Church of God Mission International - By ARCHBISHOP M. E. BENSON IDAHOSA 28 August 2024 | TOPIC: The Mission of the Local Church

Church of God Mission International – By ARCHBISHOP M. E. BENSON IDAHOSA 28 August 2024 | TOPIC: The Mission of the Local Church – Part 4.

Click HERE for Previous Above Only

CHURCH OF GOD MISSION INTERNATIONAL

THE HISTORIC MIRACLE CENTRE BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE

28/08/2024

TOPIC: The Mission of the Local Church – Part 4.

Text: Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 2:19-22, Colossians 1:18

Introduction:

In our previous lessons, we established the vital role of the Local Church in God’s plan for believers. It is a community of faith where believers gather to worship, learn, grow, and serve together. We emphasized that true love for Christ is demonstrated through active participation in His body, the local church. To be a member of Christ’s Church, one must believe the Gospel, which is salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). We also highlighted that any church whose message is not centered on the sufficiency of Christ is either the Church of Moses or the Church of Satan. Today, we will focus on the strategy and tools for this mission.

Discussion:

What is our strategy for this Mission? Luke 8:27-39; Matthew 28:18-20. From the example we have seen in the scriptures, our strategy is simple. We have been mandated to:

Deliver: We preach deliverance to the unsaved. Just as Jesus delivered the demoniac in Luke 8:27-39, we are called to proclaim freedom to those in bondage to sin (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18).
Disciple: We teach the saved. Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:18-20 emphasizes the importance of teaching believers to observe all that He has commanded. Discipleship is key to spiritual growth and maturity (2 Timothy 2:2; Colossians 1:28).
Deploy: We deploy the ones who have been discipled. The mission of the local church is incomplete until those who have been discipled are sent out to make more disciples (Romans 10:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Mark 6:7, Luke 9:2 Luke 10:1).

This strategy follows the pattern set by Jesus and the early church: deliverance, discipleship, and deployment. Until this cycle is completed, the mission of the Local Church remains unfinished.

What are the tools made available to us for carrying out this mission? In order to effectively carry out this mission, we have been empowered with two essential tools:

The Gospel of His Grace: 2 Timothy 2:1(AMPC); Colossians 3:16(AMPC); Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. The believer must be sound in the Gospel. Both deliverance and discipleship are accomplished through the Gospel, which is the message of God’s love and kindness expressed through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8; 1 Peter 3:18).
The Holy Spirit: Acts 1:8; John 14:16-17, 26; John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10-12. The Holy Spirit empowers the believer to carry out this mission. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be our helper, guiding us into all truth and enabling us to carry out His Mission. The Holy Spirit also equips us with the necessary gifts, wisdom, and strength to preach the Gospel and make disciples (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 3:16).

Conclusion:

The mission of the local church requires the church to have a dedicated and sacrificial attitude, focusing on the gospel and not being distracted by worldly concerns. We have been called to deliver, disciple, and deploy believers through the power of the Gospel and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. By faithfully following this strategy, we fulfil our calling, expand God’s Kingdom, and bring glory to Christ.

ALSO READ: CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW US ON TWITTER ⊗ OPEN HEAVEN ⊗ JOEL OSTEEN DEVOTIONAL⊗ ABOVE ONLY ⊗ OUR DAILY BREAD ⊗ SEEDS OF DESTINY ⊗ JOYCE MEYER DEVOTIONAL ⊗ RHAPSODY OF REALITIES ⊗ JOHN HAGEE ⊗ MFM DAILY DEVOTIONALUTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST⊗DCLM DAILY MANNA ⊗ JOHN PIPER DEVOTIONAL ⊗