God speaks in stories

The Bible has four acts: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration

Mark 4:33-34 NIV

With many such parables, Jesus spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear and understand it; and He did not say anything to them without [using] a parable; He did, however, explain everything privately to His own disciples.

The western church has faced an attack aimed to disembowel the bride of her purpose

We will go together back to Scripture's definition of our role in Gospel advancement - Kingdom Building - from across the street to around the world, and come out equipped to operate in the calling of Bride, Body, and Letter to the world around us.

We are a story for the world to read - a story about the love of Christ in us.

2 Corinthians 3:2-3

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, recognized and read by everyone. It is clear that you are Christ's letter, produced by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God - not on stone tablets but on tablets that are hearts of flesh.

Genesis 2:18 (CSB)

Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him."

Ephesians 5:22-33 (AMP)

23 Christ is head of the church, Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, 25 Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], 27 so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless. 29 For no one ever hated his own body, but [instead] he nourishes and protects and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members (parts) of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined [and be faithfully devoted] to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery [of two becoming one] is great; but I am speaking with reference to [the relationship of] Christ and the church.

Colossians 2:19 BSB

…the head, from whom the whole body, supported and knit together by its joints and ligaments, grows as God causes it to grow.

Ephesians 1:22-23 ESV

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

What story is God writing?

The Mission of God: The Bible itself has a missional basis

The entire arch of the Bible's story, the story of God given to us, is of His desire of relationship with us, a story of His mission towards us.

God is a missionary God

the grand narrative of the Bible is of His mission to commune with people.

His mission has a church

the entire identity of the church is to carry out God's mission.

His mission has a body

God designed His mission to be embodied.

His mission has a bride

we are a helper suitable for His mission.

Matthew 28:18-20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Colossians 1:18 ESV

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Creation: beginning
The fall: the dead
Redemption: firstborn
Restoration: in everything preeminent

The Bible is a missionary book through and through … The main line of argument that binds us all together is the unfolding and gradual execution of a missionary purpose. - Bruce Ker

Attack 1: Confusion and the Great Omission

1 Corinthians 1:21-23; 27-28 ESV

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[b] to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are

Attack 2: Uncertainty about the Cultural Acceptability of Mission

Matthew 23:15 (NIV)

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are."

Matthew 23:23 (NIV)

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."

"I've always said that I don't respect people who don't proselytize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe that there's a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it's not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward—and atheists who think people shouldn't proselytize and who say just leave me along and keep your religion to yourself—how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn't believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that." - Penn Jillette

Attack 3: Dissatisfaction with Approach

2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

This story that's meant to be read is a story that's meant to be retold.

James 2:14-16 NIV

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

Attack #4: Immobility and Overwhelm

Attack 5: Take a Disembodied Approach

Stories in Scripture

Phillip -> Ethiopian Man -> Africa
Stephen -> Saul -> Paul
Paul -> Macedonian Man -> Erastus
Erastus -> Temple Workers -> Corinthian Church
Jesus -> Us -> The World
Us -> The World -> Revelation

Revelation 7:9-10 ESV

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

What is the story God is dreaming of?

WE SEE you as a body of believers whose lives echo God's words. You will be a pattern to other churches. You will be the talk of the town, the state, and eventually the nations, as the transformation that occurs in your lives, and the fruit that you are producing, will be undeniable. From you, the word of the Lord will sound forth.

We walk out this vision of sacrificial mission in four distinct, Spirit-led ways:

1. Radically Open-Handed Stewardship to the owner of all things.

2. Serving the Body with Our Gifts & Time

3. Proclaiming the Gospel in Our City

4. Going into the Nations

The church is a center for mission.
It's the people about God's business.
We are about the mission of God.
We are the embodied Bride
the Body in one accord
acting corporately together
that in this city, and in this world
the church may be seen as a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.
This is the story of the Bride of Christ.