The First Commission

One of the current shifts in the Christian Church universe is the move from program centered to people centered.  Churches who are undergoing this shift have been dubbed "missional" churches.  But what exactly does this term mean?

Relatively short answer for a complex question:

"Jesus told us to go into all the world and be his ambassadors, but many churches today have inadvertently changed the "go and be" command to a "come and see" appeal. We have grown attached to buildings, programs, staff and a wide variety of goods and services designed to attract and entertain people.

"Missional is a helpful term used to describe what happens when you and I replace the "come to us" invitations with a "go to them" life. A life where "the way of Jesus" informs and radically transforms our existence to one wholly focused on sacrificially living for him and others and where we adopt a missionary stance in relation to our culture. It speaks of the very nature of the Jesus follower."
---Rick Meigs

As Christians, we should all be familiar with the "Great Commission" in Mathew 28: 16-20.  Our command to "go therefore, and teach all nations..."  But the spirit of the missional movement starts at home. 

In Mark 5:1-20, we read the story of the Demoniac in the tombs of Gardarenes.  After Jesus had cast out the Legion, he commanded the man in verse 19 to:

"Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee."

This was a very missional statement.  Go home.  It has to start at home: with you, your spouse, your children.  Take responsibility for the spiritual well-being of your loved ones.  Men, lead your family!

From there, take responsibility for your neighbors and friends, be the example and do not pass on the opportunity to share the grace of God and the wonders He has worked in your life.  Pray for them daily and share their burdens.  Build a community around you of like-minded individuals, but not to the exclusion of the rest of the world.  While we are called to separate ourselves and be the "peculiar" people of God, we are never commanded to ignore the world around us and our spiritual responsibilities.

For more information on the "Missional Church," refer to Friends of Missional.

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for my inattention to your will.  Help me to reach those around me in a way meaningful to Your desires.  Help me start at home to be the man, husband, and father you desire.  Help me to care for and love my nieghbors and friends and demonstrate You to them.

You Can't Go Home Again

Recycled Facebook NOTE from January 11, 2009.

In Mark 6:4 Jesus said that a prophet is not without honor except in his own hometown with his relatives, and in his own household. How have I interpreted this and held it for most of my life, you ask? Well, I am glad you asked.

My take is that it is nearly impossible to be honored for your calling at home because HOME remembers. HOME knew you when you were a snotty little kid. HOME knew you when you were the kid who covered the side of your neighbors garage with mud because you were 7 and it was muddy, and darn it if those huge rhubarb leaves don't uproot easily and scoop mud beautifully to propel. {True Story} HOME remembers every time you put your foot in your mouth, every time your walk was not hand-in-hand with the Man who stilled the waters (even if it was B.C.-before conversion). HOME doesn't do change well.

To quote/paraphrase Disney's "Lilo and Stitch," Ohana means family in Hawaiian and family is forever and ever and ever and ever. Did you ever notice all the genealogies in the OT hence the begats and the listing in Matthew for the path to the Crown? Because families are always looking out for what happens among their own. And they never forget.

Well, HOME can also include the hometown where your young foolish reputation will always haunt you. HOME is your relatives where {some} will always confront you on some long forgotten (by you) offense or perceived offense that broke some one's feelings. And HOME also includes the members of your household, who, if no one else, sees you often enough to get hurt when you are inconsistent.

How does this tirade apply to my application? Well, I have always used this reference as a good sign to avoid HOME where you will be reminded of your failures no matter how strong your current testimony is. No matter what, you are still who you were in their eyes. This section continues that Jesus was amazed at their unbelief and He could do no great works except for heal a few who were sick. I mean even God was hindered by the HOME's preconceived notions of who HE was. What possible hope can I have?

But wait, look closer. Jesus is God, right? God knows everything (omniscient-all knowing). He knew He would not be able to do everything there, BUT HE STILL WENT BECAUSE THERE WERE A FEW WHO'S LIVES HE CHANGED. It doesn't matter if we get our feelings hurt, as long as we are obeying His will, there is some reason for us being lead there. Some may sow, some may water, some may harvest. We do not always see the full bounty from the seeds we sow.

Go and Sow. Yes, this whole blog is "really" about personal application, so I am preaching to the choir, but the choir director's monitor sometimes don't work so good.

All this reconnecting has ignited somewhat of a desire to go HOME again. Sure, I do not have much of anything left there, it HAS been a solid 20 years with few visits by me. I have not attended a High School reunion (not that I ever thought I would, because of the EXTREMELY divergent lifestyles). I just want it to be perfectly clear that if I return, God needs to lead me there with unwavering certainty (I am not casting fleece or looking for a Mene, Mene, Tekel u-Pharsin moment with the disembodied Hand of God writing it out for me). Just a wellness of soul and I would be good.

I am...

I am complete in Him Who is the Head of all principality and power (Colossians 2:10)

I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5)

I am free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2)

I am far from oppression, and fear does not come near me (Isaiah 54:14)

I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me (1 John 5:18)

I am holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:16)

I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5)

I have the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7)

I have the Greater One living in me; greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the  world (1 John 4:4)

I have received the gift of righteousness and reign as a king in life by Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17)

I have received the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened (Ephesians 1:17, 18)

I have the power over all the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm me (Mark 16:17, 18; Luke 10:17, 19)

I have put off the old man and have put on the new man, which is renewed in the knowledge after the image of Him Who created me (Colossians 3:9, 10)

I have no lack, for my God supplies all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)

I can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one with my shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16)

I can do all things through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:13)

I show forth the praises of God Who has called me out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)

I am God's child-for I am born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God, which lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23)

I am God's workmanship, created in Christ unto good works (Ephesians 2:10)

I am a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I am a spirit being-alive to God (Romans 6:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23)

I am a believer, and the light of the Gospel shines in my mind (2 Corinthians 4:4)

I am a doer of the Word and blessed in my actions (James 1:22, 25)

I am a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17)

I am more than a conqueror through Him Who loves me (Romans 8:37)

I am an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11)

I am a partaker of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3, 4)

I am an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20)

I am part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people (1 Peter 2:9)

I am the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21)

I am the temple of the Holy Spirit, I am not my own (1 Corinthians 6:19)

I am the head and not the tail; I am above only and not beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13)

I am the light of the world (Matthew 5:14)

I am His elect, full of mercy, kindness, humility, and longsuffering (Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12)

I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood (Ephesians 1:7)

I am delivered from the power of darkness and translated into God's kingdom (Colossians 1:13)

I am redeemed from the curse of sin, sickness, and poverty (Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Galatians 3:13)

I am firmly rooted, built up, established in my faith and overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:7)

I am called of God to be the voice of His praise (Psalm 66:8; 2 Timothy 1:9)

I am healed by the stripes of Jesus (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24)

I am raised up with Christ and seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12)

I am greatly loved by God (Romans 1:7; Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4)

I am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power (Colossians 1:11)

I am submitted to God, and the devil flees from me because I resist him in the Name of Jesus (James 4:7)

I press on toward the goal to win the prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward (Philippians 3:14)

For God has not given [me] a spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)

It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20)

Copyright © 2008 Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.

Pssst...and so are YOU (if you want to be).