Matthew 28: A Reflection

Matthew 28 hits a little differently when you’ve spent all month reading the gospel. It’s not a random set of verses but the finale before being sent out! In the story Matthew has telling about Jesus and his kingdom we come to the end of the words, and the invitation to continue the story in our own place, time, and I have no doubt that as Matthew’s readers got to the final chapter they were just like us. They were experiencing doubt, feeling refreshed, a sense of mystery, maybe even overwhelmed a bit, but also filled with the Spirits sparks of imagination for what it looks like to continue the story of all that Jesus began to do.

Summary

Matthew 28 give us Matthew’s final account and commissioning from Jesus. It starts with a defining moment in the history of the world- the resurrection. Jesus rising from the dead and then the subsequent conversations with his friends shift everything for his first disciples- and can for us as well. As he tells them to spread the word about God’s redemptive plan and new creation’s dawning- he makes some incredible promises and sends them out to continue His work in their communities.

The following questions can be answered not only from Matthew 28, but the entire book as you sit and reflect on this chapter on your own or with a few friends.

Make some time to be with Jesus in this chapter.

Enjoy.

Reflection Questions

1. The Resurrection Really Happened: How does the resurrection of Jesus impact our understanding of His identity and mission? How does it shape our hope and faith as Christians today? Why do you think this is good news not only for the 11 disciples, but for the world?

2. The Call to Discipleship: What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? How does the “Great Commission” redefine our purpose as individuals and as a church community? Where else in the Story of God do you see God sending people to be a blessing to others? Do you feel this is a personal priority for you? (check your calendar, budget, and relational choices if you want some hints!)

3. Making Disciples: What are tangible ways we can engage in making disciples in our local context this week? How can we lovingly share the message of Jesus / his kingdom and make disciples in our communities? Where are the places you already go that Jesus is at work in?

4. Baptism: Why is baptism significant in the life of a follower of Jesus? Have you been baptized? What does that identity mean to you today? OR What is holding you back? (connect if you want to start the baptism process.)

5. Teaching and Obedience: How can we ensure that our teaching aligns with the commands of Jesus? What happens if we emphasize simply learning about Jesus rather than obeying him in our discipleship? In what ways can we foster a culture of obedience to Christ's teachings within our missional communities?

6. The Overlooked Promise of Jesus' Presence: So many times we bypass this one for what we ought to be doing. Don't skip this though- it is everything on the journey. How does the assurance of Jesus' presence impact our confidence, courage, and conviction in fulfilling the Great Commission? How can we practically rely on His presence as we engage in mission and ministry this year?

7. Global Perspective: What does it mean to make disciples of all nations? How can we cultivate a global perspective in our approach to mission, considering the diverse cultures and contexts where the Gospel is proclaimed? How can this shape both our prayer life AND our practical life decisions?

8. Perseverance in Mission: What challenges might we face as we go? How do you think we can remain steadfast in our commitment to spreading the Gospel despite difficult obstacles and opposition that Jesus told us would come?

9. Communal Response: How can your MC collectively support and encourage one another in our missional endeavors? How can we collaborate with other churches and organizations in our cities to work together in inviting others to experience God's kingdom?

10. Personal Commitment: In light of the Great Commission, what personal commitments can we make to actively participate in fulfilling Jesus' command to make disciples this year? How will we integrate this mission into our daily lives and priorities? Are you in for a year of following Jesus using Matthew as a guide?

2023 We started here. Words ring true today as well!

5 Convictions of Faithful Leadership Teams.

The invitation of following Jesus together as a community is both daunting and exhilarating- sometimes both in the same moment. We know the discipleship journey is full of twists and turns- but over the last 15 years of sharing formation, community, and mission as a network of MC’s- we’ve been able to decipher a few key convictions of every leadership team and MC who has faithfully and fruitfully carried out their calling to be and make disciples of Jesus. These are simple, they can be seen all across the pages of Matthew (if you are tracking with Missio), and we want to share them with you.

Every single faithful leadership team and community we’ve had the joy of serving with seems to have at least the following five things in common. Each of these is held within the context of staying connected themselves in a community of grace and truth, curating an environment of obedience, and delves into daily discipleship practices themselves.

Disclaimer: These are convictions not ingredients. You can’t just grab the words off the shelf throw them into a MC, stir them around and hope faithful disciples emerge. They have to be held at a gut level and acted on regularly.

We want to disciple people as they receive the good news of the kingdom and then continue to equip them to lead others to do the same. Here are a few of the guiding convictions we’ve seen in every community who has faithfully carried out their unique calling over the last decade and a half.

Each leadership team is committed to:

1. God's Guiding Grace

   • In our MC’s, we want to continue nurturing a culture of confidently counting on God's preceding presence, perceiving that Jesus has journeyed ahead of anywhere our feet may step. This could be in mesmerizing miracles, mundane moments of breakthrough, or prior miraculous moments in people's lives. But we are convinced that we join Jesus in what he is up to- not invite him on our discipleship itinerary. His grace fills us and guides our steps as we join him in his work in the world.

