The title of our first Grace Missions Conference has been inspired by the word of prophecy given to Ananias about Paul in Acts 9:15.
“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”
While those words were directly spoken to Paul, he would later make it clear, writing to the church in Corinth, that every believer who has been reconciled to God through Christ, and by extension every local church body of believers, has been entrusted with the same message and ministry.
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
As a theme and focus for our week together, the three words CARRY MY NAME are helpful to us in at least four ways. They are…
DIRECTIVE
Like the Great Commission, “CARRY my name” is a call to action that applies to all disciple-making effort, from local neighborhood evangelism to reaching the least reached peoples and everyone in between.
PERSONAL
When we imagine these words spoken to us by our Lord Jesus Himself (just as He had spoken them to Paul) “Carry MY name,” we are reminded that this call to action has been addressed to each one of us – as individual disciples, as believing households, and as a local church.
ABOUT THE GLORY OF CHRIST
When we speak of carrying Jesus’ NAME, we are speaking of his renown, his worthiness to be worshiped and adored and trusted and obeyed. It reminds us that the highest reason for the Great Commission is the glory of God… that “missions exists because worship doesn’t (John Piper).” And finally…
GOSPEL-CENTERED
The message of Jesus we have been sent to speak is one of reconciliation – peace with God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
This Sunday Arvind Balaram, one of our Grace Partners serving in India, will be preaching to us on Carrying Jesus’ Name through Church Planting and Kenny Clark will be leading us in sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? Pray especially that the Lord would give Arvind strength as his flight has been delayed and he will be arriving a little over hours before he will be preaching!
MISSIONS FAIR
Our focus this first Sunday of the conference will be on how Jesus has called us to carry His name through personal evangelism and the support of local, domestic ministries. Come prepared to explore our missions fair and book table out on the patio to learn more about all that God is doing and how you might be more personally invested.
SUNDAY BREAKOUT SESSIONS
At both 9am and 11am, you will have a great opportunity to meet some of our Grace Partners and learn more about what God is doing in their parts of the world. We encourage you to plan for two services each Sunday of the conference – one for the worship service and one for a breakout session of your choosing (see selections in the following post).
See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!
SONG OF THE WEEK
King of Love by Steven Curtis Chapman
You left Heaven’s throne to rescue what was lost
Stretching out Your mighty arms to bear the cross
Then You rolled away the stone the vict’ry won
And You said, “Go and tell the world what love has done”
King of love, let Your kingdom come
Reign in us, Your daughters and Your sons
Fill us up ’til we overflow with Your love
Until the whole world knows You are the King of love