I have read both Sent and Compelled by Love. What will be the main difference between the two studies. Is their a more specific target (age, maturity, etc.) for one compared to the other. I'm planning some fall 2009 small group material and was trying to determine which one would be a better fit.

Thanks,

Brent

Ed,

I wrote a couple of weeks ago asking you about changing the missional mindset at our church, and you mentioned me to read Compelled by Love.
I have the kit, and books and we are going to begin a Wednesday night study after the first of the year. Is there any other promo stuff besides the promo at NOC?

Related (from the article, "Organizing and Implementing Evangelistic Cell Groups," available from Jon Randles--BGCT Evangelism Director--at jon.randles@bgct.org):

". . . Anything Jesus Christ desires for Himself as Lord of the universe is what all Christians everywhere also want for Him—-how could any real ones not? There’s no good thing that a conscientious believer won’t now do for his Lord, Jesus! The fuel of churches’ evangelism ministries for the long-haul is what Christians realize gratefully about their present spiritual positions before God (rescued, from the well-deserved eternal penalty due for all their sins—-and standing forgiven, in His righteousness) and the sincere passion believers have for the One who permanently changed their forevers. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself has become believers’ Passion.

“'One Big Zero' describes the former life of each person truly born-again. The New Testament admonishes Christians to 'remember . . . you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, with no hope and without God in the world' and 'dead in your trespasses and sins' (Ephesians 2:1 and 11-12, HCSB). With no exceptions, each Christian really is radically redeemed, having been 'rescued . . . from the domain of darkness and transferred . . . into the kingdom of the Son' (Colossians 1:13). On the outside looking in—-that had been the apostle Paul’s spiritual position, too, before encountering the risen Lord Jesus on the Damascus Road. After that meeting and for the rest of his life, the testimony of Paul—-and each member of the church-starting team with which he traveled the Roman Empire’s cobblestone highways-—was, 'the love of Christ compels us' (2 Corinthians 5:14). That personal love-relationship with the Rescuer, the Transferor, the Forgiver and Savior—-it propelled Paul and his mission team constantly forward through Asia and into Europe with the good news about life in Jesus despite the hunger and homelessness and cussings and garbage-like treatment those men endured (1 Corinthians 4:9-13). Paul didn’t stop his evangelism efforts; it’s reported that he was stopped by an executioner’s axe—-a sobering contrast to the confessions of many in 2008 to be Christians but holding so little appreciation for Jesus—-Himself hammered onto a cruel cross in their places and for them—-that they fail to attend Bible study weekly or even to arrive on time when they go.

"Vocational ministers may cast vision for their congregations’ cell groups, and they might teach cell group leaders the details of their mission statement. But, for the sake of souls, cell groups must be evangelistic for the long-haul; vision and mission act as those groups’ GPS, but position and passion are their required fuel. Organize evangelistic cell groups whose members will act on their vivid salvation-testimony memories and the fact that Jesus Christ paid the price for the spiritual standing they enjoy now. Christ Himself urged believers, 'Remember therefore what you have received and . . . keep it' (Revelation 3:3). Always keep a tank-full of it! . . ."

David Troublefield
Minister of Education
Lamar Baptist Church
Wichita Falls, TX
david@lbcwf.org

Dany, no more promo resources yet, but we will have more soon. Stay tuned to the blog.

Brent, we worked to make sure they were different. "Compelled" is about "love" with some missional implications. "Sent" is more focused on mission.