2. Practicing Prayerful Presence

   • We start with prayer. This isn’t the subtle nuance of our work, but it’s the bold master stroke. We want to continue to prioritize prayer in all of its forms as a paramount practice. Every step, from discovering people of peace to initiating conversations and forming churches, is permeated with prayer. Without it we succumb to anxious activity, but the way of Jesus and ongoing discipleship work seems to be prayerful presence where we are not driven by the insecurities of our MC or missionary context and are able to stay differentiated not avoiding or meshing with other people in their anxiety and fear.

3. Pivoting From Perfectionism

   • Matthew has shown us that none of us are perfect and there is no expert but Jesus. We learn, we train, we submit to one another, but we are not perfect. So when teams are willing to let their perfectionism sit on the sideline they often find themselves pivoting to something even more powerful. A deep Spirit dependence. Everyday individuals, empowered by the Spirit can be used in incredible ways. In fact it’s those who are usually considered weak and broken, are those who are propelled into leadership as they witness and submit to the the Spirit's transformative work. We aren’t perfect, and don’t expect our communities to be- but together we submit to the Spirit and his ongoing work in, around, and through us.

4. Faithful Fortitude Amidst Friction

   • We hope you understand that there will be friction as you follow Jesus. In Matthew’s gospel we’ve seen the declaration of the kingdom is at odds with the kingdom of this world, the Tempter, the powers of corruption, greed, and deception, AND even man made religion. We’ve seen the practice of the ways of the kingdom as divisive for those who reject Jesus as king. Make no mistake, disciples who set out to follow Jesus in making more disciples should anticipate persecution and friction as part of the discipleship journey. But if we trust the words of Jesus - sacrifices made in faithfulness to Jesus will offer opportunities for further sharing, fostering a resilient spirit in the face of diverse and often painful challenges.

5. Regularly Repenting and Reorienting in the True Story.

   • In every faithful and fruitful setting the MC commits to regular repentance and reorientation. We can never assume the gospel, but fight to make it explicit. We continue to “run issues through the True Story”, we explore the narrative and regularly reorient and reshape our lives by what we discover. MC’s that set down roots and mature in health take proactive and ongoing action to joyfully and deeply find their calling in the Story and re-examine their lives (both personal and communal) in light of God’s larger story.

Here’s a final warning and an encouragement.

A Warning: Rust develops quickly. In Arizona we don’t have a huge issue with rust, but where I grew up in NJ if you didn’t take purposeful proactive action with your metal objects- the salt air would inevitablely rust even the most beautiful objects. Sometimes it seemed like rust would settle in overnight and destroy. Rendering what was once beautiful and effective, destroyed with just a little neglect. The same happens with communities who deviate from these convictions in discipleship environments. If we waver from them in conviction and practice, we will soon find our own hearts drifting from abiding, our compassion giving way to cynicism, and our life choices marked by idolatry instead of discipleship.

An Encouragement: This is for everyone. This disciplemaking isn’t just for the elite or those holding theological degrees. Every believer can (and should) be marked by faithful story participation. These 5 simple convictions can be held and practiced by everyone from students to those living in Sr. Assisted living homes. They are simple. They are powerful. They will change your life and by God’s grace your neighborhood or network of friends.

Enjoy the journey my friends.

Kevin

It’s Not All Right (Yet)

Tomorrow is New Year's Day, which is exciting for most of us. While some of us may be filled with dread or uncertainty about what the new year could bring. Most of our culture embraces the New Year with hope and an expectation that things could get better this next year. We set our goals; we highlight the possibilities of a fresh calendar year, and we set new budgets and rhythms of life.

But before we hit that day, Missio- We have a story in Matthew to reflect on.

It’s a story that reminds us that even though Jesus has arrived, the world is still not all right. Not yet.

Matthew 2

13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt, I called my son.”

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted because they are no more.”

In the Christian calendar, December 28th of 2023 marked Holy Innocents' Day. This was a day of remembrance for the tragic event shared in the Gospel of Matthew. We hit this story on our scattered week, but we didn’t want us to skip over it. As leaders of Missio we think it’s important that we don’t just hit the highlights of stars, gifts, rejoicing, and adoration, but also slow down with the texts that are hard—the stories that invite us into the low places, where God’s grace seems to puddle even in the pain.

Short Rundown: Herod's ruthless massacre of Bethlehem's male infants demonstrates the depth of human suffering, the capacity of humans to inflict pain on others in pursuit of their own agendas, and serves as a foundational story in the life of Jesus, the Messiah.

