4 Questions

As we have been re-visioning the direction of REALITY over the past few years, we have come to find these four identities to be central to who are as a church: Family, Servants, Disciples, and Missionaries/Ambassadors. Instead of tethering our people to core values (which are usually only spoken of and rarely lived) or a catchy mission statement (which may change and people tend to forget), we are calling our church body to live out the identities that Jesus has secured for us on the cross. These are not just ideals that we strive to attain- these are realities that Jesus has already accomplished on the cross. By His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, we ARE His children (family), we ARE His servants, we ARE learners who follow in His way, and we ARE a sent people to declare and demonstrate Him in the world. (Thanks to Soma Communities for helping bring us back to Scripture on that).

The only problem is that we fail to live out the fullness of who Christ has made us to be. What I have found in my own missional community and in the those of our church, there is a need for constant course correction in these as we tend to excel in 1 or 2 of these identities while neglecting the others that are most uncomfortable for us.

Here are some questions to help you see where there might be a need for some gospel correction in your life and community:

1. To Whom Do You Belong? Who knows you? Who has a right to call you out in your sin? With whom do you practice the "one another's" of the Bible? Who knows it is their job to remind you of our Father's love, grace, and affection? To whom are you accountable?

2. With Whom Do You Learn? Who do you process the truth of Scripture with? Who can you safely ask questions to and find solid answers from? Are there people in your life to make sure that you are a "doer of the Word" and not just someone who has made learning an end in itself? Are there people who are helping you be a disciple who makes disciples?

3. For Whom Do You Live? Who is on the receiving end of your time, talent, and treasure? Is the majority of your life built around yourself or specific people that you can bless? What do your conversations, calendar, and checkbook reveal?

4. To Whom Are You Sent? Are there people who do not know Jesus who are a regular part of your life? Who is the Spirit leading you to intentionally engage with the truth of the gospel both in word and action? Who are you making disciples of right now? Will they be able to make disciples of others?

If you can't name specific people, chances are you missing out on a dimension of healthy spiritual living that God has created you for.