Missional II
I have been thinking about what it means to be a missional church. This brings to my mind the words that mark the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Right out of the box, Jesus’ is making a claim on our lives, that is, if we are interested in being a part of God’s plan for the world. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Matthew 4:17
Being a missional church means being a catalyst for God’s Kingdom. With that in mind it seems important that we think about two words in this verse. The first one to consider is the first word in the verse: repent. If you have read the Bible much this word has come across your field of vision but if you are like me, you sometimes find it something you would rather pass over. But, it appears that Jesus is saying that if you want to be a part of his Kingdom that we must stop doing some things that we are doing, start doing some things that we aren’t, and live with a new awareness of God’s presence and power in our lives.
What are some marks of repentance? (We talked about some of these in our Sunday night group so any of you can share your thoughts.)
The second word is the last: near. What exactly does Jesus mean by this? Does it mean that the Kingdom is coming and it is just around the bend? Does he mean that it isn’t here yet but that it will soon be arriving? Or, could he mean that it is hear now and ready for the taking?
Some translations use the phrase, “now at hand”, rather than “near.” Which do you prefer? What do you think “near” means and what impact should that have on the life of a church like ours?
Being a missional church means being a catalyst for God’s Kingdom. With that in mind it seems important that we think about two words in this verse. The first one to consider is the first word in the verse: repent. If you have read the Bible much this word has come across your field of vision but if you are like me, you sometimes find it something you would rather pass over. But, it appears that Jesus is saying that if you want to be a part of his Kingdom that we must stop doing some things that we are doing, start doing some things that we aren’t, and live with a new awareness of God’s presence and power in our lives.
What are some marks of repentance? (We talked about some of these in our Sunday night group so any of you can share your thoughts.)
The second word is the last: near. What exactly does Jesus mean by this? Does it mean that the Kingdom is coming and it is just around the bend? Does he mean that it isn’t here yet but that it will soon be arriving? Or, could he mean that it is hear now and ready for the taking?
Some translations use the phrase, “now at hand”, rather than “near.” Which do you prefer? What do you think “near” means and what impact should that have on the life of a church like ours?
posted by The Wheatland Mission at 9:34 AM
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