7 Patterns of Missional LIving
Denny Henderson, church planter of Hill Country Bible UT developed a very helpful three step reminder for living missionally:
Step 1: Enter their world. This means friendship on their terms. Do what they love. Become a real friend. Serve them in whatever way you can.
Step 2: Express spiritual conversation. Be open about your faith from day one. Talk about how you are really doing. Ask questions. Listen closely and try to understand what’s driving their beliefs.
Step 3: Explore the gospel. Share what Jesus has and is doing for you. Ask them what they think of Jesus. You’ll know when the time is right to directly appeal for a decision to surrender to Jesus.
After my fist six months in Austin, I"ve stopped to try to figure out what my wife and I are doing in our approach to people far from God. Although it's far more organic than a 7-step process, I've discovered a pattern of seven things we've been doing that I hope are helpful to you as well.
1. Meet. We meet people everywhere we go. Now all we need to do is be intentional about it. Take it one step deeper and ask them how they are doing.
2. Connect. Now that you’ve met, see if there’s something you both have in common. If you connect well it will be natural to get their # or email to “do coffee some time.”
3. Play. That’s right, do something fun with them. Cook, play a sport, go shopping, watch a movie—anything they enjoy doing.
4. Serve. Discover their needs and meet them. This might mean give them cash, babysit their kids, bring them a meal, take out their trash, fix their deck, or offer them free classes.
5. Show. Be open about your faith. If Jesus is big in your life He’ll come out all over the place. Be honest about your struggles and victories. Be as open with them as you are with another Jesus-follower.
6. Ask. Ask them explorative questions like, “What do you think of the concept of God?” “Do you have a religious background?” “What was it like?” “Do you have any spiritual beliefs?” Listen.
7. Point. When you feel they are ready, ask them if they’d consider trusting in Jesus and letting Him be Lord of their life.
Rarely do these go in this order. A lot of overlapping happens, and sometimes we'll be sharing Jesus the day we met them...it all depends on the Spirit's leading and where the new friend is at. I think the two biggest keys are 1) Continually let the Spirit guide you (submitting to Him, praying through Him), and 2) Love people. If your motivation is love, the gospel will be a natural outflow of your life and lips.
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