Friday's Bit of Discipleship
“We will all need discipling as long as we live. I will never get so mature that I will not need the help of others. We can keep receiving that help only if we are humble. When those helping others and those being helped are completely humble with one another, the results are relationships in which people are being changed into the image of Christ.”
page 91, The Prideful Soul’s Guide to Humility, Fontenot/Jones
MISSIO DEI Discipleship Point
The significance of "One Holy Christian Apostolic Church" in light of the MISSIO DEI in John 17?
For centuries, the Christian community of faith and mission has confessed one holy Christian (catholic) apostolic church in the Nicene Creed. This reflects the Missio Dei. Today we focus on:
Oneness. Christ’s High Priestly prayer in John 17 makes it clear that the church is one. The assembly of believers all over the world are all one in Christ. All Christians are members one of another. We are all one in the Body of Christ. Christ alone has created this oneness, or unity. There is an order to being sent into the world in John 17:18; both believers and those to whom believers are sent become one with Christ and with one another. Oneness does not come through having unity of church polity, structures, or agreement in traditions, rites, or ceremonies, nor does it come through willing collaboration in church functions, activities, or building or property enterprises. Jesus prays “that they may be one as we [the Father and Jesus] are one” (verses 11 and 22).
See the following Scriptures in your Bible or on pages 262-264 of The Great Sending book: Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Peter 2:9, John 17:20, Ephesians 2:19-22, Ephesians 4:3-6, Romans 12:4-5, 1 Peter 2:5, Acts 2:4.
Discipleship Prayer
Father God, we celebrate our oneness in Christ; may that oneness You have be created in Jesus be characterized in our church life and expand through our mission life into the world as sent ones. In Jesus I pray. Amen.