Spiritual Movements for Dummies: How Did Jesus Do It?

A “come to us” approach has been used by Christians for hundreds of years. But did Jesus use that approach?

Most churches and campus movements have struggled with becoming less attractional (come to us) and more missional (go to them).

It is kind of ironic that Jesus was a skilled carpenter, yet he never used his skills to build a temple and invite the masses to him. It is true that people were attracted to him and followed him around, but he was always on the go.

So, what principles can we learn from Jesus’ movement launching strategy?

1) Leave “Home”

Jesus left home his home in heaven to enter our territory.

Have our churches or students left home? Do they have a dwelling beyond their Christian community? If multiple movements are going to happen, people must first be told to “Go”. I’m not talking outreach events and one-time conversations. I’m talking about doing life with other people in other communities.

2) Embrace Middle Spaces

Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch would say that these middle spaces are “places or events where Christians and not-yet-Christians can interact meaningfully with each other.” Some of Jesus’ middle spaces would include the synagogue, peoples’ homes, the beach, boats, etc. Middle spaces on campus might include intramural sports teams, the dorms, Greek Houses, clubs or organizations, etc. Jesus didn’t pass around sign-up sheets for bible studies, but he did enter into middle spaces and began teaching there.

So perhaps we should not ask “What people can we get to join our community?” but rather, “What community can I join and participate in?” to incarnate the gospel.

Middle spaces for adults might include a Parent/Teacher Association, sowing club, book club, town hall meetings, neighborhood association, the workplace, hunting trips, political campaigns, etc. You have the opportunity to bring Jesus to where people do life (missional) before you try bringing people to your church or bible study (attractional).

3) Identify With Others

As Jesus left home and began dwelling in these middle spaces here on earth, he began to identify with the people he hung out with. He chose to live like them, with all the struggles and problems that they faced.

As we dwell among the artists, the Greeks on campus, the fellow dorm students, the minority students, we begin to take on their pains, their struggles, their joys. We enter into their lives to identify with them. It is in this identification process that we find the redemptive window through which the gospel can most effectively come into this community.