Imagine your favorite “secret agent” or hero – he’s just been summoned to headquarters to receive his next mission. The director shakes his hand and directs his attention to the screen where details are presented: satellite images, coordinates, known hostiles, and more. The mission is explained, the nerdy tech guy explains his equipment (I always like that character!), and then the agent is told he is free to begin.

But the agent raises his hand. “Um, director…I have a problem.”

The director grimaces, “What is it, agent? Do you need more equipment? Do you need a bigger team of agents? More intel?”

“No, it’s not that, sir…” the agent replies, squirming uncomfortably, “It’s just that I don’t think I can do this mission.”

“Why not?”

“Well, you see, I just don’t think I’m qualified enough. And, quite frankly, I’m too nervous about it. I mean, those enemies are pretty scary. And I’m just me. Do I know enough? Am I equipped to handle this? And besides, I just feel very uncomfortable doing this…”

Can you imagine the face of the director at this statement? Seriously? Not equipped – the agent has the latest and greatest at his disposal! The enemy is scary? Well, of course, but that’s the name of the game! And his task force is more than powerful enough to take them. He’s nervous? Why? He’s been given all that he needs to accomplish this!

And yet, each one of us act much like this agent when faced with one particular task in the Christian life: evangelism. What comes to your mind when you hear the term, “evangelism”? What if I said, “Come on, let’s go evangelizing!” – what would you think? What sort of things would we be doing? How would you feel about it?

If we’re honest, this idea of evangelism can leave us feeling quite nervous and perhaps a bit guilty. When someone says, “Let’s talk about sharing our faith” or “We will discuss reaching the world for Christ,” we immediately recall times when we “chickened out” on opportunities to share the Gospel. Maybe we feel guilty about the lack of attention we’ve given to the lost around the globe. We just don’t feel equipped for this task, and the forces of evil seem so daunting. The world is filled with evil regimes out there attacking Christians, and evil is also on the rise in our own nation. What are we to do? Who do we think we are to try to tackle this evil world with the truth of the Gospel?

But if thoughts like these keep us paralyzed, then we are focusing on the wrong things!

Think about it this way: You have more “equipment” on your side than any special agent ever could! You have the Word of God, the very words of the Almighty! You have the entire weight of church history, an immense cloud of witnesses who stood for the Gospel in their day.

Beyond all this, you have the very power of God Himself behind you –

• The One who said the gates of hell will not prevail against His church (Matt. 18).
• The One who said that all tribes and nations will gather around His throne one day (Rev. 7).
• The One who has such power that He can laugh at His enemies (Ps. 2)!

How could we be nervous? How could we not feel equipped?

But perhaps for many of us, it’s just a matter of a little training. Perhaps what we need to help us overcome our anxiety and guilt around evangelism is to be educated on what it looks like and what God has done and is doing around the world. I think we could all benefit from such a study.

That’s why this fall, in our adult Sunday Classes, we will be studying the topic of “Life on Mission,” focusing specifically on three realms – our neighborhoods, our workplaces, and our world.

• The first portion will cover how to evangelize with confidence, including how to share our testimonies, the essentials of a Gospel presentation, and specific instruction on how to reach our neighborhoods.
  
• In the middle of the curriculum, we will spend a few weeks discussing a theology of work: why should we spend so much time on our secular employment? Does it have any value? How can I model Christ and then share the gospel in that context?

• The second portion discusses what global gospel partnerships should look like. What is the concept of “missions” anyway? What does it look like in our world today and how can we support and participate in it here in Upstate SC.

Perhaps already you’re feeling nervous about such a study. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Far from making us feel guilty, our hope is that by teaching and discussing these terms, we end up being EXCITED when we think about them. Yes, we should feel compelled to be a better witness, both here in our area and around the world. And yes, starting Gospel conversations is often very awkward and hard.

But at the end of the day, we have a MISSION – so let’s live life ON MISSION, as Andrew has so often encouraged us to do. Our mission will be difficult, awkward, perhaps at times even dangerous. But aren’t all exciting missions that way?

How can you take the next step in living life on mission this fall? Join us in one of our classes starting August 7 as we discuss LIFE ON MISSION.