Spiritual Practices and Community Engagement: Incarnational Presence, Listening, and Prayer

Part II: Theological Foundation of Community Engagement

A. The Incarnation: God’s Presence in the World

At the heart of Christian theology is the belief that God entered human history in the person of Jesus Christ. The incarnation reveals a God who engages the world not from a distance but from within, taking on flesh and dwelling among people (John 1:14). Jesus did not just stay within the confines of sacred space; instead, he spent his time with people in homes, public squares, marketplaces, and other places people gathered. He kept practices that connected him to God so he could more effectively live into his calling. Following forty days of fasting and prayer, he visited Nazareth (Luke 4:16-21, NRSVUE[1]).

¹⁶ When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read ^{17 ,} and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

²⁰ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹ Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus models an embodied presence that invites the church to be deeply rooted in relationship with God and fully present in the world.

In a class on contemplative practices based on Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer, the teacher asked, “What would Jesus do if he were me?” This question invites us to consider how Jesus might live our lives, work our jobs, and serve our community. That’s what we seek to do as disciples working to be more like Jesus.

So now, as I go about my daily life, I ponder how Jesus would live my life.

How would Jesus draw closer to God, listen more attentively to where God was already at work, and listen to the hopes, dreams, and challenges of our neighbors?

“What would Jesus do if he were me?” serves as a guiding principle for Christians seeking to live faithfully in the world today. It encourages believers to discern how Jesus would act in church, the workplace, the neighborhood, or third spaces. Faithful presence is not just about church attendance but about being faithfully present to God and fully engaged wherever we are. This challenges us to think missionally about our daily lives.

B. Baptism and Vocation: Living Out Our Faith in the World

Baptism initiates believers into the community of faith and God’s mission in the world. In the baptismal liturgy, United Methodists vow to “resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves” and to live as faithful disciples. This calling extends beyond the church.

Baptism connects to vocation—the idea that Christians are called to live out their faith in daily life. Vocation is not limited to clergy. It applies to every person. Laypeople must be equipped so that they perceive their work and relationships as opportunities for ministry.

Regardless of our professions, we are called to embody Christ’s love.

The church’s task is to help members discern our purpose, the “why” that underlies our vocation, and help discern how our gifts and calling align with God’s work in the world. All believers are missionaries in their own lives.

C. Ecclesiology: The Role of the Church in the Community

The church exists for the world. Theologian Stanley Hauerwas reminds us that the church’s identity is formed by its practices of faithfulness, not by its size or influence. A church that is engaged with its community is a witness to the presence of Christ in the world. This engagement must be grounded in relationships that reflect the understanding that people are partners in God’s mission.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul describes the church as a body with many members, each contributing to the whole. Often, this image limits itself to those within the church. But if we extend it beyond the church walls, we see ourselves as part of a broader ecosystem that includes nonprofits, service providers, community organizations, and schools. The church is part of the larger body working for the common good. Just as the body cannot function without all its parts, the community cannot thrive without the gifts and contributions of each group.

This relational ecclesiology invites churches to move beyond a “transaction” model of ministry, where the church gives resources to those in need. Instead, the church becomes a partner that walks alongside others, recognizing that the congregation and the community have gifts to share. This mutuality reflects the interdependence of the body of Christ and the collaborative nature of God’s mission for the world.

[1] New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Part III. Effective Listening

A. Biblical Models of Listening

Throughout Scripture, God’s people are called to listen to God and others. Listening is essential to how we love our neighbor and discern the Spirit’s movement. Jesus modeled engaged listening in his interactions with individuals and crowds. For instance, in the encounter with the woman at the well (John 4), he didn’t begin by giving instructions. He started by listening and engaging in conversation. On another occasion, when Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) called out for mercy, Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” That question showed Jesus’ commitment to hearing the needs and desires of others.

The book of James also underscores the importance of listening: “Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19, NRSVUE). This verse speaks to a spiritual posture of openness, where listening becomes a pathway for relationship and reconciliation. In a noisy and hurried world, the church must cultivate this posture—listening to God in prayer and listening to others with humility, curiosity, and compassion.

B. Prayer as the Foundation for Listening

As we begin to think about engaging the community, a helpful place to start is prayer. Prayer is a spiritual discipline of slowing down and becoming attuned to the presence of God. Prayer is speaking to God, listening to God, and being with God. Practicing silence and solitude in prayer helps Christians detach from the noise and hurry of the world and become more receptive to what God is doing. The words of Psalm 46:10— “Be still and know that I am God” — remind us to find that quiet place to listen for God’s voice.

Listening to God through prayer forms the foundation for listening to others. Cultivating stillness makes us more aware of the Spirit’s work in our lives and communities. Prayer is a way to keep company with Jesus, to help us align our hearts with his compassion, and to discern where God is at work. This inner attentiveness flows outward into our interactions with others.

