Missio Dei: Phoenix

As Jesus calls us to follow him and his Kingdom, we see there are clear rhythms and practices his disciples live out. These are not how one becomes a disciple or how a disciple proves belonging to the Kingdom, but rather an outpouring of being with and like Jesus. We use the acronym B.L.E.S.S. (Bless, Listen, Eat, Speak, Sabbath) to encourage one another to engage in the rhythms and practices of Kingdom living. This first week we examined how we have been blessed to be a blessing to others.

This Sunday we shared a meal together while we looked at the parable of the hidden treasure Jesus told in Matthew 13. Plus, we commissioned our MC’s and sent one another out as ambassadors of Jesus and his Kingdom. Note: Since we did not keep the recording of praying over each of our MC’s and hearing the stories of what God is doing in them, the audio for this may seem like it jumps around a bit.

Jesus said the Kingdom of God is like a little yeast in a lot of dough, or a mustard seed growing into a large tree for birds to nest in. Hyperbole? Maybe. But the point seems to be that God’s Kingdom is surprising and beautiful nourishing life can grow out of unexpected places — and that growth is for the sake of others.

Weeds wreak havoc on a yard. But poisonous plants disguised as food are a problem on another level. Jesus told a story about how the Kingdom of God is growing in the midst of another kingdom, and which one will remain at the end.

Jesus gave a lot of pictures of what the Kingdom of God is like, or will be like when it comes in full. One of those images was a story of a master who entrusted his servants with different amounts of money while he went away. What they did with it exposed something about their trust and partnership with the master’s work, but even more, Jesus’ story exposes something about the multiplying nature of God’s Kingdom.