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It was “Commissioning Sunday” for our MBC crew over the weekend.

We commissioned our elected leaders, ministry leaders and interns in their responsibilities for the coming 12 months.

We then looked at the story of Elijah from the Old Testament - the one where he challenges the prophets of Baal to a contest, wins via a spectacular demonstration of God’s power, but then runs off to the dessert because his life is in danger. While hiding in the cave there’s a poweful wind, an earth shattering quake, a raging fire and then a quiet, gentle, whisper that asks, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

It seems that Elijah has become preoccupied by the spectacular. He had no doubt seen many amazing things, but had forgotten about the amazing God that was behind them. When the spectactular didin’t change the attitude of the Queen and resulted in his death warrant, he became angry and depressed. He complained to God that everything he had done was a waste of time, he was the only faithful person left in Israel and it was all too hard.

For whatever reason, God seems to have a preference for the small, unexpected - even ordinary - things in the world. Jesus tried to keep his miracles a secret, urging people not to tell anyone what had happened after they had been healed. God chose not speak to Elijah in the spectacular displays of nature, but in a small voice. I think that perhaps we can be the same as Elijah. We have a great God experience at a camp or mission trip, at a worship service or small group, but then find ourselves the next day at school, home or work, depressed and wondering if God is doing anything at all. Why can’t we be back with our faith community and seeing God doing great stuff there all the time?

Patiently God reminds Elijah, that the workplace of the prophet is with the people. God is still at work in their midst in very ordinary and unexpected ways. There are 7000 other faitful people that have not bowed their heads to Baal. Elijah needs to be there and so is sent back to recruit others to the cause and train his successor.

The question God asked Elijah is one that God asks us today in our workplaces. When we’re sitting at the desk, listening to a teacher, raising kids or pushing a pen, are we dreaming of the spectacular that we think must always happen somewhere else, or are we listening to the small, quiet whisper asking, “What are you doing here?”

Phil quotes Jeff jones from the Alban Institute:

Ministering is about involvement. It is our participation in God’s mission of redeeming all creation. The gifts we have, the call we receive, the skills and knowledge we acquire are put to the test in ministering. This can happen both within and outside the church. Leaders and teachers are needed within the community of faith. That may be the call of some. For most disciples, however, ministering will occur outside the church, through their various involvements in the world.

I think that sums it up nicely. God asks us what we are doing in our workplaces because God is at work their too. And like Elijah was sent back to the poeple to join God in what was happening, so too are we sent to join God in our workplaces.

It’s easy to think of missionary as one who does the overseas thing. It’s even easy to think of a missionary as one who does obviously ‘Christian’ work. It’s better to think of all people in our congregations as missionaries, supported and sent by their church, to be part of God’s work wherever they are during the week. On Sunday we heard testimony from a plumber, a barrister, a nursing student, an acocuntant, who are ordinary, everyday examples of people doing exactly that. Being missionaries in the workplace.

So at the end of our time together, we all stoood, placed our hand on the shoulder of the person next to us and prayed a prayer of commissioning, sending each other to be part of God’s work and reminding each other of the the encouragement and support that goes with them from God’s people.

I look forward to hearing the stories of what God is doing next time we gather.