Missional Disciples

The quote below is from Bob at the In the Clearing blog, on the subject of being missional. Click on In the Clearing: Back to Missional. Bob points out that , when reading stories of Jesus in the Gospels, perhaps we should be imagining ourselves less in the role of the needy crowds and more in the roles of the twelve disciples ("learners").

But here’s the point: that’s us. As believers, as Jesus followers, shouldn’t it be these fellows, the disciples, in whom we are encouraged to see ourselves? At some point, should we not be encouraged to understand ourselves by looking at them, by seeing ourselves in them? That, it seems to me, is one of the great uses of preaching. From Sunday to Sunday to re-issue the call of Jesus upon our lives.

We are the disciples of our day. We have been called–each one of us–to spread the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom in our corner of the world? A great step in the "working out of our salvation" is when, by the graceful in-working of God, we move from me-centered pleading to Christ-centered following. Hallelujah!

Our preachers should be helping us along in this process, rather than seeming to enforce (by repetition) a communally-shared self-definition as helpless pleaders. This is the great need of the church today, in my opinion. A concerted, thoughtful, and continuing restatement and explanation of the call of God on every believer. Whatever associations the word "missional" may have for others, this is my understanding of a missional church, and a missional people.

Good reminder that we are all called to join Jesus in His mission and to learn how to do the Jesus Stuff in the Jesus way.