Simple Ways
to be Missional
It is often helpful to have practical ideas to start engaging the people around me. Most of the things in this tool kit are normal everyday things that many people are already doing. The hope is that we would do these things with the intentionality to be good news where we live and work. Below is a list of ways to be missional. We have tried to categorize them for you but all of them may not fall neatly in a category. Not all of these are for everyone, but hopefully there will be several ideas on the list that God uses to inspire you and help you engage your neighbors.
- In the normal rhythms of life pursing to meet and engage new people.
- Prayerfully watching and listening to the Holy Spirit to discern where God is working.
- Looking to boldly, humbly, and contextually proclaim the good news in word and deed.
Below is a list of ways to be missional. We have tried to categorize them for you but all of them may not fall neatly in a category. Not all of these are for everyone, but hopefully there will be several ideas on the list that God uses to inspire you and help you engage your neighbors.
1. Stay outside in the front yard longer doing simple things like watering flowers etc.
2. Walk your dog regularly around the same time in your neighborhood
3. Linger outside longer with the kids when the weather is nice, just to let your neighbors know you approachable.
4. Pass out baked goods (fresh bread, cookies, brownies, etc.) to your neighbors.
5. Invite your neighbors over for dinner.
6. Organize a “Soup” tasting night for your neighbors. Name a soup that everyone can make, invite everyone over to your house for a tasting. Invite new combers to bring spoons, paper bowls, crackers (the easy things). You could really do this with any food.
7. If you neighbors host a dinner party… attend.
8. Do a food drive or coat drive in the winter to get the neighbors involved.
9. Have a game night (yard games outside or board games inside).
10. Grow a garden and give away the extra produce to neighbors. Or organize a neighborhood garden and work with neighbors to tend it.
11. Have an Easter egg hunt on your block and invite the neighbors to use their front yards.
12. Have a Christmas cookie decorating day and invite the neighbors to bring some supplies and do some decorating. NOT JUST FOR KIDS.
13. Start a weekly open meal night in your home.
14. Do a summer BBQ every Friday night and invite others to contribute.
15. When football season starts make the BBQ Friday nights into tailgating for the local football team home games.
16. Create a block/street email and phone contact list for safety (not gossip).
17. Host sports game watching parties. Super Bowl, NCAA tournament, World Series, Ohio State, etc…
18. Host a coffee and dessert night just to get to know a few neighbors.
19. Organize and host an artistic creation night. Especially if you are an expert at something or are willing to learn together or know someone who would teach everyone.
20. Host a movie or favorite show watching party.
21. Start a walking/running group in the neighborhood.
22. Start hosting a play date weekly for stay at home parents.
23. Seek out school representatives in your neighborhood and see if you can serve a class or teacher, or even the whole school (appreciation days, awards ceremonies, clean up days, supply needs, etc..)
24. Organize a carpool for your neighborhood to help save gas (especially everyone going to the Air Force Base).
25. Volunteer to coach a local little league sport.
26. Have a front yard ice cream, cookie, Pie, party, depending on the season.
27. Cook an extra casserole and give it to your neighbor.
28. Buy an extra dozen donuts and give them to a neighbor (everyone loves Bills).
29. Organize an effort for neighbors to help take care of elderly in the neighborhood.
30. Collect Goodwill items for neighbors. Better yet, ask them to help you collect items.
31. Start a sewing group.
32. Go Christmas Caroling in your neighborhood (invite neighbors in on it).
33. Start neighborhood Facebook/Twitter group for info and help.
34. Throw a holiday block party (4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Halloween, 1st Snow Day, etc.).
35. Ask longtime residents to help you learn about the neighborhood.
36. Set up a meet your neighbors nigh with drinks in your driveway/front yard.
37. Host a regular Saturday morning brunch potluck.
1. Stay outside in the front yard longer doing simple things like watering flowers etc.
2. Walk your dog regularly around the same time in your neighborhood
3. Linger outside longer with the kids when the weather is nice, just to let your neighbors know you approachable.
4. Pass out baked goods (fresh bread, cookies, brownies, etc.) to your neighbors.
5. Invite your neighbors over for dinner.
6. Organize a “Soup” tasting night for your neighbors. Name a soup that everyone can make, invite everyone over to your house for a tasting. Invite new combers to bring spoons, paper bowls, crackers (the easy things). You could really do this with any food.
