Obstacles to Missional Replication - What Holds Us Back?

Ed Stetzer

Psalms 47:2

In Paul's call to be ambassadors for Christ we find the mission of the church. In order to understand how we can live out the mission and multiply we need to understand the obstacles. There are four obstacles to keep in mind: 1) putting the world's values above God's; 2) recruiting people, rather than reconciling people; 3) not being on a kingdom mission; and 4) failing to appreciate the cross.

Close Christ-Centered Friendships

Gary DeLashmutt

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

God wants us to be able to have relationships that can go deeper than just a casual friendship. These close friendships involve regular time spent, vulnerability, and sacrificially loving one another. These relationships are often the venue for us to experience true Biblical love.

Serving Love and Sexuality

Dennis McCallum

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

God's will for Christians in the area of sexuality is to serve others by abstaining from sex outside of marriage and pursuing a life centered around God's view of love. Contrary to popular belief, this command is not a mere cultural construct but rather the only path to a fulfilling and healthy life, and research has shown that following the world's view of sexuality has serious consequences. Christians who are single can prepare for their future marriages and sex lives by growing in God's love and learning relational skills in the body of Christ now.

Christ-Centered Friendships

Gary DeLashmutt

Acts 2:42-46

God's plan for love involves real relationships. The most basic friendship God wants us to start with is having casual friendships. Casual friendships involve initiating others-centered conversations.

Spiritual Warfare

Dennis McCallum

Ephesians 6:10-18

There are 6 elements the Bible mentions Christians have to use in spiritual warfare: 1) belt of Truth, 2) breastplate of God's Righteousness, 3) feet fitted with the Gospel of Peace, 4) shield of Faith, 5) helmet of Salvation, and 6) the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. All of these things should be coupled with persistence in prayer. We look in depth at each of these weapons and how we can practically appropriate them in the Christian life.

Spiritual Warfare

Dennis McCallum

Ephesians 6:10-12

We have plenty of both philosophical and Biblical evidence for spiritual warfare. In any type warfare, we must decide if we will respond with a mentality of peace-time or war-time. In war time, it is imperative that you: 1) know your enemy, 2) are equipped to fight, and 3) are on your guard.

Living in the Last Days

Jim Leffel

2 Timothy 3:10-11

In the last days, selfish love will increase. Paul describes the kind of depravity that will occur; man will pursue love of self, money, and pleasure. This will result in corruption of self, destruction of relationships, and spiritual depravity. The alternative is a fulfilled life pursuing others and relationships.

Christian Euphoria

Dennis McCallum

Ephesians 5:18-20

While the Bible prohibits drunkenness, God does not discourage pleasure. Euphoria and ecstasy do have a place in the Christian life, but it is not the most important thing to spiritual people. Real ecstasy comes from the spiritual side of life; through thanksgiving, relationships, and seeing God changing people's lives.

The Trap of Temptation

Ryan Lowery

Psalms 32:3-6

God created us with needs that only He can meet. Yet all too often, we find ourselves tempted to meet those needs through other things. How can we stand up under these temptations? By turning back to God as our source of wisdom and fulfillment in life.