Imagine Mission

Imagine that God called you to be a foreign missionary, and that it was clear to you that this is what he wanted you to do.  You sold your home, obtained travel documents, said goodbye to friends and family, and moved to a foreign culture that didn't know about Jesus.  

Now imagine the first week of your life there.  You wake up, brush your teeth, and look out the window.  What do you do?  Consider it.  List a few things out loud.  Use your imagination.


Your list might include things like:

1. Go introduce myself to the neighbors
       -maybe bring a gift with me

2. Plan to spend enough time with people that I get to deeper conversations about life that will naturally bring up issues of sin and suffering and discontent with the world, which relate clearly to God's work in the gospel.

3.  Find public places and activities to get involved with to meet more people.

4.  Go to work everyday and talk to people you encounter there about Jesus.

5.  Spend devoted and serious time in prayer for God to give opportunities to tell others the gospel.

6.  Maybe even find people in public places who are interested to talk, and tell them about Jesus.

7.  Invite people over for meals and cultural events to get to know them and serve them and talk to them about Jesus.

8.  Look for practical ways to serve my neighbors and city.

9.  Encourage others who know Jesus to get together with me in these activities.

Some of these things might be uncomfortable.  But, you are bringing the message of reconciliation with heaven, so you figure it is worth some discomfort.

Now imagine that several people hear the great news about Jesus and decide to follow him with you.  What would you guys do together?  Really, think about it.  List a few things out loud.



Your list might include things like:

1. Eat together

2. Pray together

3. Make music together

4.  Study God's word together

5.  Work through struggles and sins openly and honestly together

6.  Appoint elders and deacons

7.  Do the first list together


Now imagine one last thing with me.  Imagine that Jesus called you to be a missionary in your own neighborhood and city.  Imagine that he left his people on earth to show other people how to follow him.  Imagine that he gave the leaders of the church to equip the everyday Christians to do the work of ministry in everyday life.  Imagine that he entrusted to all of his people the ministry of reconciling the world to God through speaking the good news of the gospel and inviting others to repent and believe for their salvation too.

Imagine it was day one.  You wake up, brush your teeth, and look out the window.  What do you do?  Consider it.  List a few things out loud.  
Use your imagination...