We desire to be more than a mission-minded church; we want to be a mission-guided church. If we are not careful, we will miss opportunities for missional endeavors because of dangerous distractions.
Revelation 3:1-6
#1. Inward Focus
- If we obsess about meeting the spiritual amenities of the saved, we will never prioritize the evangelism of the lost.
- “We’ve strayed from being fishers of men to being keepers of the aquarium.” –Paul Harvey
#2. Local Neglect
- We cannot be so fixated on reaching other nations that we overlook our own.
- The community around us should be dramatically different because we are here.
#3. Global Indifference
- We are unfaithful to the Great Commission if we stay within our borders.
- A staggering number of people have never even heard the name by which they can be saved, and we cannot rest until they do.
#4. Shortened On-Ramps
- We cannot use trips as Christian sightseeing for the unprepared and the unevangelistic.
- Creating clear and reasonable on-ramps to gradually challenging missional opportunities is necessary.
#5. Disunified Strategy
- If our success is gauged by how many pins we can put on the world map of our church’s travel, we might miss the necessary commitment to see change.
- The goal should be to send people into challenging areas until a church is planted, and then we go toward new barren places.
#6. Neglected Connections
- We must exhibit relentless and thorough support for those we send out.
- The more intentional we can get with who we send and where we send them, the greater the missionary pathway can become.
#7. Dangerous Elitism
- The Great Commission was not reserved for an elite few with seminary degrees and vocational experience.
- We must prioritize making disciples who take personal responsibility for Kingdom activity.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.