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Missional living is definitely a buzz-phrase that is everywhere these days. the idea that we have to compartmentalize bodies of Christ, missional, has for eternity been odd to me. come on, shouldnt all church buildings be missional in their very character? all churches, at its very nature, shoot to meet their culture and area with the good news as a missionary would in a foreign country? Isnt it what the church buildings is commanded to do in the sending out by Jesus in Matthew 28:19? Our own city needs this kind of church. Missional church in Austin is slowly going to what Christ instructed in the Gospels.

Jesus gives the direction in Acts 1:8 saying, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 personifies this subject as, right before Jesus Christ ascends to Heaven, He points the disciples on a story that would launch right in their own community. He begins with their local place of Jerusalem, and then stretches the call to the far parts of the world.

As believers, we are not urged to privacy, but to be missional followers of Jesus who are passionately going out and finding communities right where they are with the story of Christ. We have seen this throughout history: God sends Abraham on a mission to go out of his city and his people and go to the city that God would show him (Gen. 12:1), God moved Moses on a journey to restore an enslaved people and lead them to independence (Exodus 3:8-10), God sends Jesus on a journey to creation to pull all things to Himself through the blood of Christ (Colossians 1:20). And now God is sending us on a journey to engage areas, cities, ethnicities, and even nations with the gospel(Matt. 28:19 Mark 6:7 Luke 10:1 John 20:21 Acts 1:8). If we dont respond to this call and continue to see the places of worship like a private country club ” urging that people clean up their performance, pay their fees, and come to our place of worship God will continue His story without us.

In five words Paul enunciates the basic principle of the Christian life: “You are not your own” (1 Cor. 6:19). Some of the Corinthian Christians were acting like they were autonomous, as if their lives had not been bought and paid for with the precious blood of Christ. Because they ignored this
principle, they were practicing sexual immorality. Paul tells them that instead they ought to “glorify God with your body” (v. 20). But this principle has broader applications than just sexual purity.

You are not your own boss. Because we are Christ’s, we are highly motivated as workers-it is the Lord Christ that we serve (Col. 3:24). This means doing all that is expected of us, and more. We will be honest and trustworthy because we love and respect Him who is our ultimate boss.

You are not your own banker. Both our ability to make money (Deut. 8:18) and our possessions themselves are gifts from God, so that we can be generous on every occasion (2 Cor. 9:11). Since our money belongs to Another, we learn to be content with it or without it, by Christ’s strength (Phil. 4:11-13).

You are not your own lawyer. The old proverb, “He who represents himself has a fool for a client,” could never be truer than in heaven’s court. If we stand alone in that docket, we will surely be condemned (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). But thank God, we have an Advocate with the Father, who is effective, for
He pleads the merits of His own life and His death (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 John 2:1-2). Wise clients will follow the advice of their lawyer.

Boss, banker, lawyerin all of these roles and more, Christ is outstandingly successful, and you and I are miserable failures. Let’s listen to Paul and stop trying to usurp these jobs. To do so is to insult the Lord who can do them so much better.

Steve Singleton has written and edited several books and numerous articles on subjects of interest to Bible students. He has taught Greek, Bible, and religious studies courses Bible college, university, and adult education programs. He has taught seminars and workshops in 11 states and the Caribbean.

Go to his DeeperStudy.org for Bible study resources, no matter what your level of expertise. Explore “The Shallows,” plumb “The Depths,” or use the well-organized “Study Links” for original sources in English translation. Sign up for Steve’s free “DeeperStudy Newsletter.”