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EMPOWERING KINGDOM GROWTH AND ACTS 1:8
- Sam Turner, IMB
Emerging in the Southern Baptist life are two intertwined themes of Empowering Kingdom Growth and Acts 1:8. The convention has adopted the emphasis of Empowering Kingdom Growth, which has been very effective in South Carolina. Dr. Carlyle Driggers, South Carolina Executive Director, asks, "What is the first subject Jesus talked about when He began his ministry (Mark 1:14) and what was the last subject he talked about with his disciples (Acts 1:3)?" It was the Kingdom. If it was important to Jesus, it should be important to us. Jesus followed his discussion about the Kingdom with his plan for its growth. Acts 1:8 is Jesus' mission statement of empowerment, enablement and engagement for Kingdom growth.
Empowerment for Kingdom growth comes in the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Because of the continued presence of the Holy Spirit since Pentecost, believers receive the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God at the moment of conversion. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit conforms believers to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). The Spirit manifests His activity in believer's lives by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). He empowers believers as witnesses through the strenght of a transformed life. Thus, believers are enabled to be effective and bold witnesses for Christ.
Enablement comes through the inner transformation of the individual believer, as well as through particular gifts of the Spirit the Lord chooses to give them for their ministry, which is to build up the church (1 Corinthians 12:6-7). Enablement of the individual believer to be a witness is the natural manifestation of the indwelling Spirit of God. Acts 1:8 (New Living Translation) says we "receive power" (i.e., the indwelling Spirit of God) and "will tell people about me everywhere…." Paul states that it is God's "… power in us who believe…" (Ephesians 1:19 RSV) and reminds Timothy "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (II Timothy 2:7 KJV). Thus, enabled believers should be witnesses that engage the lost … intelligently, lovingly, and boldly.
Engagement is a positive term for the believer interacting with the lost of the world. We are to engage those we contact in order to lead them to faith in Christ. According to the Great Commission, we are commanded to Go. Acts 1:8 gives us the descriptions of where we are to be engaged: locally (Jerusalem), in our state (Judea), in North America (Samaria), and in the world (ends of the earth). This does not mean we can be myopic and only concerned about our sphere of ministry. We are part of a team and are responsible to work together. Your role may be to lead a fellowship of churches, but you also facilitate state, national and international missions. The state is focused upon state ministries but also exists to facilitate your ministries, as well as those in other states and countries. The North American Mission Board and International Mission Board exist to reach their respective spheres of missions, but they also exist to aid you in facilitating North American or international missions as a witness to the transforming power of Christ. (Does this remind you of 1 Corinthians 12?)
Based upon this paradigm, an association is the key Baptist entity for helping the churches to develop an Acts 1:8 mission strategy that empowers Kingdom Growth. It is the association that can pull the churches together in a spirit of cooperation rather than a spirit of competition. Through the association, God has a platform for utilizing the strengths of believers from all churches … big or small, weak or strong … to fulfill the Acts 1:8 mandate.
As a Director of Mission are you willing to lead the association strategically and intentionally toward an Acts 1:8 strategy to empower Kingdom Growth?
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Dr. Sam Turner
Retired--Associational Mobilization Strategist
State and Associational Relations
International Mission Board
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