Guest Speaker: Pauline Fong (IVCF)
Discovery: Pauline shared this past Sunday from Luke 13:18-21. She talked about how Jesus used the imagery of the mustard seed and the yeast to explain the expansion of the Kingdom of God. She explained that at many different levels this was a difficult and controversial teaching. Jesus used a common weed (mustard seed), a negative symbol (yeast was often used in Scripture as word picture for the pervasiveness of evil), and a woman to describe the dynamics of the Kingdom. But at the heart of this teaching is a dramatic and radical concept that God can and will use the simple and small things to do the incredible and awesome.
Application: This passage is very appropriate when we think of missions because God can and will use the simple things that we have to expand His Kingdom. Pauline shared a number of stories in which God used people's gifts, talents, and availability to spread the good news of the Gospel. It was inspiring to see how God used these different people to share the gospel with people who have never heard the gospel before.
I realize that most of my duties at church deal with shepherding and caring for those who are already believers. This pastoral calling is one that I really enjoy and thrive in. However, I am reminded this weekend that there are many people who are not within the family of God because of personal, intellectual, and spiritual barriers. Being missions minded is about crossing and overcoming these barriers in order to share the Gospel. As much as I enjoy being a part of our church family, I also want to see this church family expand through our witness and steps of faith. Especially at a small church like MVCCC, it isn't about coming up with new programs or methods. Rather it is about intentionally reaching outside of our normal relational circles and inviting them to glimpse into our lives. This call to cross barriers and introduce people to Jesus in this natural and relational way is one that truly inspiring to me.
Prayer: Help me have the heart and willingness to cross barriers for You so that others can experience what I have in You.
