Biblical Rationale

1. The God of the Bible is a God of mission. The Bible is the story of God's plan to save his people. God's promise to Abraham was that he would be a blessing to the nations. Israel was called to be a light to the Gentiles. In Christ this is fulfilled as the good news of salvation goes out to the nations. (Genesis 12:1-3; Deuteronomy 4:6-8; Isaiah 56:3-8; 60:1-3; Matthew 28:18-20; Galatians 3:6-9)

2. God's people are at the heart of what God is doing. God's purposes are not focused on many unrelated individuals but upon his people. In Christ those promises find their fulfilment in the church. The church is the new Israel, the holy nation. Christ died for the church. The church is not simply an historic convenience. The bride of Christ - complete and perfect - is at the heart of the climax of salvation. (Ephesians 5:25; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 21:1-3)

3. The church is the place where God reigns in peace and justice. Through the incorporation of the Gentiles and the creation of the one people of God, God's eternal plan to reconcile all things under Christ is made manifest to the rulers and authorities. God's great plan of reconciliation is realised now in the church. (Ephesians 1:9-10; 2:11-3:13)

4. The church is at the heart of God's purposes and Christ's saving work therefore we need not be embarrassed about making it the heart of mission.

5. The local church is at the heart of God's mission. In the New Testament speaks of church in two senses. First, the church is seen as the heavenly congregation continually gathered around the throne of God. The term is also used of local congregations which are the time and space expression of this heavenly reality. The focus of God's saving purposes for his people is, therefore, expressed in history in local congregations. (Hebrews 12:22-24; Galatians 4:26; Revelation 21:1-3)

6. Mission is at the heart of what it means to be church and church is at the heart of what it means to do mission. The life of the Christian community is part of the gospel message of reconciliation. Mission takes place as people see our love for one another. The local church is also the natural context in which people are discipled. Mission and church are, therefore, two sides of the same coin. (John 13:34-35; 17:23; Acts 4:32-35)

7. Wherever people responded to the gospel churches were planted. Those churches continued the apostolic mission by being missionary churches. From these churches new churches were planted. (Acts 11:19-26; 18:1-8)