Shaping Future

robert beckman

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.”

Jesus speaking to those who follow him – the Church. Matthew 5:14 (NLT)

We are Living Sent. Choosing to work and play and love and laugh among all the people of the earth. Letting their stories collide with God’s divine Story for humanity. We enjoy eating and drinking among our fellow man, and we expect intense collisions between who they are today and who God desires them to be tomorrow.

The Church is a “Who”. She is not a place or an event. She is not a special hour once a week. She is a being unto herself. You and I combine to make up that being. As Church, you and I make decisions, demonstrate values and offer Hope in hundreds of ways throughout each day to those we meet.

Our Lord Jesus, who we aim to please, is disappointed by anything that keeps us from hiding and not dispensing His wonderful traits within us to others. Often, we, the church, hide behind

Religious buildings

Religious structures

Relational Fortresses

If a religious building were to somehow empower and unleash She, The Church, to be Living Sent among the people, then we would find it to be a powerful Training Center. Too often the facility is a very expensive way to apply our time and money. A building or a campus can quickly divert the church from those who really need us.

If religious structures are fluid and flexible in order to expand our ability to interact with humanity, then we would find them to be refreshing in helping our missional cause. Too often we have roles and titles that simply exist to prop a sick bride. There’s plenty of busy work to keep an organization existing at the expense of unleashing God’s organic intentions for reproduction.

Fortresses are designed to thwart attackers. But to live in fear within a fortress mentality is for us to quit on the assignment He gave us: to enjoy living among the people He is drawing to Himself. We are the light, an inviting presence to those far from God.

God never intended or relegated His Bride to “just once a week” living. His intention was for The Church to be 24/7 among the lives they were to intersect. Today, there is a genuine restlessness in the hearts of many who know Jesus – a desire to Live Sent into culture. Corporately, when the church gathers, she should use the time to train, equip and empower a lifestyle of Being The Church at all times and in all places understanding that a one hour gathering event per week falls grossly short of what Jesus intended his Church to be.

We desire to restore Her as a who. She takes on her new, known personality – impacting all that she meets. New spiritual families are born. They are blessed with children in order that they may train, equip and encourage those children to one day grow up and leave home and live sent. As The Church understands its mission, her influence grows and impacts every niche of our society.

Together, we seek to influence leaders.

Together, we seek to influence cultures.

Together, we seek to influence communities.

These influences of The Church cannot happen from a distance but rather happen in the context of relationships - which are often messy and filled with heartache. But we must allow our pathways to cross the pathways of those He seeks. We must never retreat but rather engage those who need Him.

As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us. Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don’t let anyone disregard what you say.

Titus 2: 1-15 (NLT)