29:4-7; Acts 4:32-34; Acts 6:15; Acts 7:60.

Many people think that if you believe in a literal second coming of Christ, then you won’t care about improving this world at all. Yet, the Bible teaches the exact opposite. It is because Christians believe in a coming age without sin and injustice that they eagerly work in this world to bring about glimpses of the world to come. This belief influences everything a Christian does—including their work. Christians must not segregate their faith from their work, but must wrestle with the challenge of glorifying God in their vocations.

There are some churches that care about evangelism but not about serving the poor. Other churches will eagerly serve the poor but they don’t care about proclaiming the Gospel. But churches aren’t meant to do one or the other; they must do both. In fact, the two are linked. When non-Christians see Christians sacrificially serving the needy, it displays the beauty of God to them and becomes an aid to evangelism. Separately, serving the poor doesn’t just help others, but helps ourselves.

Naturally we’re inclined to spend our money on ourselves and if we have any left over, we will give it to ministry and charity. However, Jesus shows us how our priorities need to change. Giving to ministry and charity must come first. Only then should we figure out how to spend the rest of our money. Yet, it is only through the Gospel that we can give so much away. It is only when we are spiritually rich that we can stop looking at money as our real wealth and security.

How does a Christian live as a believer in an unbelieving world? God calls His people to be spiritually bi-cultural. God does not want His people to either assimilate or segregate. He wants them to become part of the city, to pray for the city and seek its peace and prosperity. Yet, God also insists that His people retain their distinctiveness and not compromise their allegiance to Him. Christians are called to love the city of man for the sake of the city of God.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: Jeremiah 28-29; Daniel 3; Hebrews 11:10.

When the Bible speaks of the new heaven and the new earth, it is not speaking of an alternative to this world; it is speaking of the healing and restoration of this world. This gives Christians a reason to participate in restoring this fallen world. Furthermore, because Christians know that there is a perfect world coming, they don’t put all their hope in the current world. Christians can sacrificially serve others because they value the things of the coming world more than the things of this world.

Many people say they like Christianity, but they don’t understand why Christians evangelize others. Behind this line of thinking is a misconception about Christianity. Christianity is not a series of instructions about how we should live. It is primarily an announcement about the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. This is what leads Peter and John to say that there is no other name under heaven by which people can be saved.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: 1 John 1:1-3; Matthew 26:39.

We are smothering under our small ambitions. Our hearts and minds were made for nobler things. God does not bless Christians merely to fulfill their individual needs, but sends them out on mission to display Jesus and to meet the needs of others.

Additional scriptural references made in this sermon are: John 4:13-14; Isaiah 6; Genesis 12.

We need a calling in life greater than the selfishness of our own hearts. When Elijah takes Elisha as his successor, we see an example of the call of God. Elisha did not call himself, but was called by God. Though he was rich, he gave up his wealth in order to answer God’s call. Likewise, every Christian must follow the specific call that God has laid out for them, and must fall back upon the grace of God when we inevitably fail to measure up to all that God has called us to do and to be.