Church on mission is definitely a trendy title that is all over the place these days. the concept that we are required to label church buildings, missional, has forever been somewhat strange to me. please, shouldnt all bodies of Christ be missional in their very core? Shouldnt a church, at its very nature, want to meet their culture and city with the message of Jesus as a missionary would in a foreign country? Isnt this what the church buildings is challenged to do in the sending out by Jesus in Matthew 28:19? Our own hometown deserves this kind of church. Central Austin churches is slowly transitioning to what our Creator instructed in Holy Word.
The messiah gives the direction 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 justifies this concept as, right before Jesus Christ ascends to Heaven, He points the disciples on a journey that would begin right in their individual community. He begins with their local place of Jerusalem, and then broadens the call to the uttermost parts of the globe.
As believers, we are not moved to social clubs, but to be missional people who are anxiously going out and meeting people right where they are with the gospel. We have seen this throughout history: God motivated Abraham on a mission to move from his city and his people and go to the town that God would show him (Gen. 12:1), God motivated Moses on a mission to restore an enslaved people and lead them to joy (Exodus 3:8-10), God sends Jesus on a journey to world to bring back all things to Himself through the cross (Colossians 1:20). And now God is sending believers on a journey to engage communities, cities, ethnicities, and even nations with the good news (Matt. 28:19 Mark 6:7 Luke 10:1 John 20:21 Acts 1:8). If we dont respond to this urge and continue to display the church buildings like a closed off country club ” urging that people resolve their abilities, pay their deposit, and drive to our sanctuary God will continue His exploration without us.