Sermon Cloud

What in the World is God Doing?

Selected Scriptures

World Trends Impacting Missions

Christianity is growing!

The Gospel burns brightly in every geographically defined nation of the world today.

We live in a "Globalized World"

• Mass Migration (reduced transportation costs and time)
• Mass Communication (internet; TV; satellites; DVDs, etc.)

A Globalized Church is emerging

• Positive factors like communication & coordination
• Negative factors like materialism & pluralism

Percent of Evangelical Christians From Non-Western Countries

1800 was less than 3%

1900 was 10%

2000 was 80%

All "Followers of Jesus" are Called

Commands - not options or suggestions

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations..." Matthew 28:19

"You shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8

The Main Point: Quit waiting for a "call."

Completing My Mission

Jerusalem - The people closest to me (Luke 8:39)

Judea/Samaria - People near, but different from me (James 1:27)

"Ends of the Earth" - Everybody else (Mark 16:15)

Our First Response to God's Call - Inadequate (Exodus 3:11)

Right attitude, but not a valid excuse

God's effective leaders have had this attitude

The Main Point: Our adequacy is in the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:5)

Our Second Reponse to God's Call - What Will I Say? (Exodus 3:13)

God's effective servants also had this fear

God's answer: "I will put words in your mouth." (Jeremiah 1:9)

The correct balance (study/dependency)

The Main Point: We prepare - God will lead (John 14:26)

Our Third Response to God's Call - Fear of Failure (Exodus 4:1)

"What if they do not believe?"

Our job is limited

We are charged to clearly speak His truth

It is God's role to "draw people" (John 6:44)

The Main Point: We go - God draws