“Mission” is much broader and deeper than is implied by two common modern conceptions.  Mission is not merely the dissemination of information about Jesus or efforts to persuade others of the proposition that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  Nor can mission be reduced to the compassionate effort to conquer the structures of injustice or to eliminate symptoms of our brokenness such as localized scarcities of food, medical care, and shelter.  Rather, mission encompasses the work of living as a community in a particular relationship with the triune God, and of inviting and indoctrinating others into that life.

Read it all….

Many thanks indeed, Craig for this very thoughtful article on mission.

Congratulations on not only getting the technical side of the new Covenant site up and running on the date you aimed for - today - but also on writing new material on such a key subject. Amazing.

Mission is heard in the command by Jesus, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
(Mt 28).  Mission is (as others have taught) ‘expanding the boundaries of the Kingdom.’  Indeed, with Jesus’ coming, the Kingdom invaded this world.  That was His mission.  (Lk 4.18-19)  When Jesus healed the lepers, the boundaries were expanded.  When He brought sight to the blind, the boundaries were expanded.  When demons were expelled, the boundaries were expanded.  When He spoke, the boundaries were expanded.  And when He died, the ‘territory’ of the Enemy was taken-over…and the absolute guarantee that One Day, His Kingdom would come in full, ‘on earth, as it is in heaven.’  We have a similar mission.  Wherever truth is taught, wherever holiness is lived, wherever forgiveness is proclaimed/received, wherever wounds are healed, wherever the Prodigal is welcomed home, THERE, the boundaries of the Kingdom are expanded.  That is OUR Mission.

Amen, Fr. Scott.

Let’s unpack it.  Too many churches (not just episcopal ones) have no sense of what God’s mission is all about.  I’d love to see what resources people have to share about transforming a member-focused church into a missional one, too.  Let’s roll up our sleeves and do it!