Radical At a Snails Pace Taking Back Your Faith from the
American Dream Questions and Answers from Mission Frontiers 2010s
Interview with David Platt
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Radical Practical Perspectives Tune UP of Best Practices:
Understanding: A Practice: F
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Kingdom Travel 101: An Open Book We come to Christ; then we go
for Christ Matthew 11:28, Matthew 28:18-20
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1. What is the basic message of Christianity, as understood in
USA Christianity? 1.God loves me. 2.God loves me enough to send His
Son, Jesus, to die for me. Me. My. Mine. Thus, when I look for a
church, job, life direction, home, its about me and mine. Is that
biblical or an American Dream?
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2. What are there two types of missions? Let 9 children
represent the world: 1 - Eats healthily 2 - Have food fights 3 -
Wont eat 3 - Live on garbage without any knowledge of nutrition
Regular Missions go to the 6: Disciple where there is a church
Frontier Missions go to the 3: Penetrate where there is no light
THESE MISSIONS ARE VERY DIFFERENT
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3. In which is your church involved? 90% of missionaries are
Regular: Working with 2/3 of the world Where there is light 10% of
missionaries are Frontier: Working with 1/3 of the world Where
there is light THESE MISSIONS ARE VERY DIFFERENT
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4. How does the United Nations intersect with Christs global
mission? Its Declaration of Human Rights states: Everyone has the
right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right
includes freedom to change ones religion or belief, and freedom,
either alone or in community with others and in public or private,
to manifest ones religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship
and observance. (One cannot rightfully sign this Declaration while
insisting on the Sharia Laws death penalty for leaving Islam)
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5. What supernatural experiences is God commonly using to draw
people? Have you ever had a dream about a man in white? God is
using dreams, visions, and miracles in 2012. There is no excluded
middle in Gods theology; there is no gap between the spiritual
above and the secular below.
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6. How can good-hearted helping actually hurt? If we provide
outside resources without calling attention to the need for giving
back to God, we may be doing our giving. But those on the other end
may become permanent receivers, rather than givers themselves.
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7. After developing a Christ-like generosity, what is our call?
As we become radical in our giving, let us also become radical in
our wisdom, and ask: Will my giving turn those I seek to help into
permanent receivers, or will it help them become (radical) givers
and followers of Jesus?
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8. Why is the phrase So That important in the book Radical? The
message of biblical Christianity is God loves me so that I might
make HimHis ways, His salvation, His glory, and His greatnessknown
among all nations.
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9. If our missionary calling is: To Make Disciples Who Can Make
Disciples HOW IS THE AMERICAN DREAM DOING AT THAT? 50% of our youth
walk away at college. Few in the pew are biblically sound. Fewer in
the pew share their faith with others. Pray the prayer; Sit in the
chair; Listen from there.
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Like the culture at large, our church culture in America is
centered on entertainment, not on equipping people as effective
disciple-makers. The pastor is the performer, and the people are
the spectators.
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Most churches think they can grow if only they have a gifted
speaker who can draw a crowd on Sunday morning. They spend much of
their energy, time, and money on perfecting the Sunday morning
show. Disciple-making [on the other hand] takes place through
intentional relationships where spiritual life and maturity can be
passed on from one person to another.
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10. Am I a fool? I wonder at some points if Im being
irresponsible or unwise. But then I realize there is never going to
come a day when I stand before God and He looks at me and says, I
wish you would have kept more for yourself. Im confident that God
will take care of me. He Who Gives What He Cannot Keep To Keep What
He Cannot Lose.
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11. Are we using the Bible properly? The Bible is not a
guidebook for a lot of things folks are going through. Its given to
us for one purpose: To make us look more like Christ.
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12. Do we love the rich enough to tell them what they need to
know? If we have clothes to wear, and food to eat, and a house or
apartment to live in, and a reasonably reliable means of
transportation, then we are in the top 15 percent of the worlds
wealthy. Whats wrong with having nice things?
