VISION
Jesus’ ministry is the template1 for all Christian Vision and Mission. Jesus’ primary message2 during his ministry on earth was the Kingdom of God/Heaven.3 It was “the purpose for which he was sent.”4 The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit purposed from eternity5 to bring human beings under their rule and reign through the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the subsequent gifting of the Holy Spirit to all those who repent and believe.6
As our template for ministry, Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, transformed lives both before and after a person entered the Kingdom of God. Examples include physical, spiritual, psychological, economic and social healing.7 Therefore, a person’s life may undergo a limited transformation by encountering the Kingdom of Heaven before they enter into it as a participant. Like Jesus, our purpose is to Proclaim the Kingdom, Demonstrate the Kingdom, and Invite people to become part of it.
As Jesus spent the majority of his ministry on earth proclaiming and demonstrating what the Kingdom was like,8 we recognize the enormity of the subject. The nature, implications, and activities of the Kingdom, are for believers the quest of their lifetime.9
As our template for ministry, Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, transformed lives both before and after a person entered the Kingdom of God. Examples include physical, spiritual, psychological, economic and social healing.7 Therefore, a person’s life may undergo a limited transformation by encountering the Kingdom of Heaven before they enter into it as a participant. Like Jesus, our purpose is to Proclaim the Kingdom, Demonstrate the Kingdom, and Invite people to become part of it.
As Jesus spent the majority of his ministry on earth proclaiming and demonstrating what the Kingdom was like,8 we recognize the enormity of the subject. The nature, implications, and activities of the Kingdom, are for believers the quest of their lifetime.9
MISSION
PROCLAMATION
Every person should hear the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven.10 Our activities always include the clear presentation of what the Kingdom of God/Heaven is, and the “Good News:” that because of what Jesus Christ has done for everyone, you can enter the Kingdom now, in this life, before enjoying it for eternity.11
The Kingdom must12 be proclaimed by the followers of Jesus. An ethical, moral life, right relationships, living and acting justly13 - these are supports to the announcement of the Kingdom, but do not constitute the announcement. The Kingdom must be, through every unambiguous medium, proclaimed and taught.14
The Kingdom must12 be proclaimed by the followers of Jesus. An ethical, moral life, right relationships, living and acting justly13 - these are supports to the announcement of the Kingdom, but do not constitute the announcement. The Kingdom must be, through every unambiguous medium, proclaimed and taught.14
DEMONSTRATION
The Kingdom must never be only preached - it must be demonstrated. Jesus spent over 3 years showing people what the Kingdom of Heaven is like.15 Our activities prioritize tangible, visible, demonstrable examples of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus’ Kingdom is holistic: it has redemptive consequences for the spiritual, social, economic, physical and psychological arenas of the human experience. The Church and its members exist in part to display16 the alternative supra-reality17 that is life in the Kingdom. Wherever the rule and reign of God is recognized, every kind of debt may be forgiven, every kind of aid offered, every kind of ailment tended or healed, every kind of evil displaced, and every kind of injustice and deficit redressed.18 The Kingdom must be made tangible to those who hear it proclaimed.
Jesus’ Kingdom is holistic: it has redemptive consequences for the spiritual, social, economic, physical and psychological arenas of the human experience. The Church and its members exist in part to display16 the alternative supra-reality17 that is life in the Kingdom. Wherever the rule and reign of God is recognized, every kind of debt may be forgiven, every kind of aid offered, every kind of ailment tended or healed, every kind of evil displaced, and every kind of injustice and deficit redressed.18 The Kingdom must be made tangible to those who hear it proclaimed.
INVITATION
The “Good News” (“Gospel”) is that the way into the Kingdom is open to everyone.19 The burden of the requirements for entry have been taken care of by God Himself in Jesus Christ. Now everyone is invited to believe in Jesus as the bible says He is, and confess that He is Lord. Our activities must always include an invitation, and be hallmarked by the naturally invitational nature of the Kingdom.20
1 eg: John 13:15, 14:12, Matt 28:18-20,
2 eg: Luke 8:1, Matt 6:10
3 These terms are used interchangeably in the New Testament. Matthew prefers “Kingdom of Heaven,” while Luke prefers “Kingdom of God,” for example. It is also sometimes shortened to “the Kingdom” (ie: Acts 20:25) or extended (“the Kingdom of Christ and God” Eph 5:5, or “the Kingdom of his beloved Son” Col 1:13, etc).
