Three Dynamic Pictures

New believers in the 1^st century responded quickly out of Christlike character with the upward response (worship/prayer), outward response (mission), and inward response (agile disciple-making in community to mature and multiply).

Who would have thought that this one generation would indirectly impact hundreds of millions to follow Jesus?

 

Our Team-of-Three plants His people in soil with all three “cultures” or “nutrients” necessary for thriving growth. Community (inward response of Family, cultivating us as beloved children, training together for the “Family biz” with community- and Word-based growth fused with the Spirit). Mission (outward response of the Kingdom, thrusting us out into the world as servant/warriors with full allegiance to our Team-of-Three on our quest to battle for the hearts of the lost world of people). Worship (upward response with the picture of Marriage, emphasizing personal intimacy with God, His availability and connectedness).

 

As you develop spiritually, the catalytic intersection of all three together becomes a “force multiplier.” No wonder God’s plan is not just to add disciples, but to multiply disciples as we form faith-communities like our Family-of-Three. Like his Master before him, Paul built through small, primal groups, from the bottom up, life-on-life. The fruit of an apple tree is not ultimately an apple, but other apple trees. The fruit of a community is other communities. Jesus’ ministry sweet spot is both wide and deep, His “miracle grow!” Intend to reproduce!

 

As His people, we are caught up into God’s plan for the ages. He invites us into the awesome privilege to partner with Him…before we fully understand Him and His plans. Our little stories now have eternal meaning because they are lived out within His eternal story, a ministry that is both wide and deep. The same God who spoke the entire universe into existence desires to partner with us in Jesus’ ongoing epic crusade as one of His intimate allies. His unfinished mission defines our destiny together since He uses us as His touch and His voice to draw others in.

 

We undermine the mystery and God’s power to transform if we undervalue either of the three dynamic pictures. This healthy blend of all three responses flowing from “Christ in us, our life” are essential. Insist on compassionate mission; invest in intimate worship; inflame life-on-life community. As we experience His pulsating life as lifelong life-learners and doers, pass it along. God intends to use you and me since He created us as fully engaged partners. Who is God now highlighting to you?

This is Reflection #45 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com