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Inconceivable: USA American Christians are unable to conceive
of wealth as a potential danger, or obstacle to Gods blessing in
our lives. When we hoard and consume the resources God has
entrusted to us for blessing and discipling the nations, and
neglect the lost and the poor, we harm ourselves and hinder Gods
purpose. The Rich Young Ruler (Mk. 10:1731): Jesus loves rich
people enough to tell them the truth.
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Inconceivable: 2012 What if there really were billions of
people on this planet who are headed to an eternal hell, and
millions of them that havent even heard the name of Jesus? And what
if there were unprecedented numbers of suffering people on this
planet?
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Conceivable: God and Us And what if God decided to give His
people on this side unprecedented wealth to make a difference among
the lost and the poor? What if that is exactly what He has
done?
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Inconceivable: Radical Believing that our syncretism enables us
to store up riches on earth to our own harm while neglecting the
lost and the poor, Platt invites us to RADICAL change: As we
explore what it means to be radically abandoned to Christ, I invite
you simply to let your heart be gripped, maybe for the first time,
by the biblical prospect that God has designed a radically global
purpose for your life.
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Inconceivable: Radical I invite you to throw aside gospel-less
reasoning that might prevent you from accomplishing that purpose. I
invite you to consider with me what it would mean for all of us to
spend all of our lives for the sake of all of Gods glory in all of
the world.
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13. What was the missionarys question that birthed the book
Radical? What will it take to reach the lost? It was not, What can
we spare to reach the lost?
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Radicals Challenges to American Assumptions: 1. The affluence
which sometimes accompanies faith is for our enjoyment rather than
our stewardship, (to be spent according to needs, rather than
according to our means) 2. God isnt serious about judging sinners,
especially rich Christians who close their hearts to the poor
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Radicals Challenges to American Assumptions: 3. Jesus wants us
living safe, comfortable lives rather than following Him in serving
the lost and the poor in ways that may be costly and risky from the
worlds perspective
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Radicals Challenges to American Assumptions: 4. Saving faith
can be present without the evidence of growing maturity and
obedience 5. We can embrace Gods promises while excusing ourselves
from His commands
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Radicals Challenges to American Assumptions: 6. Producing a
Sunday morning show to draw crowds and building facilities is
equivalent to making disciples 7. We can simultaneously live for
both present blessings and future treasure
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LIVING WITH DIFFERENT ASSUMPTIONS Taking Back Your Faith From
the American Dream A Radical Way of Living
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Seven Claims To Be Tested 1.Joy is found in Generosity, not in
materialism. 2. Meaning is found in Community, not in
individualism. 3. The purpose of our lives transcends the Country
and culture in which we live.
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4. Ultimate Satisfaction is found not in making much of
ourselves, but in making much of God. 5. Ultimately, Jesus is a
Reward worth risking everything to know, experience, and enjoy. 6.
Truth is found in Christ, not in Universalism.
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7. Real Success is found in radical Sacrifice. It IS better to
give than to receive. Acts 20:25
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Goals Of the Challenge 1.Come alive 2.Know the thrill of
knowing what God is up to: 1.Locally 2.Around the world Shed the
unworthy parts of the American Dream.
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Five Components of the One Year Radical Challenge 1.Pray for
the entire world. 2.Read through the entire Word. 3.Sacrifice your
money for a specific purpose. 4.Spend your time cross culturally.
5.Commit your life to a multiplying community.
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I. Prayer: Lets not be Trafficking in unfelt truth --Chesterton
1. Quarry Gods word using diligently the hammer of prayer. 2.
Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscles of omnipotence.
3. God has chosen to spin this globe on the axis of prayer.
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1. Prayer: Lets not be Trafficking in unfelt truth --Chesterton
4. Things happen when we pray that dont happen when we dont pray.
5. To an active mind, work is far easier than prayer. 6. For
Christ, prayer was the battleground. Ministry was the taking of the
spoils.
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No Easy Road Dick Eastman 9. The greatest thing anyone can do
for God and man is pray. It is not the only thing, but is the chief
thing. The great people of the earth today are the people who
pray.
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No Easy Road Dick Eastman I do not mean those who talk about
prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; but I mean those
people who take time to pray.
