News > North America

Date: November 3-4, 2016

Place: Chicago

YEAR THREE: 2016

III. Go and Make Disciples of All Nations:

Send them Out to Preach, Drive out Demons, Baptize, Teach

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mt 28:19-20)

“He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons.” (Mk 3:14-15)

    I.  Identity as Sent Ones: Personally, and in Community

        Abraham McIlhenny, Andrew Christopher, Teddy Hembekides

Subtopics:

1.  Why do we need to have an identity as sent ones?

Without a clear identity we can be influenced by other ideas and lose direction. The mission field is an idol worshiping culture. For example, God wanted the Israelites to have a clear identity as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. But they went astray living among the Canaanites. They compromised with the pagan culture and lost their identity. Then they became confused and melted into the culture. Then they asked, “What am I doing?” On the other hand, when we keep our identity as sent ones, God is pleased to work through us and his blessing can overflow through us. Abraham kept his identity as God’s servant, received the full measure of God’s blessing and passed this blessing on to his son Isaac, and eventually to all people of all nations. The apostles kept their identity as Jesus’ servants and became a source of blessing in their own generation and throughout history.

2.  Who sends us and why?

A.  We should be aware of who sends us. Jesus. The King, Sovereign Ruler (Mt 28:18-20).

B. We should know the motive and purpose of the mission. It is to glorify God and for his name’s sake. (Distinguish between original apostles and those who later share in carrying out the mission.)

3.  Who we are, personally and in community.

A.  In relation to God and Christ

* We are children of God (Jn 20:17,21)

* We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (1Pe 2:9)

* We are God’s co-workers (2Co 6:1)

* We are soldiers of Christ (2Ti 2:3)

B.  In relation to God’s family

* We are brothers and sisters of one Father God and one Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 20:17)

* We are friends of Jesus and friends of one another (Jn 15:13-14; Ro 16:5,8,9)

* We are called to serve one another humbly in love (Jn 13:14-15; Gal 5:13)

C.  In relation to the world

* We are servants of God and of Jesus Christ (Ro 1:1; 2Co 6:4; Lk 17:10; Ja 1:1)

* We are Christ’s Ambassadors (2Co 5:20). We have a great privilege to be chosen to serve God’s great task (Ro 1:5)

* We are messengers; heralds of the King (Lk 9:52)

4.  Benefits and dangers regarding identity

A.  Benefit of having an intimate relationship with Christ and growing in his image, and of being a blessing to all kinds of people

B.  Danger of having an identity that loses the focus on Christ in favor of an organization

5.  How can we keep our identity as God intends

A.  Remember who we were and what God has done for us (Eph 2:1-10,11-12)

    II.  Mindset in Ministry: Humility, Faith, Compassion, Hope

        David Kim, Russell Kille, Paul Choi, Abraham Kim

Subtopics:

1.  When we are sent by Jesus, how can we serve well? We need Christ’s mindset. This is related to character formation, which we covered in year 2, subject 3. Christ’s mindset is related to having his character, but it is related more to how we interact with people in the mission field than our own spiritual growth. For example, Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. This came from his compassionate heart for needy people. We should not use “five loaves and two fish” as a ministry strategy or technique without Christ’s mindset. We tend to think about reviving our ministry by applying some kind of strategy or program. But more than this, we need Christ’s mindset which comes from growing in Christ’s character. Historically, revival has come when those who have Christ’s mindset gather together and pray and repent of their sins through Bible study.

2.  Christ’s mindset

Humility (Php 2:5), servanthood and sacrifice (Mk 10:45), compassion (Mk 6:34), faith, hope, and love (Mk 11:22), and so on

