“If you are a disciple of Jesus, you will not be afraid of humble service. You will see in his life the glory of service, and you will be ready to take the towel and the basin and wash feet.”

p.34, The Prideful Soul’s Guide to Humility, Fontenot/Jones

MISSIO DEI

Discipleship Point

What is the significance of confession and repentance in receiving and participating in The Missio Dei?

We focus on part two today:

(2) As a shepherd, called to be king representing God, David confessed his sinfulness, repented, and was forgiven, carried out God’s covenant and mission, taught and declared God’s ways and righteousness (Psalm 51) to the world.

Repentance, which is a change of thinking and behavior, and forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47) is essential for Christ-followers to participate in the Missio Dei. Treasured people of God must confess their sins – sins of fleeing, sins of disobedience to God’s sending, failures to submit to His authority, sins of apathy, sins of arrogance. Above all, though, believers must receive forgiveness. Are repentance and forgiveness significant in the great sending of God? Yes!

Regarding the Missio Dei specifically, our sins of selfishness, fear, and apathy are crying for repentance and forgiveness. The institutional church often fails to participate in the great sending of God because it is blinded by a deceptive devotion – devotion to and passion for maintaining church buildings and scheduling activities. It comes down to the old self of self-interest, self-being and self-doing. The Church cannot participate in God’s sending mission if it is wholly focused on itself.

(For further study see the Ten Commandments and the Office of the Keys and Confession, Christian Questions with Their Answers, Luther’s Small Catechism.)

See the following Scriptures in your bible or on pp. 276-280 of The Great Sending book: Leviticus 16:9-10, Matthew 4:17, Luke 9:49-50, Luke 18:9-14, 1 John 1:8-10, Psalm 51:10-12, Joel 2:12-13, Psalm 51:17, Matthew 3:8