Being "Mission Minded"
This website was created for the purposes of walking through my growth as a Christian as a narrative, not just as a bunch of journal entries but as a story that can be read and archived. My journey isn't special in any particular way, I'm just a person who likes theology and follows the great commission. For all intents and purposes this is a way of putting my experiences out there and in the meantime getting better at the art of writing. We should be mission minded in all we do though, being a missionary isn't flying to New York to evangelize, it is more so about us being a missionary in everyday life and practicing the concept of relational evangelism or building relationships for the purpose of sharing the gospel with those we encounter. I love how (2 Timothy 4:2) talks about how we should be ready in season and out of season to preach the word. We are also to correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. This site will be about my journey as I'm sanctified by the grace and truth of Jesus, but it is also a place I can share my experiences and interactions with others, with a big emphasis on making disciples. (Matthew 28:19)
About Me
This is an important subheading because right now you have no idea who I am or what I'm about. To begin I was born in Oklahoma, raised in Oklahoma, and am still... in Oklahoma. As I grow in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52) I am beginning to develop a more missional mindset as I approach other people groups. I love missions, every facet of it, every story, every place and every face. In no context is missions for Christ fruitless or a bad thing. I have been Southern Baptist for as long as I have been alive and fortunately, we have so many amazing opportunities for mission experience in the field. Whether it be (Go Students, or North American Mission Board, Gen Send, or even IMB) there are so many great opportunities to witness to other people groups. I also love the craft of apologetics for the Christian faith, I will be addressing some key controversial questions that people ask about Christianity in what hopefully appears as a cohesive format. I will pour over the scriptures daily and comment on what stuck out to me or what truth others spoke into my life during that time. Any doors God opens and any direction he leads me will be noted on here as part of me testifying of the goodness and faithfulness of Jesus Christ. I am also in the midst of learning exegetical preaching, while it is a lifelong art, I do plan on establishing a foundation I can build and grow on as I mature in faith. I will be commenting on techniques and strategies I use to craft, prepare, and give better sermons. There is a common rule for exegetical preaching in a Southern Baptist context, and that's always remain true to the text.
Conclusion
I hope that these letters can be fruitful and encouraging for all that read them, and it is my prayer that through them, the name of Jesus might be proclaimed, known, and glorified. He is the only thing in life worth pursuing, (Ecclesiastes 2:11) is where Solomon is talking about how when he thought back on that he had accomplished and worked hard to achieve, he said he found it all to be futile and a chasing of the wind. He ended the verse by saying there is nothing to be gained under the sun. We can work building our own kingdom or we can work building our own kingdom or we can help build an eternal kingdom, but only one of them will last.
- Matt