Missions: Go

Part 2 | Return to Missions

Previously, we meditated on God's missional pattern to reconcile and restore all of creation, and how we are invited to participate with Jesus in crossing cultural barriers. To help us better practice the way of Jesus in more concrete ways, we will discuss the practices of: go, give, pray, welcome. 

What does it mean to go?

We return to Jesus’ words:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

The genius of this practice is that it forces us to consider the other, to sacrifice for the other, and ultimately die to self for the other. In other words, we are to participate with Christ and become like Him. Consider Jesus, for whom this meant becoming incarnate in our world, living as we did. God’s plan of reconciliation has never been about humans going to God, but God coming to us. Jesus tells us what to pray for, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Luke 10:02). Could it be that there are communities that God is working in that He desires for us to join Him in? 

Consider once more your spheres of cultural barriers:

  • Jerusalem: The barrier between Christian and non-Christian. Who are the people around you that you share much in common with, whether that’s literal space, hobbies, or values? You most likely would be able to articulate the gospel of Jesus to them in a way that is familiar and comfortable to you. 

  • Judea and Samaria: A greater cultural distance, even if we live geographically in the same area or even speak the language. Think of the individuals or groups that are different from you: perhaps they spend their time differently than you or see the world differently. Or those who you’d rather not associate with, even for valid reasons. This cross cultural work requires the patience of loving and learning, so the gospel can be shared in a way that is comprehensible to them. 

  • The ends of the earth: For all of us, there exists a type of crossing cultures that requires crossing several barriers, and challenges us to be willing to learn a whole new culture in order to share the gospel. You can probably guess that the most effective and natural form of sharing the gospel happens at the “Jerusalem” level. Yet the biblical pattern is such that if there is no existing discipleship community in a local context that is able to do this, there needs to be a movement from the outside to set this in motion. The reality is that even today, in our own continent and all over the world, there are communities for whom there is no contextualized and accessible sharing of the gospel. 

For as long as we are alive and following Jesus, we are invited to go into all the world. What might it look like for you to practice this action of going? It may mean prayerfully and intentionally going to communities on campus. It may mean participating on a short-term mission trip, or even long-term. It may mean considering your geographic location and where you live post-graduation. May we become people who embody the gospel by practicing going and being an incarnate presence.

Reflection questions

  • How might going be a practice that forms us into Christlikeness? 

  • As you read through the three categories, who were the individuals and groups that came to mind?

  • Why do you think we don’t think about the individuals and communities that are different from us?  

  • What might be one next step for you to practice the discipline of going?

Continue the journey

In the following weeks and months, take time to process as you practice this discipline:

  1. What sorts of cultural barriers have you discovered or noticed?

  2. How has this practice formed you to become more like Jesus?

  3. Is there anything that you’re learning about how to share the gospel through this practice?