Foundations for Christian Mission, Mentor's Guide, MG04

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F O U N D A T I O N S F O R C H R I S T I A N M I S S I O N

modern times. The argument is logical and plain: if God is concerned for the poor, he likewise is concerned about the American inner city because of its staggering number of underclass and poor families. • The Bible clearly shows how the city is the picture and symbol of our spiritual destiny and inheritance. The hope of the saints is to dwell with God in the New Jerusalem, not a place where God is absent and where arrogance rules, but rather the home of the righteous where God is present, and Jesus is adored as Lord of all. • The explicit goal of mission is to rob the cities of the world in order to fill up and populate the New Jerusalem, the true mother of all believers ( God’s final urban renewal project ). • Because of the significance of the city both in Scripture and in the modern world, the city must remain at the hub of all missionary enterprise. Our praying, giving, and sending of laborers must focus on reaching unreached cities, we must recruit more missionaries to serve in the city, strategize how to affect unreached cities with the Gospel, and pray for the city and seek its safety, finding our safety in its preservation. Matt. 9.35-38 - And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. [37] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; [38] therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Mission does what Jesus did. Jesus went to where the people were, and wherever people exist you will find a strategic need to display the light and power of the Kingdom of God.

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I. The City Is a Seat of Influence, Power, and Spiritual Activity

Video Segment 2 Outline

A. Jesus and the apostles carried out their kingdom ministry in an itinerant ministry to the cities.