B21 Podcast: Jon Akin’s Sermon on GCR Axiom 8 – A Commitment to a Methodological Diversity that is Biblically Informed

podcastPrevious Sermons in the Series:

Part one of this series: (Lordship of Christ) – Philippians 2

Part two of this series: (Gospel-Centeredness) – Matthew 4

Part three of this series: (Commitment to the Great Commandments) – Matthew 22:34-40

Part four of this series: (Inerrancy and Sufficiency of the Bible) – 2 Timothy 3:14-17

The recording for part five is not available.

Part six of this series: (A Commitment to Biblically Healthy Churches) – Matthew 16

Part seven of this series: (A Commitment to Sound Biblical Preaching) – Acts 16

Jon Akin sermon series through the Axioms of the Great Commission Resurgence Declaration continues with Axiom 8 “A Commitment to a Methodological Diversity that is Biblically Informed.” In examining this axiom, he teaches his people through 1 Corinthians 9.

Axiom 8 States:

VIII. A Commitment to a Methodological Diversity that is Biblically Informed. We call upon all Southern Baptists to consider themselves and their churches to be missionaries in non-Christian cultures, each of which requires unique strategies and emphases if the gospel is to penetrate and saturate every community in North America. (Phil. 2:1-5; 4:2-9)

There are essential and non-negotiable components of biblical ministry like proclamation, evangelism, service to others, prayer, and corporate worship. At the same time, we are convinced there is no specific style or method ordained by our God through which we must engage in these biblical ministries. In the past, Southern Baptists were characterized by a remarkable uniformity in both style and substance, but those days have long passed. Though we must remain united in substance, we must embrace a healthy, biblically informed diversity in our methodology if we are to effectively evangelize North America.

Different contexts demand diverse strategies and methods. We must think like missionaries and ask, “What is the best way to reach the people I live amongst with the gospel?” Various ethnic believers and social/cultural tribes will worship the same God, adore the same Jesus, believe the same Bible, and preach the same gospel. However, they may meet in different kinds of structures, wear different kinds of clothes, sing different kinds of songs, and engage in different kinds of ministries. We must treat the United States missiologically and do so with the same seriousness that our international missionaries treat their foreign people groups. As long as our varied methods communicate gospel truth, with theological integrity, unto God’s glory, we should not allow our different approaches to divide us.