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In this opening episode of Season 5, Thomas Clark lays a foundation that quietly reshapes everything we believe about discipleship, mission, and the Church. On a “capital C” level, the Church of Jesus Christ does not have a mission—God has a mission, and the Church exists because of it. Thomas explains why phrases like “the church has a mission” or “we need to do more mission” can unintentionally make mission feel optional—like a department, a program, or an outreach night—when in reality mission flows from the very nature of God. Introducing the missio Dei (the mission of God), he walks listeners through the biblical storyline of creation, fall, redemption, restoration, and new creation, showing that God’s ongoing work is to restore humanity back into His shalom (peace) through Jesus Christ.

Thomas then connects this to the sending nature of God: God sends Abram, Moses, Isaiah, and ultimately sends His Son. God doesn’t send ideas—He sends people. Jesus is the ultimate “sent One,” and in John 20:21 Jesus makes it clear that as the Father sent Him, He now sends His followers. This episode challenges listeners to stop thinking of mission as something we initiate or “take God” to, and instead to become discerners—joining God where He is already moving in everyday places. The episode ends with a tension-building question and an “I will” challenge to help listeners take a concrete next step toward living as sent disciples in their neighborhoods, workplaces, and third places.

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Take Off is a disciple-making podcast designed to equip everyday followers of Jesus to live missionally where they live, work, learn, and play. Supporters help sustain this work and receive short bonus reflections each week that go deeper into the themes of the episode—offering additional insight, pastoral encouragement, and formation-focused teaching. Supporting is not about buying content, but partnering in the slow, faithful work of making disciples who make disciples.

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