Jesus is at the heart of God’s mission in the world. He did not come to start a church. He came for the sake of the world: “For God so loved the world,” John wrote, “that he gave his only Son.” (John 3:16)
Sometimes being for the world means being against the world, much like when your kids are doing something that is dangerous or wrong–being for them means challenging and maybe even working to change them.
Through us, God is at work making the world holy and whole. In fact, making the world holy and whole is the point of being the church. And if we’re not doing that then we’re not the church at all.
Today we remember Columba, died 597; Aidan, died 651; Bede, died 735; renewers of the church. This message was adapted from the Bible study, “Act Boldly for Mission,” by Kelly Fryer available for free download under resources on womenoftheelca.org. Fryer is leading the Bible study at the Tenth Triennial Gathering next month in Minneapolis.
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