Is Your Life “Questionable” Enough?
Pray. Bless. Eat. Listen.
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The city where I live (Seattle, WA metro area) has been ranked the “least-religious large city” in the United States. Around 64% never attend religious services or go less than once per year. Around the country, many have noticed growing numbers people who are religiously unaffiliated.
How can we reach people who have no interest in church or desire to know the Bible?
The apostle Peter advised, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…” (1 Peter 3:15). Being “prepared to give an answer” assumes people are asking you questions about your faith. Are they? If not, how can you live a more “questionable” life?
My friend Reylourd says, “Adventists love to be different, but if our differences don’t make a positive impact in the lives of others, then that just makes us weird.”
What made Jesus and the first-century church so “questionable” that people wanted to know their Kingdom message?
Their strategy was simple: pray, bless, eat, and listen.
Pray. Jesus daily interceded for those he wanted to become part of his Kingdom. Through prayer, the Holy Spirit opened doors for the church to have spiritual conversations and invite people to follow Jesus.
Who are 5–10 people you can pray for daily to commit to Jesus and journey with His church?
Bless. Jesus blessed people on a regular basis. The early church was known for their generosity to people both inside and outside the church.
How can you bless people in intentional ways on a weekly basis?
Eat. Jesus extended friendship to people He wanted to reach through eating with them. For the early church, the Lord’s Supper was more than a ritual wafer and thimble-sized glass of juice; it was a shared meal for the church, eaten in acknowledgement of the presence of God.
How can you eat with people from both inside and outside your church on a weekly basis?
Listen. Jesus listened to people. In the Gospels, Jesus asked questions one hundred times more often than he shared direct answers. The early church deeply cared for and empowered people to follow and share Jesus with passion.
How can you ask meaningful questions to people you would love to see know Jesus?
When you pray, bless, eat, and listen, people will ask questions. When they ask, share with passion what Jesus has done in your life and invite them on a journey to discover what He could do in their life too.
Pray. Bless. Eat. Listen.
What if every church member were living out these missional rhythms with people who are not part of their church on a weekly basis? Imagine the lives that could be changed!
How can we begin creating a culture that encourages missional living?
1. Live It Personally
Sharing fresh personal stories about how you are connecting with people in your community and seeing God work will make your conversations, sermons, and meetings more powerful and effective. Don’t be afraid to share stories of how God is growing you and interactions when you think you could have done better. Our example preaches louder than our sermons.
2. Start a New Small Group
Start a new mid-week small group for eight weeks. Personally invite receptive members who are interested in growing to live missionally. Use a resource like Surprise the World: The Five Habits of Highly Missional People by Michael Frost or B.L.E.S.S. 5 Everyday Ways to Love Your Neighbor and Change the World by Dave Ferguson and Jon Ferguson. Build accountability by having group members share each week who they blessed and ate with. Celebrate breakthroughs and talk about next steps for the following week to continue discipling people.
3. Invite Others to Join the Journey
Once you and a group of people are practicing living missionally, prepare a way for others to join the journey. Empower your group members to partner up and lead new small groups that replicate the journey they have just experienced with you. Preach a sermon series, have people share testimonies, and personally invite others to join the new small groups. Form a group chat where participants can share photos and stories of how they are living missionally and seeing God show up.
Dustin Serns is Church Planting Coordinator for the Washington Conference.