8. Gospel Patterns
How we live can put the gospel into life.
Living as a family of servant missionaries does not mean a “new to-do” item or list. Instead, it means re-imagining the way we do everything we already do. This is what we call living with “gospel intentionality,” and it affects:
Story: everyone has a story to tell, and everyone shares stories. How can you better draw out peoples’ stories and see how they connect to God’s and the Gospel’s?
Listening: listening is the only way to hear stories and to hear God. Listen “backward” by going to the Word, and listen “forward” by praying and listening to God and His Spirit.
Celebrating: celebrations mark our lives, as we stop to enjoy the moment with others. Celebrate what God is doing in and through you, and add blessing to the celebrations of others.
Blessing: blessing others through words, gifts, or actions shows the gift and grace of God in action daily.
Eating: meals offer a chance to stop and share stories, celebrate, and bless. How can you better use meals to connect with believers and non-believers alike?
Recreating: we all need to rest and restore our energy. How can you rest, play, create, and restore beauty in ways that display the Gospel? Ultimate sabbath is resting in Jesus’ completed work on our behalf.
From “additional” to “intentional.”
For most people who grew up around church, the ideas in this primer will sound like “to-do’s” or things to add to a busy schedule. How are we supposed to do this too? How in the world do they expect us to…?
The secret to living on mission is to live out our identity: we do who we are.
If we see ourselves as a family of servant missionaries, would we do anything else?
If we see the things of our life as opportunities to show the gospel, rather than obstacles, would we do anything else?
If we changed our question to show the shift from additional to intentional, what would we ask ourselves?
Do you notice a shift like this…
3 meals a day = I already eat. How can it bring others closer to the gospel?
5 days of work = I get paid to be a full-time missionary. Who am I engaging for the gospel when I’m there?
Regular trips/errands = I go there all the time. Do I know the stories of the staff or other regulars?
Maintenance/to-do’s = I have to take care of them. Who can I include and teach along the way?
Hours in commute = I am stuck in a car. How can I redeem the time with God or others?
Sports/activities = I am sitting on the sideline. How can I treat those around me like family?
Apartments/dorms = I am jam-packed among people. Missionaries just have more people to engage! Who will I engage?
Scripture to discover
Look at the Scriptures below and identify the way the 6 patterns show up in His life:
Mark 4:33-34
Luke 5:16
John 8:28
Luke 2:41
John 2:13
Mark 1:34
Luke 7:34
Mark 3:3-4
Questions to discuss
Grab a blank sheet of paper and write a few thoughts in response to these questions. When you gather as a GC, you can draw on these responses in your discussion.
How do we view mission in life — as additional or intentional? What makes a change hard? How can we all help?
What specifically do we need help reimagining as intentional opportunities for mission? (Whether by gospel proclamation or demonstration.)
How much easier or more appealing is it to consider living like this with others instead of alone? (Our Gospel Community sharing this instead of you on your own.)
What has changed about our gospel perspective and gospel fluency over these last 8 conversations?
What will we do to keep growing in this? What will we do next time we gather?
Thoughts to engage
Grab a blank sheet of paper and write a few thoughts in response to these questions. These get more into your experience of the Gospel and may be something you can discuss with others in your GC.
What is changing in me through this conversation on living with intentionality?
What has been changing in me through these 8 conversations in the primer?
What questions do I still have as I move forward as a disciple on mission?