GOD’S MISSION IS MY MISSION

AND GOD’S MISSION IS URGENT!

Where have you seen the above statement? Or maybe you’ve never seen it. Or maybe in the cobwebs of your mind you vaguely remember hearing or seeing it. Well ... it has been printed in every bulletin and monthly RECORD of our church for about the past 5 years! Sometimes what becomes familiar we just skim or skip over. So what does it mean?

• It means God’s Mission and the Christian’s mission is to be one and the same.

• It means that this “Joint Mission” is not a back-burner, when you have time or get around to it mission ... IT IS URGENT!!! Note: Urgent means immediate action!

• What needs our immediate action? God’s Mission! So ... WHAT IS GOD’S MISSION??? It has always been the same and it does not change ... “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10); to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matt. 28:19).

“God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4)

HOW does this happen? “Faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” (Rom. 10:17)

WE KNOW that only the Holy Spirit can convert people so where and how does God’s Mission Become OUR Mission?

“How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” (Rom. 10:14)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)

Our place in God’s Urgent Mission is to be the proclaimers, the tellers of the Good News or at least “the inviters” of others to come and hear the Good News about Jesus. Philip in John 1:43-46 did both proclaiming about Jesus and inviting as he challenged Nathaniel to “Come and see” as his invitation to meet Jesus.

MARCH 14 is FRIENDSHIP SUNDAY at OUR REDEEMER.

So what does that Mean? Isn’t every Sunday meant to be a “Friendship Sunday?” Yes, it is and hopefully it is so in that God’s people are friendly and conversive with both members and visitors and feel moved to invite the unchurched anytime. HOWEVER once or twice a year we designate a special Sunday to encourage and remind our members about this URGENT MISSION of reaching the lost. March 14 is such a Sunday we encourage our members (adults, youth and children) to invite unchurched folks to church.

WHO ARE THE UNCHURCHED? Good question, they are:

• People who do not have a church home in this area. (They may have a church home but not in the FM area.)
• People who have a church membership but seldom or never attend.
• People who do not believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior from sin, death and Satan.
• It “may” be new neighbors and you don’t know if they are connected to a Christian Church. This you will discover by inviting them.

This Mission of God’s and Ours is URGENT because people who die without faith in Jesus as Savior do not go to heaven, at Judgment Day they will be eternal residents of Hell. That’s more than enough motivation to us for this to become an urgent mission for God’s Love and God’s Love in us does not want anyone to be lost ... So, let’s be busy about GOD’S MISSION! Do make use of the Friendship Sunday invite in this RECORD and in the bulletin on 2-28-10.

May God the Holy Spirit give you peace and joy in Christ!

Pastor Bruce Noennig