I just spent a day with Alan Hirsch. As a result, my fire was stoked once again on why missional matters.
Discipleship happens exponentially when we are on mission together.
The early church was a church on mission and experienced phenomenal growth.
The missional impulse flows out of our God who “sent” His Son on mission.
Most of today’s world is not attracted to sexy buildings or services but rather to Christians who serve the world on mission as Jesus served the world on mission.
Jesus did not tell us to “sit” He told us to “go.”
*For further reading, pick up Alan Hirsch’s amazing book: The Forgotten Ways.
Great reflections, Charlie! As you know, I am quite thaknful for the Lord’s gentle correction(s) and redirection(s) in regards to my ”striving.”In the article, ”The church’s missional ministry is inextricably linked to its prayer ministry” struck the loudest chord with me. In my life, I am discovering that when I remain attentive to the Lord (UP) with a community of listeners (IN), the Spirit manifests missional opportunities all around (OUT); however, without the attentiveness to the Lord, it all falls apart. (That\’s called: ”speaking from experience.”)Furthermore, could we slip ”prayer ministry” under the umbrella of intentional times of worship? Lately, my experiences in corporate and individual worship are becoming collisions of UP, IN, and OUT. Just last night, I participated in a gathering where we sang, prophesied (yup) and read praises to the Lord (UP), prayed for and spoke encouraging words to each other (IN), and cried out to God on behalf of our city as a portion of an informal time commissioning each other to join Jesus\’ activity in the city. (OUT) For so long, personally, corporate worship has been a time of scrambling to ”get things done,” worrying about all the pieces coming together, or frankly, going through the motions. However, could it be that as we invite the Holy Spirit to stir among us (UP), we are activated into ministry for each other (IN) which can not be contained as it spills outside our Jesus communities into the margins where God dwells?I’m gettin’ fired up, Chuck! (”Up Chuck.” Now that’s funny right there. *Tow Mater voice*)