There may not have been more than 20 children under 2 in the small town of Bethlehem, but that doesn’t strip any of the horror from this story. I think Matthew includes this story to highlight the clash of kingdoms that was taking place. Jesus and his kingdom of Shalom (peace), justice, and forgiveness were clashing against the kingdom of darkness. This story illustrates the ruthless way that violence rips through the fabric of God’s created order, and even the most innocent suffer as a result. In attempting to eradicate the world of its Savior, Herod murders the most vulnerable in the city. Jesus is spared as Joseph has a dream, and they head to Egypt for a bit—but the story of Jesus is one steeped in pain, displacement, and real-world issues, even from the very start.

Across the world, churches observe a day in remembrance of this event. But more than a solemn remembrance, it’s a call for the church to take up her role in God’s story as agents of justice and reconciliation. To live as citizens of a kingdom of Light in a world with so many dark spaces remaining. It’s a call to be prophetic and faithful as we name injustice and seek to live as a community of peace in a world of division. It’s a call to be voices for those suffering on our streets, in Gaza, in Bethlehem, in Ukraine, Darfur, and even our own foster system. It’s a call to lives that aren’t insulate ourselves from the pain, but walk through it with Jesus. It’s a reminder that everything is not all right, and we lament that. We grieve that. And we also lean into the finished work of Jesus for endurance, perspective, and hope that one day it will be.

Today, would you pause and consider the situation of so many in our world, where sin's dark stain spreads across the lives of the most vulnerable and marginalized? Would we remember the horror of hearing that babies were murdered and not dull our senses to the cries of others today?

As we remember these events from Matthew 2, may we find our hearts stirred by the Spirit with fresh compassion and a drive for justice. May we seek to actively contribute to the needs of our neighbors both locally and globally. May we seek peace and protection for the vulnerable and marginalized, after all, that’s what Jesus did for us- and explicitly calls us to do for others.

Remember Jesus didn’t stay in a far-off country but returned to Nazareth, declared good news that the kingdom of God had arrived, and lived, died, and rose again to offer new life. His victory secures our future hope that gives us endurance for this current struggle. No, it’s not all right. But one day, Jesus will return, and those cries will be comforted and those tears will finally and fully be wiped away.

Reflection Questions-

• How do you think the story of Jesus being steeped in celebration, joy, and delight as well as pain, oppression, and injustice should form us as a community of disciples?

• In your last season of life, where did you observe the suffering of others due to the effects of sin?

• What are the areas of injustice that stir up anger (a good thing) in your heart?

• Do you feel equipped to Lament well? If not, who can you ask to disciple you in that area?

• Our MC’s often form around areas of injustice or darkness that the Spirit opens our eyes to see and gives vision to step into and seek justice for others. Is there a seed of anything that the Spirit is putting in your heart that could form into a Disciplemaking community working together to see others experience freedom, peace, and justice?

January Reading Plan

Matthew Reading Plan for January.

We are starting reading the whole book to get the whole narrative. This will help you see how the pieces we are reading fit into the narrative as a whole AND allow us to immerse in the first gospel in our New Testament.

Here are two things we are calling the community into for January:

1. READ a chapter a day (28 chapters comes with some built in grace for missed days.) We will be teaching out of the NIV, but you can read from whatever your preferred translation is.

2. LISTEN to the whole book in one setting at some point during the month. It’ll take less than 2 hours and we promise the book will hit differently.

You joining us for this journey?

Let’s go!

Far As The Curse is Found

At its core, Christmas announces a powerful reality that transcends the holiday season. In the words of a beloved hymn, Joy To The World:

No more let sins and sorrows grow, He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found.” This encapsulates the heart of the Christian celebration—a recognition that our world is flawed, yet a promise that blessings will overcome the curse.

Christmas isn’t a mere reflection on history though; it’s a declaration of hope for a future where things will be made right.

The birth of Jesus addresses the daily struggles of humanity, confronting issues like violence, poverty, political corruption, and loneliness.. The incarnation is a transformative experience, God took on flesh and moved into the neighborhood, and everything is decidedly and definitely changed by these events.

Amidst celebratory traditions, Christmas tells a deeper story of renewal— one that is good news for the world. We don’t have to ignore from life’s difficulties- but have a hope in the midst of them. God is with us. Emmanuel.

As we celebrate, disciples of Jesus are encouraged to embody the transformative message, actively working against injustice and despair and joyfully worshipping Jesus in word and deed.

The birth of the Measiah is not a static event; it’s an ongoing reality shaping our understanding of hope and redemption and our daily lives not just these twelve days of Christmas tide- though that’s a great start!

In this season, let’s remember the profound meaning behind those lyrics from the song we sang so loudly on Christmas Eve

We are invited to be active participants in God’s Story. We are royal ambassadors to a world burdened by sins and sorrows. We carry a message of hope and redemption as await the Day when the reign of Jesus will one day erase the curse completely.

