The Simplest Way To Change the World
On a Sunday evening a few weeks ago at CHBC, we hosted a two-hour event that we called the Everyday Disciple Maker seminar. Our goals for that seminar were to lay a biblical foundation for why we should be making disciples and to show how the average church member can practically make it happen.
The book that we recommended everyone read was The Simplest Way To Change the World: Biblical Hospitality as a Way of Life by Dustin Willis and Brandon Clements.
But hey, we know the average guy doesn’t have time to read every book that’s recommended. So we want to help get you the best parts of this book in quick, bite-sized portions.
Each Monday for the next few weeks will be "Missional Mondays" as we think and blog about The Simplest Way to Change the World. We hope this will be an encouragement to you.
Check out some of the highlights from the first chapter.
Chapter 1: Small Things Can Change the World
1. Our homes have become retreats from the world instead of a place where mission takes place.
“We think of mission as something that happens outside the four walls of our home – that, if anything, our homes are even a retreat from any Christian mission that we may be involved in (other than training our children to love Jesus, of course).” (p. 18)
2. The busyness of life makes changing the world seem impossible for the average person.
“Change the world? Me? Really? I can barely get my five-year-old to brush her teeth. It’s all I can do to get myself ready and out the door in the mornings. The world’s problems are so big – what could I possibly do to make a difference?” (p. 19)
3. The home that we use to retreat from the world is actually our secret weapon to change the world.
“The secret weapon for gospel advancement is hospitality; and you can practice it whether you live in a house, an apartment, a dorm, or a high-rise. It only takes your willingness to open your home and life to others” (p. 19)
4. Hospitality starts by learning your neighbors’ names.
“How many relationships and opportunities right here at my house have I missed out on because I just smiled and waved [instead of stopping to say hello]?” (p. 22)
5. The gospel of Jesus is the source of power and motivation for missional hospitality.
“At its core, biblical hospitality is obeying the command in Romans 15:7 to “welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.” (p. 26)
Go meet a neighbor this week and see what God might do!