Love Your Neighborhood Article

Be Sent

At Community One, we see Neighborhood Revitalization as a platform for the people of God to participate in the mission of God. We believe that God especially cares for the marginalized of society, and His desire is to see them restored to Him. When that happens, it redefines their lives from one of need to one of hope. The Church has the incredible opportunity to join in this mission and be active participants in this restoration of hope. We are called and sent by God to be co-laborers in this work. It is the family business!

Knowing the God Who Sends

Before becoming a ‘sent’ people, however, the first step is to get to know the God Who Sends. The Bible may rightly be seen as a story of God sending. Here are a few introductory examples of actions taken by the God Who Sends:

  • God sends out His breath to order creation.
  • God sends Abraham and his descendants to be a blessing to the nations.
  • God sends Moses to rescue His people.
  • God sends Israel to the Promised Land.
  • God sends His word through Prophets to call His people to repentance.
  • God sends His Son to save the World.
  • God sends His Spirit to comfort, counsel, and guide the followers of Jesus.
  • God sends His Church to bear witness of His love to the ends of the earth.

Again, this is just a sampling! There are many more examples, both big and small, throughout Scripture. Over and over again in the Bible we meet a God Who Sends. If we take the most basic definition of discipleship as becoming more like Jesus—who is the “exact representation of God’s being” (Hebrews 1:3)—then one thing we need to assess is our level of “Sent-ness.” Both as individuals and as a faith community.

Joining the Mission of God

Knowing the God Who Sends and meeting Him in Scripture becomes revolutionary when joined with other characteristics of God, namely His sovereignty and loving kindness. Taken all together, we believe that God has gone and is going before us. He is accomplishing His purposes wherever it is we may be sent. We are not responsible for accomplishing what only God can, but we do get the amazing gift of joining in His mission by carrying His great love for us into the “darkest” places of our community, illuminating God’s work for others who need to know this same love, and in turn introducing our neighbors to the God Who Sends. 

This truth helps us go about doing the work of the mission of God with joy, peace, freedom, and hope. These are the defining descriptors of a Sent People who Know the God Who Sends.

Invitation onto the Missional Frontier

Here is a parting question for reflection: To what people, place, or context have you been sent by God to be a blessing or light? Name the people, place, or context as specifically as possible and share with a friend. Some potential examples might be:

  • The Tepe Park Neighborhood
  • Developmentally Disabled Adults
  • Artists
  • The Parent Teacher Association at your kid’s school
  • A retirement community or elderly care
  • The next generation
  • Business leaders 

Once you have this identified, your next step is to simply GO!

Like this article?

Check out the rest of our articles to dive deeper into Love Your Neighborhood!

Read more

Stay Updated with the Latest!

Want to stay up-to-date with what’s happening in the Love Your Neighborhood network? Fill out the form below to join our mailing list.

Name(Required)
Sign Up(Required)