STOP before 2024

When I take a longer backpacking trip I plot the course and plan approximately how miles I want to do each day. This helps plan for small details like water needs, space for a campsite, and how much energy/food I’ll need for each day. You know, so I don’t get stranded in the backcountry. You know. Small details.

These stops aren’t interruptions, they are planned and ann actually an integral part of the journey if I want to continue to stay healthy and make it the entirety of the trip. Without them- you hit a certain point when you start to digress and the journey loses all sense of wonder and amazement and becomes about just making it through.

In the discipleship journey you’ve been over the last year, I want to invite you to take one of those planned stops over the next week. Take off the proverbial boots from the journey and reflect back on the last year as you’ve been following Jesus. These sorts of stops are integral to long term health as disciples of Jesus. They help to refocus the wonder and amazement even if it felt like you were just trying to make it through 2023

Fun fact a friend turned STOP into an acronym after we posted in instagram. It may be a stretch, but I think it’s worth adding it to this post.

• S set aside some time (at least two hours)

• T take an inventory of the last few months.

• O open your heart to the correction or encouragement being offered to you

• P prayerfully consider what the Spirit is inviting you into next

We’d encourage all of our MC members and friends to plan some time to Stop and reflect before the new year. Whether it’s a day or a 2 hour block of time. Stop to reflect on 2023.

8 Prompts

1- Where were you surprised by God this year?

2- What are you grieving from the last year?

3- Who did God use in your life this year?

4- Who did God bring into your life for you to disciple / encourage this year?

5- What changes could God be inviting you into this year? (Decreased spending? Increased solitude? Starting a new work? More simplicity and generosity? Etc…)

6- Are there any specific conversations or invitations Jesus has for you as you start the new year?

7- is there any known 2023 sin or patterns you want to repent from?

8- what practices and pace do you need to sustain you on this next part of your journey following Jesus?

Advent is an invitation to transformative anticipation

In this set apart season of Advent, we boldly ease ourselves onto the edge of expectation, gazing into the darkness that exists in our neighborhoods, cities, and world and believe that the light of Hope still beckons us forward. We are assured that the darkness will not overcome the Light. This season, like a symphony of anticipation, invites us to dive headlong into the cosmic drama of Incarnation and redemption—an epic Story that reverberates through the very fabric of time.

Advent, is a scheduled sacred pause in the rhythm of our life as the church, and becomes a moment pregnant with the potential for recalibration and renewal. If we will embrace it we may find ourselves filled afresh with wonder, amazement, and hope.

Would we, like the shepherds, the magi, Joseph, and Mary choose to trust and throw ourselves over the ledge daring to believe that God is doing exactly what He promised to do. He was setting up his kingdom, a kingdom of love and light, in a world clamoring for a Savior. It’s here, but we are longing for the final and full restoration that is yet to come. When we wait this way we are changed.

As we await the advent of the Word made flesh, let our hearts resound with the echoes of hope, drowning out the clamor of a world in disarray. In this holy season, may we embody the very essence of Christmas, becoming heralds of a kingdom where peace, justice, and boundless love reign supreme in Jesus.

Make no mistake this kind of active and hope filled anticipation will change you That’s part of the beauty of Advent. It’s purposefully placing ourselves in the Divine Drama once again and finding ourselvess awakened to the realities that come with Immanuel- God with Us

And once that hope fills our hearts let us extend grace and peace to those in our lives who so desperately need it.

This truly is good news of great joy for all people!

Second Sunday of Advent- Collect

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to
preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation:
Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins,
that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our
Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

Book of Common Prayer

Cohorts: Why do we even do these?

Missio and Friends,

We are grateful to be on this journey with you! As we are formed by God, together, for the sake of others, we want to continually return to our desire to equip, encourage, and inspire people to follow Jesus and then train them to do the same for others. We pursue this mission through our Missio Communities, our Sunday liturgies, equipping cohorts, and everyday life.

If you are seeking different ways to continue growing in your discipleship to Jesus, we will have several cohorts running in 2024. These cohorts are supplementary to MC life for many of us and, we hope, will equip, encourage, and inspire a kingdom imagination in your journey of following Jesus and leading others to do the same. They also provide excellent opportunities to connect in a learning environment with others in Missio if your schedule doesn't quite allow for full MC participation in this season.

The first one starts in January, so we wanted to share the details with you! What is the Bible? These equipping sessions will be led by Ben Ide and will take place over two Saturdays. You can find more details here.

Spoiler Alert: We also plan to host:

• StoryFormed Sexuality (One Day Training)

• Preaching 101 Cohort

• BLESS Rhythms (A Disciplemaking Cohort)

• Spiritual Conversations For Everyday People Cohort

• StoryFormed Trauma training (One Day Training)

• Story of God (At least 2x’s)

• Soma School

*Each is offtered at low or no cost to Missio .

What is the Bible? (The January Sessions)

Have you ever been curious about…

• What is the Bible anyway?

• How did we get to the copy of the Bible we have today?

