Then he turned to the host. “The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbours, the kind of people who will return the favour. Invite some people who never get invited out, the misfits from the wrong side of the tracks. You’ll be—and experience—a blessing. They won’t be able to return the favour, but the favour will be returned—oh, how it will be returned!—at the resurrection of God’s people.”
Luke 14 v 12-14 The Message
What is God asking you to do? Do it? If you don’t know, ask…
There are many sites teaching you another method and this post is not about that. I am suggesting we follow Jesus’ example!
Jesus said to them, “Do you really believe I can do this?” They said, “Why, yes, Master!”
Matthew 9 v 28-29 The Message
He touched their eyes and said, “Become what you believe.” It happened. They saw.
Jesus said, “What can I do for you?”
Mark 10 v 51-52 The Message
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
“On your way,” said Jesus. “Your faith has saved and healed you.”
In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road.
Taking him by the hand, he led him out of the village. He put spit in the man’s eyes, laid hands on him, and asked, “Do you see anything?”
Mark 8 v 23-24 The Message
He looked up. “I see men. They look like walking trees.” So Jesus laid hands on his eyes again. The man looked hard and realised that he had recovered perfect sight
He said this and then spit in the dust, made a clay paste with the saliva, rubbed the paste on the blind man’s eyes, and said, “Go, wash at the Pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “Sent”). The man went and washed—and saw.
John 9 v 6-7 The Message
It is easy to write, follow Jesus’ example but what was that example? Take the verses above, if I was to write a paragraph on the Jesus way to heal blindness I would have a problem to hit on one method. When we connect the verses together we end up with one result… faith.
On a side note has anybody reading this post spat in someone’s eyes? If you have leave a comment please!
Growing our churches will take a huge commitment in time and energy. Jesus took 12 men and modelled discipleship. He lived and breathed the gospel into the 12 with the intention of those men taking the message further.
We have jobs to do and go to, families to manage, dogs to walk, how will I find time? Talk to God – pray – I can’t give a simple answer. As a family we have committed to fulfilling the vision together.
Could I suggest this as a pattern to help you find an answer:
Belong
What are your interests? Cooking, building, young people, old people, families, shopping, crafts, sewing, woodworking, sheds, cycling.
Encourage people to feel part of something
Do NOT be judgemental
In our area we have seen a church grow because one of the church leaders loves bell-ringing! He has active members of all ages.
Believe
Give them a vision for where they can be
Still might not be Christians
But closer and interested
Behave
Will come naturally
Faith stage
Can you see how easy this is? We over-complicate things by assuming we need to take someone to church. Are we leaders? Yes we need to be. In the UK leadership is portrayed as someone being in charge.
Leadership
Simon Sinek
is NOT about being in charge
It is
ABOUT taking care of those in your charge
Ask yourself?
What am I trying to build?
A church or maybe a community – a biblical functioning community?
A group of friends – a biblical functioning group of friends?
An interest group – a biblical functioning interest group?
People are seeking a place where they can experience and participate in real community. Jesus built the best community to be in – we call it church. It won’t be hard to attract people – people need to belong! They need/want to be valued. Just start where you are at.
- Pray
- Teach – let your lifestyle ‘teach’
- Listen, Be together, Love, Co-operate, Share
- Don’t run from conflict, address it together
- Leaders need to model
- Be open, honest and encouraging
- Have fun!
A lot of what Jesus did was in a relaxed informal setting.
It’s a great way to develop friendship and to grow ‘church’.