The Final Life Shape #8: The Octagon: the 8 "P's" of Mission

Life Shape # 8 The Octagon: The 8 “P’s” of MISSION

The octagon has an evangelistic meaning: “evangelism” the sharing of GOOD NEWS will take on a new perspective as one learns to discover the Person of Peace and how the process works from God’s perspective.

The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road. “Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you. –Luke 10:1-6

The destiny of the church is directly tied to how passionate she remains to her mission. We are to participate in Jesus’ command to go into all the world and make disciples according to the model Jesus has given. In the gospels we see Christ evangelizing, but He did not look like most people do it today.

As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” –Mark 10:17-25

In the story of the rich young ruler, Mark tells us that Jesus genuinely loved him, but He also let him walk away. Michael Simpson in Permission Evangelism has an interesting point… Why did He not try harder to win this man that at first seemed so eager? Jesus could have discussed with him the area of riches that kept him from Jesus. Jesus did not run after him because He already knew the man’s heart. Jesus knew and let him walk. Jesus never ran after anyone, but made Himself available to those who were willing to seek the way to God, the truth about God, and the life found in God.

In John 4:35, Jesus tells His disciples to look up for the harvest is plentiful. Disciples through the ages have made the mistake of thinking that if they just work harder that harvest will come sooner. Look back at the circle and find a kairos moment, then go through the steps of observation, reflection and discussion to find out where the harvest is. Find that place where the greatest level of receptivity is present and spend your time there. Sounds a lot like Henry Blackaby in Experiencing God, to find out where God is working and join Him there.

Person of Peace – Finding the Open Person, or the Gatekeeper:

As the disciple enters a house, the Person of Peace is the one who is prepared to hear the message of the kingdom and the King. Our prayer needs to be that God would bring across our path the Person of Peace. No amount of coercion on our part can make someone a Person of Peace. This is the job of the Holy Spirit; He alone prepares the heart for the message of Christ.

The Third Article of the Creed in Luther’s Small Catechism Of  Sanctification.
I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian (catholic, meaning universal) Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
What does this mean?-- I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.
Paul found the Person of Peace in Acts 16. Unable to go to Asia or Bithynia, they heard the Macedonian call toward Philippi. While there he found Lydia, the dealer in purple cloth, who turned out to be a gatekeeper to many others in the area. While in the Philippian jail, the jailer became a Person of Peace and his whole household, probably including children and infants, were baptized. This is someone whom God has prepared for that specific time. We can’t force the door open, but we must not be distracted so that we miss the doors that are open.

These are things to keep in mind as you look for the person of peace:

Time – There are specific times and places where the harvest is ripe. Not all people of the culture are ready, keep looking. Ask God to help show us when and where the people are ready. Become involved in sowing and reaping. We are to discern the condition of each person’s soul.

Team – Our inward relationships lead to our outward ministry. We are not called to go it alone. The mission-minded church will develop a team strategy for evangelism. Paul had Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Luke and Titus.

Target – Jesus was strategic in His outreach. He knew His disciples could not be in all places at once, so they focused on the lost sheep of Israel. Concentrate on receptive peoples and not force ourselves on those not willing nor ready.

Task – How do we accomplish the task of finding the Person of Peace? The Person of Peace will 1) welcome you (if not you are to shake the dust off your feet), 2) listen to you (those listening to you are listening to Jesus), 3) serve or support you (we must allow this person of peace to do this). Start within your existing circle of influence and relationships. (sometimes those who are being drawn don’t sound welcoming at first)

Trouble – If the teacher is not welcomed, don’t expect that the students will be welcomed either. Expect trouble in our lives. It is not “if” but “when” trouble comes. Our mission into the world has not changed.

As you continue toward the mission God has called you into, keep in mind these issues:

1.      Presence: Jesus is Where You Are – we are to act as Jesus would act and speak as Jesus would speak. We are Jesus “with skin on” for the people in a situation. We model Jesus in every situation. BECOME: our desire to grow in sanctification and Christ-likeness. Being Christ-like at work may help you identify the “Person of Peace” who may be speaking in a positive way while others are complaining.

2.      Passing Relationships: The Sprint – these relationships are those we meet in passing, only once or twice; the gas station mechanic, the store clerk, the stranger in line at the bank, the waitress or waiter at lunch. We must realize that not all relationships lead people to profess Christ as their savior. Allow some to plant, others to water, and others to reap the harvest.

3.      Permanent Relationships: The Marathon – these are family members and close friends with whom we may spend extended periods of time. It is still important not to force the gospel on this group, but we all too often leave this group out of our intentional witness. Jesus in Nazareth. (Mark 6:1-6 and Luke 4:16-30)

4.      Proclamation as Identification: Many pastors have the opportunity to present the gospel at events like weddings and funerals; there are often non-believers present. This is fine as long as we understand that it will not convince anyone that is not ready to receive the message. Proclamation works to help identify the person of peace, then enter into relationship with them. LOVE YPSI, gentle words about the Kingdom being near. Wearing a cross and sharing the gospel if necessary, use words.

5.      Power: Feeling the Presence: Jesus often used the power of God to produce what we see as miracles to find the Person of Peace. Praying for the sick and seeing a miraculous healing may reveal a Person of Peace, whether the one prayed for or simply someone watching. Our God is an awesome God. He will do things to create awe in those who have yet to commit their hearts to him. Luke 4 Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law and then in verse 40: “Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.” We want to be a healing place and we believe and expect it! Talk with people and add Jesus to the conversation. John Wimber: Power Evangelism and Power Healing.

6.      Perception: Feeling the Temperature – we must be spiritually sensitive to situations and circumstances. After relational encounters, ask the temperature of the people in this setting. What may be the signs that someone is interested in learning something about the spiritual realm or about eternity? We should pray for more of the gift of discernment for us and those who are around us in ministry.

7.      Preparation: Moving People Along the Scale of growth– this is like cultivating soil and planting seeds in advance of the harvest. Our words may help turn someone else’s soil, then someone else will come to water or harvest. We must learn to identify the role of pre-evangelism, the events that help move someone toward a positive response to the Holy Spirit drawing them to Christ.

8.      Person of Peace: the final “P” is the Person of Peace. On the symbol it is the Place ready to receive the KEY. Christ is the KEY! The Church is given the Office of the Keys. This is the way Jesus taught us to live and share our faith in the one task we are given in Matthew 28:18 “to GO and MAKE DISCIPLES.” This is the person who the Holy Spirit is working on and who is waiting for us to “Be” Christ’s ambassadors and witnesses in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Tecumseh, Lenawee County, Michigan and the World. It is not dependent on us, but the Lord is asking us to walk through our life with our eyes open and our ears listening to the Spirit as he reveals to us the Person of Peace.

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE OF PEACE IN YOUR LIFE??