Church On Mission: Top 5 Church Questions
Pastor Tim focuses on “Church on Mission” and answers five common questions about church life. Pastor Tim begins by outlining the church's mission: to love God, love others, and make disciples. The bulk of the discussion addresses questions such as "Who is church for?" (concluding it is built for believers but open to all), "Is bigger better?" (determining size is secondary to mission fulfillment), and "Do I have to give to my church?" (stating it is an opportunity, not an obligation under grace). He also discusses what to look for in a church (emphasizing the gospel and scripture over preferences like music) and whether one is obligated to attend Sunday services (encouraging attendance for mutual encouragement and the good of others).
Deep Dive Podcast
Study Guide: Top 5 Church Questions
This study guide is designed to review and reinforce the core concepts presented in the sermon transcript regarding the mission and practical life of the church. It covers the five central questions addressed, including the purpose of Sunday services, church size, financial giving, criteria for a healthy church, and Sunday attendance.
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Part 1: Short-Answer Quiz
Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 complete sentences, drawing exclusively from the information provided in the source material.
What is the three-part mission of the church as outlined at the beginning of the transcript?
How does the transcript distinguish between the "church universal" and a "local church"?
Summarize the purpose and the researched outcome of the "seeker sensitive" movement.
According to the interpretation of 1 Corinthians 14, what is the primary audience for a Sunday service, and what is the role of an unbeliever who attends?
What is the transcript's conclusion on whether a bigger church is better than a smaller one?
Based on Romans 6:14, is a follower of Jesus obligated to tithe? Explain the reasoning provided.
How does the transcript suggest reframing the question of financial giving from "Do I have to give?"
According to the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15, what are the issues of "first importance" that should be the central focus of a healthy church?
What are the two common secondary issues that are identified as frequent sources of conflict in churches?
Based on Hebrews 10:24-25, what are the primary reasons believers are encouraged to gather for Sunday services?
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Part 2: Quiz Answer Key
The mission of the church is defined as a three-part objective: to love God, love others, and make disciples. Loving God involves growing closer to Him, while loving others prioritizes sharing the gospel and serving their needs. Making disciples involves walking alongside others in their faith journey.
The "church universal" refers to every person on the planet who has come to trust in Jesus. A "local church" is a specific, local gathering of those individuals who are part of the universal church.
The "seeker sensitive" movement was an effort to restructure church services to be specifically for non-believers who were seeking faith. While the intention was good, research from major churches that adopted this model showed it was largely ineffective at helping these individuals grow in their faith.
The biblical model suggests a Sunday service is built for people who have already come to faith, creating a family environment. An unbeliever or inquirer is welcome to come in, observe this family, and potentially be convicted and come to believe as they witness God at work among His people.
The transcript concludes that neither bigger nor smaller is inherently better, as size is a secondary question. The primary goal is the mission to love God, love others, and make disciples, which can be accomplished in a setting of any size.
No, a follower of Jesus is not obligated to tithe. The reasoning, based on Romans 6:14, is that believers are "not under the law, but under grace," meaning the specific 600+ laws of the Old Testament, including the mandatory tithe, are no longer their master.
The transcript suggests reframing the question from "Do I have to give?" to "Do I get to give?" This changes the perspective from one of obligation to one of opportunity, allowing believers to participate in a much bigger story that God is weaving together.
The issues of "first importance" are the core tenets of the gospel. These are that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.
The two common secondary issues identified as causing significant conflict within churches are missions and music. These often cause division because they are based on personal preference rather than the core tenets of the faith.
Believers are encouraged to gather to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds" and to encourage one another. Attending services provides an opportunity to be challenged and motivated by others' faith and to be an encouragement to them simply by being present.
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Part 3: Essay Questions
Instructions: The following questions are designed for deeper reflection and synthesis of the material. Formulate a comprehensive response to each, drawing on multiple concepts from the source text.
Analyze the model for Sunday gatherings presented in the transcript. Contrast the "seeker sensitive" approach with the proposed biblical model of a service that is "built for the family of God" yet "open to all," using the provided analogies of visiting a home or attending a family's Thanksgiving.
Discuss the perspective on financial giving presented in the transcript. How does the concept of being "under grace, not under law" reframe the Old Testament practice of tithing for believers today, and what new motivation for giving is proposed?
Synthesize the teachings on what to look for in a church. Explain the hierarchy of importance, from the "deal breakers" of first importance down to secondary issues like music, and argue why this distinction is critical when choosing or evaluating a church community.
Examine the relationship between church size and spiritual growth as detailed in the text. Why is deep spiritual growth said to happen primarily in smaller settings, and how does this reality impact the strategy for both large and small churches seeking to fulfill their mission?
The transcript argues that believers do not have to attend Sunday services but that they should want to. Deconstruct this argument by explaining why attendance is not a requirement for salvation, and then detail the mutual benefits—for both the individual and the community—that are missed when a believer chooses not to gather.
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Part 4: Glossary of Key Terms
Term
Definition from Source Context
The Church
The people of God on the mission of God for the glory of God; the people who have come to trust in Jesus. It is not a building or a Sunday service.
Church Universal
All individuals on the planet who have come to trust in Jesus.
Local Church
A local gathering of people who are part of the church universal.
The Mission of the Church
A three-part purpose: to love God (grow closer to Him), love others (share the gospel and serve their needs), and make disciples.
Making Disciples
Coming alongside another person in their faith, walking with them so they can receive and respond to the gospel, and then encouraging their growth in faith.
Seeker Sensitive Movement
A church movement, prominent in the late 1990s and early 2000s, that restructured services to be built for non-believers who were seeking or investigating faith.
Gospel
The message of first importance, which is that "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried and then was raised on the third day according to the scriptures." It concerns the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and the forgiveness and restoration He offers.
First Importance (Issues of)
The central, non-negotiable tenets of the faith, specifically the gospel message about Jesus's death and resurrection as taught in the scriptures. These should be the primary focus of any church.
Secondary/Tertiary Issue
Matters of practice or preference within a church that are not central to the gospel, such as musical style or specific mission strategies. These should not be the reason for leaving a church or the primary criteria for choosing one.
Spur
To motivate or encourage someone to move or act. In the context of Hebrews 10, gathering with other believers serves to spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Tithe
An Old Testament practice of giving 10% of one's income. The transcript notes that with additional required giving for festivals and other needs in the Old Testament, the total could sometimes approach 30%.
Under the Law
The state of being obligated to follow the 600+ specific laws of the Old Testament. The transcript states that followers of Jesus are no longer under the law.
Under Grace
The state of believers in the New Testament who are not bound by the Old Testament law but are saved and guided by God's grace through Jesus Christ.
