TRC DNA: Society

Society

TRC 2019 Vision Covenant Renewal

Matthew 28:16-20 is our vision…everything else we’ve been studying has been the components that drive this vision.

Engaging domains is DNA that informs our UP/IN/OUT.

Paul gained access to the Roman Empire as a tent maker engaging in the economic enterprise of supplying the Roman army with tents.

He glorified Jesus in the public square.

He planted/pastored/served the local church in the public square.

He engaged the world as an ambassador of the gospel.

Paul and the church of Acts engaged the world from the public square. They were not isolated.

What is Society?

Society is the structured system of organization for large-scale community living.

Those who accept leadership in these spheres of influencehave the potential to completely reshape their city, its values, priorities, and practices.

Why is society so important?

The Bible teaches that leaders who work in a domain have delegated authority from God.

1.1. Romans 13 / Government as a domain / Given authority to execute justice.

Proverbs 16:11 (ESV) A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.

1.2. God is sovereign over domains, intends to transform all of creation into a new created order at the restoration of all things (Revelation 19-22) and is in that process now as his people preach and heal.

1.3.In directing his people to bless their cities and the nations of the world, God is calling us to engage domains as a way of seeing God’s kingdom come to people and entire cities.

Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV) But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Domains of society are God’s Plan from the Beginning: The Creation Mandate: Genesis 1:26-28

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them,“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

2.1. Man was made to have dominion over the whole earth (every sphere of society).

2.2. The fall made man more of a casualty of sin rather than a “subduer” of creation and society as a whole.

2.3. When Jesus came, he broke the curse of the fall and began bringing all things back under his reign (Ephesians 1:7-10; Colossians 1:15-20), and gave us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:11-19).

2.4. Jesus has given us the keys of the kingdom (Matthew 16:18; Matthew 18:15-20), so we have the powerful good news to bring salvation and restoration to all nations.

What might “domains of society” look like strategically in real life?

“What if the church was the missionary?”

The Great Commission is given to the church, not just individuals.

In the 18th century, missions focused on biography, individuals who prophetically led the charge.

In the 20th century, missions became institutions and organizations.

In the 21st century, missions translates to Kingdom—God’s rule everywhere, through his people, in every domain.

Every Christian, everywhere, all the time.

1.1. Every Christian living effectively in the public square at home. We don’t hide our faith. We don’t allow our faith to be hijacked politically. We maintain prophetic position.

1.2. Every Christian discovering their God-given vocation (calling), and learning to employ that vocation locally and globally.

1.3. Every Christian taking advantage of their vocation globally when opportunity arises.

Application: Jesus’ followers engaging every domain of society creates 4 key shifts for the church.

From needs to assets.

This shift is one of mindset regarding personnel.

This is not an organizational change or shift in processes, rather this is a shift in how we see each other as members of the community of the kingdom.

We move from asking what we needto evaluating assets to be given away in serving our individual and collective domains.

We move from asking: “what did you get out of the service today?” to “how can I engage my vocation with the gospel of the kingdom?”

From programs to domain engagement.

This shift has organizational implications. This changes how we organize for work and what work is undertaken.

This is more Spirit-led as members of the community of the kingdom take ownership and responsibility for action.

You begin to ask questions like:

“What is my domain?”

“How can I make this ministry to fill the world with Christians engaging and planting churches and healing broken things?”

“How can I begin to mobilize people in my domain who are in the kingdom to take this domain for the kingdom?”

“How can I partner with others to make changes in this domain?”

From working for the city to working with the city orfrom simply funding the cross-cultural worker to partnering with the cross-cultural worker to get glocal resources in the work.

This shift is one of relationships and expectations.

This changes how we interact with the community.

Here the church becomes more of a partner to help create solutions rather than simply a provider of a finances or peripheral goodies.

It becomes a flesh in the game mentality.

We begin to interact with other religions in the engagement of our society’s domains and get to make disciples!

Evangelism and great commission work begins to become a natural function and culture of the church.

Domain engagement multiplies the great commission work force because now everyone is a great commission disciple that can have impact locally and globally.

From managing ministries to leading members.

This shift impacts decision-making.

The shift is not about what ministries are the pastors going to run, but what will the pastors do in releasing the body to supply its part in the kingdom.

The power of the kingdom is NOT contained in a few talented people, rather it is the apostolic genius contained in every follower of Jesus walking in step with the Spirit bringing the rule of Jesus to their domain.