This evening I was chatting online with a Sister in Christ and she was asking about the church I now call home. I sent her the link, http://www.realityolympia.com/ so she could check it out as I was really being lazy but I also wanted her to hear some of the great teaching that Pastor Paul does in his sermons while breaking down the scriptures.
She opened the link and went to the first link that ask, "What do Missional Communities Do?" When she was reading that she came across the answer, "The aim of missional community is to live out the practices of the reign of God. Jesus spent his whole ministry announcing the arrival of the reign of God. Now, what would happen if we believed his announcement?"
Very clear and concise right? Well I guess not as she asked me, "I don't understand what is explained by "missional church". What do they mean by "live out the reign of God"?
Now something I can answer without using my copy and paste tools. Here is my answer to what I believe our church and our elders are wanting our focus on Christ to be about (I also must add that I believe this is their focus as I believe this is what Jesus taught us to do through His Gospel). What it all means to me is that we want to bring the love of Christ to our community through our actions in the community. We get together in small groups and look for people or organizations that could use help and offer a hand. We do this in many different ways and we also do help support mission work worldwide through contributions and prayers. We believe God wants us to be a living example to our neighbors and community by helping out, living the walk and not just talking about what a Christian should look like but by living like a Christian should live. When we do this God will open the doors for us to have conversations about Christ without being overbearing and in your face about it. We will earn trust and friendship first and then we will wait for that door to be opened and then share the great news of the Gospel.
We have all gone to a sporting event or concert where there were people waving signs anywhere from "Jesus Saves Lives" to " Repent Now or Burn in Hell Forever". I don't personally believe these actions ever build up the Body of Christ but tear it apart. There is an old adage that you get more flies with honey than vinegar and I think that applies here as well.
I truly believe when we handle a stressful situation with compassion, understanding and patience that our peers will ask us how or why did we not freak out? The answer should always be something like, "God will never give me more than I can handle" or "How would Jesus have responded if He was here in my shoes"? This will make these people realize that with Christ all is possible. Of course for this to be an effective way to evangelize you MUST believe that God will truly handle the burden for you and you must let go of it and let Him have control.
The last order given by Jesus was to go out and make Disciples of every nation and every tongue. To bring the Gospel to all ends of the earth. I feel that by being a missional church in community we will achieve His goals one person at a time....at least these are my opinions of what it all means. I want to once again state this is not the written mission statement of the church I attend but this is a huge part of what we do as I see it.
I am very blessed to be part of a young and growing church where there are so many young people that are anxious to learn about Christ and wanting to pull up their sleeves and get down and dirty to serve God. At age 41 I am an old timer at Reality and that is a good thing. These young Christians will be able to bring their young friends to Christ much easier than a person a generation older will. I will make myself available to any of these children of God at anytime to listen to and pray with. I will pray for wisdom to only offer advice where it is asked for and to have enough knowledge to answer correctly for the Kingdom of God.
I am blessed to be part of a church with a Pastor that is so humble and full of mature wisdom that he always introduces himself as Hi I'm Paul one of the Elders here at Reality. Paul has a way of breaking down the scripture to where everyone there, if it be a first time visitor to a church or someone that has been churched their entire life will understand the Word of God. Yes I am blessed to be part of such a great missional minded community as Reality Olympia.
Dear Lord, I pray for all your servants and children at Reality Olympia. That we remain humbled by your Grace and that we work to bring lost sheep home to your flock. I pray that as we grow in family that we never lose sight of our roots in you Lord Jesus. I pray that we never give up on any of your sheep no matter how crippled by the enemy they have become. I thank you for the opportunity you have given us to fellowship in community in a way that we can be fulfilling your last and final command here on earth. Oh Lord how wonderful and awesome is your Love and how thankful we are for your Son Jesus that He killed death itself for our sinful hearts. I ask that your Spirit be with us and in our hearts as we attempt to be a living example and a beacon of light that represents your Love oh Father. In Jesus name I pray, Amen
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