4 Luke 4:43, Matt 4:23
5 Eph 3:11-12, 2 Tim 1:9, et al.
6 Acts 2:38
7 Matt 4:23, Luke 4:36, 40, Luke 19:8, John 4:29, et al.
8 eg: Luke 13:18
9 ie: John 21:25
10 eg: Mark 16:15, Matt 28:19, Luke 9:1-2, 2 Tim 1:8-14, 4:2, etc. Conversely, Matt 23:13.
11 eg: Mark 1:14-15, Matt 4:17, 19:14, John 3:16, etc.
12 Luke 4:43 - “must” = δεῖ, indicates a “divine commission” to proclaim, preach, announce, the Kingdom of God. This commission from the Father to Jesus is then given to the disciples (and to us) in examples like Matt 28:19-20, Luke 22:29, and Acts 1.
13 Micah 6:8, for example, is an explication for a wicked nation as to what constitutes the core demands of personal and corporate ethical living in a world before Jesus of Nazareth. This is not a summary of the required activities of a follower of Jesus. Ethical living follows entrance into the Kingdom (ie: Luke 19:9); it does not wholly constitute life in the Kingdom as a participant-citizen.
14 eg: 2 Tim 4:2
15 Mark 4:26-34, 10:14, Matt 5-7, 13:31-43, 47-52, Luke 4:43, 6:20, 9:62, 13:18-19, 14:15-23, 17:21, 18:24-25, 19:11, 21:31 et al.
16 ie: John 9:3, Luke 9:2,11, Eph 2:10, 19-22, Col 1:13, Heb 12:28, Rev 1:5-6 etc.
17 ie: John 15:19, 17:16, Rom 12:2 et al.
18 eg: Luke 7
19 eg: Luke 13:29, 14:15-23, Matt 11:28-30, 22:1-14, John 3:16, 7:37, Rom 10:13, 2 Pet 3:9.
20 eg: Matt 13:47ff, 22:2ff, etc. Without invitation to enter the Kingdom through belief in Jesus Christ, Christian activity simply fulfills personal or corporate ethical living requirements, but does not fulfill our commission.
2 eg: Luke 8:1, Matt 6:10
3 These terms are used interchangeably in the New Testament. Matthew prefers “Kingdom of Heaven,” while Luke prefers “Kingdom of God,” for example. It is also sometimes shortened to “the Kingdom” (ie: Acts 20:25) or extended (“the Kingdom of Christ and God” Eph 5:5, or “the Kingdom of his beloved Son” Col 1:13, etc).
4 Luke 4:43, Matt 4:23
5 Eph 3:11-12, 2 Tim 1:9, et al.
6 Acts 2:38
7 Matt 4:23, Luke 4:36, 40, Luke 19:8, John 4:29, et al.
8 eg: Luke 13:18
9 ie: John 21:25
10 eg: Mark 16:15, Matt 28:19, Luke 9:1-2, 2 Tim 1:8-14, 4:2, etc. Conversely, Matt 23:13.
11 eg: Mark 1:14-15, Matt 4:17, 19:14, John 3:16, etc.
12 Luke 4:43 - “must” = δεῖ, indicates a “divine commission” to proclaim, preach, announce, the Kingdom of God. This commission from the Father to Jesus is then given to the disciples (and to us) in examples like Matt 28:19-20, Luke 22:29, and Acts 1.
13 Micah 6:8, for example, is an explication for a wicked nation as to what constitutes the core demands of personal and corporate ethical living in a world before Jesus of Nazareth. This is not a summary of the required activities of a follower of Jesus. Ethical living follows entrance into the Kingdom (ie: Luke 19:9); it does not wholly constitute life in the Kingdom as a participant-citizen.
14 eg: 2 Tim 4:2
15 Mark 4:26-34, 10:14, Matt 5-7, 13:31-43, 47-52, Luke 4:43, 6:20, 9:62, 13:18-19, 14:15-23, 17:21, 18:24-25, 19:11, 21:31 et al.
16 ie: John 9:3, Luke 9:2,11, Eph 2:10, 19-22, Col 1:13, Heb 12:28, Rev 1:5-6 etc.
17 ie: John 15:19, 17:16, Rom 12:2 et al.
18 eg: Luke 7
19 eg: Luke 13:29, 14:15-23, Matt 11:28-30, 22:1-14, John 3:16, 7:37, Rom 10:13, 2 Pet 3:9.
20 eg: Matt 13:47ff, 22:2ff, etc. Without invitation to enter the Kingdom through belief in Jesus Christ, Christian activity simply fulfills personal or corporate ethical living requirements, but does not fulfill our commission.