We need a unifying principle for all our activities
2 landmarks for followers of Jesus: Mark 3:13-15

1. Being with Jesus = first priority
- The disciples left everything and were with Jesus all the time in His ministries. They saw how Jesus responded to life and knew Jesus personally. The learnt lessons from their time with Jesus and saw how He spent time with His Father as priority. Faith is in a person not a set of doctrines (know Jesus through Bible, prayer & experiencing life with Jesus at the centre)

2. Sent out by Jesus = ultimate purpose
- This is the unifying principle
• John Stott: The Bible IS the Gospel (it is the story of redemption) it does NOT just contain the Gospel

God accomplishes His redemptive play through sent people
- Abrahamic covenant ~Abraham chosen not just for himself but for the world
- Exodus ~ the Israelites were chosen as a kingdom of priests but they wanted to keep the blessing for themselves and not for others (see also 1 Peter ~ Christians are a kingdom of priests)
- Jesus’ incarnation
- Church has been sent by Jesus Matt 28
- We are in danger of not fulfilling our purposes as those set apart & sent
- We’re sent to our little pocket of society
- God’s doing something much bigger than what’s happening in my little world but what’s happening in my little world is part of what God’s doing.

Why, God, have you sent me into this person’s life? What do you want to do through me?
Help other Christians establish a sense of sent-ness.

Discussion:

1. How could you help to create an environment where people see that evangelism is central to your church and that being a part of your church includes sharing your faith?
Church service has been quite passive – could encourage more participation & sharing.
e.g. not just sermon but also time for discussion of how we’ll apply & share with others

2. What could you put in place that would help your people develop a sense of “sentness” about the everyday relationships of their lives?
Pray in small groups at church service
Get people from a cross-section of the congregation to share about their lives & their friends & pray

3. Discuss the issues that keep you personally from getting more involved evangelistically with non-Christians. What would actually cause you to move forward in this area? Maybe that would help your people too?
Prayer (praying for people prior to meeting with them)
Prioritising; shifting focus (kingdom vs earthly)

4. What percentage of your congregation would need to “buy in” to their own involvement in evangelising the people in their lives for it to become a movement in your church that has gained self-sustaining critical mass? Why did you pick that percentage?
The speaker suggested 20%, with 100% buy in from the leadership.

5. As a church body, realistically where could we be in 5 years? Set sub-goals for each year with strategies to achieve them.