Get yourself in the mission game if you’re not there already!
Don’t wait for all those folks to one day wake up and decide they should ask you about Jesus. You’ll be waiting a long time. (Review our Christendom and Post-Christendom PLI Entry Paths.)
It was incredibly difficult when I started down this path. I didn’t know how to have a conversation about Jesus. I could talk about work, the Nebraska Huskers season, the weather. But in our neighborhood, talking about Jesus, I was at a loss for words.
Here’s a rhythm I’ve found helpful.
Pick a place: Home. Work. Play.
Start thinking like a missionary. Get to know the folks around you. Share a bit of your story. Listen to their story.
Be patient. Be more patient.
Learn more of each other’s story.
Pray. Be Patient more. Pray some more.
Watch for God to tip His hand. And, simply respond when it’s time to respond with the Good News that’s in you.
It sounds simple. But it takes patience and bravery and faith. Then more bravery and more faith. You’ll learn along the way. Make mistakes and try it again. That’s okay, because it’s not a one and done. Instead, it is a life rhythm of repeatable patterns.
So, don’t wait. The people around you are desperate for the Good News that’s in you. Listen to stories and when the time is right, be brave with a quiet boldness that comes from an identity in Christ.
Learning this rhythm too,
Jock