3.  How can we serve people practically? We need Christ’s mindset.

A.  Having Christ’s mindset toward one another (Jn 13:14, Eph 4:2)

B.  Having Christ’s mindset toward the marginalized (Mk 2:17; Lk 14:13)

C.  Having Christ’s mindset toward women and children (Lk 8:2; 9:48; 18:16-17)

D.  Having Christ’s mindset toward those of a different generation

E.  There are more categories…

4.  What are the consequences of having or not having Christ’s mindset?

A.  Having Christ’s mindset: fruitful ministry and blessing and unity

B.  Not having Christ’s mindset: a source of anguish and wounding and division

C.  The importance of building a Christ-minded community (making an environment for Christ’s reign in each member)

III.  Incarnational Ministry across Cultures

        Mark Yang, Steve Stasinos, Greg Lewis, Moses Noh

1.  Jesus commanded us to preach the gospel to all nations. When we do so, we need to understand people who are living in the mission field. Without understanding the native culture, we cannot serve the gospel ministry properly. If we do not have an incarnational mindset, we cannot communicate properly with native people. Native people feel some “distance.” When complex issues arise, communication problems keep us from really understanding and solving problems. Jesus abandoned heavenly glory and came down to this world to understand and communicate with us and to serve us effectively. This kind of incarnational humility is essential to serving in the mission field.

2.  Jesus’ example: renouncing his rights and privileges; becoming like one of us and experiencing life from birth to death—poor life, hard work, spent time with many outcasts, rejected, he was tempted in every way as we are. We need to imitate Jesus in having an incarnational mindset. Jesus is the primary example. Missionaries should understand the culture they are sent into. Mother Barry and Dr. Samuel Lee are good example of incarnation in UBF ministry. There are other good examples.

3.  Gospel values versus cultural values

A.  Understanding gospel values

B.  Understanding my own culture

C.  Understanding the culture of the mission field

D.  Mutual respect: Contextualization

Discern the difference between gospel values and cultural values

Don’t impose cultural values in the name of the gospel

Don’t compromise with the evil elements of native culture

Reference Book: “Christ and Culture” by H. Richard Niebuhr

4.  Communication. Learning the language of the mission field is essential. This is more than learning proper rules of grammar and pronunciation. It is learning to understand the hearts of people in the mission field. Without this understanding, discipleship cannot continue over the long term. Native people may grow for a while, but when issues begin to arise that require precise communication and broader understanding the missionary cannot grasp the issue. When the native speaks up to bring about mutual understanding, he or she is regarded as lacking gratitude and being rebellious—then the relationship breaks down.

5.  The consequences of being incarnational or not

A.  Being incarnational—it is the way of learning Jesus’ mind and growing and being a good influence and bearing good fruit.

B.  Not being incarnational: Unintentional spiritual bifurcation—the development of the second class members of the body of Christ. This is not what God wants Colossians 3:11; Gal 3:28.

    IV.  Preaching and Baptizing

        Philip Lee, Juan Seo, Ron Ward

Subtopics:

1.  After having a clear identity as a sent one, having the mind of Christ and becoming incarnational, what is it we are actually sent to do? Apostles are sent out as messengers. Their primary task is to carry out the mission for which the Lord sent them. He said: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mk 16:15). He said to “baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19b). This implies that they have believed the gospel and committed themselves to Christ as his followers. Paul also charged Timothy, in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead: “Preach the Word” (1Ti 4:2). This is the most essential part of gospel ministry.

2.  The centrality of preaching the gospel. Preaching the gospel is the axis of the church’s ministry. Some liberal Christians emphasize the importance of giving alms to the poor, and engaging in social justice. While this is important, there is a temptation that it may become more important than preaching the gospel. Apostle Paul did not try to change the social ill of slavery. When the gospel was preached the society was changed and slavery was abolished.  When an issue of food distribution arose in the early church the apostles made an intentional decision to focus on the ministry of God’s word and prayer.

3.  Contents and attitude

A.  Origin of the gospel: it came from God. It is not “a gospel,” but “the gospel” (Gal 1:7). No one can change the gospel message. It must be preached as it is, as the gospel of God (1Co 15:1-4; 1Th 2:13).

