How to Speak Missional: Make an Invitation not a Demand

George Hunsburger recently reminded a group of us that we do not build the Kingdom of God, nor do we bring it with us. Instead, the Kingdom of God can be received or entered. That's it. There is no turn or burn. There is no our way or the highway. There is no sense of us initiating this effort.

The initiative is on God's side. God generously offers us entrance to the Kingdom. It is here and now - through Jesus' gift of his own life. When we suggest to people the implications of joining in Kingdom work, we need to take the next step and invite them in. It strikes me that this is missing in many of our "emergent" works and "missional communities". This simple practice of inviting others to join you in doing what Jesus is about. We do this invitation in the name of Jesus. We invite people to be with Jesus in doing the Kingdom work. We ask people to walk with Jesus in his Way. All we ask them to do is walk into this Way with Jesus and receive what he has for them, for us.

The challenge to most of us is that we think people will know what to do when they are around Kingdom work. Or that they will intuitively know that it takes a step in or hands out to receive. But they don't know. We must get over our shyness and reticence and make the invitation. Come in, come on up, be with Jesus in Jesus' work, in God's Kingdom, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Be part of making the world "right" in Jesus.