We wrap up our “Intentional” series this Sunday with Missional Discipleship. After that we will unveil our “Intentional Journey” which put it all together and will become a “map” to our spiritual growth at Faith. For today, however, here is a sample of what’s to come on Sunday.
For all of our discipleship in Christ…experiencing him in moments that mark us; encountering him in the community doing life with others; being transformed through the living Word and intentional personal disciplines…..if it is not lived out…expressed in love, compassion and mercy to others…the poor, the marginalized…our hearts have not been formed as we think they have.
The fuller life in Christ comes not only as we give attention to our own growth but largely as we give ourselves away. And Paul reminds the church in Ephesus that growth in faith, knowledge, maturity and unity will come as God’s people are equipped to serve (Eph. 4:11-16)
I believe we encounter God’s heart most deeply as his love sends us out into the world. For God is a missionary God and we are a sent people.
When our vision of being disciples of Jesus involves living as kingdom people, we find ourselves thrust into both the inward and outward dimensions of spiritual formation. Our inner life-thoughts, attitudes, desires, reactions-become more and more like those of Jesus…AND we live in a way that demonstrates the kingdom and invites others to receive the friendship and mercy of God.
“It is not so much the case that God has a mission for this church in the world…but that God has a church for his mission in the world. Mission was not made for the church; the church was made for mission – God’s mission.” (Christopher Wright, The Mission of God)
We are formed by Christ to live missionally which means…it’s not so much participating in something as it is a way of living.
Gail Johnsen 