• How do we hear from God in the Scriptures?

• What is the storyline of the Bible?

• How reliable is the Bible we have?

• Where do I even start with this big book?

In January, Ben Ide will be leading a 2 session cohort to discuss those exact questions- plus some of the ones you bring to the table! On January 20th and 27th he’ll be leading anyone (Missio members, MC’s, students who are curious) who wants to explore those questions together. Through both conversation and prepared content we will take a journey that will inform, equip, and hopefully inspire you to continue your journey of following Jesus and feeling more prepared as you approach the Bible.

Seriously, what better way to start the new year that gaining familiarity with the Story of God and growing as disciples who not only learn about the Word, but obey what it says!

First Sunday of Advent- Collect

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer

Prayer Room- Advent

The Missio Dei Prayer Room exists to guide people into a set apart time in the presence of God, develop a deep affection for Him, and develop a deep love for the city.  If you are reading this, you are invited to linger in God’s presence alongside likeminded sisters and brothers this Advent season.

We are curating this space and time to pray and be formed by the work of the Spirit as we turn our collective attention towards the themes of Advent and what Jesus may have for us this season.

We are convinced that prayer precedes movement and we deeply long to see a movement of Jesus across the Valley. But, to be honest, just drawing near in God’s presence, alongside one another in prayer is reason enough to want to create this space.

There will be some guidance and some freedom as we together are formed by God through prayer this Advent season. Come as you are able. Linger as long as you like.

If you’ve got questions, please connect with Matthew Guzman.

Details:

Day: Thursdays In Advent (starting this week)

Time: 6:30am-8am (come as you are able in that window)

Location: 19 North Robson suite 101

Abiding in Jesus : This Changes Everything.

Hey Missio (and friends), Kevin here, I want to take a few minutes and reintroduce us to a key reality as disciples.

Here’s a few minutes read on what it means to abide in Christ. Together. But here’s a big ole’ spoiler alert I want to get to you before the real reading begins: Abiding in Jesus is a transformative invitation that, if accepted, has the power to change absolutely everything in your life.

First, remember this: Your life in God’s kingdom was never meant to be simply checking a box on Sunday, or Wednesday, or whatever day you get around to spending a slice of time with Jesus. But it was always meant to be living out a vibrant, daily connection with Jesus that transforms absolutely everything. Game. Changer.

Abiding isn't about rote, religious routines; it's a gritty, everyday partnership with the Creator.

Yes, we love spiritual practices. Yes we utilize an Examen. Yes we invite every member of Missio to consider what it looks like for them to awaken their hearts through ancient rhythms. Yes we think those are helpful. But abiding isn’t just that. I think it's waking up and saying, "Alright, Jesus, you're in this day with me." Or maybe better, “I’m in this day with you.” It's about doing life shoulder to shoulder with the one who knows us and our context far better than we ever could. And when we discover ancient (or modern) practices that help to keep us connected in an abiding life, we utilize them as gifts.

Think of it like this: weren’t ever meant to be lone branches floating around; that would be crazy. And slightly creepy. But we're called (In John 15 and other places) to be connected to the vine, drawing life and purpose from Jesus. It's messy, it's beautiful, and it's a profoundly True Story rooted reality. Abiding and growth takes place in the soil of everyday life, but connected to Jesus is where real life happens, not disconnected pursuing our own efforts to produce life.

Abiding in Christ isn't a solo act either.

So many times we read these verses as independent connections with Jesus. But it’s a plural command. “Ya’ll abide in me…” Just for my southern friends. Everybody else, that means it's a communal dance where we link arms with fellow disciples, creating a living, breathing expression of God's kingdom in our cities, towns, and across the world. As we abide, we become signs of the Kingdom, bringing hope, healing, and grace to a hurting world.

without abiding we quickly wither.

Don’t miss this. Our willpower can’t stand up to the scorching stories, temptations, and snares of the enemy. When we aren’t abiding we can have the best of intentions, but find our hearts quickly moving from partnership with Jesus to privatized kingdoms really quickly. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Jesus offered a vibrant way to experience life now. Remain in Him.

Here’s the invitation of this holiday season,

Let’s step into the adventure of abiding in Christ — not as a religious duty but as a wild, transformative journey that shapes every moment of our lives. Let’s proactively abide and then arrange our calendars, budgets, and dinner parties out of an overflow of His love reigning in our hearts. Let’s abide in Jesus as we collectively long see his kingdom come, his will be done, in Phoenix as it is in heaven!

Want some help on that journey? Reach out to your MC leader OR Click below.

Practices: We Go

We are strongly convinced that the church isn’t a VIP lounge for really well behaved folks, or a static club of theologically minded scholars, but a relentless Jesus community formed by God’s grace, filled with God’s Spirit and sent on God's mission.

