I love driving into Nashville. A pretty incredible city with so much to do, see, explore and experience. Live music on Broadway, movies and plays in the summer at Centennial Park, the Grammy-winning Nashville Symphony, great restaurants in The Gulch… and our boys LOVE spending hours at the Adventure Science Center. But the reality is, in almost 17 years living here, I’ve rarely taken side roads to get into the city. I almost always take the interstate. 15 min from Brentwood and I’m in the city. And this might sound like stating the obvious – but I’ve never figured out how to get on the interstate without using an on-ramp!
Highway
I like to think of “missional living” as a highway, moving God’s people in the same direction on His mission of making disciples, building His Church and reaching the lost – through the Gospel, by the power of the Holy Spirit. And to get on this highway, everyone needs an “on ramp”.
You might already be moving well down the road on this missional journey. Many certainly are – actively engaging relationships with the Gospel at the center, giving your life away in significant ways that display the love of Christ to a hurting world, reaching out in your neighborhood in ways that both speak and live the Gospel.
On-Ramps
If you’re looking for an on-ramp, there are many – here are a couple to consider:
1. Gospel Primer Pilot Group: We’re in week 6 of an 8-week pilot taking 12 people through Caesar Kalinowski’s Gospel Primer. You could ask each person for their feedback – and I’d encourage you to do so – but what I’m seeing is people coming alive to the breadth and depth of the Gospel, becoming more “fluent” in it, and better understanding how it can be applied to the everyday rhythms of life and relationships. Read some recent thoughts on this experience here, and let me know if you’d be interested in being a part of an upcoming gospel pilot group.
2. “Neighbor well”: Read some great ideas here related to the art of neighboring, living on mission right around your own home and ways you can live with gospel rhythms without even leaving your neighborhood.
3. Serve with a local community partner: Right now, there are a number of great opportunities to give your life away and “gospel” someone through some of our local partnerships. Keep your eye on our Twitter feed (@fbctn), our weekend church program, or explore options with our local outreach partners via our website.
4. Give your life away on a Global Trip through one of our Global Strategic Partners. While it’s ideal that serving globally would flow out of how one is already living on mission right where we are, a Global Trip might just be the on-ramp God uses to help you get moving in your missional journey. There are a number of 2015 possibilities to explore that are listed under “GO” on our website. Or feel free to contact Joel Guinness in the Outreach department ().
DNA of Discipleship
Honestly – the best on-ramps are going to be those that involve others on the journey, living in community, on mission together. Check out this great blog post by Mark Irving on the DNA of Discipleship – the intersection of Gospel, Family and Mission.
Like getting to Nashville via I-65 North or I-24 West, there are a number of on-ramps to use – the important thing is getting on the highway, living out of Gospel rhythms empowered by the Holy Spirit and trusting God for the results.
What’s your next step?
Brian Petak
photo attribution license under Creative Commons
