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ACT 3 is a ministry to equip leaders for unity in Christ’s mission.
www.act3online.com • www.johnharmstrong.com
Mission In Christ
Upcoming Events John H. Armstrong
All my life I have listened to Christians talk ticed evangelism, studied evangelism and
The times and locations of these various
events can be found at www.act3online.com about the great Commission. I grew up on now formally teach evangelism. If the word
and registration for those events marked with
the words of the Great Commission, even evangelist is correctly understood then I am
an asterisk (*) can be completed online or by
calling 630-221-1817 during business hours. memorizing the words of our Lord in Mat- an evangelist, a person who equips others
october 28
thew 28:19–20 at the age of eight. I love to do this work of missional ministry (cf.
ACT 3 Luncheon Forum* the Great Commission. In fact, when I was Ephesians 4:11–12). But I believe something
“Homosexual Practice in Christian Perspective”
a boy of ten I went out on Saturdays with is profoundly wrong with the way we gen-
Dr. Stanton Jones
Holiday Inn • Carol Stream, IL my Sunday school teacher to talk to peers erally understand the Great Commission.
about Christ and our class. In high school I Let me explain.
october 30–31 sought to share my faith, sometimes with In John 20:21 we read that Jesus sent his
ACT 3 Biblical Forum*
Dr. Peter Enns great frustration. As a college freshman I own disciples into their mission with the
Holiday Inn • Carol Stream, IL finally became deeply involved in personal words: “As the Father sent me, so I send you.”
evangelism through Campus Crusade for Lesslie Newbigin was right when he said,
November 8
Christ. Nothing so thrilled me as to person- “This must determine the way we think
American Reformed Church (RCA)
Sunday Worship: 9:30 a.m. ally introduce people to Christ. I have prac- about and carry out the mission: it must
DeMotte, IN
Continued on page 2
november 14
Fellowship of the
Holy Cross (Men)
Lutheran Church of the Master
8:30–10:00 a.m.
Carol Stream, IL
Please note the date change for the Fellowship
of the Holy Cross. It was originally scheduled for
November 21 but is now meeting on November
14. The time and place are unchanged.
Photo to right:
John with Rich McDaniel. Rich is helping
our leadership team understand our
vision and develop a strategic plan.
be founded and modeled upon his. We in the world to come. It is about right bear fruit.” They are chosen and called to
are not authorized to do it any other way” now, right here. It is a present reality. This is call others to faith in the present reign of
(Mission In Christ’s Way, 1). The question this what is truly new here. It confronts you and Christ, a reign that is hidden to the eyes
text must press upon the modern church says, “Do something and do it now!” of the world but present to all who are
is clear: How did the Father send the Son? 4. Christ’s way in mission tells us that called by God in his grace.
What was, and is, his way of doing mission/ you cannot see his kingdom unless you This is the beginning of the gospel. This
evangelism? repent. You are facing the wrong way. You is HOW the Father sent the Son. When this
To answer this question we must go back must do a U-turn. This is the meaning of the exciting news was first announced many
to the beginning, to “the beginning of the word repent. The first word of the gospel were profoundly drawn to Jesus and
gospel” in Mark’s account. of the kingdom is not “peace” but “repent.” became his disciples. But in time, as the
If you read this text carefully there is no cross loomed on the near horizon, things
Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gos- mention here of turning from your sins. I began to change. The reign of God did
pel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled do not doubt that we must turn from sin not make sense to many of these people.
and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent but this is not the real point and to miss the It seemed hidden, not revealed. Their zeal
and believe in the gospel.” And passing real point here is quite tragic in its conse- for Jesus began to fade, much as the zeal
along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon quences. The point here is rather straight- of many religious people fades over time
and Andrew . . . And Jesus said to them: “Fol- forward: The reign of God has drawn near. To in our world. It is precisely here that we
low me, and I will make you become fishers see it and enter into it you must undergo a must truly “learn what is mission in Christ’s
of men.” And immediately they left their nets complete (ongoing) transformation process way” (Mission in Christ’s Way, 5). If we do
and followed him (Mark 1:14–18). that Newbigin rightly calls “a total mental not we will never learn how to make real
revolution” (Mission in Christ’s Way, 3). If you disciples.
There are six points to be made here do not change your mind, thoroughly and In the Gospels the message and the
regarding Christ’s way in mission. I believe completely, the kingdom of God will be messenger were moving toward the
we miss these to our great peril. In fact, I hidden from you. cross. It was at Calvary, and on the first
believe the modern church has missed 5. Christ’s way in mission says, in clear day of the new week, that the kingdom
these in a way that greatly distorts what we terms, turn around and believe the won its decisive victory. But the world
do and how we do it. gospel, the good news Jesus is telling only saw defeat. The world always sees
1. Christ’s way in mission is the an- us. God’s reign is near but you cannot see defeat when the gospel of the kingdom is
nouncement of a fact. It is not the begin- it unless you believe the good news. The properly preached and lived. It seems to
ning of a program. It is not even a new good news is not primarily about your me that this takes us right to the heart of
doctrine or a call to moral change. As New- personal sins but about the reign of Christ. our modern problem. We have preached
bigin astutely noted: “It is, strictly speaking, When it is reduced to a message about get- a gospel that is not this gospel. Our good
a news-flash.” (Mission in Christ’s Way, 1). ting your sins forgiven then the message news is about private sins, private opin-
Something has happened. A new fact must is reduced to a private message for inner ions, private joys and private freedom. The
be heard and received—the kingdom of struggles with sin and peace. This misses public scandal of the cross has been lost.
God, the reign of Christ, has come near. Christ’s way of mission and the conse- We want to be victors but true victory is
2. Christ’s way in mission is not about quences, I am convinced, are huge. always found in a message that the world
“religion,” at least as we use this term. 6. Christ’s way of mission is not a simple will always see as defeat.
This announcement is not a category possibility for everybody. It is not some- If you want to understand the mission
for one part of our lives. It is about God’s thing I can do on my own. It is the work of ACT 3 it is imperative that you begin
reign and thus it is about our whole life. of Christ and he accomplishes it in me with this question: “How should we un-
“One might call it ‘cosmic affairs’” (Mission in and you by his Spirit. He called men of his derstand mission in Christ’s way?” I live to
Christ’s Way, 2). choice—Andrew, Peter, James and John. help Christians understand this question
3. Christ’s way in mission is to reveal that John 15:14 says, “You did not choose me; so that we might preach the gospel of the
the reign of God is not about something I chose you and appointed you to go and kingdom with power.
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