Home For christmas Challenge

Check out some useful information including questions/answers about our Home For Christmas Challenge ...

As part of our ongoing effort here at Five Rivers to "live like Jesus", we want to create opportunities for conversation with the people God has brought into our lives. This desire for these types of opportunities led us to the Home for Christmas Challenge.


The idea is simple: encourage those in our church to invite people to spend time with them at brunch instead of inviting them to church. 


We believe that people are often likely to be available on Sunday mornings, so we want to leverage this time and spend it in conversation around a table rather than sit in rows in a traditional, Sunday morning, church service. 

Questions ...

  • Instead of us gathering at the church building for worship, you and your family invite friends and/or family to brunch. There is no agenda. The only objective is to love them by sharing a meal and having real conversation. Bob Goff, a nationally known speaker and writer, said, “If love has an agenda, it is not love; it is a program.” So, we want you to enjoy this time with the people God leads you to invite without an agenda. 

  • The home for Christmas Challenge will take place on Sunday, December 29. We will not have our traditional, Sunday morning gathering on this day in lieu of the challenge. 

  • No, not at all. You can invite them over or out to a favorite restaurant. If you invite them a restaurant, you can go dutch (each family pay for their own meals). Or, if you are able, you can offer to treat them to the meal. The challenge makes no expectation in this regard.


    The most important part of this decision is to choose a place that allows for conversation.

  • Well, since there is no agenda, you are free to talk about whatever. Remember, this is not a church service, it's a time for meaningful conversation and questions often create the best conversations (something we learn from Jesus). If this is not really an area of strength for you, and you need some help getting started, here are some possible suggestions ... 

    • How are things with your family?
    • How do you like your job?
    • What do you do or would you do when you get a few hours to yourself?
    • Is there anything I can be praying for you?

    If you are not comfortable praying with them in the moment, you can pray for them privately. Then, watch and see what God does with that. It is always great to follow up in the future to see what God did.

  • Yes, and no. 


    Yes, for this one week, we are skipping what has become our traditional, Sunday morning gathering: what we call church. 


    No, we are not skipping the opportunity to be the church as we partner with God in bringing Kingdom. We are simply acting as the hands of feet of Jesus to those whom God has put in our lives.


    We recognize that, to some, this may seem unreligious and disrespectful. However, we encourage you to think back through our series from Matthew and remember how Jesus prioritized people. While he often went to temple and synagogue, he prioritized people. this is just one of many ways we are trying to be more like him.

  • No. We believe this is something that everyone can do, and we recommend you do it as a family. However, we know that God may move you to do it separately because of who He is putting on your heart to invite. 


    For us, the most important aspect of this challenge is that members of the Five Rivers Church family put themselves out there and try it.