7. If you neighbors host a dinner party… attend.
8. Do a food drive or coat drive in the winter to get the neighbors involved.
9. Have a game night (yard games outside or board games inside).
10. Grow a garden and give away the extra produce to neighbors. Or organize a neighborhood garden and work with neighbors to tend it.
11. Have an Easter egg hunt on your block and invite the neighbors to use their front yards.
12. Have a Christmas cookie decorating day and invite the neighbors to bring some supplies and do some decorating. NOT JUST FOR KIDS.
13. Start a weekly open meal night in your home.
14. Do a summer BBQ every Friday night and invite others to contribute.
15. When football season starts make the BBQ Friday nights into tailgating for the local football team home games.
16. Create a block/street email and phone contact list for safety (not gossip).
17. Host sports game watching parties. Super Bowl, NCAA tournament, World Series, Ohio State, etc…
18. Host a coffee and dessert night just to get to know a few neighbors.
19. Organize and host an artistic creation night. Especially if you are an expert at something or are willing to learn together or know someone who would teach everyone.
20. Host a movie or favorite show watching party.
21. Start a walking/running group in the neighborhood.
22. Start hosting a play date weekly for stay at home parents.
23. Seek out school representatives in your neighborhood and see if you can serve a class or teacher, or even the whole school (appreciation days, awards ceremonies, clean up days, supply needs, etc..)
24. Organize a carpool for your neighborhood to help save gas (especially everyone going to the Air Force Base).
25. Volunteer to coach a local little league sport.
26. Have a front yard ice cream, cookie, Pie, party, depending on the season.
27. Cook an extra casserole and give it to your neighbor.
28. Buy an extra dozen donuts and give them to a neighbor (everyone loves Bills).
29. Organize an effort for neighbors to help take care of elderly in the neighborhood.
30. Collect Goodwill items for neighbors. Better yet, ask them to help you collect items.
31. Start a sewing group.
32. Go Christmas Caroling in your neighborhood (invite neighbors in on it).
33. Start neighborhood Facebook/Twitter group for info and help.
34. Throw a holiday block party (4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Halloween, 1st Snow Day, etc.).
35. Ask longtime residents to help you learn about the neighborhood.
36. Set up a meet your neighbors nigh with drinks in your driveway/front yard.
37. Host a regular Saturday morning brunch potluck.
Many times it's difficult to find practical ways to be a blessing in your workplace. Rapid pace, mounting deadlines, or coworker conflict can often derail even the best of intentions to say and show the love of Jesus at work. Even more the reason to try. Remember these are only ideas, yours work just as well.
1. Instead of eating lunch alone, intentionally eat with other coworkers and learn their story.
2. Get to work early so you can spend some time praying for your coworkers and the day ahead.
3. Make it a daily priority to speak orwrite encouragement notes when someone does good work.
4. Bring extra snacks when yo make your lunch to give away to others
5. Bring breakfast (donuts, burritos, cereal, etc.) once a month for everyone in your department.
6. Organize a running/walking group before or after work.
7. Have your Home Group bring lunch to your workplace once a month.
8. Create a regular time to invite coworkers over or out for drinks/lunch/brunch.
9. Make a list of your co-workers birthdays and find a way to bless everyone on their birthdays.
10. Organize and throw office parties as appropriate to your job.
11. Make every effort to avoid gossip in the office. Be a voice of thanksgiving not complaining.
12. Find others that live near you to create a carpool.
13. Offer to throw a shower for a coworker who is having a baby or getting married.
14. Offer to cover for a co-worker who needs off for something.
15. Start a regular lunch out with coworkers (don’t be selective on the invites).
16. Organize a weekly/monthly pot luck to make lunch a bit more exciting.
17. Ask someone who others typically for lunch or just grab them a soda or coffee while you are out.
18. Be the first person to greet and welcome new people.
19. Make effort to know the names of coworkers along with their families.
20. Visit anyone from work in the hospital.
21. Bring sodas or work appropriate drinks to keep in the break room for everyone. (Get to know what your co-workers like).
22. Go out of your way to talk to your janitors and cleaning people who most people overlook.
23. Find your co-workers favorite music and make a playlist that includes as much as you can (if suitable for work, if not make a mix tape for the ride home).
