One of the issues stopping Western Christians from understanding mission as a way of life is simply the back-to-front way in which they understand church.

In my short life as a Christian, I have discovered one, very important thing (well, at least “one thing” that I am going to share with you here, now).  That is that a practical faith (missional faith), lived in serving relationship with others (particularly others not found in churches), is food aplenty for growth of faith and purpose.

But how often have you heard this spoken of from the front?  Mostly, if not exclusively, food for spiritual growth is purported to come from the mouth of the pastor on a Sunday morning when he delivers his weekly sermon.

Nothing against sermons here, I just don’t think this is what Jesus had in mind as the exclusive method of feeding our faith.

In fact, in his dealings with the disciples during the “woman at the well” incident, Jesus put it quite plainly.

“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” John 4:34.

As disciples of the incarnate One, that should probably tell us something about our choices when it comes to our “food” source.