Pensees: A Missionary Hymn

A Missionary Hymn

We had a holy experience last week: our missions/stewardship conference. The timing could not have been better. We are on the verge of purchasing a building, our leadership is being rearranged by Providential circumstances as the Holy Spirit reminds us that certain ones in our leadership may be set apart for work outside of our context, and Global Grace is expanding.

To summarize our conference we had a “family day” at MSBC yesterday. In the morning I preached from Psalm 96, A Missionary Hymn. It is a God-saturated Psalm and in my feeble attempt to exposite it our philosophy and convictions about missions, music, tithing, preaching, “beauty of holiness,” emergent church —you name it — seeped out.

You may listen to the unedited (non-radio version) at Sermonaudio.com as well as view a copy of my powerpoint presentation.

The outline attempts to capture the message of the Psalm.

I. The Cause of Missions

A. He is Sovereign
B. He is Sovereign over History
C. He is Sovereign over Humanity

II. The Consummation of Missions

A. He is Coming. He will judge.
B. He will Change (the cosmos). There will be rejoicing.

III. The Communication of Missions

A. God wants us to display His Glory with our Words

1. The Content of our Words Matter
2. The Conveyance of our Words Varies

B. God wants us to display His Glory with our Wealth

1. Every one should give
2. Everyone should give sacrificially
3. Everyone should give in the place appointed

C. God wants us to disply His Glory with our Worship

1. There is Sobriety “fear God”
2. There is Sacrifice “bring an offering”
3. There is Sanctity “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness”