The Mission We're On

    For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
    For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

(1 Corinthians 9:16-23 ESV)

Remember from the RightNow video when they define what a missionary is?

"A missionary is not defined by where you go, but by the mission you are on"

Having grown up as a missionary kid in Ecuador I've seen a lot of short-term missionaries come and go.  Some do skits, others do projects, most give stuff to people.  I suppose the theme is always related to "Jesus loves you", but sometimes the message has a really hard time coming across.  When you read Paul's heart for the Gospel, the Mission he was on was a driving force that moved him into many different places and circumstances.  He was in love with the Word of God, with Jesus.

When Paul was converted, he had to turn his back on all that was once his life.  He couldn't go back home or back to work, his life had to radically change.  He followed Jesus anywhere.  This makes me wonder, how much do I love Jesus.  Have I turned my back on all the comforts and securities I want so badly to hide behind for the sake of Jesus being known to the world around me?

Paul said that he did it all for the sake of the gospel, that he would share in its blessings with all those to whom he preached.  Let's do this!

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What should the purpose of a mission trip be?
Who should be on a mission trip?
How do we become all things to all people that we might save some?
What must we DO to share the message of Christ effectively?

Trade: to give and receive

Check out the link to the videos we watched this last Sunday.

http://www.rightnow.org/are-you-a-trader/community

What did each of these people give?

What did they receive?

Each of us are by nature traders.  We give our time, energy and attention to something everyday every day.  God has given us lives to live.  In a way, our lives are like money.  We spend them every moment we are alive.  What are you spending your life on?  What is it that you are hoping to get?
Most of us, if we're honest, want to receive attention, popularity, money, friends, stuff, really anything that will make us happy.

Jesus says:

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
(Luke 12:15 ESV)

Life is not found in stuff.  Happiness doesn't come from the things that we naturally crave.

Rather, by trusting in him we choose to believe that our reward is Christ himself.  Though we may never see a return on our investment in other people's lives, we know that He is our great reward.  Instead of spending the time that we have been given on this earth for our own selfish desires, we need to open our eyes to the needs around us and give to meet those needs.  When we give our time, energy and attention to those in need around us we show the world that the life that Christ calls us to is far more valuable than the a life lived for ourselves.

Take a look at the questions and instructions from RightNow.org.  This week asked the Lord to open your eyes to see the needs around you and to show you how you might meet those needs for the sakes of the Kingdom of God.

Why

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14-17

Questions

1. What are the immediate and unique needs in your community?
2. In what ways do your passions and skills intersect a need in your community?
3. What are the things that you see that make your fists clinch? What are the injustices around you?
4. Who are the people, organizations, churches that are doing something to make Jesus known in your community?
5. What can you do? Who can do it with you?

What Now

1. Write down the unique needs that are present in your community.
2. Identify some key people and/or ministries to pray and brainstorm with.
3. Consider launching a ministry of neighboring. The Bible tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Sadly, most of us don’t even know our       neighbors very well. Get out. Meet your neighbors. Understand their needs. Grill some burgers for them…