:Forest Folk

Missional living is definitely a buzz-phrase that is all over the place these days. the concept that we are required to compartmentalize churches, missional, has since the beginning of creation been a tiny bit weird to me. come on, shouldnt all churches be missional in their very character? it should be expected from a church, at its very nature, yearn to introduce their culture and area with the good news as a missionary would in a another country? Isnt that what the churches is challenged to do in the last challenge from Jesus in Matthew 28:19? Our own place of origin deserves this type of church. Austin churches is slowly transitioning to what our God instructed in Scripture.

The Son of God gives the charge in Acts 1:8 saying, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 exemplifies this topic as, right before Jesus Christ ascends to Heaven, He points the disciples on a journey that would initiate right in their own community. He begins with their local place of Jerusalem, and then broadens the call to the far parts of the creation.

As followers of Christ, we are not called to privacy, but to be missional people who are actively going out and meeting people right where they are with the story of Christ. We have gazed at this throughout history: God urges Abraham on a mission to go out of his country and his people and go to the place that God would show him (Gen. 12:1), God sends Moses on a mission to rescue an enslaved people and lead them to joy (Exodus 3:8-10), God moved Jesus on a journey to earth to restore all things to Himself through the blood of Christ (Colossians 1:20). And now God is sending believers on a mission to engage communities, cities, peoples, and even nations with the gospel(Matt. 28:19 Mark 6:7 Luke 10:1 John 20:21 Acts 1:8). If we dont respond to this encouragement and continue to see the places of worship like a invite only country club ” encouraging that people fix their act, pay their money, and walk to our place of worship God will continue His exploration without us.