![]() 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. Comments are closed.
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