Sunday, May 20, 2012

Purpose Statement, Core Principles, Statement of Faith

Purpose Statement

The purpose of Living Sent Ministries is to inspire and equip business and professional people to live out their Christian faith. It is about "Connecting Sunday to Monday". 

Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:21, HCSB). 

Marketplace leaders, and aspiring leaders, will be challenged to practically and tangibly apply all of their vocational (career) assets to further the Kingdom of God. This includes the use of one's career expertise, position, organization, and social and business networks. By deploying these assets, marketplace leaders will be encouraged and empowered "to walk worthy of the calling they have received" (Ephesians 4:1, HCSB). 

In sum, a core principle of Living Sent Ministries is that God gave you your business or job (vocation) to build the Kingdom. 

*Marketplace leaders are defined as policy-setters within the fields of business, education, government, religion, and nonprofit institutions. While Living Sent Ministries' teachings are geared towards marketplace policy-setters, everyone is welcome to attend. God uses each of us in the marketplace or community to build His Kingdom. 

Core Principles

  1. God gave you your business or job (vocation) to build the Kingdom.
  • Supporting Scripture:
    • In his defense Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working" (John 5:17).
    • "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you" (Matthew 6:33, HCSB).
    • I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received" (Ephesians 4:1, HCSB).
    • "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It's no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.
    • You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lamp stand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:13-16, HCSB). 
  1. Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.
  • Supporting Scripture:
    • He said to him, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments" Matthew 22:37-40, HCSB). 
  1. Share the good news of Jesus Christ with believers and nonbelievers alike.
  • Supporting Scripture:
    • Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:21, HCSB). 
    • "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8, HCSB). 
    • Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20, HCSB).
  1. Strive towards Christ-likeness in personal holiness.
  • Supporting Scripture:
    • Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2, HCSB). 
  1. Connect believers to one another in fellowship.
  • Supporting Scripture:
    • Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17, HCSB).
    • Brothers, if someone is caught in wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you won't be tempted also. Carry one another's burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he is deceiving himself" (Galatians 6:1-3, HCSB).

Statement of Faith 

  1. The Bible is the infallible Word of God - His holy and inspired Word.
  2. The Bible is the ultimate authority in all matters of faith. 
  3. There is only one true God who reveals Himself to man in the form of three distinct people - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 
  4. Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. 
  5. Jesus Christ having lived a sinless life, took upon himself all of the sins, died on the cross, rose from the grave and is seated at the right hand of the Father as our mediator and advocate. 
  6. Each and every person on this earth is lost without Jesus and faces God's final judgement; therefore, everyone needs the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ's shed blood on the cross. 
  7. Jesus Christ is coming again soon. 
  8. As Christian disciples, we acknowledge the authority of God over our lives. 
  9. As Christian disciples, we are commanded to love others as He first loved us. We do this by being concerned and involved in meeting the social, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our fellowman. 
  10. As Christian disciples, we must strive to use every means possible to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world beginning where we live, where we work, and where we play.