If Christian leaders were to ask themselves the question, “What is the ultimate end toward which God is working in history?” or "What does God want for the people in the place where I serve Him?"… how would it affect the way they minister there? The answers to these questions should describe the vision and define the tasks of their ministries.
I. WHAT IS “Z” THINKING?
What is the ultimate end toward which God is working? The answer can be called "Z"—the end result of what
If God wants all people to come to repentance, shouldn't this be our desire as well? Can we possibly be used by God to mobilize others toward this end? What would happen if all the Christians in a country, region, city, village or even a neighbourhood were completely convinced that God wanted everyone there to know Him and see Christians living like Jesus in their midst? (1Pe 2:12).
The balance of Scripture indicates that not all will be saved. Our sovereign God alone knows who will be saved. The task of the Church is to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to hear the Gospel.
Before going further, ask yourself these questions:
•What does God want for __________? (my nation, region, city, village, or neighbourhood). Write the answer in one paragraph.
•How does my answer above affect my ministry? Does what I am currently doing reflect what I believe God wants?
It is easy to see how "Z" thinking can effectively describe the vision and define the tasks for any ministry.
II. SATURATION CHURCH PLANTING
In order to see "Z,” saturation must happen. By “saturation” we mean that it is the church's ministry to reach out to "every person," "anyone," "and everyone" as stated in 1 Timothy and 2 Peter. These passages make it clear that God wants every man, woman, and child to hear and understand the
Gospel and have the opportunity to believe in and fully obey Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
An important part of the Christian life is being a part of a local church where God’s Word is believed and taught. Saturation church planting (SCP) is thoroughly biblical. It is completing the Great Commission through church planting in such a way that every man, woman and child has a chance to accept or reject the Gospel through the witness of a local church. SCP is the vision, strategy, and ministry of filling nations, regions, cities, villages, and neighbourhoods with churches that will take the Gospel to every person in their language and through their culture.
A. Is It Realistic to Expect “Z” from God?
Besides the fact that God wants “Z” more than we do, it is exciting that Scripture clearly promises that "Z" will happen. The promise that God will saturate the world with knowledge of Himself and His glory is stated in Isaiah 11:9, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
In the book of Revelation, the apostle John saw visions of heaven from which we learn about the ultimate result of all God’s work in the world, the “Z” towards which all history is moving. John reports seeing multitudes of people from every nation, tribe, people and language worshipping the Lord (Rev 7:9)! Yes, it is realistic to expect “Z” from God.
B. What Does God Say about “Z”?
In one of his most intimate moments with the Father, Jesus prayed that there would be unity among those who believe in Him, “ . . . to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me" (Jn 17:23b). Jesus desired that the world would know who He was! This is the “Z”! He repeated this request twice (Jn 17:21-23). Imagine! God the Son in conversation with God the Father discussing "Z"! “Z” is clearly important to God.
C. Jesus Taught the Disciples about "Z"
Jesus taught the disciples "Z" thinking, promising that " . . . the Gospel must first be preached to all nations" before His return (Mk 13:10). He also promised that the Gospel would saturate the nations in Matthew 24:14 and Luke 24:45-47.
III. SOME ESSENTIAL STEPS TO GET TO “Z”
"A" through "Y” are the things we do in ministry so that "Z" may happen. Scripture gives us some essentials for the "A" through "Y" stage that must take place before "Z" can effectively happen. Notice that these all deal with the elements of "Z." Having "Z” always in mind allows us to make strategic choices as we do "A" through "Y."
A. Prayer
In numerous ways, prayer is clearly an essential part of seeing God’s desires fulfilled on earth.
Notice the following references:
•2Ch 7:14 If God's people pray the way they should, "Z" will happen.
•Mt 9:38 God’s people are commanded to pray so that workers may participate towards "Z."
•1Ti 2:1-4 God’s people are to pray so that conditions for “Z" may exist. Paul told Timothy that
churches should pray for leaders in society to create favorable conditions for the spread of the
Gospel.
•Rev 5:8-10 "Z" is the result of "the prayers of the saints."
B. Love and Unity
When Jesus said, "By this all men will know," He referred to love among Christians (Jn 13:35). He made it clear that "Z" requires quality relationships. Only when believers love one another will people know that we belong to Christ. Growing in numbers only causes the world to see us as another religious movement if we lack love.
"That the world may know that you are My disciples" requires that believers be united as Jesus and the Father are united. As Jesus talks about His unity with the Father, He always points to a love relationship and an inseparable connection. He prays that our unity would be a model of that unity between Jesus and the Father, and that we should maintain an inseparable connection with Him (Jn 17:21,23).
C. Vision
As the verses below show, "Z" is a global task and includes all people of all nationalities from all places. "Z" thinking for any one area requires seeing the whole world as God does.
