Paul's style of Missions

Graciously, urgently, strategically, and with confidence. I’m not sure which of these specifically are least evident in the church—maybe a mixture of the first two, leaning more towards urgently. We seem to, as much as we can, understand the fact that God is gracious and wants everyone to be saved and allowing everyone to accept his gift. We also seem to understand, to an extent, that Christ is returning sometime and we need to work diligently—but we don’t necessarily live that out. I love the analogy that is given of the grace injected into the atmosphere, but one day it will be taken out. When that happens those who have inhaled the grace will be saved, but those who haven’t will have lost their chance. If that was taken more seriously I would hope we would have a fire lit under us to cause us to move and do work. The problem with urgency is that we aren’t serious about sharing the gospel and making disciples and we don’t live as if Christ is coming back. Honestly, I’m not sure what could be done to address this issue—maybe if the people preaching about this believed it themselves, had urgency paired with passion about the matter, then others would be more interested. Nevertheless, if it was addressed more would we really listen? The issue isn’t solely the fact that it isn’t addressed, it is also a heart matter. We can speak about something like this all day long but until a heart is changed there won’t be any real movements made. 

Luke and Acts-- The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit was poured out onto the church so that the church can have Christ’s power inside of them to go and make disciples, teaching them to obey Jesus’ command, with all the authority in them from Christ. The Holy Spirit connects to the Missio Dei because that is part of the entire thing—God sending his Son to then send the Holy Spirit, to then collectively send out the Church as a whole. If it wasn’t for the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of Christians that it would be up to us by ourselves to make disciples. With The Holy Spirit we have no reason to hold back, no reason to fear. “Christ, who has all authority, lives inside of us and is inviting us to participate in furthering the Kingdom of God.” The power that raised Christ from the grave lives IN US. The Holy Spirit is our helper and our counselor. 

Psalm 67 -- Missions and Worship

Psalm 67

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

¹ May God be gracious to us and bless us

and make his face shine on us— ^e

² so that your ways may be known on earth,

your salvation among all nations.

³ May the peoples praise you, God;

may all the peoples praise you.

⁴ May the nations be glad and sing for joy,

for you rule the peoples with equity

and guide the nations of the earth.

⁵ May the peoples praise you, God;

may all the peoples praise you.

⁶ The land yields its harvest;

God, our God, blesses us.

⁷ May God bless us still,

so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.^[1]

This Psalm starts off by asking God to “make his face shine” on them in order that they reflect his face off of them onto the earth and all nations. Worship and missions together. It seems this prayer is full of praise to God, asking him to fill them up so they may go into the nations—so that people will see God through their worship in the way they live.

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^[1] The New International Version. 2011 (Ps 67). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Matthew-- Reflection #2

1) Barnabas is known for his encouragement in the Bible. The fact that he got caught up in everything with encouraging tells a lot about his loving character. The church needs to work together for the development of missions. Like Paul and Barnabas were sent, we need to send. Some are called to go to nations, if we aren't we need to send them. Some are called to go down the street, if we aren't we still need to send them. I’m sure if Barnabas was in this day and age he would be one of the best at sending people off because he was just so dang encouraging. We should be taking after Barnabas.

2)If my understanding of the Missio Dei is correct then it fits in perfectly with the Great Commission. The Missio Dei, God’s mission, sending his son, whom together sent the Spirit, whom all three are sending the Church. God is trying to bring about his Kingdom and so is the Great Commission—even though it may not say that exactly. The Great Commission is to go and make more Christ followers to be a part of the Kingdom and expand it. Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Church, and the disciples made are all pointing to the same thing (the Kingdom of God) while complementing each other, working together, to point to that. I hope that makes sense? It made much more sense in my head.