B.  How is it preached? Not by human effort but by the power of the Holy Spirit (1Co 1:17; 2:3-5).

C.  Authority is given to carry out the mission (Lk 10:1; Mt 28:18-19)

    V.  Teaching to Obey: Personally, and in Community

        Kevin Albright, David K. Lee, David Won

1.  Teaching obedience to Jesus’ words is a timeless truth for raising disciples of Jesus. One man’s obedience or disobedience makes a big difference in gospel ministry and human history. However, people have a sinful nature that is naturally rebellious toward any kind of authority. To learn obedience is not easy or natural. It requires a great struggle to humble oneself and submit to Jesus. Jesus himself showed us how to do this through his own example of how to do this (Heb 5:8-9). At the same time, we live in a time when authority is not recognized as a good thing and there is a great deal of mistrust toward any kind of authority. As a result, people don’t want to have an “absolute attitude” toward any kind of authority. Young people tend to question authority. People assume that they are being rebellious though they may simply be stating their opinion. In any case, all people who follow Jesus are called to obey his teaching (Jn 8:31-32).

2.  The meaning of obedience in the context of Matthew 28:19, and the blessing that comes as a result of obedience

* Acknowledging the Lordship of Christ

* Obedience comes from faith (Ro 1:5). Some people think that if they understand fully they can obey. It is a matter of trust. When we simply trust Jesus we can obey him even when it does not make sense (Heb 11:8; Lk 5:5)

* Blessing: Lay a good foundation on Jesus’ words (Mt 7:24; Luke 6:48)

* Blessing: grow in Jesus’ likeness (Eph 4:16; Php 2:12)

* Blessing: through obedience we become a blessing (Jesus’ example, Ro 5:19)

3.  Obeying God and Christ in community

Jesus is the head of the church (Col 1:18; Eph 4:15b)

All members of Jesus’ body submit to him and to one another in him so that the body may be built up (Eph 4:25, 5:21)

4.  The function of leaders in community 

Be shepherds of God’s flock (1Pe 5:1-4)

Leaders gain credibility as teachers by setting a good example (Heb 13:7), by being “able to teach” (1Ti 3:2; 2Ti 2:2), and able to serve God’s people according to their needs (Lk 12:42; Jn 21:15-17)

    VI.  Spiritual Warfare: Authority to Drive out Demons

Joshua Hong, Andy Stumpf, Stephen Yang, Augustine Suh

1.  Though we have an identity as sent ones and learn Jesus’ mindset, incarnational spirit and how to preach the gospel and teach obedience, it is not enough to be an effective gospel worker. Gospel ministry is a spiritual battle against the dark forces of evil under the influence of the devil. We should recognize this spiritual reality and how to engage in spiritual warfare successfully. A famous army commander said, “If you know your enemy and yourself, you will win every battle. If you know yourself but not the enemy, you will win half of the battles. If you don’t know yourself or your enemy, you will lose every battle.”

2.  The nature of our battle. It is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph 6:12).

3.  Basic truths: the devil is stronger than human beings (Rev 13:1); the devil won the first battle in the Garden of Eden and has been a strong adversary ever since (Gen 3:1); But Jesus defeated the strong man because he is the stronger man (Mk 3:23-27; Ro 16:20; Rev 12:9); the battle is not ours, but the Lord’s; Jesus is the victor over the power of sin and death and the devil (Lk 10:18; Col 2:15; Heb 2:14-15); All Jesus’ enemies are being put under his feet (1Co 15:25). David defeated Goliath. “The battle is the LORD’S and he will give all of you into our hands” (1Sa 17:47). We must remember that the Lord is fighting the battle and we are on his side (Jos 5:14). The battle is not ours but the Lord’s (2Ch 20:15). We should open our eyes to see how the Lord and his army is fighting (2Ki 6:17).

4.  We should know that Jesus is with us through his Spirit as we carry out his mission. Jesus does not leave us alone to do the mission, but he goes with us. Jesus has given us authority (Mt 28:18). 

5.  How to be equipped to engage in spiritual battle; put on the full armor of God, including the offensive weapons of the sword of the Spirit and prayer (Mt 4:4; Eph 6:13-17; Ro 8:31-39). The weapons we fight with are not of this world, they are spiritual and have power to destroy strongholds of the enemy (2Co 10:4-5). Resist the devil and he will flee from you (Ja 4:7; 1Pe 5:8-9).