24. Invite your co-workers in to the service projects you are already involved doing.
25. Start/join a city league team with your co-workers.
26. Work hard to reconcile with coworkers who are fighting with one another.
27. Keep small candy, gum, or little snacks around to offer to others during a long day.
28. Lead the charge in organizing other to help co-workers in need.
1. Instead of eating lunch alone, intentionally eat with other coworkers and learn their story.
2. Get to work early so you can spend some time praying for your coworkers and the day ahead.
3. Make it a daily priority to speak orwrite encouragement notes when someone does good work.
4. Bring extra snacks when yo make your lunch to give away to others
5. Bring breakfast (donuts, burritos, cereal, etc.) once a month for everyone in your department.
6. Organize a running/walking group before or after work.
7. Have your Home Group bring lunch to your workplace once a month.
8. Create a regular time to invite coworkers over or out for drinks/lunch/brunch.
9. Make a list of your co-workers birthdays and find a way to bless everyone on their birthdays.
10. Organize and throw office parties as appropriate to your job.
11. Make every effort to avoid gossip in the office. Be a voice of thanksgiving not complaining.
12. Find others that live near you to create a carpool.
13. Offer to throw a shower for a coworker who is having a baby or getting married.
14. Offer to cover for a co-worker who needs off for something.
15. Start a regular lunch out with coworkers (don’t be selective on the invites).
16. Organize a weekly/monthly pot luck to make lunch a bit more exciting.
17. Ask someone who others typically for lunch or just grab them a soda or coffee while you are out.
18. Be the first person to greet and welcome new people.
19. Make effort to know the names of coworkers along with their families.
20. Visit anyone from work in the hospital.
21. Bring sodas or work appropriate drinks to keep in the break room for everyone. (Get to know what your co-workers like).
22. Go out of your way to talk to your janitors and cleaning people who most people overlook.
23. Find your co-workers favorite music and make a playlist that includes as much as you can (if suitable for work, if not make a mix tape for the ride home).
24. Invite your co-workers in to the service projects you are already involved doing.
25. Start/join a city league team with your co-workers.
26. Work hard to reconcile with coworkers who are fighting with one another.
27. Keep small candy, gum, or little snacks around to offer to others during a long day.
28. Lead the charge in organizing other to help co-workers in need.
Sometimes it's hard to fit ideas into a category like neighborhoods or workplace. Sometimes you can do them in both places. Sometimes there’s a third place that is hard to define for everyone. It's usually somewhere neutral and natural that your group or you as an individual can cultivate an “inclusive community.” These are places like shops, restaurants, service areas, garages, etc. that it may seem weird to start including people in your community, but remember, “people are all the same…” we all just wanna be where everybody knows our name.
1. Eat with other people: We all eat 3 meals a day. That’s 21 opportunities for mission each week without adding untying new to your schedule. And meals are a powerful expression of welcome and community.
2. Work in public places: Hold meetings, prepare talks, read in public spaces like cafes, pubs and parks. It will naturally help you engage with culture as work or plan. For example whose questions do you want to address indoor Bible studies — those of professional Bible Scholars or those of the culture?
3. Be a regular: Adopt a cafe, pub, park and shops so you regularly visit and become known as a local. Imagine if everyone in your gospel community did this!
4. Join in with what’s going on: Churches often start their think like a coffee shop or homeless program. Instead, join existing initiatives — you don’t have the burden of running it and you get opportunities with people who are doing the same.
5. Leave the house in the evenings: Its so easy after a long day on a dark evening to slump in from of the television or surf the internet. Get out! Visit a friend. Take a cake to a neighbor. Attend a local group. Go to the movies. Hang out in a cafe. Go for a walk with a friend. it doesn’t matter where as long as you go with gospel intentionality.
6. Serve your neighbors: Weed a neighbor’s garden. Help someone move. Put up a shelf. Volunteer with a local group. it could be one evening a week or one day a month. Try to do it with other members of your Home Group so it becomes a common project. Then people will see your love for one another and it will be easier to talk about Jesus.
7. Share your passion: What do you enjoy? Find a local group that shares your passion. Be missional and have fun at the same time.
8. Hang out with your colleagues: Spend your lunch break with colleagues. Go for a drink after work. Share the journey to work.
