Bible Study

January 2004

Becoming an On-Mission Christian: The Day-to-Day Grind
By Shane Tucker

What are the four “A’s” to being an on mission Christian?

1) Being Awakened by God.
2) Making Adjustments in your life to His Plan.
3) Total Evangelistic Activation of every gift, ability, or opportunity.
4) Advocating His Mission to others.*

Over the last four months of 2003, we investigated these concepts of what it takes to be an on mission Christian. But what does this really mean on a Tuesday? What does it look like on a real-life, day-to-day basis? Do you wonder how you could become one who is counted among the “sheep,” loving the least of these and following their shepherd’s mission?

You may ask: Can my theory become reality? Can my fresh ideas become fleshed-out actions?

The answer: Yes. A big YES! And I’ll tell you how.

Catch this slogan: Mentality makes mobility.

Do you want to be mobilized to His plan? Then change your mind. The following Scripture speaks to this:

Romans 12:2: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good pleasing and perfect will.”

We must change our mentality to effect (not “to affect”) mobility. (Check a dictionary if you’re not sure of the difference between the verbs “to effect” and “to affect.”) The spiritual changes in our minds cause us to act on God’s principles. Renewal of our minds brings about transformation in our lives. Our actions are not so much influenced by our thoughts as they are birthed by them.

Read the scripture again. Renewal of our minds brings about life transformation. It does not say that thinking good thoughts has a positive influence on our actions. Mind renewal is much more powerful than that.

A Day-to-Day Mind on a Day-to-Day Grind

This is where we must begin on our day-to-day behavior. If we want to succeed in the grind, we must succeed in the mind.

Alter the way you think about God’s mission. Think about it His way. Think about His thoughts. Study His words.

Practically speaking, you do have some things to do. It’s not all in your head, but that’s where the battle begins. And it’s also where the battle is won or lost. I’ll repeat: The personal battle to become an on mission Christian is won or lost in your head.

So what do you believe?

Is God on His throne? Is He worthy of worship from every person on this globe? Is He worthy of your obedience? Did He, in fact, send His Son whose shed bled brings redemption to all who will believe? Did His Son, in fact, rise from the dead? Did He also call you to share this good news? Will Jesus return again and judge both the living and the dead? Does He, in fact, desire to gather His redeemed children from every tribe, every tongue, and every nation to worship Him around His throne?
Is this the case? Can you answer a resounding “Yes!” to each of these questions? If you can, you are in the midst of the process of mind renewal, and life transformation is promised to follow.

Time to Launch

So you are in the process of renewing your mind. Keep it up. This is what all the successful on mission Christians do.

I encourage you to brainstorm with other like-minded believers on what types of behaviors that reflect the life of on mission Christians.

Discuss. Decide. Do.

Notice the “mind” stuff is first. Adjust the way you think about the situation, then proceed with the action.

The main reason you haven’t done what ought to do is that you are not 100% convinced it’s the best plan.

Spend time in the Word. Talk to other believers. Spur one another on. Do this until your minds are renewed. Do this until you are convinced that His way is best. Action is promised to follow.

Here’s the time where I planned to begin to give you suggestions on how you can begin to flesh this out. But students are far too flexible and our Father is far too creative for me to begin constraining your potential with my own suggestions.

Do what God is calling you to do.

He wants you to share the good news about His Son. So do it.

He wants you to get involved in His worldwide mission agenda. Connect with your network and get involved. If you don’t have a network, call Felicity at the IMB. She oversees this newsletter, and she’s an expert on getting people like you involved in His mission. She also is a wonderful example of an on mission Christian.

Regardless of whether this challenge played a part in your growth as an on mission Christian, I’d like to know what God is doing in students who receive this newsletter. As a fan of the Student Mobilization team at the IMB and a recent contributor, I am overjoyed at the chance to throw my two cents in over the past five months. Drop me an email at shaneheatherzoe@aol.com.

*The study book, My Purpose, His Plan, has greatly influenced the ideas, the organization, and the wording for the Bible studies for August through December. Thanks to the North American Mission Board for granting permission to borrow the wonderful ideas in the book. There is a companion video to the study. My suggestions: Get this book! Get the video! Put a group together and enjoy! See www.namb.net for more information.