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1. Best Practices: Prayer: Lets not be Trafficking in unfelt
truth --Chesterton Cell phoning P2P 12,633 Using Operation Worlds
daily e-Prayer Finding accountability partners Journaling Setting
up weekly variation: MTWRFS
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1. Prayer: Lets not be Trafficking in unfelt truth --Chesterton
Praying Scripture (Face to Face) Getting on our knees Hearing
prayerful testimonies Streaming in the living room vs. kneeling at
the throne
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1. Prayer: Lets not be Trafficking in unfelt truth --Chesterton
Using sticky pad reminders; prayer maps Praying ABCs of Gods
persons, names, attributes Knowing that talking to is easier than
listening for God Praying 31 days of childrens character
traits
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1. Prayer: Lets not be Trafficking in unfelt truth --Chesterton
Praying meditative prayer on scripture to prepare the mind
Filtering out our own voice Mixing it up Taking prayer walks
Starting Good morning, God! Thank You for the upcoming day.
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1. Prayer: Lets not be Trafficking in unfelt truth --Chesterton
Writing one radical prayer/month in my journal Writing down prayers
to keep my mind from wondering: I hear Gods voice best as my pen
moves across the paper Change the environment: If the beds right
there and Im right here, thats bad Setting up cell phone song
lists
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II. Reading His words Why to Memorize? The Holy Spirit, whom
the Father will send, will remind you of everything that I have
told you: How to Memorize? Navigator Cards Music
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I Have Decided: Psalm 23:1-3. Katie Reilly G The Lords my
Shepherd, I shall not be in want, C G The Lords my Shepherd, He
makes me lie down, Lie in green pastures, the Lord He leads me, D G
i. Beside quiet watersHe leads. ii. He restores my soul. iii.
[Psalm 23:1-3.]
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By John Bunyan THE PILGRIMS PROGRESS
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Studying Daily: Strategically Jesus, David, Solomon, Paul
Yearly Bible plans With preaching schedule Inductively Expectantly:
TRaCT (2 Tim 3:16) Varying translations and languages
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Making His words our Manna Plan for the day ahead, put the
Bible on top of tomorrows books Write out main points Take a verse
to use for the day Scatter through Psalms or Proverb till a song
comes along Journal while reading Mix it up: Psalms, Proverbs,
Paul, Jesus
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Making His words our Manna Use questions: Command, Promise, Sin
Use the main point during the day Pray, journal, and share over
what stood out Make songs Read a whole book as a unit, getting the
bigger theme and thread Listen to whole audio book (e.g., of
John)
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Making His words our Manna Read at breakfast instead of vegging
Highlight colors for themes: promises, characteristics, commands,
principles Look up weird stuff: your computer is right there! Read
the Bible in a year; reading plan Read the prophets in the morning;
memorize in the evening
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III. Sacrificial Giving Talk to Randy Alcorn: Gods Money, Our
Affluenza Money, Affluence, and Eternity
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Best Practices 1. Set up three-part banking: 1 st to God, 2 nd
to self, 3 rd to your daily budget 2. Begin with setting up a
budget with a designated % to give (to Excel!) e.g., Eric, Ron
Blue, David Ramsey 3. Organize categories for your philanthropy:
Bible, trafficking, family discipleship, disaster relief,
evangelism
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Best Practices 4. Consider giving to EFCA-approved
organizations (or do your own homework!) 5. Give first to your
trusted local church as a tithe, then add other giving 6. Remember
that you really cant out give God, and that God brings even more
joy a joyful giver.
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What are the warning signs of materialism? 1. Worry about
having enough 2. Lukewarmness about things of God.
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Resources Radical: prelude to Perspectives Brookhills.org/media
(Podcast free DVD sermons) Secret Church 6 hour Bible Studies
RealLifeMinistires.com/association_immersion (23 min audio Overview
of Discipleship) Perspectives Global Mission Handbook (A Guide for
Cross-cultural Service): f/u to Perspectives Follow: A Simple and
Profound Call to Live Like Jesus (McClung): f/u to Apostolic
Passion The Great Omission (like medicine, too much among the poor
can be more harmful than too little)