Last semester I had the opportunity to take Evangelism and Discipleship with Kent McDonald. It was a great class to take and I highly recommend it to anyone in Missional Church. One of the things we discussed was based around Matthew 28:16-20 (The Great Commission). This passage is the foundation to this missio dei concept we have been looking at. Our whole mission is to go out and make disciples. Kent did not like the phrase commission because it pertains too much as a duty or some sort of chore that we have to do. Instead, he chose to name it as “The Great Connection.” Sure, the whole point of mission is going out and spreading the good news, but it also requires us to have a deep relationship with the disciples we are creating. It should not be a one time thing, but an ongoing process. Incarnational relational ministry is something that should be directed toward “The Great Connection.” Jesus did this with his disciples. He did not only tell them a whole bunch of religious facts, he also ate dinner with them, talked with them, and just hung out with them in general. If there is any intention of spreading the Kingdom of God to the city there needs to be a relational aspect to the mission.
Brian
