Missional: For the next three blogs we will be taking a deeper look at the mission of the church as described in Matthew 28. Here at KBC, we believe the words Intersect, Impact and Imitate best describe the great commission given us by Jesus Christ.
Intersect - verb
1. to divide, cut or mark off by passing through or across
2. (esp. of roads) to cross (each other)
3. (often followed by with) to have one or more points in common
During His last conversation with His disciples, Jesus outlines the purpose of His body - the church. To His closest friends, friends who had forsaken Him at His arrest and trial, He now entrusts a critical assignment. I like how it is worded in GOD'S WORD version. Matthew 28:18-20
"When Jesus came near, he spoke to them. He said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. And remember that I am always with you until the end of time."
Jesus commissions the eleven to MAKE DISCIPLES wherever they GO and to TEACH THEM TO DO everything He had commanded them. While the emphasis of the text is on the making of disciples, it is the process of going that correlates to our first word INTERSECT.
That's what Jesus meant when He said, "As you go ...". In other words, as you go about your daily life, raise your antenna. Be alert to people. See them with a heart of compassion. Realize that without Me, they are on a road to eternity without God. As you go about the activities that encompass your life ... INTERSECT.
I know this is the perfect time to bring up how little we really interact with people these days. I know the tragedy of technology. The empty promise of increased connectivity by digital means that leaves people more in touch with their smart phone or computer than with the people on the other end of the line or the person out in cyberspace. I realize we live in an increasingly isolated world. Trust me, I know. I live on an island that is the most remote place on earth. The Hawaiian islands are 2500 miles from the closest land in any direction. Yet even here, I intersect everyday.
The members and friends at KBC and I are learning together what it means to intersect intentionally. My fellow members of the body of Christ at Kihei are continually reminded of the responsibility we have to look for ways to touch people's lives with the Good News. From the pulpit, the classroom and by example we are instructed, encouraged and shown this primary activity which Jesus commanded. Now every time we leave the worship center we see the banner above reminding us to intersect.
Jesus intersected with the world of men in the greatest collision in human history. The creator took upon Himself the form of His creation. The Eternal stepped into time and space and God became a man for a singular purpose. Phillipians 2:6-8 tells us that Christ Jesus:
"Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!"
By His death and resurrection Jesus made possible the abundant life God originally created man to enjoy in fellowship with Himself. Having accomplished everything necessary to restore us to a loving relationship with the Father and with Himself, He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. But not before commissioning His disciples with the great and awesome responsibility to intersect with a lost and dying world.
Jesus had spent three and half years demonstrating how to fulfill this command. Throughout His earthly life, Jesus intersected with people. As a child in the temple, He intersect with the community. From His baptism on, He was led by the Holy Spirit, from divine appointment to divine appointment, intersecting in the lives of people. Teaching, showing compassion, feeding, healing and loving people, Jesus revealed the abundant life to people as He went from place to place.
It is easy for us to reason "of course, this is Jesus we're talking about". We think, "He was slain before the foundations of the world so He had this cosmic purpose about everything He did." In so doing, we miss some of the most important points of His teaching. We too are indwelt by the very same Holy Spirit. Review Luke four again. Jesus was filled by the Spirit, led by the Spirit and empowered by the Spirit. Now stop and ask yourself, why? Why did Jesus (God) need the Holy Spirit? The answer is He didn't He was submitting to the will of the Father and cooperating with the Holy Spirit, He became our example for life in the Spirit.
Wasn't it He who would later say, "If you love me, keep my commands"? (John 14:15). He would go on to say "And I will ask the father and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever - the Spirit of Truth" (John 14:16). Now think about Ephesians 2:10 for a moment. "We are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" From these verses we understand that we too have a divine purpose and the divine empowerment to fulfill that purpose. Remembering these facts, we can boldly embrace each new day eagerly looking for the divine appointments to intersect in the lives of the people around us.
In the next two blogs we will look at the other two elements of this great commission, IMPACT and IMITATE. But for now, let me encourage you to make the choice to be obedient to His first instruction to INTERSECT. As you go about life today, see the people around you. Think about their destination without Christ. Realize that the Holy Spirit who is in you will give you the words to say and bring to your remembrance the truth you need to impact them with the gospel. It's as easy as starting with "Hi, my name is ..."
