…not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:5-6.) Paul knew he was in the kingdom because of God. He knew he had succeeded in the kingdom because of God. He was a multi-talented man, but his confidence was not in his talent. He knew that only God could make his ministry flourish.

p.48, The Prideful Soul’s Guide to Humility, Fontenot/Jones

MISSIO DEI

Discipleship Point

What are the God-created and God-given means to carry out the Missio Dei?

Today we focus on bullets 4-6 (p. 283 of The Great Sending).

Through the Holy Spirit, the spoken Word of God, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and the Office of the Keys are the divinely appointed means of grace that create and sustain saving faith in Christ and His merits. The assembly of believers also provides varied earthly means accessing the divine means: practices, programs, and activities. The earthly means must be aligned to the Missio Dei and the divine means of grace without mere performance.

Believers cannot simply focus on the secondary means and practices, with the words “mission” and “missions” being carelessly used as slogans.

See the following Scriptures in your bible or on pp. 271-274 of The Great Sending book: John 20:21-23, 5:39, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Romans 1:16, 10:8-17, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:38-39, Matthew 16:19, 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:24-28.