9. Walk: Walking enables you to engage with your neighborhood at street level. You notice things you don’t in a car. You are seen and known in the neighborhood.
10. Prayer walk: Walk around your neighborhood using what you see as fuel for prayer. Pray for people, homes, businesses, community groups, and community needs. Ask God to open your eyes to where He is at work and to fill your heart with love for your neighborhood.
11. Eat with Non-Christians: We all eat meals, why not make a habit of sharing one of those meals with a non-Christian? Go to lunch with a coworker, not by yourself. Invite the neighbor over for family dinner. If its too much work to cook a big dinner, just order a pizza and put the focus on the conversation. When go out for a meal invite others. Or take your family to family-style restaurants where you can sit at the table with strangers and strike up a conversation. Cookout and invite Christians and non-Christians.
12. Participate in City (Town) Events: Instead of watching Netflix or surfing the internet on your days off, participate in city events. Go to fundraisers, festivals clean-ups, summer shows, and concerts. Participate missionally. Strike up conversations about he community. Study the culture. Reflect on what you see and hear. Pray for the city. Love the city. Participate in the rhythms of your city or town.
13. Find a park where you will consistently spend time with your community.
14. Start a regular sport like Ultimate Frisbee or 3 on 3 basketball games at your local park.
15. Take your kids to story time at the local library.
16. Let your kids play in the city sports leagues (not just “Upward” leagues).
17. Attend your city council meetings and get to know what’s going on in your city.
18. Attend your local school board meetings to know what’s going on in the local schools.
19. Frequent a local gym or recreation center.
20. Invite a neighbor to a local sporting event (especially your local High School games).
21. Start a guys night at your local pub/eatery.
22. Get involved with your kids school PTA/PTO
23. Offer to teach a skill at your local library or other public venue for free (art, computer, design, sports, accounting, etc.)
1. Eat with other people: We all eat 3 meals a day. That’s 21 opportunities for mission each week without adding untying new to your schedule. And meals are a powerful expression of welcome and community.
2. Work in public places: Hold meetings, prepare talks, read in public spaces like cafes, pubs and parks. It will naturally help you engage with culture as work or plan. For example whose questions do you want to address indoor Bible studies — those of professional Bible Scholars or those of the culture?
3. Be a regular: Adopt a cafe, pub, park and shops so you regularly visit and become known as a local. Imagine if everyone in your gospel community did this!
4. Join in with what’s going on: Churches often start their think like a coffee shop or homeless program. Instead, join existing initiatives — you don’t have the burden of running it and you get opportunities with people who are doing the same.
5. Leave the house in the evenings: Its so easy after a long day on a dark evening to slump in from of the television or surf the internet. Get out! Visit a friend. Take a cake to a neighbor. Attend a local group. Go to the movies. Hang out in a cafe. Go for a walk with a friend. it doesn’t matter where as long as you go with gospel intentionality.
6. Serve your neighbors: Weed a neighbor’s garden. Help someone move. Put up a shelf. Volunteer with a local group. it could be one evening a week or one day a month. Try to do it with other members of your Home Group so it becomes a common project. Then people will see your love for one another and it will be easier to talk about Jesus.
7. Share your passion: What do you enjoy? Find a local group that shares your passion. Be missional and have fun at the same time.
8. Hang out with your colleagues: Spend your lunch break with colleagues. Go for a drink after work. Share the journey to work.
9. Walk: Walking enables you to engage with your neighborhood at street level. You notice things you don’t in a car. You are seen and known in the neighborhood.
10. Prayer walk: Walk around your neighborhood using what you see as fuel for prayer. Pray for people, homes, businesses, community groups, and community needs. Ask God to open your eyes to where He is at work and to fill your heart with love for your neighborhood.
11. Eat with Non-Christians: We all eat meals, why not make a habit of sharing one of those meals with a non-Christian? Go to lunch with a coworker, not by yourself. Invite the neighbor over for family dinner. If its too much work to cook a big dinner, just order a pizza and put the focus on the conversation. When go out for a meal invite others. Or take your family to family-style restaurants where you can sit at the table with strangers and strike up a conversation. Cookout and invite Christians and non-Christians.
12. Participate in City (Town) Events: Instead of watching Netflix or surfing the internet on your days off, participate in city events. Go to fundraisers, festivals clean-ups, summer shows, and concerts. Participate missionally. Strike up conversations about he community. Study the culture. Reflect on what you see and hear. Pray for the city. Love the city. Participate in the rhythms of your city or town.
