Embracing the Global Mission of the Church

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing God's Universal Salvation Plan

The global mission of the church is rooted in Jesus' declaration that He has "other sheep" beyond any single ethnic or cultural group. This mission is a divine necessity, ensuring that God's purpose to unite all people under one Shepherd will succeed. Jesus' words in John 10:16 remind us that God's love and redemption are not confined to a particular group but are meant for all humanity. The church is called to participate in this grand vision, recognizing that every person is a potential member of God's family. This understanding challenges us to look beyond our immediate surroundings and embrace a global perspective, trusting in the assurance that God's sovereign will guarantees the success of this mission. [01:19]

Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV): "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."

Reflection: Who in your life might you be overlooking as a potential member of God's family? How can you actively reach out to them this week?

Day 2: Maintaining a Global Perspective in Urban Life

Living in large cities can insulate us from the world's needs, but we are called to maintain a global perspective. Our mission is not just local but extends to all nations, reflecting God's universal love and redemption. In the hustle and bustle of urban life, it's easy to become focused on our immediate environment and forget the broader mission of the church. However, Jesus' call to global missions reminds us that our faith journey is not limited to our local context. We are encouraged to look beyond our city limits and engage with the global community, recognizing that God's love transcends geographical boundaries. This perspective challenges us to be intentional in our outreach efforts, ensuring that we are not only serving those nearby but also contributing to the global mission of the church. [00:43]

Acts 1:8 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to engage with a global mission or outreach effort, either locally or internationally?

Day 3: Guarding Against Ethnocentrism and Nationalism

The church must guard against becoming ingrown and indifferent, as history has shown how ethnocentrism and nationalism can distort its mission. Jesus warned against these dangers, urging us to embrace all people as potential brothers and sisters in Christ. The tragic events of the past, such as Nazi Germany, American slavery, and the Rwandan genocide, serve as stark reminders of how the church's mission can be compromised by prejudice and exclusion. Jesus' teachings call us to confront these tendencies within ourselves and our communities, ensuring that our mission remains aligned with God's inclusive love. By embracing diversity and rejecting divisive ideologies, we can fulfill the church's true purpose of uniting all people under one Shepherd. [05:18]

Galatians 3:28 (ESV): "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Reflect on any biases or prejudices you may hold. How can you actively work to overcome these and embrace the diversity of God's family?

Day 4: Confronting Personal Prejudices for Mission Fulfillment

Confronting our own prejudices is essential to fulfilling the church's mission. We must recognize that the bloodline of faith in Christ is thicker than any ethnic or familial ties, compelling us to view every person as a potential member of God's family. This understanding challenges us to examine our hearts and identify any barriers that may hinder our ability to love others fully. By acknowledging and addressing these prejudices, we can better align ourselves with God's vision for the church and participate in His mission to unite all people. This process requires humility and a willingness to change, but it ultimately leads to a deeper understanding of God's love and a more effective witness to the world. [11:22]

James 2:1-4 (ESV): "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, 'You sit here in a good place,' while you say to the poor man, 'You stand over there,' or, 'Sit down at my feet,' have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"

Reflection: Identify a specific prejudice you hold. What steps can you take this week to confront and overcome it in light of God's call to love all people?

Day 5: Trusting in God's Sovereign Will for Mission Success

The assurance of God's sovereign will gives us confidence in the success of the church's mission. Jesus' declaration that He "must bring them also" assures us that His purpose will be fulfilled, as it is rooted in His divine necessity. This promise provides us with hope and motivation as we engage in the global mission of the church. Despite the challenges and obstacles we may face, we can trust that God's plan will ultimately prevail. This assurance encourages us to persevere in our efforts, knowing that we are part of a larger divine narrative that is unfolding according to God's perfect will. By placing our trust in His sovereignty, we can approach our mission with confidence and joy, knowing that our labor is not in vain. [09:57]

