The Outward Focused Church, Part 5: God and You
God designed you specifically to be a vital part of what His plan was in this world. God has uniquely fitted you for something that’s bigger — and it’s not something that you get to dream up; it’s something God originally designed, which becomes very much a part of who you really are. — Billy Arnold
The Outward Focused Church, Part 4: God and His Church
From Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria to the ends of the earth—that’s where the Church is designed to be. And as we refocus on God’s agenda and his mission, that he has given to his Church, we become his instrument to fulfill his ultimate purpose—and that is to draw worshipers to himself from all over the world. See, local/global evangelism is the task of the Church. It is the primary task of the Church. — Don Turner
The Outward Focused Church, Part 2: God and His Mission
At the end of time, when all of this is done, there’s a picture of a day in which all of the redeemed from all of the ages will surround the throne, and we’ll begin to sing. And the Bible says that we’ll sing a new song. … It’s not going to be about our need, or even about His provision, except in this sense — of what He provided in the person of Jesus Christ, who was the Lamb…
The Outward Focused Church, Part 1: An Introduction
We don’t have a seating capacity problem; we have a sending capacity problem. … We have—in the church today, worldwide—9,000 times more manpower and 3,000 times more money than we need to fulfill the Great Commission TODAY. Where is it? We’re it! It’s sitting in chairs and pews in churches all over the world, waiting for somebody to mobilize it—waiting for somebody to come along and say, “Let’s turn our eyes off ourselves and put it on the harvest field!”…
LAUNCH, Part 5: The Challenges of the Church (Acts 5-7)
I have learned that every church that chooses to truly try to do the will of God is going to face serious challenges. If you want things to go well and “kumbayah” forever, then don’t get serious about the work of God. — Billy Arnold
LAUNCH, Part 4: The Boldness of the Church (Acts 3 & 4)
Boldness comes from connecting the dots. … We are the most forgetful people on the planet. We forget what happened last week! We get so busy with life and we fill our life with noise so much that we never stop and examine: what has God done? Boldness comes from walking on a journey with God and seeing what he does, highlighting that, and saying, “My life is built on this spot!” That’s exactly what Peter is doing in this…
LAUNCH, Part 3: The Ideal Church
God has not changed his idea about the community of faith; we will be challenged on every front to be that community, that makes a difference to bring the gospel to the world. — Billy Arnold
LAUNCH, Part 2: The Power of the Church
Unholy hands — undeserved people, reckless and destructive humanity — put to death the holy One of God, this Messiah. … They unknowingly fulfilled a divine plan of God – and that divine plan of God broke the power of sin and death. Peter says, essentially, that this was a reverse courtroom judgment. Jesus himself stood on trial. The court around Jesus says, “Guilty! Hang him! Crucify him! He’s not worthy to live!” They put him on the cross. What…
LAUNCH: The Beginning of the Church (Part 1)
“Missions is not a program. It’s a purpose. It’s why we exist. … You and I won’t physically be here forever. I get that. But we are commissioned as a church body to say, are we ready to fulfill what God has called this church to do, or not? Are we ready to bring the power of the gospel to a broken world?” — Billy Arnold
Citizens Part 4: The Power of a Citizen (Billy Arnold)
“Discontent is what often motivates humans without Christ, and discontent leads to bondage, and bondage leads to misery. It is only in Christ that you have a new citizenship that brings you a new power that no matter what your circumstances you can say I’m useful- God is doing something.” – Billy Arnold
Citizens Part 3: Faith Becoming a Citizen
“It’s not about our ability to be perfect, but it’s about pointing to Jesus who is perfect.” – Kevin P
Citizens, Part 2: The Mindset of Citizens (Matt Kieswether)
“Have you sought unity with other believers by seeking the mind of Christ — by seeking the heart of God on these issues — to try and discern what his will is for us? And in doing that, have you found other believers doing the same thing, and found unity with them? … Are you actively looking to humble yourself by serving others, just as Christ has done for us?” — Matt Kieswether
Citizens, Part 1: Conduct Becoming of Citizens (Tim Howe)
“Be a meaningful co-laborer. The Apostle Paul says ‘striving together,’ and the idea of that means several things. First of all, that we’re in unity, that we’re working with each other — that where you have strength, I have weakness, and we can patch over those things. But it’s also this idea that you’re doing it together. … I know that there are things in this church that need to be done. If you haven’t found your niche yet, look…
