John 20:21New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
I attended a continuing education seminar last week with Wendy Votino (Children’s and Youth Director) and Nancy Koscoe (Leadership Team Chairperson) called “Missio Ecclesia.” I know, the name is in a foreign language, but it essentially means “the mission of the gathered ones.” God gathers us together as his people and then sends us out on mission with Jesus. Here are some key points from the seminar that every Christian needs to understand.
- We now live in a “post-Christian society”…Most people no longer look for a church to attend to grow in their faith. They may be looking for a spiritual experience or for God, but they less frequently expect to find God in a formal Church.
- Christians need to remember that we are sent. When we start following Jesus, we go out with Jesus into the world to serve the world with him and to point the world to him! Like the Father sent Jesus the son to come to earth to save, so we are sent by Jesus out into the world to share his love in tangible, life giving ways as he did.
- Our main area of ministry is where we live, work, and play, not in the walls of the church building. Church buildings where we worship, pray, and gather are not the main place we live out our faith, they are launching pads where we refocus, refuel, and launch into our daily lives with God’s love and power for doing good in the world. God is out in the world where all the people are, drawing them to himself so they may find new life through Christ. So that is where God sends us!
As you pray and imagine your life this week, remember that God sends you to your job, your neighborhood, your family, your church, your grocery store, your recreation field to be his representative, to point people to him by the way you love so that others may find life by following Jesus. We are the “sent ones!”