 Last night in Midweek Connection, we continued our "Back to the Basics" series by considering the topic of mission. After working through the topic inductively, we concluded quite simply that the mission of Jesus' followers is, in a word, disciple-making/discipleship (Matthew 28:19-20). We fleshed that out by discovering how discipleship happens: we (1) magnify God’s glory (2) by bringing His salvation to bear upon peoples’ lives (3) so that they do the same. We didn't have time to work through some concerns (and responses) that might be raised against this understanding of our mission, so they have been pasted below for your consideration. CONCERN/RESPONSE #1 Concern: “We live in a fast-paced American society compared to the early church; our lives are so much busier! That mission sounds like it takes some effort!” Response: Yes, it will! But, Hebrews 3-4 reminds the believer that God has promised him rest. But it is not now! Jesus’ expressed His mentality this way, “[Work…for] the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). Therefore, He considers His people to be “fellow-workers” in 1 Corinthians 3:9, laboring with Him in God’s harvest and building project –God expects us to work for and with Him. The New Testament was not secret about this, and it therefore regularly uses terms like “toil,” “labor,” “struggle,” and “strive.” Paul’s mindset with regards to his mission was, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for you” (2 Corinthians 12:15). "Rest is promised, but it is not now." CONCERN/RESPONSE #2 Concern: “I’m afraid that I might get burned and/or burned out if I get involved in people’s lives like that.” Response: Paul was one who knew extreme labor for the church – his list of burdens in 2 Corinthians 6:4-5; 11:23-33 is exhausting (“in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings”). Nonetheless, he would affirm, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed…So then death worketh in us, but life in you…all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:8-17). When the mission of God is undertaken in the might of God, we will experience the mercy of God – “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). CONCERN/RESPONSE #3 Concern: “This mission commands more than just Sunday and Wednesday. Really?” Response: The “daily” language was started by Jesus in Luke 9:23, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” The author of Hebrews encouraged the believers to “exhort one another daily…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (3:13). We need daily discipleship, fellowship, edification, etc. so that we are not hardened and deceived in regards to our mission (cf. Hebrews 10:24-25). This was modeled by the early church in Acts 2, and it was followed by the Lord adding to their number “daily” (2:47; 16:5)! CONCERN/RESPONSE #4 Concern: “You just sound young and idealistic. Perhaps you should wait until you experience real life.” Response: That concern is certainly valid, which is why Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 7 that he wished all people might be like himself – free from the responsibilities of spouse and children so that God might be more undistractedly served. Some responsibilities in life do indeed diminish the amount of effort/time that we can put into this mission, but those responsibilities do not negate the mission or our need to engage in it. From Scripture itself, we could indeed preach two different very messages on the topic of singleness: (1) Why you should stay single and follow Jesus — enjoy less distractions to minister the gospel (1 Corinthians 7 and Matthew 10); (2) Why you should get married and follow Jesus — enjoy a gospel partnership and a gospel-picture (Ephesians 5). Whether single or married, our mission remains the same, and there are many ways in which the young adults singles are better equipped by their situation in life to do that. I believe that God’s mission can still turn a city upside-down and light a world on fire, but it won’t unless it’s engaged in with the same commitment and unanimity displayed by the early church. Friends, this is your life!
Brothers and sisters, we must recognize that we are “slaves” of Jesus Christ.
Their lives were not their own—Christ was their life, so people were their focus. And, what an impact they made! My, how far we have come from that comprehensive and compelling awareness in our comfortable, convenience, complacent, calloused, formal, programatic, American Christianity. Friend, your Master has purchased you and calls you to represent Him. He lived in a fishbowl, immersed in real, raw people-ministry (and He loved that!)—the Lord of Glory, known as the Friend of Sinners, eating with them, sharing life with them, touching them, pressing truth into them. Christian, we have a mission—to magnify God’s glory by bringing His salvation to bear upon peoples’ lives. Let’s get active in that mission of discipleship and may it drive us individually and corporately every day of our lives.  20 Things I Wish I'd Known in My Late Twenties
Well-written and really practical advice! Worth the five minutes it takes to read and consider these key principles the writer wishes she had known when she was our age. At least we all have #19 down! And, here's a sneak peak at one of them: "18. Live loved. — Wake up every morning and—before you put your feet to the floor—let your mind and heart linger on the fact that the Creator of the Universe loves you passionately, completely, unconditionally and eternally. Nothing matters more than this. This one truth can change absolutely everything." 20 Ways to Be Refreshing in the Local Church Some really good suggestions here! I'd encourage you to read through and highlight 2 or 3 that you could start doing this coming week. Put them on a notecard or on your phone; sticky tac them to your mirror; pray for God to help you refresh your church family in this way; and then work to do so! Here's why — (excerpt) "There are few epitaphs I would rather have engraved on my tombstone than Paul’s words of commendation to Philemon, 'the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you' (Philemon 1:7). Oh, how I love Philemons and want to consistently be one!" A Christian’s Guide to Reading the News: Five Rules to Remember "If you have been following the news recently, you probably have noticed a lot of discouraging headlines about war, disease, immorality, and economic uncertainty. People are protesting in streets from Hong Kong, China to Ferguson, Missouri. From Moscow to Washington D.C., leaders seem to be more interested in drinking vodka and playing golf than helping the people they serve. How should a Christian react to all of the bad news in this world? Here are a few thoughts that might help us read the news in a redemptive way. ..." If you are a news-reader or news-worrier, this is a helpful article! The Deadly Deception of Sexual Atheism in the Church "The love, sex and dating forecast among adult single believers for the foreseeable future is this: cloudy with a chance of fear and pride." Don't allow your fear of missing out or your pride over knowing better excuse, empower, or embitter you in this crucial area! A Letter to the Caliph Worried about the rise of militant Islam. You have nothing to fear ... really! Read this open letter from Tim Keesee (director of the "Dispatches from the Front" DVD series) to the ISIS commander and self-declared Caliph. "...I think it’s best that you know that you will not succeed. You and your Caliphate are destined for failure. Of course, all empires, caliphates, and reigns of terror eventually come to an end, but something else is happening — another kind of failure in your command over the Islamic world. It’s that Jesus Christ is building his Church, and he said that “even the gates of hell” (which sounds a lot like Mosul right now) cannot stop its advance." |
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