Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/736680
The mission of God … is a powerful paradigm that shapes the way we read the Bible, frames the way we think about God, and directs the way we live as His people. It provides a framework to organize what the Bible reveals about God's character and to interpret its diverse—sometimes confusing, sometimes disturbing—stories, sayings, poetry, and teachings. It gives us a sense of the whole so we can make sense of the parts. Dr. Mark Young FACULTY LETTER Marshall Shelley, DD DIRECTOR OF THE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY PROGRAM ENGAGE 3 A church planter was in the Alps watching rock climbers ascend a sheer cliff. "Now there's a first-rate commitment to a second-rate mission," he said. His statement revealed his bias. He assumed that his mission (church planting) was superior to climbing a rock, opening a franchise, or waiting tables. But no matter our activity at any particular moment, we can be on a first-rate mission: advancing the gospel and Christ's kingdom. But even when "on mission," it's possible to make another unfortunate assumption. That church planting leader later confessed, "I've given most of my energy to a second-tier mission as well. Don't get me wrong. Church planting is important. But someday that mission will end. My first calling is to live with God." That's something we'll be doing forever. Abiding with Christ is what enables church planting—or evangelism or our work in social justice or acts of compassion done in Jesus' name. The mission of God—reconciling and redeeming and restoring our fallen world—is the focus of your calling and mine. We derive great satisfaction from our work for Christ and His kingdom. The mission of God is second only to our primary calling: to abide in Christ, to live in God's presence, to walk in the company of the Spirit. "No branch can bear fruit by itself," said Jesus. "It must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me" (John 15:4). As this issue of Engage Magazine shows, while we devote our efforts to working for God's mission, that's only sustainable if our daily life is with God. Grace, strength, and joy,