Cross Points 1.22.21
Discipleship Afoot: Walking in Lebanon
This has been a long series, punctuated by reflections of several “mission” trips Rexanne and I have taken over the years. I’d be remiss to end this series without this last article on walking by faith. I hope you know that we all have a “mission” as Christians, this word is not restricted to those in parachurch organizations, or those serving as “missionaries” in foreign lands. I am a missionary, and so are you!
The mission of the church is summarized by what we call the Great Commission, given by Jesus just before he ascended back to God the Father after his resurrection. We find it in Matthew 28:18-20, where we see Jesus’ last words on earth: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This commission, this mission of the church, is not just for preachers or elders or foreign missionaries, it’s for me and you too! How so, you might ask?
Our task is not to convince people to say some made-up prayer inviting Jesus into their heart, it’s not to “save” people (Jesus does that); rather, the mission is to “make disciples” (linking them to Jesus, who saves). That’s a combined effort as the preacher preaches, as the elders shepherd and teach, as people serve in various ministries within the church, helping with the kids, helping with worship, helping with music, helping with maintenance issues, helping host small groups or lead them, helping to encourage others (kids, new Christians, whoever) to live for the Lord; helping to serve & share the “good news” of Jesus in the community (inviting people to hear God’s Word preached, telling them your personal story, making them aware that faith-filled discipleship is the path to salvation, etc.). This process includes you!
Think of yourself as a missionary to Lebanon, MO. That will impact how you go about relating to others on the job, as you make family connections, as you invite friends over to your house, as you attend Sunday gatherings for the Lord’s Supper and to hear a message from God’s Word. It impacts how you talk, in a way that honors the Lord. It impacts the values you espouse and that you live by on a day-by-day basis. It impacts how you treat your neighbor, how you use your home for more than a show place or sanctuary. It impacts how you reinforce good teaching to your kids when they come home from public school and have been taught things not conducive to Christian thinking (such as evolution, such as acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle as morally OK, abortion acceptance, etc.). It impacts how you volunteer in Lebanon. You are a missionary in whatever community you live within.
Our preacher at SHCC, Jeff Hinson, talks a lot about being intentional. That’s a good word. A word that needs to apply to us as we live the Christian life. Don’t make it too complicated but determine some way that you need to make an improvement in your life as a disciple, then work on it. If you’ve been in Lebanon, MO for long, you know that the opportunities are there, inside and outside the church, but in all cases opportunities to make an impact as a disciple of Jesus, making other disciples. That’s the mission. Make it yours! Be a missionary. Walk in faith. Discipleship Afoot.
The mission of the church is summarized by what we call the Great Commission, given by Jesus just before he ascended back to God the Father after his resurrection. We find it in Matthew 28:18-20, where we see Jesus’ last words on earth: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This commission, this mission of the church, is not just for preachers or elders or foreign missionaries, it’s for me and you too! How so, you might ask?
Our task is not to convince people to say some made-up prayer inviting Jesus into their heart, it’s not to “save” people (Jesus does that); rather, the mission is to “make disciples” (linking them to Jesus, who saves). That’s a combined effort as the preacher preaches, as the elders shepherd and teach, as people serve in various ministries within the church, helping with the kids, helping with worship, helping with music, helping with maintenance issues, helping host small groups or lead them, helping to encourage others (kids, new Christians, whoever) to live for the Lord; helping to serve & share the “good news” of Jesus in the community (inviting people to hear God’s Word preached, telling them your personal story, making them aware that faith-filled discipleship is the path to salvation, etc.). This process includes you!
Think of yourself as a missionary to Lebanon, MO. That will impact how you go about relating to others on the job, as you make family connections, as you invite friends over to your house, as you attend Sunday gatherings for the Lord’s Supper and to hear a message from God’s Word. It impacts how you talk, in a way that honors the Lord. It impacts the values you espouse and that you live by on a day-by-day basis. It impacts how you treat your neighbor, how you use your home for more than a show place or sanctuary. It impacts how you reinforce good teaching to your kids when they come home from public school and have been taught things not conducive to Christian thinking (such as evolution, such as acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle as morally OK, abortion acceptance, etc.). It impacts how you volunteer in Lebanon. You are a missionary in whatever community you live within.
Our preacher at SHCC, Jeff Hinson, talks a lot about being intentional. That’s a good word. A word that needs to apply to us as we live the Christian life. Don’t make it too complicated but determine some way that you need to make an improvement in your life as a disciple, then work on it. If you’ve been in Lebanon, MO for long, you know that the opportunities are there, inside and outside the church, but in all cases opportunities to make an impact as a disciple of Jesus, making other disciples. That’s the mission. Make it yours! Be a missionary. Walk in faith. Discipleship Afoot.
Cross Point: Remember how Jesus told the demon possessed man who he had set free, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:19). We were once possessed by sin, but Jesus has freed us. Shouldn’t we tell friends and others what God has done for us?
