Practical Ideas
- Kneel – Ask God to work in the hearts of the non-Christians around you, to give you an open door to proclaim the gospel, and courage and clarity as you take these opportunities.
- Know – Know your God, His message, and the people to whom He wants you to take the message.
- Give – Give sacrificially of your time to get to know the people who live and work around you. Serve and love them as you seek to tell them about the good news of Jesus Christ.
- Go – Take the message of hope in Christ with you to work, to school, and to play. Find ways to get into the lives of non-Christians and point them toward Christ through word and deed. Partner with others in your community group to serve non-Christians and tell them about Christ.
Being missional means getting into the lives of non-Christians around you for the expressed purpose of sharing the love and truth of Jesus Christ with them in the context of real relationship. Some of you know non-Christians and just need to be equipped to "speak the truth in love" to them. For those of you in that boat, be sure to check out the Ambassador Training. Others know how to share the gospel faithfully and winsomely, but just do not know any non-Christians in any real sense. Well, here are some practical ideas about how to be on mission locally as you seek to build real relationships with non-Christians.
The following was adapted from Pastor Jonathan Dobson of Austin City Life Church: 8 Ways to be Missional (without overloading your schedule)
Check out the Spaces strategy of our Community Group Leader Handbook for more on being on mission all the time.
8 Ways to be Missional (without Overloading Your Schedule)
Missional is not an event we tack onto our already busy lives. It is our life. Mission should be the way we live, not something we add onto life: "As you go, make disciples...."; "Walk wisely towards outsiders"; "Let your speech always be seasoned with salt"; "be prepared to give a defense for your hope". We can be missional in everyday ways without overloading our schedules. Here are a few suggestions:
Don't make the mistake of making missional another thing to add to your schedule. Instead, make your existing schedule missional.
- Eat with Non-Christians. We all eat three meals a day. Why not make a habit of sharing one of those meals with a non-Christian or with a family of non-Christians? Go to lunch with a co-worker, not by yourself. Invite the neighbors over for family dinner. If it's too much work to cook a big dinner, just order pizza and put the focus on conversation with them. When you go out for a meal, invite a non-Christian friend. Or take your family to family-style restaurants where you can sit at the table with strangers and strike up conversations. Have cookouts and invite Christians and non-Christians. Flee the Christian subculture, and resist the urge to only eat with Christians.
- Walk, Don't Drive. If you live in a walkable area, make a practice of getting out and walking around your neighborhood, apartment complex, or campus. Instead of driving to the mailbox, convenience store, or apartment office, try walking. Be deliberate in your walk. Pray for your community and the people that live there. Say hello to people you don't know. Strike up conversations. Attract attention by walking the dog. Bring the kids. Make friends. Get out of your house! Something as simple as gardening outside or barbequing out front can lead to conversations (and relationships) with neighbors you may not have had otherwise. Take interest in your neighbors. Ask questions. Engage them. Pray as you go. Be visible.
- Be a Regular. Instead of hopping all over the city for gas, groceries, haircuts, eating out, and coffee, go to the same places. Get to know the staff. Go to the same places at the same times. Smile. Ask questions. Build relationships. Be a regular.
- Hobby with Non-Christians. Pick a hobby that you can share. Get out and do something you enjoy with others. Try city league sports or other local recreational teams. Share your hobby by teaching lessons to those who want to learn. Teach sewing lessons, piano, violin, guitar, knitting, tennis, etc. Be prayerful. Be intentional. Be winsome. Have fun. Be faithful to speak the gospel in love. Be yourself.
- Engage Your Co-workers and Neighbors. How hard is that? Take your breaks with intentionality. Go out with your team or task force after work. Show interest in your co-workers. Pick four and pray for them. Form mom's groups in your neighborhood and don't make them exclusively for Christians. Schedule play dates with the neighbors' kids. Work and live on mission.
- Volunteer with Non-Profits. Find a non-profit in your part of the city and take Saturday each month to serve your city. Bring your neighbors, your friends, or your community group. Spend time with your church serving your city once a month or so, and invite your non-Christian friends to come along. Serve the city.
- Participate in City Events. Instead of playing X-Box, watching TV, or surfing the net, participate in city events. Go to fundraisers, festivals, clean-ups, summer shows, and concerts. Be a good participant in the community, and be on mission while you do it. Strike up conversation. Study the culture. Reflect on what you see and hear. Pray for the city. Love the city. Participate with the city.
- Serve Your Neighbors. Help a neighbor by weeding, mowing, building a cabinet, fixing a car, etc. Stop by the neighborhood association or apartment office and ask if there is anything you can do to help improve things. Ask your local police and fire stations if there is anything you can do to help them. Get creative. Serve your neighbors.