Kaleo Church exists to be a Christ-treasuring Family, formed by the Gospel and sent on Mission to the world through the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God. Sometimes when we are caught up in our day-to-day busy lives it can seem like “mission” is a far cry from our reality. Sure, we may pray for our Kaleo missionaries and support them financially, but “mission” seems like something that only happens “over there” or amidst unreached peoples and has little to do with our walk with Jesus. Our lives seem too normal to be considered “mission” and so we often relegate thinking about it to the back burner. I want to challenge us to think about mission often – our own and that of others. It is what a Christ-treasuring family formed by the gospel does. Praise Jesus that he has called and equipped some saints to answer his radical call to take the gospel to the nations and unreached peoples! This is truly a radical mission but also an extraordinarily difficult one. So, don’t underestimate the importance of your prayers and support for those missionaries! How are they to preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10:15) Yet, are we not also sent? Even if you are not called to international missions (though perhaps you should consider it???), you are sent into this world as a child of God with a gospel message to proclaim. We are called to be salt and light to the people in our lives no matter where God has us. The current rapid decline of Christianity in California makes Kaleo’s mission to our city that much more difficult and important. It also makes it that much more necessary to put mission back on the front burner. Below are some things to consider and pray through as you meditate on God’s word about mission: Why Mission? 1. Our God is a Missionary God! God the Father sent his Son in the power of the Holy Spirit to redeem a people for himself. He is pursuing men and women and children from every tribe and language and people and nation. Jesus is the Apostle (Sent One) and High Priest of our confession (Hebrews 3:1). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16 “And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,” - Revelation 5:9 2. We are a Missionary people! As those who are redeemed and recreated in the image of Jesus, we too have the privilege of participating in God's mission as those who are sent from God as a royal priesthood of believers that we may proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)! We are formed by the gospel of Jesus into a family of servant missionaries. Our identity is from Jesus - we ARE a missionary people wherever God has us and whatever the results. The mission of being the aroma of Christ to God before a watching world isn’t an event; it’s who we are. A broken world is watching. We who have been rescued from sin, death, and evil get to proclaim the gospel of the God who saved us for his glory and the good of others. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” - 1 Peter 2:9 “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. - 2 Corinthians 2:14 3. Jesus commands us to be on Mission! Mission is not an optional part of being a Christian, but Jesus also does not call us to anything that he has not already done himself. He goes before us and with us in the power of the Holy Spirit. “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” - John 20:21 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18–20 4. God’s people on mission proclaiming the good news of the gospel is his primary means he is using to cover this world with the knowledge of his glory and to create a people for himself. “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” - Romans 10:13–17 5. God has many people in this world who are his who have not yet heard the good news! “And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” - Acts 18:9–10 Lies that Stop Mission 1. God accepts everyone just as they are so why share the good news of Jesus? “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6 2. US vs THEM mentality instead of US for THEM “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” - Ephesians 2:8–9 3. Disbelief in the Gospel - Fear, lack of love for others, selfishness, comfort, etc. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” - Romans 1:16 “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” - 1 Corinthians 1:18 Mission – Ordinary or Radical??? YES! 1. Ordinary - because we ARE missionaries most “missions” is simply ordinary people doing ordinary things with gospel intentionality. We enter into the stories and rhythms of others in order to share the gospel and our very lives with them. In so doing, we invite them into the story of God and the rhythms of the church so that by God’s grace they might join us in worshipping our great God! Do not underestimate the great power of God to bring about a lifelong sustainable faith through the ordinary means of grace in the church! “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:34–35 “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” - 1 Thessalonians 2:8 2. Radical – because we have a BIG Mission and a WORTHY God it will take a radical heart posture for ALL and answering the radical call to GO for many. Who is sufficient for these things?!? “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” - Philippians 3:8 “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.” - 2 Corinthians 2:15–17 “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot
What do we gain? We gain Jesus! The Missionary who left the comforts of heaven to enter into our brokenness, to proclaim liberty to the captives of sin, death, and Satan, and to redeem us by his own perfect life, death, and resurrection from the dead. His kingdom is advancing to the ends of the earth and the gates of hell will not prevail against his church. Jesus is our worthy Prophet, Priest, and King who goes before us and is always with us by his Holy Spirit. Praise Jesus he sent someone to share the gospel with us. May we also be instruments in the Redeemer's hands to share the gospel wherever we are sent.
Calling All Missionaries!
San Diego needs Christians who are faithful witnesses to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Consider the most recent statistics from the Pew Research Center. Keep in mind that these statistics are all self-reporting so the numbers tend to be considerably lower in reality. Yes, our city is financially challenging to live in and presents numerous other obstacles and even hostility to the gospel. So, of course, Jesus would call his people to be sent on mission right here through the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God!
San Diego
Evangelical Christian – 14%
Baptist/Reformed - <3%
“Nones” – 27%
California
Evangelical Christian – 20%
Baptist/Reformed - 4%
“Nones” – 27%
USA
Evangelical Christian – 25.4%
Baptist/Reformed - 10%
“Nones” – 22.8%