Missio Dei by Pastor Kent Munsey

12:00PM service

SERMON POINTS

INTRODUCTION: The Mission of God

1. THINK HIGHER

2. PRAY BIGGER

3. GIVE GREATER

CONCLUSION

Introduction: The Mission of God Missio Dei is Latin for the Mission of God. In Pastor Kent’s message, he used a presentation­style format to illustrate the vision for the future of City Church (specifically focusing on 2015/2016). Once a year, our City Church family will rally together to activate our faith to give an offering that is above and beyond our normal tithes and offerings. God is always puts us to action when it comes to accomplishing His mission. In life, we must seek to align ourselves with what God is wanting to accomplish. Here at City Church, we are all “on mission.” Pastor Kent used the example of Frank Gunsaulus, the noted preacher, educator, and pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church. Gunsaulus is recognized for his famous, “Million Dollar Sermon,” in which he declared that if he had $1 million he would start a school to help young people prepare for the industrial age. Phillip D. Armour heard of the mission that Gunsaulus had embarked upon, and he donated the $1 million that started the Armour Institute (which would later become the Illinois Institute of

Technology – IIT) in Chicago, Illinois. The relevance of this example lies in the fact that although we may not immediately have the resources to carry out God’s mission, He will provide the resources once we activate our faith. God’s mission is bigger than any one person. Together, we can accomplish all that God is wanting to do! Think Higher Isaiah 55:8­9 says “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Once a year our church rallies their faith for God to supernaturally provide (2 Cor 9:7) so that we can give to see His mission move forward. This is an offering that is above and beyond our normal tithes and offerings. The Missio Dei offering is not a fundraiser, instead it is about seeking God to find out how He wants to use us to carry out His mission. Missio Dei is not about money, it is about aligning ourselves with God’s mission, which is furthering the mission of Jesus Christ (i.e. building His church). Pray Bigger In Pastor Kent’s message, he calls for our City Church family to rally together in prayer over the next two weeks. We should focus our prayers on: ∙ Praying for Urgency (Ecclesiastes 3:3) ∙ Praying for Clarity (2 Corinthians 9:7­8) ∙ Praying for Certainty (Luke 14:25) Why should we believe in the minimum, when we serve a maximum God? Give Greater Missio Dei Sunday is June 14th. It is not about equal giving, it is about equal sacrifice. We do not want to focus on a monetary goal. Our goal is to focus on God, and allow him to lead us to give what we can to further His mission. God will only ask us to do what we are capable of doing. As we approach Missio Dei Sunday we want to walk in our faith in God.

Three main functions of the Missio Dei offering: 1. People: Adding new staff, as well as leadership training, and development. 2. Places and Spaces: Expanding our reach by securing buildings/spaces. 3. Our Global Partnerships: A21 Campaign, World Vision, Compassion, Global Aid and Hillsong Family Last year, was our first Missio Dei Offering. Our goal was to reach 1.6M and we raised $750,000. Out of that total raised, $550,000 was raised specifically for the purchase of 777 N. Green Street. The remaining $200,000 allowed us to give to our global partners, two52 conference, hire part time staff and launch our second campus in the South Loop. Pastor Kent gave a detailed update on where we are at with the purchase of 777 N. Green Street. For more details on this, we strongly encourage you to watch the video recap that our team put together for you. He also gave a detailed update on several key visionary items. This year, we are excited to move forward into all that God is wanting to do. There are so many things on the horizon and within our reach! All of us activating our faith and doing what God asks us to do, will provide more than enough to see God’s mission continue here is Chicago and beyond. Conclusion As the ecclesia (the community of the called­out ones), we have to step into the mission of God. Over the next two weeks, let us stand together, pray together and believe in faith together. Let’s open our hearts to hear God’s plan for each of us, and how we can advance and further His mission. Let’s continue to spend time in God’s presence to pray and rally our faith for Him to provide that which He has asked us to give. Let’s also continue to pray that God would provide certainty and clarity to those who are even outside of our church family to give to His mission here in Chicago.

On Sunday June 14, 2015 all campuses will gather here at River West for one combined service as we bring our special MIssio Dei offering to Him and celebrate all He has done. Additional Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 9:7­8 NKJV: “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” Ecclesiastes 3:3 NKJV: “A time to kill, And a time to heal, A time to break down, And a time to build up” Luke 14:28­30 MSG: “Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’ 2 Corinthians 9:10 AMP: “And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [[which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].” Isaiah 54:2­3 NLT: “Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense! For you will soon be bursting at the seams...”