Jesus was a 1st century itinerant rabbi. But his practice depended on students. What is a teacher with no students, no followers? They were called disciples, learners. And he taught them.
How did Jesus teach? This is as important to us as what he taught. Content and methods both matter. Jesus invited people into a relationship with him in which they were welcomed as sons and daughters of God. Jesus also challenged them to live into that identity as faithful practitioners and responsible stewards of the gifts they received. His practice was highly invitational--consistently welcoming, patient, gracious, and loving. "Come to me all y uwho are heavily burdened and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:25. And it was highly challenging; "If anyone wants to become my follower he (she) must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me." Mark 8:34. We might say that High Invitation/High Challenge was Jesus' method of delivery.
When we think about creating a culture or environment in which people will grow, evolve, and mature in their spiritual lives we notice that Rabbi Jesus creates a culture that is highly invitational and highly challenging for his followers. In the Gospels, he invites fishermen to follow him and learn to "fish for people". In John's gospel he invites potential followers to "come and see" where he is abiding and what he is doing. In both circumstances, he meets people of peace (those who are ready for a life-change, are eager to learn, are already experiencing challenges that require them to learn/change.) We'll discuss what makes a person of peace a potential learner/disciple next time.
Jesus invites them to follow him. They immediately do so. Then he begins to act. He heals sick people, drives out unclean spirits, feeds hungry crowds, touches lepers, talks to gentiles and women, and forgives sins. He lets them observe and listen to him. He gives them access to his life, his words and his work. But eventually, he will send them out to do exactly what he was doing. He challenges them to imitate him. Jesus taught his followers to know what he knows, see what he sees, and do what he does. He did so in the context of a relationship, the rabbi/disciple relationship. They were on a journey together. Apprenticeship occurred in the context of their daily lives, as it does for us.
Many churches are High Invitation/Low Challenge cultures---leaders, pastors, staff do all of the work. And the people are largely left to comfortable consumption of religious goods and services. In order to keep everyone happy and to attract more and more consumers, leaders have to continue to perform and produce high quality stuff for the people. Excellence is the mark of a consumer church, driven by the demands of consumers.
When there is low invitation/low challenge life is boring, apathetic, and uninspiring. Organizations in this place are dying. This culture can change by becoming more invitational and more welcoming. But you have to create a reason to invite and welcome. The church should always have one reason: The message of radically inclusive, irresistible love demonstrated by Jesus.
When there is low invitation and high challenge, life is stressful. Some families and a lot of work/career life is like this. I suspect many middle class, working American families live in this space; it's discouraging. Undervalued, unappreciated, and overworked. Working to please someone else, to be productive, and to complete hard tasks. Anxiety and depression are symptoms of life in this culture.
Jesus calibrated a high invitation/high challenge culture. Identity affirmation, patience, worth and value, compassion, forgiveness, and welcome all characterized Jesus' invitational life. He gave time to people. A lot of time. One- on- one time. He listened. Because he was building authentic love relationships with people. He wanted them to know that they belonged to the creator, the Father, the author and giver of life. He wanted them to know that they had gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit. He wanted them to know that they had a calling, a mission, a purpose to live. He empowered them to stand up, to have courage, and to do what was right.
He challenged people to confront their insecurities, their incompetency, and their prejudices. A confrontation with one's self is scary. When you look in the mirror, who do you see? Is it who you want to see, to be? There will be things Jesus challenges us to do. We may not know how to do them yet. Jesus is challenging me to feed hungry people by managing a farm in Elizabethtown.
So, we will learn to hear and accept invitation and challenge; We will learn to give invitation and challenge to others.
Some other language for invitation and challenge that we will use: Gospel/Law; Relationship/Responsibilities; Promise/Command; Gift/Task; Identity/Calling; Covenant/Kingdom.
Why do you think this method is effective? Where have you experienced each of these four quadrants? What questions emerge for you?
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