Isaiah 46:10-11 (ESV): "Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust in God's sovereign will? How can you surrender these areas to Him and find peace in His promises?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound global mission of the church, inspired by the words of Jesus in John 10:16, where He speaks of having "other sheep that are not of this fold." This passage underscores the universal scope of God's salvation plan, emphasizing that His love and redemption extend beyond any single ethnic or cultural group. The church is called to embrace this global vision, recognizing that God's purpose is to unite all people under one Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

The challenge for us, especially those living in large cities in the United States, is to not become insulated from the needs of the world. We must resist the temptation to become inward-focused, remembering that the church's mission is inherently global. This mission is not just a task but a divine necessity, as Jesus Himself declared that He "must bring them also." This assurance gives us confidence that God's mission will succeed, as it is rooted in His sovereign will and purpose.

However, history has shown that the church can become ingrown and indifferent, allowing ethnocentrism, racism, and nationalism to distort its mission. The tragic examples of Nazi Germany, American slavery, and the Rwandan genocide serve as stark reminders of how the church's chosen status can be misused. Jesus foresaw these dangers and warned against them, urging His followers to embrace all people as potential brothers and sisters in Christ.

The call to global missions is not just about reaching the unreached but also about confronting the prejudices within our own hearts. We must continually remind ourselves that the bloodline of faith in Christ is thicker than any ethnic or familial ties. This understanding compels us to view every person as a potential member of God's family, deserving of love and respect.

Key Takeaways

1. The global mission of the church is rooted in Jesus' declaration that He has "other sheep" beyond any single ethnic or cultural group. This mission is a divine necessity, ensuring that God's purpose to unite all people under one Shepherd will succeed. [01:19]
2. Living in large cities can insulate us from the world's needs, but we are called to maintain a global perspective. Our mission is not just local but extends to all nations, reflecting God's universal love and redemption. [00:43]
3. The church must guard against becoming ingrown and indifferent, as history has shown how ethnocentrism and nationalism can distort its mission. Jesus warned against these dangers, urging us to embrace all people as potential brothers and sisters in Christ. [05:18]
4. Confronting our own prejudices is essential to fulfilling the church's mission. We must recognize that the bloodline of faith in Christ is thicker than any ethnic or familial ties, compelling us to view every person as a potential member of God's family. [11:22]
5. The assurance of God's sovereign will gives us confidence in the success of the church's mission. Jesus' declaration that He "must bring them also" assures us that His purpose will be fulfilled, as it is rooted in His divine necessity. [09:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Global Aspirations of the Church
[00:30] - Prayer for Global Outreach
[00:43] - Living in Large Cities
[01:02] - Missions from the Church's Inception
[01:19] - Jesus' Global Purpose
[02:11] - The Importance of John 10:16
[02:25] - Not of This Fold
[03:11] - One Flock, One Shepherd
[03:53] - Sovereign Salvation
[04:32] - Humility and Chosenness
[05:18] - Dangers of Ethnocentrism
[06:35] - Jesus' Warning
[07:22] - Beyond the Text
[09:40] - Global Mission Assurance

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 10:16
- Psalm 67:4
- Revelation 5:9

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Observation Questions:

In John 10:16, Jesus mentions having "other sheep that are not of this fold." What does this imply about the scope of His mission? [01:02]
How does Psalm 67:4 reflect the global aspirations of the church as mentioned in the sermon? [00:14]
According to Revelation 5:9, what is the significance of Jesus ransoming people from every tribe, language, people, and nation? How does this relate to the idea of one flock and one Shepherd? [09:22]
What historical examples were given in the sermon to illustrate how the church's mission can be distorted by ethnocentrism and nationalism? [05:18]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of "other sheep" challenge the church to expand its mission beyond local or national boundaries? What might this look like in practice? [01:19]
The sermon mentions the dangers of becoming "ingrown" and indifferent. What are some signs that a church might be falling into this trap, and how can it be avoided? [05:18]
How does the assurance of God's sovereign will, as mentioned in the sermon, provide confidence in the success of the church's global mission? [09:57]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that confronting personal prejudices is essential to fulfilling the church's mission? How does this relate to the idea of the bloodline of faith being thicker than ethnic or familial ties? [11:22]

