The church is craving to recover its Biblical pathway for being what Jesus created it to be. Wherever I go I hear, “How can we reach the youth?”, “We need to figure out how to reconnect with the community,” and “We’re slowly dying, but we don’t know what to do.”
People’s hearts are ready to consider a different way of doing church. Consider these Four New Mission Attitudes that I’ve observed flowing out of faithful Christian communities effectively reaching the lost:
1. LOOK BEYOND THE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY. Churches are realizing that their pool of participants is not merely inside the church; it is located throughout the community. People want to make a difference in the world but don’t know how. The church offers the greatest difference-making potential in the world. Looking to neighbors, friends, co-workers, and community leaders as participants in church efforts creates a non-threatening and welcome linkage to the body of Christ.
2. START WITH RELATIONSHIPS. Programs, mass mailings, announcements in the church bulletin, or appointing a committee to do the work are not what engage people. Relationships do. Entering into real relationships and letting the Holy Spirit chart the course will fuel a Kingdom movement. The place to start is your family. You calling is not to be the Savior of the world. That’s Jesus. Your calling is to reach the people God has placed around you and patiently let the Spirit build the Kingdom momentum one person at a time.
3. INVITE PEOPLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, NOT ATTEND A MEETING. People are tired of organizational gymnastics and time-wasting meetings. The way to connect with others is by inviting them to making a difference with you. 20% of the population values attending church. 90% of the population wants to make a difference. Invite people to do mission with you. Let the Spirit change their lives and lead them to a holy desire to gather.
4. TELL THE STORY. Our society is not very literate. 60% of college graduates will not read another book after graduation. Instead of making faith in Christ overly academic, it’s time to remember that our faith is a miraculous and exciting true story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It’s also the miraculous and true story of how Jesus has impacted you. This is really not rocket science. You don’t need a degree. Tell the story. Tell your story. And let the stories of grace cascade into a movement of lives transformed by the Spirit.
