“All One In

All one in Christ

THE UNITED CHURCH OF ZAMBIA
SYNOD MISSION AND EVANGELISM DEPARTMENT
2022 MISSION SUNDAY SERMON OUTLINE
UCZ THEME: ALL ONE IN CHRIST ( JOHN 17:21)
BIBLE READINGS: ROMANS 10:13-15; MATHEW 25:35-40,
MATTHEW 28:18-20,

THEME: “OUR ROLE IN THE CHURCH’S MISSION”

1. INTRODUCTION

Greetings to all in the name of Christ Jesus.

In 1996, during the Presidency of H.E. Mr. FTJ Chiluba, Zambia was declared
a Christian Nation and the same was enshrined in the preamble of our
Republican Constitution, even though there still exist a variety of other
religious expressions. However, even though our Nation is called a Christian
Nation, there are many people out there, especially in the rural parts of the
country who are unreached with God’s word. This means that, we have work
to do. This work cannot be done by one person, but by all of us getting
involved. The United Church of Zambia has indeed planted many
Congregations country wide and it is still planting those to come. While
Congregations in the urban set-up are able to reach out to their own people,
the opposite is what we see with the rural Congregations.

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 They have no capacity to reach out to their own people. This is due to lack of
resources that are needed for this task.

However, the question is, what is your role in the Church Mission? As we
Celebrate Mission Sunday today, we shall reflect on a Theme Titled, “Our Role
in the Church’s Mission”.

2. BIBLE EXPLANATION

In the gospel according to Matthew, we see that before His ascension, our
Lord Jesus Christ commission the twelve disciples in what we commonly refer
to as the Great Commission.

As a Church, the UCZ has actually done well in Evangelism though much still
needs to be done. However, Evangelism must not be confused with mission.
Evangelism is sharing the Gospel with a person who is not a believer yet.

On the other hand, mission refers to the work of establishing a viable, self-
sustaining Christian communities (often called church planting and
support systems) among a group of people who do not already have such.
While we have Congregations even in the remotest parts of our Nation, we
must now, as a Church, provide resources to these Congregations in order
for them to evangelize their own people without neglecting those that are
resourceful because mission is wider. It is not our Mission, but God’s mission.

To do this, we must all get involved. There are three ways we can be involved
in the Church Mission and these are:

• To Reach Out
• To Equip Those Involved
• To Support The Mission (Pray, Send, Fund).

(i) REACHING OUT

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 You will agree that, there are people in the rural and shockingly so even
in urban areas of our Nation who are rarely reached. Often time’s
mission in our Church is very much seen in the urban set up. This
explains why most of these rural Congregations look at themselves as
being alienated.

However, the concept of Missional Congregations now espoused is not

meant to establish a Congregational Focus Church locally, but that a
Congregation with a missional mind or spirit, could look within and
around itself to find what resources are available to do mission within
its local context while on the other hand lobbing for support from those
with other resources beyond what they already have.

We have however, seen some positive strives of mission where some

youth groups, the MCF and WCF are reaching out too, to many in very
remote places. This must be intensified if the gospel is to be preached
to all. There are also those individuals whom God has called to reach
out to many and have also voluntarily and generously continued
to do so at individual level. If God calls you to engage in some way
directly with an unreached people, take it up and do the work! Don’t
look at how people or what people may say, but listen to that voice of
God and obey.

(ii) EQUIP THOSE TO GO AND REACH UNREACHED PEOPLE.

This is where a lot of our effort is and must be invested. Despite our
presence in many Rural parts of our Nation, many people are not yet
being evangelized. It takes you and me to do that with adequate
resources.

Our focus as a Church must be on equipping people, both for rural /

urban evangelism as well as for Church missions.

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 This can be done by adopting many ways, and one such way is through
our UCZ printed materials. Urban Congregations, Individuals, Groups
as well as families may donate to MED, materials which are urgently
needed in most rural Congregations, materials like Hymn books,
Catechumens Hand books, Bibles etc. You can even buy three hymn
books. That can help a lot to our brothers and sisters who don’t have
them.

(iii) SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN MISSIONS.

Where there is a mission, there are people involved. You will agree with
that without support, the mission of the Church may be impossible.
Support is needed from all Christians if we are to achieve this. From
time to time, Congregations, groups, families as well as individuals can
support the mission by providing the resources needed. Support may
also be in form of prayer; praying for those involved so that the mission
is accomplished. The truth is that, much of the Church's (UCZ) current
spending, activity and efforts are on people who have already been
reached. While we must strengthen what we have, we must not lose
sight of the unfinished work waiting for us (Reaching out and giving
support to the unreached).

This is the more reason Paul says, “How then shall they call on Him in
whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of
whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
And how shall they preach unless they are sent?”

Brethren! we are all urged to take responsibility and do something,

especially about the rural Congregation who need our support to reach
out to their own. Your contributions, in any form and your partnering
with the UCZ Mission and Evangelism Department can make us more
forward and preach the gospel as well as to do the Church’s mission.

3. POINTS OF REFLECTION
(i) You have a Role to play in the mission of God

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 Beloved in the Lord, Paul said, to the Romans “How then shall they call
on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in
Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a
preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?”

We have a role to use our resources prudently and invest in God’s work.
We need to support the mission of God and Church ( Missio dei and
eclessia) for the gospel to reach out the less privileged and down
trodden in society. God has blessed us with various resources no
matter how small for a purpose so that we may carry out his mission
to all Nations.

(ii) You are strategically positioned for Gods mission

In the gospel according to (Mathew 25:35-40) we hear the writer

expounding on the right mission for God. The writer further qualifies
those undertaking Gods mission to have their places in the kingdom of
God for carrying Gods mission efficiently and effectively. This is
because they fed the Hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, welcomed and
clothed the naked. Not only did they visit the sick in hospital, but also
the Prisoners. Brothers and sisters in the Lord serve God faithfully in
His mission and don’t leave it to few individuals. We are all called and
position rightfully to fulfill God’s mission.

(iii) Arise and shine with your resources in the mission of God.

Beloved in the Lord! I encourage you to rise up and do Gods mission

with all our efforts and resources.

If mission refers to the work of establishing a viable, self-sustaining

Christian community, then we can make that happen. Arise and be

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 part of the Christians in the UCZ who made a difference in supporting
the Church missions.

Amen.

THE MISSION AND EVANGELISM DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO THANK

REV. BULAYA COLLINS, MINISTER IN CHARGE OF UCZ ALL SAINTS
CONGREGATION, EASTERN PRESBYTERY FOR PREPARING THIS YEAR’S
(2022) MISSION SUNDAY SERMON OUTLINE
FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2022

For comments and suggestions, Please Contact:

The Secretary
Mission and Evangelism Department
P O Box 71276
NDOLA
Telefax: 0212-611119
Cell Contacts: 0977753999/0969838693/0955883221
Email: [email protected]