The Unexpected Mission That Changes Everything

Breaking the Christian Bubble and Reaching the One

Ever wondered why church can feel like a members-only club? Or why Christians seem to live in a completely different world from everyone else?

This week at Crowd Church, Matt Edmundson tackled something that might make some churchgoers uncomfortable - the idea that we've created a Christian bubble, and Jesus wants us to burst it. Broadcasting from our new church location rather than the usual studio, Matt shared insights about Jesus' radical mission that challenges everything we think we know about belonging and faith.

The Mission We've Forgotten

Before diving into solutions, let's be honest about what's really happening. Too often, church feels like a place where you need to clean up your act before walking through the doors. We've created an unspoken hierarchy where "good Christians" feel comfortable and everyone else feels like they're on the outside looking in.

But here's what should stop us in our tracks - Jesus' mission was exactly the opposite. In Luke 19:10, Jesus clearly states his purpose: "For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost." Notice he didn't say "to seek and save those who've already got their lives sorted."

Matt put it perfectly: "Jesus doesn't come as a conquering hero but as a servant, seeking to restore rather than destroy. This approach is countercultural, both then and now."

Belonging Before Behaving

The Pharisees had a clear formula - behave first, then you can belong to God's kingdom. Clean up your act, follow all the rules, prove you're worthy, and maybe then God will accept you.

Jesus flipped this completely on its head. His approach was radical: belong first, then behaviour follows naturally.

Think about the people Jesus spent time with - tax collectors, prostitutes, fishermen with anger management issues, political zealots. None of them had their lives sorted when Jesus called them. They belonged to his kingdom first, and that belonging transformed how they lived.

Matt explained it like this: "Jesus invites everyone to belong to his kingdom, regardless of their past or present actions. It's about changing where you belong, which naturally leads to a change in behaviour."

This isn't about lowering standards or ignoring sin - it's about recognising that transformation happens from the inside out, not the outside in.

The Parable That Changes Everything

Jesus told a story that perfectly illustrates his heart - the parable of the lost sheep. A shepherd leaves 99 sheep to find one that's wandered off. Most of us would think, "Surely the logical thing is to protect the 99? Why risk everything for one?"

But that's exactly Jesus' point. Every single person matters. No one is disposable. No one is too far gone. No one is not worth pursuing.

Anna Kettle captured this beautifully during the message: "It's about the idea of going after something precious and that every single person is precious."

This isn't just a nice story - it's a mirror. How do we really view people who aren't part of our church world? Do we see them as precious sheep worth pursuing, or problems to be avoided?

What This Looks Like in Real Life

So how do we live this out practically? It starts with recognising that we might be living in a Christian bubble without even realising it.

Step outside your comfort zone: Instead of only socialising with church friends, build genuine relationships with colleagues, neighbours, and people in your community who don't share your faith. Not to convert them, but to genuinely love them.

Listen before you speak: When someone shares their struggles or doubts, resist the urge to immediately offer religious solutions. Sometimes the most Christ-like thing we can do is simply listen and show that we care.

Create welcoming spaces: Whether it's your home, your workplace interactions, or how you engage on social media, ask yourself - would someone far from faith feel welcomed or judged by my approach?

Remember your own journey: None of us started with perfect faith or behaviour. Remembering our own struggles with doubt, failure, and questions helps us extend grace to others.

The Community Connection

One thing Matt emphasised was the importance of being plugged into community. "Whether online or in person, being plugged into a community is vital for spiritual growth and fulfilling the mission."

This isn't about perfect people gathering together - it's about flawed humans supporting each other and collectively reaching out to others. When we're securely rooted in authentic Christian community, we're better equipped to reach beyond our bubble.

Your Next Step This Week

Here's the challenge Matt left us with: If you're a Christian, think about who "the one" is in your life. Who is that person you can reach out to and show genuine care for? It might be:

• A colleague who's been struggling with anxiety
• A neighbour who's going through a difficult time
• A family member who's walked away from faith
• Someone online who's asking honest questions about life and meaning

The goal isn't to have all the answers or to fix their problems. It's simply to show them they matter, they're valued, and they're not alone.

If you're reading this and you're not yet a Christian, here's what Matt wants you to know: "Jesus' mission is to find you. His love is relentless and he wants you to come and belong to the kingdom of God. And he's not satisfied until you are there."

The Heart Behind It All

This message from The Chosen resonated throughout the discussion - the pursuit of the one isn't motivated by duty or religious obligation. It's motivated by love. Genuine, costly, sacrificial love that sees every person as precious.

When we understand how precious we are to God, it changes how we see others. When we grasp that we belong to his kingdom not because we earned it but because he chose us, we're freed up to extend that same belonging to others.

The Christian bubble isn't just limiting - it's actually contrary to the mission of Jesus. He didn't come to create an exclusive club for good people. He came to seek and save the lost, to offer abundant life to anyone who would receive it.

Breaking Out Together

What would happen if we actually lived like this? What if our churches became known not for what we're against, but for how we love? What if people looked at Christians and thought, "These people genuinely care about everyone, regardless of background or belief"?

The mission of Jesus isn't just about individual salvation - it's about transformation that ripples out through communities, workplaces, families, and entire cultures. It starts with each of us asking: who is my "one" and how can I show them they matter?

Because here's the beautiful truth - Jesus didn't wait for us to get our act together before he pursued us. He came while we were still far off, still struggling, still unsure. And he's asking us to do the same for others.

So this week, let's break the bubble. Let's step outside our comfort zones. Let's pursue the one - not to win an argument, but to show the world what the love of Jesus actually looks like.