Twenty-Four Seven

Preface: What you are about to read is the backbone for the book I've been saying I'm writing! I'm so excited to share this with you as it has become a passion of mine and hopefully God will use it to spur you on to live missionally!

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I am guilty of not actively evangelising or discipling and the reason I believe this is true of me is because I have tragically separated evangelism and discipleship from my life. Those things have become events independent of my everyday life.

Discipleship to Jesus means adopting his mission, but more often than not, I've resorted to simply reading my Bible and just hanging out with Christians - which isn't bad, by the way, but it's not complete obedience either.

After some reflection, I have realized the direction in which God has been pulling me these past few months. He's calling me to take a look at how I can transform the way I live so that every part of it becomes evangelism and discipleship. I feel this call based on conversations I've been having with friends and family, books I'm reading and my personal urge to live out the way of Jesus.

What if I looked at my everyday rhythms as discipling people to Jesus or kingdom-building the way Jesus envisioned? What would it look like if I took the time to plan integrating the gospel into my everyday life?

In Jeff Vanderstelt's book Saturate, he discusses practical ways that Jesus followers can invite people into a life of following Jesus through our everyday rhythms - like eating, celebrating, resting, playing, etc. - things that we already do.

Too often, we focus on the spectacular activites of a few prominent Christians, leaving many people feeling as if what they do in everyday life doesn't really matter. But the everday stuff, done with gospel intentionality in the name of Jesus, changes lives as well. - Jeff Vanderstelt

I would go as far as to say: the everyday stuff done with gospel intentionality in the name of Jesus is what changes the most lives.

I love this so much. Practicing the way of Jesus, an already convincing and intruiging lifestyle, in such a way that it draws others to the gospel. Evangelism or discipleship shouldn't be independent of our daily lives. When we are followers of Jesus, evangelism and discipleship are our lives.

With this missional mindset, I'm going to go over some ideas that you can consider as you work towards a missional life! These are the rhythms that I believe parallel the life of Jesus and are the most effective.

Eating stands out to me as the most effective and convenient way to disciple and love my friends (and I don't even like eating 90% of the stuff I eat). "While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples" (Matthew 9:10). Think about it; If you have three meals a day, and seven days a week, you have 21 meals to share the love of Jesus with someone! This is crazy! You don't even have to use all 21 days. Just start by choosing one or two and that can make a huge difference in both your life and your friends' lives.

Community. This is the outflow of eating as a daily rhythm. Jesus had a tight-knit group of buddies that he was always around and he always made an effort to ask them heart-provoking questions. If you look at the life of Jesus, throughout his whole life, Jesus was never alone. He was either in community with his disciples, those he was teaching or with God, his Father, in prayer. If you have a group that you hang out with a lot, don't waste those times! Of course, you can have fun, talk about light stuff and just chill in each others' presence, but make an effort to ask questions where your friends get to just talk and get stuff off their chest. They'll be thankful for you. Trust me. (And who likes superficial conversations anyways?)

We need to become the best listeners. Let your friends talk. They might never get opportunities to share those things with anyone else. Here are some questions that I like to ask and then listen to the other person:

• What's the thing at the forefront of your mind lately?

• What do you think God has been placing on your heart/mind this past week?

• What is one life changing moment you've had recently?

• Have you had a "God-experience" lately?

• What stands out to you as the most important lesson you're learning in this stage of your life?

• What has God been revealing to you recently?

Then take the next step: Share your life with them. What experiences have you gone through where Jesus is spotlighted. Paul says, "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us" (1 Thess. 2:8). Now go be in community!

There are so many more rhythms we could take a look at depending on where you are in life: studying, at work, parties, weddings, funerals, gyming, etc.

Notice the pattern, however. If you want to live missionally, you can never be alone. You have to get yourself out there and be connected with other people. Even people you don't enjoy being around or disagree with. Jesus was often found among sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes, Pharisees and teachers of the Law.

"What part will you play in the story [God] is writing? Whom is he sending you to love, serve and proclaim Jesus to? Who will you do it with?"