Our Primary Calling 'helping people find and follow Jesus'
Following Jesus, 'Kingdom mission' is the priority call that forms our life and service as God's people. We seek to participate in God's mission in and to the whole world, and to see his kingdom rule embrace and transform all people.
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His Kingdom
It was what Jesus came and inaugurated:
The time has come, The Kingdom of God is near, repent and believe the good news. Mark 1:15
It was good news for the whole of life:
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Matthew 11:5
It was the good news lived and shared
by the early church:
Philip preached the good news of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 8:12
Paul preached about the Kingdom of God and the taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 28:31
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His Mission
The coming of Jesus fulfilled God's mission begun
with Abraham, and continued with the Israelites:
I will bless you… and all peoples on earth will be
blessed through you. Genesis 12:2-3
I will make you a light for the Gentiles to bring
my salvation to the ends of the earth. Isaiah 49:6
It was a mission responsibility handed on to the followers of Jesus:
As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you. John 20:21
Go and make disciples of all nations. Matthew 28:19
It will culminate in the creation of a new heaven and new earth:
In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 2 Peter 3:13
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We own this vision: that the life and reign of the risen Christ may transform every individual, every community,
and all creation - a kingdom vision for the transformation of every aspect of life, and one that will enable the
participation of every Christian whatever their gifts.
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MISSION WITH KINGDOM VALUES
Our vision is to operate with the ethics of Jesus, and also with his kingdom values:
- Compassion for people and lives of service.
- Simplicity, generosity and hospitality.
- Reconciliation, justice and peace.
- Building community and caring for creation.
- Living now God's promised future, and celebration.
MISSION MINISTRIES
Our vision is to have a diversity of 'mission ministries' which are characterised by:
- Being Christ-centred and Spirit led.
- Relating with those outside the church and faith.
- Serving corporately for support, wisdom and accountability.
- Expressing what it means to follow Jesus.
- Affirming different pathways and expressions of faith in Christ.
We aim to assist all groups to discern God's particular call for them in mission, and to encourage their
shared involvement in living and spreading the good news of the kingdom.
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AUTHENTIC DISCIPLES
The church is God's servant in mission, but it is also the sign that his kingdom really has come.
The community of faith witnesses to an attractive and radical alternative to the world.
Love one another - by this will all people know you are my disciples. John 13:34-35
Our vision is to grow transformed and active followers of Jesus, characterised by:
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Pursuing the goal: full Christ-like maturity and the fulfilment of the kingdom for everyone.
Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:13
The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. Revelation 11:15
- Uniting the outward and inward dimensions: the engagement in kingdom mission
motivating and enabling personal and corporate growth.
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. Mark 3:14-15
Jesus sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick… they returned
and reported what they had done. Then he took them with him… Luke 9:2,10
- Discipling in relationship: coaching one another to foster transformation
and obedience in every part of life - mind, heart and lifestyle.
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
so that
we may present everyone perfect in Christ. Colossians 12:28
Encourage one another and build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
- Encouraging ventures in faith: out of our comfort zones into the context of world and Spirit.
You give them something to eat. Mark 6:37
You know that a Jew is not allowed by his religion to visit or associate with Gentiles.
But God
has shown me that I must not consider any person unclean or defiled. So I came. Acts 10:28
- Practicing the spiritual disciplines: growing in Bible study and prayer,
worship and meditation etc – personally and corporately.
Jesus went up a hill to pray and spent the whole night there praying to God. Luke 6:12
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42
PRAYING TOGETHER
In both Kingdom Mission and Authentic Discipleship prayer is crucial, and praying together is
essential to both. Prayer sustains our relationship with the risen Christ, and enables a breakthrough
in the strongholds of mission and the specific needs of people.
Be persistent in prayer, and keep alert as you pray, giving thanks to God. Colossians 4:2
When the believers heard the report, they all joined together in prayer to God. Acts 4:24
Our vision to grow and sustain praying together will include:
- Integrating prayer with activity in kingdom mission and in growing authentic disciples.
- Broadening our understanding of what prayer is – beyond petition.
- Finding and experiencing different ways of praying.
- Offering special occasions / seasons for prayer.
- Inviting people into a prayerful, spiritually rich community.
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