How to Balance Invitation and Challenge
Calling someone to discipleship requires an invitation to come and participate as well as a challenge to grow. Finding a balance between the two is key; some people are more prone to invitation and others to challenge. Often people who excel at invitation are not strong at challenge and vice versa, but it is vital that we seek to create a balance between the two.
- High Invitation/Low Challenge churches create a culture of consumers who simply come to events, take it all in, and never feel challenged to grow.
- Low Invitation/Low Challenge churches create a boring church where nothing happens.
- Low Invitation/High Challenge churches create a culture of stressed-out people who feel as though they cannot succeed.
- High Invitation/High Challenge churches create a culture primed for disciple making. Here people feel welcomed and encouraged as they are challenged to grow.
These same principles play out in our personal relationships as well—and the same outcomes apply. Take time to evaluate yourself. Ask some close friends what kind of person you are on this spectrum. If you are already a High Invitation/High Challenge person, that’s awesome! If not, don’t be discouraged. Ask God to help you find the balance and help you as you are making disciples.