What does it mean to be Missional ?

The term missional is an adjective that describes the fact that a church totally aligns itself with the missio Dei ( the mission of God). Christ Jesus prayed to the Father, “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world,” (John 17.18). This truth reveals that the church is to be missional, on mission, acting as “sent ones” in this world. The church is formed to continue the mission that began in the heart of the Father, was seen in the life of the Son, and is to continue in the Spirit empowered endeavors of the church. The basic premise of the missional church is that “missions” is not an organization or program of a church. Missions constitute the very essence or nature of the church.

This blog will be dedicated to leading all of us who engage in this conversation to find ways to be missional in New Orleans or where God has placed us. I will publish suggestions for missional activites on a regular basis as well as food for thought that is designed to make us become missional. It is my hope that my thoughts and suggestions will serve as a motivation for all of us to be about missio Dei .

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Missional Suggestion #7

Practice Lenten Disciplines
The three primary Lenten disciplines are fasting, prayer and alms giving. We are all called to examine ourselves during this season of preparation and reflection. These three diciplines are tools to help us in this exercise of self examination. Here are a few thoughts and suggestions about the Lenten Disciplines.

Fasting

When we think of fasting we think of food and we are quite correct to do so. A fast from food reminds us of our dependence an God and each other.Fasting is not a diet; it is a discipline that enables us to focus our attention toward prayer. Fasting can give us a great sensitivity to hear God. When you are hungry …pray…or you may say, “feast on God.” This turns our thoughts from ourselves to focus toward the heart of God. Fasts I would like to suggest :
  • The John Wesley fast--Each Thursday evening, after the evening meal, until mid-afternoon on each Friday, John Wesley would not take solid food but fasted and focused much of his time in prayer.
  • The sunup to sundown fast on Friday

Non Food Fasts

  • fasting from anger
  • fasting from any arguments with a certain person
  • fasting from criticism of a certain set of people, but letting God take care of their change
Alms giving
Jesus presented alms giving as a necessary part of Christian life: “when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Mt 6:2-3). He does not say IF you give alms, but WHEN.
Some Suggestions:
  • Give to a new Charity
  • Volunteer your services to a shelter or some other non-profit
  • Give an anonymous gift to someone

Prayer

Prayer is the most essential element of the Christian life.Withpout prayer we are cut off from God and powerless. The question is not whether to pray but how to pray ? Jesus gave his disciples a prayer that we would all do well to use at the start of each day. Use it and the other suggestions below.

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