How to Motivate a Missional Lifestyle

In 1988, Herman Ostry, a farmer from Bruno, Nebraska, faced an overwhelming challenge. After his barn repeatedly flooded, it became clear that it needed to be moved to higher ground. But the barn was huge—it weighed nearly 17,000 pounds, and moving it seemed like an impossible task for one person or even a small group. Professional movers were too expensive, leaving Herman with a daunting problem and no easy solution.

That’s when Herman’s son, Mike Ostry, came up with an incredible idea: what if the whole community came together to move the barn by hand? At first, it sounded far-fetched, but the plan began to take shape. The Ostrys built a steel framework around the barn and attached hundreds of handles. On the day of the move, 344 people from the small town of Bruno showed up, ready to help. Together, the volunteers lifted the barn and carried it 115 feet to its new location—something that one person could never have accomplished alone.

This story demonstrates the power of shared responsibility. When everyone plays a part, the seemingly impossible becomes not only possible but efficient. What could have been an insurmountable burden for one family became an achievable task when the whole town pitched in.

This principle is also true in the church. Too often, the burden of ministry is carried by just a few—the pastor, the elders, or a handful of dedicated volunteers—while others stand back, unsure of where they fit or assuming someone else will do the work. But God’s design for the church is for every member to get involved. The critical question is this: how do you get all hands on deck? At Harvest Plains Church, we do this through one distinctive: “Missional in Lifestyle.” Through this distinctive, we emphasize three specific convictions. I am convinced it has shaped our culture for the better.

1.  Every member is a messenger.

One of the most significant misunderstandings about the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is that it’s a command for a select group of people—missionaries, pastors, or those with specific spiritual gifts. But the command to "make disciples" applies to every believer. You don’t need a title or a degree to participate in God’s mission; you simply need to be willing to be used by him.

In this passage, the emphasis isn’t on "going" but on "making disciples." This shifts the focus from where you go to what you do as you go. Whether you’re traveling across the globe or walking across the street, you’re called to be a disciple-maker. Your daily routine—your workplace, your neighborhood, and even your gym— becomes the mission field.

Consider the words of Charles Spurgeon: "Every Christian here is either a missionary or an impostor." Those are strong words, but they reflect a critical truth: if we love Christ, we won’t keep the good news to ourselves. Evangelism isn’t just about bringing people to church; it’s about personally sharing Christ with those in your circle of influence. The most impactful gospel witness often comes through relationships—people you see every day who trust you and know that you care for them.

At Harvest Plains, we take this call seriously. We encourage one another in our small groups to regularly ask, “When was the last time you shared the gospel? Who are you praying for right now? What opportunities are you seeking?” Living missionally means embracing the role of a messenger every day.

2.  Discipleship means loving God and his people.

I want to be clear about something: the natural result of a transformed life is a commitment to two things— loving God and loving his people. These two go hand in hand, and both are critical in living out a missional lifestyle.

Many people struggle with the idea of church involvement, especially if they’ve been hurt by previous church experiences or leaders. However, the Bible makes it clear that the local church is not just an option—it’s a necessity. The church is the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-27) and the body of Christ (1 Corinthians

12:12-27). Therefore, to neglect the church is to neglect the very thing Christ loves most.

Participation in the local church isn’t about checking off a religious box; it’s about living in community with other believers, where we care for one another and hold each other accountable. As John writes in 1 John 4:20-21, "If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother

whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." True love for God naturally leads to love for other believers. Through the church, we live out the "one-another" commands—encouraging, serving, and building each other up in love (Hebrews 10:24-25).

At Harvest Plains, church membership is taken seriously because it formalizes this commitment to care for and be cared for. When you become a member, you’re not just attending; you’re saying, "I’m here to contribute, to serve, and to grow with you." Living missionally involves being an active part of the church community instead of a passive observer.

3.  Everything is for God's glory.

The third aspect of a missional lifestyle is living for God’s glory in everything we do. This might sound abstract, but it simply means that every action, decision, and relationship in your life is an opportunity to reflect Christ and bring honor to Him.

Os Guinness offers a helpful perspective on calling: "Calling is the truth that God calls us to Himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion, dynamism, and direction lived out as a response to His summons and service." Your calling isn’t just about your job or what you do on Sunday. It’s about how you live every moment with an awareness that you are serving Christ.

The early church understood this well. They didn’t rely on programs or structures to live missionally; they devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, and prayer (Acts 2:42). The heart of living missionally is simple, relational discipleship. Whether you’re a shoemaker, a teacher, or a parent, your everyday work and interactions are opportunities to serve God and others with excellence and love.

As Martin Luther once said, "The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship." Whatever you do, do it well for the glory of God, knowing that your work is part of your mission.

Conclusion: The Collective Mission

Living a missional lifestyle means recognizing that we are all part of God’s grand mission to redeem the world. Every believer is a messenger, every believer is part of the church community, and every believer is called to live for God’s glory. It’s not a task for a few; it’s the joyful burden we all carry together, knowing that as we share the load, the kingdom advances. If you want to mobilize the saints, I am convinced that preaching these points will help you.