The Need for Local Missions in Hometowns

We launched our MC (missional community) a few weeks ago and it has been a great experience so far. Our little tribe is going through The Tangible Kingdom Primer (TKP) by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay. To be honest, developing missional habits has been a little tougher than I had imagined. It really makes you seriously think about some issues that I thought had been set in stone from my traditional church background. It's good to grow, but it can also cause healthy growing pains.


We are on week 3 of the TKP and the topic this week is "The Gospel." Today's reading is from Luke 4:16-22, where Jesus announces what the Good News of the Gospel is all about. That in itself deserves a whole blog post to discuss, and I may do that later this week. But for now, let's take a look at Luke 4:16:

"And he [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. "

English Standard Version
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers

 One of our MC members text me yesterday (must have been reading ahead, lol) that this verse "bespeaks the need of sharing the gospel where we live...not just in third world countries."

Wow, now that is some insight! I don't know how many times I've read this passage before. We read it all the time to discuss what Jesus' mission here on earth was, but we glaze over the fact that he had gone back to his hometown. And there is a huge need for the Good News to touch down in our hometowns. That is what we've been commissioned to do; to take the Good News into wherever our hometown is.

How are you taking the Gospel into your hometown? Have you ever thought of your hometown as being your mission field? Be encouraged! The harvest is ripe, your neighbors are hungry for Good News. And God has called you to take it to them. What an honor. What a challenge. What an adventure!!!