How To Develop A Missional Church

Introduction

This tutorial provides actionable steps for church leaders and pastors to develop a missional church focused on reaching the unreached populations around the world. Inspired by David Platt's teachings, this guide emphasizes the importance of the Great Commission and how local churches can actively participate in global missions.

Step 1: Preach the Word of God with Global Focus

• Emphasize the importance of preaching the unfading Word of God.
• Connect sermons to the reality of the 3 billion unreached people.
• Use scripture to inspire a global vision and urgency in your congregation.

Step 2: Cultivate a Love for Jesus

• Call your congregation to a supreme love for Jesus.
• Teach that true missions arise from deep identification with Christ.
• Encourage personal testimonies that reflect this love and its implications for mission work.

Step 3: Reorient Discipleship Around Global Purpose

• Shift the focus of local discipleship to include God’s global mission.
• Integrate teachings and activities that highlight the importance of reaching the unreached.
• Form small groups that discuss global missions and prayer needs.

Step 4: Train and Empower for Multiplication

• Develop training programs that equip church members to make biblical disciples.
• Focus on multiplying churches without reliance on performances or programs.
• Encourage members to take ownership of their role in the Great Commission.

Step 5: Lead in Prayer and Fasting

• Organize regular prayer meetings focused on missions.
• Encourage fasting as a way to seek God’s guidance and power for missions.
• Provide prayer resources that highlight specific unreached groups.

Step 6: Send Missionaries

• Identify and support individuals in your congregation who feel called to missions.
• Create a sending process that includes training, prayer support, and resources.
• Celebrate and publicize the sending of missionaries to inspire others.

Step 7: Promote Diverse Mission Opportunities

• Offer multiple avenues for church members to engage in missions, such as:
  • Short-term trips
  • Mid-term service
  • Long-term missionary placements
• Share testimonies from those who have participated in these trips.

Step 8: Encourage Generous Giving

• Teach the congregation about the importance of financial support for missions.
• Encourage wise, generous, and sacrificial giving to mission efforts.
• Highlight specific projects or missionaries that need financial backing.

Step 9: Address Urgent Spiritual Needs

• Recognize and prioritize urgent spiritual needs alongside physical needs in mission fields.
• Educate the congregation about the spiritual crises in various regions.
• Engage in partnerships that meet both spiritual and physical needs.

Step 10: Prepare for Suffering and Sacrifice

• Educate the church on the realities of suffering in mission work.
• Provide pastoral care and support for those facing hardships in the field.
• Foster a culture of resilience and faith amid challenges.

Conclusion

By following these steps, churches can actively participate in the Great Commission and contribute to reaching the unreached. This mission requires a collective effort to preach, pray, give, and go, all while fostering a deep love for Jesus that propels believers into action. Consider implementing these strategies in your church to ignite a passion for global missions and support the work of God around the world.