Day: March 9, 2016

Welcome back to Beginnings where this week we continue our spiritual journey!

Already, we have challenged ourselves with new disciplines like Bible study, prayer, sharing our faith, Christian community, etc. 

This week we move on to the topic, share your faith: missions.

Truly, God’s people are a mobile people as story after story in the Bible includes the word “GO!” That’s why I believe that the true church is a ‘sending’ church. A church that must be more interested in it’s sending capacity than it’s seating capacity.

This appears to be the heart of our Lord as He gave us the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus got even more specific about outreach in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

In this passage, Jesus clearly identified three tiers of missions, which you can imagine as concentric circles:

• Jerusalem – local, right where you live.
• Judea/Samaria – culturally connected but not home.
• Ends of the Earth – everywhere else

At first, this may seem a bit overwhelming, but that’s just because it is. Make no mistake this is a huge responsibility, so we need a plan of attack.

What are the options:

Pray – Pray for missions work here, there and everywhere. Adopt a missionary family, global need, a unique region in prayer and make it your heart cry.

Give– when you regularly bring your offering to CrossPoint you can know that more than 10% of what you bring goes straight back out to the mission field. We practice the tithe as a church! Additionally, there are several opportunities throughout each year to give to mission causes.   

Go– Take a trip. Each year CrossPoint offers ministry excursions nationally and internationally. It’s your opportunity to take part in missions at whatever comfort level and costs you can incur. A mission trip is a great opportunity to live out your faith, make a difference in another place and grow spiritually yourself.

So, let’s make it simple and challenge ourselves with a few new disciplines:

1. Investigate options – Make sure a mission you are contributing to at any level is a good thing.
2. Pray and ask God to lead – He wants you on the field at some level, so He won’t keep it a secret if you ask!
3. Start local and go global – Don’t wait to be missionary when you travel. Start now, remembering that wherever you are is your Jerusalem and God has already placed you on that mission field.

Don’t forget to check out the podcast for more info and we’ll see you back here for more Beginnings next week!