Have you ever asked the question, “What is my purpose in life?” Or maybe you have asked what you mission in life is. That is a common question, but there does not seem to be an easy answer to that question sometimes. If you are a Christ follower, however, the answer to those questions becomes a little easier to answer. Unfortunately, even as a Christ follower, we can get distracted and not realize that we have a mission in this life.
That is why we are starting a new series this Sunday at Central Christian Church, called Life on Mission. It is based off of a book by the same name, written by Tim Harlow. In his book, he lays out a very simple premise. Basically, Harlow says that if you are a Christian (or Christ follower), you have a mission in this life. But it is up to you whether you accept it or not.
What is our mission? It is simply building relationships in the community, in an effort to earn the right to tell others about who Jesus is. In Acts 1:7-8, 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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.”
Jesus stated that we would be His witnesses. A witness is simply someone who observes something, and then tells other people about what they saw. The problem is that we take another message from Jesus and think if we are going to tell others, we have to go somewhere overseas. Matthew 28:19-20 states, 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Yes, there are some people that might be called to go overseas to spread the name of Jesus, but we are all suppose to spreading the name of Jesus somewhere. Take the passage from Acts above. Jesus said that we would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. In other words, we need to start in our own back yard. Our community here in Carlsbad become our “Jerusalem” if you will.
We all have a mission in life. Are you going to choose to accept or ignore the mission as a Christ follower? Join us at Central Christian Church as we dig into this series over the next six-weeks.
Thoughts From a Crosseyed Jesus Freak
Thoughts from a Crosseyed Jesus Freak 