For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves
but for him who died for them and was raised again. II Cor 5: 14-15
Charles B. Fleming [Vol. 16, 2006]

As leaders with a mandate from God to help members become more on mission, it is vital we have a mental picture of what a heart for mission looks like.  Paul is an outstanding example.  Notice four key things:

Paul’s heart was shaped more by the Solution than the problem!  Sometimes we are so preoccupied with showing people their need for salvation that we focus on sin so much that we leave people feeling they have just heard the Bad News!  Not so with Paul.  His was a life lived marveling at the reality of “when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared… he saved us… generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3: 4-6). It is true that experiencing Christ’s love brought him face to face with what life without Christ had really meant:  the life he had so zealously embraced and promoted was nothing more than bondage (Gal. 5: 1; Phil. 3: 8-9).  But what dominated his life was the unexpected grace, generosity and kindness of God.  For him, accepting God’s reign in his life meant righteousness, peace and joy (Rom. 14: 17).

The historians of Christian mission stress the importance of attraction.  As far back as the Old Testament we see the power of Godly lives to attract people to God (Ruth 1: 16-17; I Kings 10: 1-13).  In many ways the real power of Paul’s life was the way his joy in knowing Christ attracted people.  He understood this and told Titus to let the power of the solution shape his life so that “In everything set them an example … so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” Titus 2: 7, 10).  What dominates your life and teachings?  Be sure that Christ’s love in your life exercises a magnetic pull on those in need.

Paul’s heart was shaped by gratitude.  Paul’s sense of making the Gospel attractive is not just an external behavior, like the strategic decision an advertising company may take to influence people. Rather, it emerges from deep within him.  When he realized that “The Son of God loved me… and gave himself for me” there was a joyful gratitude that took over his thinking and living.  This is why gratitude is so much a part of his teaching: whatever we do, we do “giving thanks to God the Father”, “overflowing with thankfulness” “for he has rescued us” (Col. 3: 15-17; 2: 7; 1: 12-14).  I encourage you to read his epistles and focus on his emotions and the tone of his messages as opposed to just seeing his “doctrinal” teaching.  His heart is so contagious that ours will be attracted to become more like his was.

Paul’s heart was filled with a sense of concern.  After experiencing the love of this God who loves all humans, Paul is filled with a concern for people.  He sees the ravages of sin.  He sees
humanity living without Christ and so without hope (Eph. 2: 1-2, 12).  His life was committed to help people turn from idolatry “to serve the living and true God” (I Thes. 1: 9).  If you only have eyes for your congregation’s needs you do not share Paul’s concern for the world.

Paul’s heart was filled with a sense of responsibility.  Christ’s solidarity with Paul drew Paul into solidarity with Christ -- “to live for him who died for [him].”  Christ’s solidarity with the world (II Cor 5: 19) draws Paul into solidarity with the world, “I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (I Cor. 9: 16).  May we all be like that!