This document is an audio podcast from First Church on January 15, 2012. It discusses the concept of "Missio Dei", which is Latin for "the mission of God". The podcast explains that the Bible tells the story of God's mission to redeem the world through Jesus, and that we must join God on His mission rather than follow our own agendas. It also references a Bible passage from Ephesians about putting off the old self and putting on the new self in Christ. The document provides notes from the sermon on developing spiritually and connecting with others in the church community.

1. AUDIO PODCAST: www.sermon.net/First_Church January 15, 2012
Missio Dei is Latin for “the mission of God”. The Bible tells us the story of God and
His mission to redeem this world through Jesus. We need to give up our agendas and
join God on His mission.
The whole Bible renders to us the story of God’s mission through God’s people in
their engagement with God’s world for the sake of the whole of God’s creation.
Ephesians 4:17-24
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must
no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their
thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and
separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that
is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.Having lost all
sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so
as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for
more.
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance
with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard
to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is
being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in
the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
May you live all the days of your life.
Jonathan Swift
Jesus’ Disciple-making Process
i Come and See… An invitation with no obligation
h Who am I? A choice
g Take up your Cross. A time of testing
f Go! Make Disciples. Share, Heal, Give
We grow spiritually mature when…
Everybody, Every Week needs to Celebrate
“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:1
Everybody, Every Week needs to Connect
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good
deeds.” Heb 10:24
Everybody, Every Week needs to Contribute
In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all
the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Jn 17:23
Sermon Notes

2. AUDIO PODCAST: www.sermon.net/First_Church January 15, 2012
THE BOOK OF JAMES
Faith Under Pressure
“I, James, am a slave of God and the Master Jesus, writing to the twelve
tribes scattered to Kingdom Come: Hello!
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you
from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced
into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of
anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-
developed, not deficient in any way.” James 1:1-4 Msg
MONDAY
What is your relationship to God? Consultant, acquaintance, student or
slave? What do you do when a problem arises?
TUESDAY
Read Psalm 142:1-7 and Romans 8:28. How can problems work for your
good? How do they reveal God’s love?
WEDNESDAY
Read 1 John 3:1-3. How does hope play a significant factor in your trust in
Christ and faith development? How can hope and joy help you more?
THURSDAY
What is a problem you are going through now? What can you learn? How
can you handle it better? How can you grow from it?
FRIDAY
What happens when you just focus on your situation and not Christ?
SATURDAY
In the midst of problems it’s easy to just quit and give up. What happens when
we react that way? Will problems cease?
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in
trouble.” Psalm 46:1
The Serenity Prayer
GOD, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot
change, Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom
to know the difference.
Living ONE DAY AT A TIME;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would
have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His
Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely
happy with Him forever in the next. Amen (Reinhold Neibuhr-1926)
Question: Is there anything I can do to make myself spiritual?
Answer: As little as you can do to make the sun rise in the morning.
Question: Then of what use are the spiritual exercises you prescribe?
Answer: To make sure you are not asleep when the sun begins to rise.
(Anthony de Mello)

3. AUDIO PODCAST: www.sermon.net/First_Church January 15, 2012