Our faith wasn’t meant to only find it’s home in quiet huddles happening in living rooms (though we love those too.) It’s meant to infiltrate the trenches of of everyday life. We believe we are sent not just to convert neighbors to our club; but to co-labor with God to be agents of reconciliation, heralds of Jesus, ambassadors of his kingdom in the brokenness of our world. Wherever that may be.

We believe we are called to Jesus and then sent with Jesus to participate in his ongoing work in this world!

And as we go into the everday experiences of life we embody the transformative kingdom full of Jesus' love and grace. And that transforms our lives, our communities, our cities one small act of love at a time. So, gear up, friends, we're not here to play it safe and hopefully make it out alive. We believe we haven’t just ended up in our networks or neighborhoods by accident—we're believe we are sent into those spaces, bringing the Kingdom to every nook and cranny of our lives!

This isn’t a solo sport though. We go together. The shared life of the church is a shared witness to the world longing for good news. One missionary puts it like this:

The only possible hermeneutic (way of understanding) of the gospel is a congregation which believes it.

Lesslie Newbigin

So we purposefully follow the Spirit together as we are going to make disciples who make disciples.

Missio Communities

Called Together for a Purpose

Church (Ekklesia) literally means a gathering of “called out ones.” Those who represent a people to others. We are called to represent God’s reign and rule to the world. We can’t exist without a purpose that looks towards those on the edges of experiencing God’s kingdom.  This is our calling and we should not only call people together as we gather, but regularly release and send them to be the spirit-led church as God has called them to be. 

If we are going to create communities that multiply though, we need to know what we are sending.  What are we attempting to reproduce as the Spirit continues to lead? 

What we follows is a starting point, not a straight jacket. This is meant to be a sandbox not a stagnant pond. 

Missio Communities

As we study the church as it formed in the New Testament we see a movement made up of small and powerful communities of believers who have been transformed by the power of the gospel. Sometimes these find their home in a city church, sometimes they are network ed as house churches, but each is joined together by common teaching, leadership, and rhythms of life. They are described as holding all things in common, and also able to mobilize at a moments notice. This is descriptive of a specific church in a specific context (first century in ancient Roman led contexts), but could it also be a model to followhere in the Valley? 

We think it is

We’ve long been convinced that we need to see gospel formation (worship, spirit dependence, gospel enjoyment, abiding in God’s love), community (ongoing, responsible, maturing relationships), and mission (missional encounter with a specific culture, gospel declaration, wholistic discipleship) together.  

Simply put- a Missio Community is an extended spiritual family committed to gospel formation, in a committed community, for the sake of others.  They are comitted into the network of Missio Dei Communities and Co-Missioned into their context.

Another way we put it is that they are a family of servant ambassadors sent by and with the Spirit as disciples to make, mature, and multiply disciples of Jesus.  They are experiencing the love of God for themselves and extending it to others Jesus calls them to We wholeheartedly believe that every Disciple is both called to Jesus and sent with Him to love others

Who are you sent to?

Most of our MC’s are organized around a purposefully selected missional focus.  This could be a focus shared by every member of the MC or an intentional decision to incubate several MC’s under one leadership team in hopes that many are introduced to Jesus and experience his love and freedom

How are you sent?

Our MC’s are sent with creativity, empowerment, and ongoing development.  We do front end assessment and provide ongoing coaching so our leaders flourish and lead communities who do the same.

Remember

Not all MC’s will look the same. We need to have flexibility to allow for our communities to contextualize formation, community, and missional engagement as their calling.  We ask that they gather at least twice a month, (if not more) with our larger Missio family for equipping, encouragement, and shared service (kids, music, hospitality etc...)

The hope is that the structures of Missio Dei equip and encourage our tribe, as everyday disciples, to follow Jesus together on his mission to bring redemption and reconciliation into our world! 

Sound like something you want to do?

Let us know and together we will see you equipped and released to do the work the Spirit of God is inviting you into together. 

Practices: We Grow

We Grow

One of the practices of the people of God is a shared commitment to maturing as disciples of Jesus. As we learned on Sunday, this growth isn’t auxiliary to the mission of God, but is integral to how God works in the world, in the church, and across our communities.

Here’s a few thoughts as you continue to consider the teaching and training from Sunday.

• Don’t forget - Growth has a Direction: Growth as a disciple of Jesus is more than just self help, or personal growth; it's a call to a life that aligns with the very heart of God and the reconciling mission He is already on. Growth will always invite us to step beyond the prison cell of self and embrace a mission that continues shaping our hearts, our lives and the world. We are growing up and out as a family of servant ambassadors learning to live in the grace of Jesus!

• As you continue growing- Community Matters: Your journey in following Jesus is not just your own. Yes it’s personal, but it’s also communal. A key component of your apprenticeship to Jesus is the community you follow him with. Somehow our journey is inextricably linked with the journey of others in the most beautiful and often mysterious of ways. (Watch: We Gather for some of how we join with others as Missio.)