13. Find a park where you will consistently spend time with your community.
14. Start a regular sport like Ultimate Frisbee or 3 on 3 basketball games at your local park.
15. Take your kids to story time at the local library.
16. Let your kids play in the city sports leagues (not just “Upward” leagues).
17. Attend your city council meetings and get to know what’s going on in your city.
18. Attend your local school board meetings to know what’s going on in the local schools.
19. Frequent a local gym or recreation center.
20. Invite a neighbor to a local sporting event (especially your local High School games).
21. Start a guys night at your local pub/eatery.
22. Get involved with your kids school PTA/PTO
23. Offer to teach a skill at your local library or other public venue for free (art, computer, design, sports, accounting, etc.)
Mission is the point. Not just outreach. We want to know what God’s mission is on the earth and go where He’s at work doing those things. His mission according to the New Testament is to put ALL THINGS back in their place or fix what is broken. That at times needs a bit of coordination and/or development. And there are many of you who have administrative and organizational gifts. When you live into those gifts and help others develop the same gifts then you are making disciples and being on mission.
1. Host a Huddle: Invite 3 or 4 people to be part a discipling relationship. Carve out some time each week and spend time showing them how you try to be like Jesus and asking them to do the same.
2. Host a Bible Study: Use your teaching gift to dig into a Bible study with a few people. It can be topical or verse by verse, you choose.
3. Join a Ministry Team: There are several established ministries that support living outside of church that need extra hands to help out. Operations teams, Children’s Ministry, Missions Team, Festivals planning team, etc…
4. Start a support group: We have all gone through tough times in life. Many times we need extra support for people who have done the same. Help establish a group that focuses in on supporting people through specific times like grief, divorce, financial stability, job searching, etc…
5. Pray ministry: Everything we do in the Kingdom is based and bathed in prayer. We have a vibrant prayer ministry. Seek how you can be take part in the pray time.
6. Learning: Maybe starting one of these groups is not what God is calling you into right now. Maybe to prepare you to be on mission in your community you need to learn or grow into something. So join a class or Bible Study or support group. Or just maybe set aside some time and meet with a few people who you know will challenge you and push you along.
7. Join a HOME GROUP: These families of missionary servants who are trying to live out the good news (be on mission) as a single unit. Check out the display or our website to contact the leaders have join them as they discover what it means of them to be a family of missionary servants.
8. Volunteer in a ministry that you’ve always wondered or dreamed about. Take a chance today and jump in, God is calling you on mission.
9. Listen to the Holy Spirit. He’s sending you somewhere. It may be with the church proper or in a part of the city that needs you. Pause and listen.
1. Host a Huddle: Invite 3 or 4 people to be part a discipling relationship. Carve out some time each week and spend time showing them how you try to be like Jesus and asking them to do the same.
2. Host a Bible Study: Use your teaching gift to dig into a Bible study with a few people. It can be topical or verse by verse, you choose.
3. Join a Ministry Team: There are several established ministries that support living outside of church that need extra hands to help out. Operations teams, Children’s Ministry, Missions Team, Festivals planning team, etc…
4. Start a support group: We have all gone through tough times in life. Many times we need extra support for people who have done the same. Help establish a group that focuses in on supporting people through specific times like grief, divorce, financial stability, job searching, etc…
5. Pray ministry: Everything we do in the Kingdom is based and bathed in prayer. We have a vibrant prayer ministry. Seek how you can be take part in the pray time.
6. Learning: Maybe starting one of these groups is not what God is calling you into right now. Maybe to prepare you to be on mission in your community you need to learn or grow into something. So join a class or Bible Study or support group. Or just maybe set aside some time and meet with a few people who you know will challenge you and push you along.
7. Join a HOME GROUP: These families of missionary servants who are trying to live out the good news (be on mission) as a single unit. Check out the display or our website to contact the leaders have join them as they discover what it means of them to be a family of missionary servants.
8. Volunteer in a ministry that you’ve always wondered or dreamed about. Take a chance today and jump in, God is calling you on mission.
9. Listen to the Holy Spirit. He’s sending you somewhere. It may be with the church proper or in a part of the city that needs you. Pause and listen.