MISSIONAL SENTNESS
MSA1: Seminar Description
Christian believers have the unique opportunity to participate in the work of God in their families, neighborhoods, communities and across the world. When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection (and before his ascension into heaven), he said to them, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (John 20:21-22, ESV). Here Jesus equated his sending by the Father with our being sent by him in the power of the Holy Spirit. However, what are we sent to do exactly? The answer can be seen throughout the pages of scripture where we see God calling and sending his people to join in his mission. As we study the mission of God we can see that God continually sends his people to live a gospel-centered life in the context of one or more missional assignments based on biblical precepts. This workshop gives an overview of six core missional assignments together with illustrations on how they can be implemented.
MULTIPLICATION SENTNESS
MSA2: Seminar Description
While all believers are sent to join the work of God in redemptive care, some believers are especially equipped by the spiritual gifts they have been given to be most effective in bringing the gospel to the community. However, making disciples is not a solo effort —instead, the scripture and early church history shows that God used teams of people, with different missional roles, to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ. Every believer has been sent to participate in missonal multiplication. This workshop discusses several perspectives of Multiplication Sentness and how they are lived out.
ETHICAL SENTNESS
MSA3: Seminar Description
When asked by the Pharisees which commandment of the law was greatest, Jesus quoted the "shema" from Deuteronomy 6. The shema was the Jewish prayer that was central to the prayer services held in the morning and evening. Well known to the Jewish people and their leaders, observant Jews considered its recitation a twice-daily mitzvah (or religious commandment). However, it is one thing to recite something and quite something else to live it—as Jesus was pointing out to the Pharisees. Today Christians are sent to join in the work of God in the world by living out this central teaching. This workshop discusses various dimensions of Ethical Sentness and how that shapes missional endeavors.
REPRESENTATIONAL SENTNESS
MSA4: Seminar Description
Because we are created in the image of God, we have the "likeness" of God himself. Although we are not identical to God, we are a reflection of God—a created analogy. Since human beings are the living, visible replica of God, everything that makes us human is involved in being in the image of God. Humankind finds its mission, sociality, creativity, cultures, intellect, reasoning and a host of
other characteristics are rooted in the very nature of God. As image-bearers, our mission is to be the image of, to reflect, or represent God on earth. Our moral duty is to be like God, to follow his example. Thus we are sent to be embedded in the created world around us to faithfully cultivate the earth as we reflect our "vice-regency" role—acting as caretaker of the created world on God's behalf. This workshop discusses multiple dimensions of Representational Sentness.
EQUITABLE SENTNESS
MSA5: Seminar Description
In Micah chapter 6, the prophet Micah states the case that God has against the people of God, Israel. In his frustration at Israel's failures, Micah summarizes what God requires of his people in verse 8. Here we see that the people of God should simply do what is right. They should act righteously in their relationships with others, not hurting anyone by word or deed because they love mercy and guide their conduct based on that loving kindness. They should also walk humbly with God. Walking humbly with God means to live and act consciously aware of God's daily presence with humility and obedience. This workshop discusses various dimensions of Equitable Sentness and how Christian believers are called today to join God at work in this arena.
SERVICE SENTNESS
MSA6: Seminar Description
Every Christian believer has received specific gifts from God—spiritual gifts, talents, abilities, resources, and relationships that God has entrusted to him or her. These have been given to believers to use as the basis of their missional service to others which they are to faithfully execute. Thus every believer has been sent to serve in the mission of God in unique ways. We have been sent to plan, manage and administer the mission to which God calls us as a trusted and responsible steward. Since everything we own, including ourselves, was created by God and was given to us by God, therefore, we should understand that the stewardship of service impacts every single area of life. Service Sentness is explored in this workshop.