Discipleship Point and Prayer
FRIDAY'S BIT OF
DISCIPLESHIP
“Many a soul has come to God and humbly accepted his message only to later grow proud again. We are a fickle people. Our hearts wax and wane. The warning given to the Israelites is still needed today: be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and His decree that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
p.31, The Prideful Soul’s Guide to Humility, Fontenot/Jones
Humility Prayer
Father God, keep my heart from becoming proud. Let me not forget you – not as I eat or work, not as I travel by car or other means. May you be central to my ( our) home and your Word central to my (our) thought-processes and decision-making. Amen.
MISSIO DEI
Discipleship Point
The Missio Dei is the central thrust of the Gospel, regardless of which translation or in which language one reads Scripture. The driving force of a sent one (a sent individual or a sent Church) is an open and willing heart and mindset under the power of the Gospel and the Great Sending. With a transformed heart, the great sending of God takes place squarely within God’s apostolic authority in and through Christ’s “one holy, Catholic (Christian) apostolic church.” It is through the Church and the Christian community of faith and mission that the Holy Spirit does its work.
A Sending Creed
(based on the Apostles’ Creed)
God, the sending Father, the Almighty creator of the cosmos, Sent His only Son Jesus Christ to be conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He was sent to proclaim freedom. He then suffered at the hands of many, including Pontius Pilate. He was crucified, died, and buried.
Within three days, He descended into hell to proclaim victory and rose to life granting God’s righteousness by grace through faith. Forty days later, He ascended to heaven. He now eternally reigns at the right hand of His Father. He is judge of all the living and the dead, and He gives life to all who believe in Him.
After the ascension, the Father and Son sent the Holy Spirit to boldly make and call all followers of Christ to His holy apostolic church. He calls us, a community of believers, who are sent to all people with power and strength, courage, and gifts to proclaim the Good News. As the apostles were sent, people believed. As those people believed, they, too, were sent. As they were sent, now we believe. And as we believe, we are sent. AMEN.