•Because God loves all people, He sent His Son so that “ whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).
•Jesus is the atoning sacrifice “ for the sins of the whole world" (1Jn 2:2).
•The Holy Spirit “ . . . convict[s] the world of guilt” (Jn 16:7-11).
•The Holy Spirit gives Christians power to witness “ to the ends of the earth" (Ac 1:8).
•Jesus commands his followers to “ go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:18-20).
•Jesus promised that many are ready to receive Him “The harvest is plentiful” (Mt 9:37).
D. Evangelism
For ‘Z’ to be realized, the church must send evangelists where there are few or no believers. "Z" requires that people go to those who have not heard the Gospel and deliver the message of salvation. As Paul writes, “ how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Ro 10:14-15).
Christians must continue to discover where the Gospel has not been preached, and who has not yet heard, in every village, city, region, and country. As believers spread the Gospel and plant churches in and among those places and people, "Those who were not told about Him will see and those who have not heard will understand” (Ro 15:21).
E. Church Planting
For "Z" to happen, the church has to be everywhere, on display to everyone. Through the church, both the invisible (the spiritual realm) and the visible world will know the manifold wisdom of God (Eph 3:8-11). As the body of Christ, the church is the literal presence of Jesus Christ on earth. As Jesus Christ takes first place in the life of the church, the world will know that He is "head over everything" (Eph 1:22-23).
By "the blood of the cross," people are reconciled to God. In His Church, Jesus Christ brings people together who would otherwise be separated by a “dividing wall of hostility." Among people who formerly lived in hate, "His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace" (Eph 2:13-16).
In the same way that the love and faithfulness of a husband and wife can be witnessed by others in the community in which they live, the relationship between Jesus and His church is on display (Eph 5:22-23).
In the church, as in a body, members are joined to serve "as each part does his work." The work of the body is always for the purpose of making Jesus known. When this happens, the church "grows and builds itself up” (Eph 4:11-13). The full-grown body is one that has members from every nation (Rev 5:9-10).
IV. “Z” THINKING RESULTS IN “Z” ACTION
A. “Z” Giving
"Z" thinking requires "Z" giving. Paul quotes Jesus' words when he exhorts the Ephesian elders at Miletus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Ac 20:35). Giving is an important ministry of the church. As Paul, speaking with apostolic authority, commanded the church in Corinth, “ see that you also excel in this grace of giving" (2Co 8:7).
The giving church not only heaps for itself credit in a heavenly account, but God provides the church's present needs “according to His glorious riches." By blessing the act of giving in heaven and on earth, God will release the "Z” thinking church to provide the finances for the task (Php 4:15-19).
B. “Z” Strategy
The great revival leader, John Wesley said, “In every act reflect on the end." Applying “Z” thinking ministry has a tremendous impact. Unfortunately, many servants of God go about their ministry without ever considering the effect of their efforts toward God’s “Z." When this happens, it is easy to get into a ‘rut’ and miss God’s blessing. However, the ultimate question “What does God want for the place where we serve Him?” can have an inspiring effect on God’s servants. When it is answered, it inspires faith and leads to increased ministry for God.
CONCLUSION
Saturation church planting is the focus of "Z" thinking because only through the church can the other tasks of praying, lovingly uniting, vision, evangelizing, and giving happen all over the world. Because the church must reach everyone, saturation church planting must drive "Z" thinking. God wants "Z,” and when the church works in accordance with God’s will, the work of saturation church planting will accelerate. The saturation or filling of nations with churches works toward the goal of all people hearing the Gospel.
QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION, REVIEW AND APPLICATION
•What is the difference between a “Z” thinking church planter and other church planters?
•Do you pray for whole nations? Regions? Cities? Villages and neighbourhoods?
•Do you pray for more workers for God’s harvest? If Jesus commanded us to pray for this, will He be
faithful to answer if we are faithful to pray? Why are there too few workers?
•Are you willing to work with and love brothers of different denominations and opinions in non-essentials toward “Z?" Will Jesus’ prayer for unity be answered or did He pray in vain? Will you be a part of the answer to His prayer?
•Do people on the outside see your church as just another denomination or religion, or as people who love?
•Is your vision to plant one church or to be part of a movement that will fill the world with Gospel-preaching churches?
•Do you excel at financial giving? Does your church excel at giving? Do you teach on giving? If not, since giving is taught in Scripture, why do you not you teach it?
•Is the goal of your evangelism only to make your church bigger, or is it also to plant new churches?
ACTION PLAN
•Begin thinking about a strategy for saturation church planting that includes prayer, unity and love, vision, evangelism, and church planting. Write down some initial ideas and share them with your mentor or the trainer of this session.
•Think about your neighbourhood, village, city, region, or country. Consider your answer to the question, “What does God want for _________? List three things that you will do to help see “Z” happen in your area.
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