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Application Questions:

Living in a large city can insulate us from the world's needs. What are some practical steps you can take to maintain a global perspective in your daily life? [00:43]
Reflect on a time when you may have allowed ethnocentrism or nationalism to influence your view of others. How can you actively work to embrace all people as potential brothers and sisters in Christ? [05:18]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of humility in recognizing our chosen status. How can you cultivate humility in your interactions with others, especially those from different cultural or ethnic backgrounds? [04:32]
Consider the prejudices you may hold in your heart. What specific actions can you take to confront and overcome these biases in order to better fulfill the church's mission? [11:22]
How can the assurance of God's sovereign will in the success of the church's mission inspire you to participate more actively in global outreach efforts? [09:57]
Identify one person from a different cultural or ethnic background whom you can reach out to this week. What steps will you take to build a relationship with them and share the love of Christ? [10:45]
Reflect on the idea that the bloodline of faith in Christ is thicker than any ethnic or familial ties. How does this understanding impact your view of the church community and your role within it? [11:22]

Sermon Clips

I am praying that John 10 16 will fill you with a confidence that the saving Global worldwide All Peoples including purpose of God and your place in it cannot fail we'll totally succeed that's that's the last thing I want to try to make plain. [00:01:29]

I want you to feel now the thrust of the words not of this fold are you with me I have other sheep that are not of this fold and then the other thing I want you to focus on is one flock and one Shepherd those are the two things we're working with for the last few minutes of this sermon. [00:02:32]

I have sheep they're not they're not of the fold that's already in existence in that case a Jewish fold I could say here okay here we are fold or gather his Bethlehem hears other sheep besides us and he must bring them not necessarily to Bethlehem but to himself. [00:02:47]

I must bring them also they will listen to my voice there will be one flock that is from all the ethnic groups you may think well that's an over interpretation yeah yeah it would be if I didn't have a lot of other John statements in mind which I'll show you from all the other ethnic groups around the world. [00:03:17]

It has proved often in history that the church has become ingrown indifferent to the world and that our chosenness our chosen standing has been wickedly woven into the fabric of ethnocentrism and racism and nationalism all you have to do is think about Nazi Germany. [00:04:51]

Jesus saw it in his day Gentiles were hated unclean catfish eaters and uncircumcised we're not going to even enter their house and Jesus saw it coming and it's been there every Century of this blood-soaked globe of ours and he gave this razor sharp warning to all of his flock. [00:06:12]

I must bring them it will cost me my life may cost you yours and there will be one flock with one Shepherd from every ethnic group on the planet now at that point you have to say aren't you going beyond the text yes I am I'm going all the way to chapter 11. [00:06:54]

He prophesied that his Caiaphas prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation and not for the nation only okay good good good I have other sheep I have other sheep not for the nation only but also to gather into one one flock a different terminology the children of God who are scattered abroad. [00:07:53]

He died you ransomed people for God from every tribe he died for them the father gave them to him he's going to speak over them how missionaries or whatever you want to call them who cross a culture learn a language Let the voice of Jesus be heard and the sheep hear and they come don't you love to read those stories. [00:10:01]

We Bethlehem must not disdain potential brothers and sisters anywhere in any group oh there is so much racism so much ethnocentrism left over in America that thought we finished it all 40 years ago we didn't and you know we didn't it's in your heart it's in my heart it's in black and white and red and yellow. [00:10:52]

The bloodlines between you and your brothers and sisters in Jesus is a thicker bloodline than runs in your family at such an essential point right there that was from John Piper's sermon on August 13 2011 titled I have other sheep that are not of this fold. [00:11:29]

If you have a sermon clip for me email me your name Hometown the sermon title and timestamp of where the clip happens in the audio tell me what stands out to you in it but the word clip in the subject line of an email send it to me at Ask Pastor John at desiringgod.org that's our email address saskmasterjohn desiringgod.org. [00:12:18]

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