• Growing Develops our Gifts and Talents: A part of this journey is the recognition of the gifts and talents that we’ve been entrusted with. None of these were given for us to simply indulge in ourselves, but are given and should be developed for the common good. (Watch: Gifts of the people.)

• Growing is A Lifelong Process: Embracing growth isn't a one-time event but a lifelong process of submitting to the Spirit of God and taking up your role in the Mission of God. It encourages us to continually seek God's guidance, lean into the movement of the spirit, abide in the grace of Jesus- and adapt in methodology as we grow. There is so much to enjoy and experience with God- let us not grow weary in the journey of being formed by God, together, for the sake of others.

Three Questions To Keep Processing

• Which of the following points were helpful for you as you consider what spiritual growth looks like for you in this season of life?

• What are the barriers you are facing that keep you from embracing a lifestyle of growing up in Christ?

• What environments do you need to be in to continue working with the Spirit as he works in you and your community?

Practices: We Give

Yesterday we had the privilege of receiving some good news!

We were reminded of God’s lavish generosity and then trained in how we respond to that as his family. I was challenged by the grace of Jesus and compelled to revisit conversations of how I’m responding to the generosity of Jesus. That’s the marks of a good sermon!

Remember- When we say we are disciples of Jesus, that means we follow his teachings and model for how to live our entire lives. Including how we spend the resources that have been entrusted to us. As you implement this practice in your life, in your home and within your community we want to give you two prayers and two practices for the journey ahead.

2 Prayers

• A Prayer of Gratitude. Take some time and thank God for the things has entrusted you with. Let your mind explore all the time, talents, treasures he’s put in your care. Maybe even make a list in your journal, or see how many you can come up with around the dining room table.

• A Prayer of Examination. Where do I/we have an unhealthy attachment to money, stuff, or experiences? Trace your financial anxiety down to it’s roots… Jesus told us how to get to the heart of this one. Slowly take the time to consider how many of your decisions are based on a scarcity mentality and not an abundant kingdom and generous king mentality. Repent as needed. Rejoice as you experience God’s forgiveness and presence as you repent.

2 Practices

• Practice : We Give. This is pretty clear but I don’t want us to miss it.. When our hearts are gripped with the generosity of God our hands are freed up to respond with a generosity of our own. So as a community of disciples of Jesus we give generously. This is a priority not an afterthought. We steward these things back to God and this is a key part of us following Jesus. (Many scholars estimate Jesus spent 1/4 of his time discussing money either directly or indirectly AND he was talking to a people whose land was occupied by a foreign power, imagine what he’d say to one of the wealthiest cultures the world has ever seen!)

• Practice: We Actively Remember. We are not living in the final act of the Story. We believe a lie that this world is all there is and that we only have one life to experience everything and so we better spend it all here. But we actively bring to mind the reality that the Bible tells us that there is another Act coming. There is a restored creation where sin, corruption, and anxiety has no home. It’s ruled by King Jesus and we ENJOY restored creation forever. In some mysterious way we can invest in that world today and Jesus promises that every investment made will return far more than the stock market ever could.

  Remember

  Giving is a practice that demonstrates alignment between our hearts and the priorities of God’s Kingdom. God’s expectation was generosity to the poor and through the local church. We are invited to participate in that ongoing work.

  It’s been said that our bank accounts display what we really trust to bring joy, satisfaction, and give meaning to our lives. What if we were able to be a community of generosity in a world of self-serving stinginess? Imagine the good news that this sort of community would be in the East Valley? Let us join Jesus in praying “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” And then let be obedient to do what He shows us in our patterns of generosity and giving.

This post is a collaboration from our Missio Mesa elders: Kevin Platt and Mike Zins

Practices: We Gather

WE GATHER

Missio, tomorrow morning we will come together as one large Missional Community. each week we gather disciples and friends from all across the East Valley for our weekly equipping gathering. You’ve spent the week loving, serving, and waging war against idolatry and in many cases evil. You’ve sinned and been sinned against. You’ve celebrated but there’s also been disappointments, a few disasters, and even some disillusionment creeping in. I know it. I’ve been there. So as you set the alarm for the morning on a day when many sleep in, let’s give a quick refresher on what we are doing when #wegather. Not because you’ve never heard it, but because we often forget. (No, Sunday’s aren’t the main thing we do as a church, but they are integral to our discipleship process as a community being formed by God, together, for the sake of others.)

When we gather we worship JEsus.

Worshipping Jesus as one large missional community reveals the heart of our Christian calling in our fragmented world. We experience unity our Savior and diversity in our contexts and giftings. Jesus is Lord and we give him our allegiance. God (Father, Son, and Spirit) is worthy of praise, allegiance, and our only hope in life and death. In our weekly gatherings we discover sacred (and often ancient) rhythms of grace. We find our source of strength. We find an essential re-orientation back to the gospel of the kingdom.

