Read: Luke 19:1-10
If people have been watching you and have discovered something they like, they’ll eventually be watching your community. One person is a good witness, but a whole community is much more powerful. Most churches think of their only mission as creating a place that is attractive to unbelievers. This usually doesn’t provide people with much time for observation and relationship. It is more focused on moving people across the line into belief. Once they’re in, they are then “rewarded” with relationship.
In contrast, notice how the incarnational approach tries first to create a relational environment to which anyone can belong so that they can feel or see aspects of the Gospel lived out. This kind of approach gives a curious person ample “Zacchaeus tree time,” or time to learn about and be transformed by this community called the Kingdom of God.
Don’t Forget!
In two weeks, we’ll be challenging your group to throw a party for friends and anyone outside the faith. This is step 1 of the INCARNATIONAL Approach – “Anyone first invited to belong.” As you start to think about inviting non-Christians to your party, do you feel any pressure or tension?
Journal/Text Question: Are you comfortable around people who don’t act, think or believe like you? Was Jesus?
Prayer Starter: Jesus, who can I invite to our party?
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