WHEN WE GATHER WE ARE EQUIPPED FOR God’s MISSION.

As we gather to worship, we immerse ourselves in the story of God's redemptive love and mission through Jesus. This shared encounter with God gives shape and purpose to our mission as a church. We understand that our faith is not a private affair but a public proclamation of a life-transforming message.

WHEN WE GATHER WE EXPERIENCE GOD’S POWER IN COMMUNITY.

In the act of gathered worship, we don't only seek silent solace; we seek and find empowerment. Shared witness, worship, and work is often the wellspring from which we draw courage to engage the world with Christ's love. Shared worship shapes some our identity as a missional community, grounding us again in the gospel's profound truth that compels us to bear witness to our neighbors and networks of friends.

after we gather we go back out.

Most of the life of our church is lived out in diverse neighborhoods and networks of friends. Our worship and work is not confined to sanctuaries but extends into the streets, workplaces, and neighborhoods we go back into. We don’t spend most of our time in holy huddles around the city. In fact our Missio Communities and our homes are often the beacon (think lighthouse) that beckons those searching for meaning and hope to draw near. It’s the everyday rhythms and invitations that offer others a journey towards discovering the richness of life in Christ and on mission. Your home will most often be the first taste of Christian community people experience, but that beacon is lit and stays fueled with both private moments with God AND the shared worship we engage in as a Missio Community. We can’t forsake one for the other. Both are integral.

Our prayer is that you encounter God’s presence, encourage each other in the gospel, and are equipped to take up your role in God’s story. And that each of those things are used by the Spirit of the living God to solidify your calling to Jesus and your sentness with Jesus. May the gospel story we participate in as we gather form us together as the body of Christ sent throughout the East Valley. - Kevin Platt-

Three Ways to Prepare for Gathering Together

• Try Starting your Sabbath the night before. If you can, plan your night before the Sunday gathering in such a way that you enter your Sunday rested and not stressed. Get some sleep. Eat some breakfast. Enjoy your favorite morning drink. A little prep goes a long way!

• Pray. It may seem simple, but pray on your way in. If you’ve got kids, let them join you in the process. Ask Jesus not just to teach you, but to form you, give you a person you can serve or encourage, and let him know how you feel coming into this gathering. Prayer is spiritual warfare and you are entering contested space!

• Plan to Park before 10am. What do I mean? The liturgy formally starts at 10am, but the gathering starts before that. When you show up and are parking at 10am you are sure to miss the first part of the liturgy, which is a welcome, a reminder of God’s creative power, and leaves you rushing to find a seat and unable to be as thoughtful as you may want to be on where in the room you are. Also, people visiting for the first time are ALWAYS there before 10. If you aren’t there to greet them and invite them into rhythms of kingdom life- who else will?

Good News. Simple Tools.

Missio Dei Commiunities

We are equipping men, women, and children who are learning to follow Jesus (be disciples) and who lead others to do the same (make disciples.) Our Missio Communities are extended spiritual families who are being formed by God, together, for the sake of others. We send out Missio Communities (MC’s) is to continue declaring and demonstrating the gospel of Jesus and then resource our MC’s to faithfully take up their role in God’s story wherever they are called.

So What is the gospel?

A simple definition of the gospel is the good news that the reign of God has broken into human history through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Mark 1.14-16)

Something to Remember

The gospel os not just good news about individual salvation or a future heavenly destination, but it's about the inauguration of God's kingdom on Earth. (Google “NT Wright Kingdom of God” to get some more of this goodness of the kingdom.) The events of the gospel simultaneously challenge the prevailing powers and systems AND invite people to participate in the Mission of God (Missio Dei.) Jesus’ reign brings justice, reconciliation, and the flourishing of God's creation. Not just some day. But today. And we get to join Jesus in that work while we await his return to finally and fully set things right. (I Cor 15) How incredible is that?

Three Implications for Our MC’s

That’s a big invitation though. So we want to break it down into three bite size pieces for women, men, and kids all across our MC’s.

1. We want our Missio Communities to embrace this gospel and live it out in our daily lives. So what if we committed to speaking the good news to one other person in our MC each week?

2. We want our communities to embody the transformative power of God's kingdom here and now. So what if we committed to praying for God’s transformative power to show up in our everyday experiences? Interviews? Parenting Struggles? Experiencing Bullying? Foster Care? Lonliness? Rent increase? Let’s be specific and pray “your kingdom come, your will be done in ____ as it is in heaven.” After all, it’s how Jesus taught us to pray.

3. We deeply desire more of our neighbors and friends across our networks to join us in participating in the kingdom life right now. So what if we committed to speaking the good news to one other person in our neighborhood or network of friends each week?

Some Simple tools.

We don’t have a master plan, but we have some helpful tools and resources that help keep us practicing the ways of Jesus, led by the Spirit, and alongside one another.

Here are a few of them.