Churches can practice listening through prayer by:

1. Daily Times of Silence and Solitude – Individuals set aside time to be still, listen for God’s voice, and release distractions. Start small, five to ten minutes, with no phones, social media, or other distractions. If you find your mind wandering, that’s okay. This is a learned practice, and there will be some ups and downs as you grow into it. Find a helpful phrase to return to focus like, “Be still and know that I am God.”
2. Prayer Walks in the Community – Church members walk together through the neighborhood, praying with open hearts and listening for what God reveals through observation and reflection.
3. Group Prayer Practices – The community gathers to pray for local organizations, neighbors, and one another, asking for clarity on how to engage faithfully.

Prayer is an integral part of community engagement. As we pray, we align ourselves with God’s heart, preparing us to listen more deeply to the people around us.

C. Listening with Humility and Curiosity

Listening with humility requires setting aside assumptions about others. Churches can fall into the trap of believing they already know what the community needs or how best to serve. The church has been guilty of acting as if it has all the right answers. However, genuine listening means approaching people with curiosity, not an agenda. It invites us to ask questions like:

• What are the hopes and dreams of this community and the people that make up this community?
• What challenges are people facing?
• Where do we already see God at work?

Listening involves giving up control and embracing the idea that we do not have all the answers. This humility reflects Christ’s posture of service, as described in Philippians 2:5-7, where he emptied himself and became a servant.

Curiosity is vital to listening. Instead of focusing on what we think we should offer or what people outside the church need, curiosity invites us to wonder what God is doing in unexpected places and people and how we can partner in that work. It requires asking open-ended questions that allow others to share their stories and experiences freely.

D. Listening as a Way of Building Trust and Identifying Gifts

Trust is formed through attentive, consistent presence. Just as Jesus spent time with people, getting to know them before addressing their deeper needs, the church must adopt a similar posture of patient engagement. Trust cannot be rushed—it develops through simple acts of kindness, shared meals, unhurried conversations, and consistent presence. Over time, listening opens doors for mutual understanding and collaboration. It takes the willingness to make a long-term commitment of presence with those God is sending you to.

One of the key insights from asset-based community development (ABCD) is that listening reveals the hidden gifts and strengths within a community. When we listen carefully, we discover the skills, talents, and passions already present, even if they are underused or unrecognized. For example:

• A person who volunteers at a local shelter may have leadership potential that could be nurtured.
• A neighbor with a green thumb might initiate a community garden.
• A congregation member with financial expertise could offer budgeting workshops to the broader community.

Listening also helps us avoid the pitfalls of paternalism. When we focus only on needs and problems, we can unintentionally position ourselves as “rescuers,” reinforcing dependency. Instead, listening reveals the gifts that already exist and opens possibilities for mutual partnerships, where everyone—both inside and outside the church—contributes and benefits. In our listening, we may help create new relationships as we introduce people and groups whose gifts align with one another, creating an opportunity to connect people.

E. Practical Practices for Listening as a Congregation

1. Hosting Listening Sessions

• Churches can hold intentional listening sessions with community members, inviting them to share their hopes, challenges, and dreams. It may mean inviting neighbors for coffee and conversation, canvassing the neighborhood, knocking on doors, and asking people if they have time to answer a few questions. Wherever it takes place, the goal is to create a safe space for sharing and conversation.

2. Community Asset Mapping

• Asset mapping involves identifying the resources, talents, and organizations present in the community. This process can be done through conversations, interviews, and observations, uncovering gifts that might go unnoticed.

3. Encouraging Congregants to Listen in “Third” Spaces

• Members are invited to spend time conversing with others in informal spaces like coffee shops, parks, community centers, and local sporting events. Through consistent presence in these spaces, listening can take place, relationships begin to build, and ministry opportunities can be discerned.

4. Storytelling as a Form of Listening

• Congregations can create spaces for storytelling for people from the church and community. Stories reveal common values and dreams, fostering empathy and connection.

F. Listening as a Form of Witness

Finally, listening is a form of Christian witness. In a world where many feel unheard or unseen, listening reflects the love of Christ. When we listen without trying to fix or control, we communicate that people are valuable just as they are. This kind of presence reflects the hospitality of God, who invites us into relationship without condition.

As we listen more deeply to Jesus and to our neighbors, we begin to recognize moments when it is appropriate to share our faith. Faith sharing is not about delivering a rehearsed message but about offering hope and love in response to what we hear. For example, when someone shares a struggle, a simple response like, “I’ll be thinking about you and praying for you” or “I’ve experienced something similar, and my faith and the people in my congregation helped to give me strength” can open doors for deeper conversations. In these moments, listening becomes the gateway to sharing Christ’s love authentically and respectfully.

Contemplative Practice

This month, try adding five to ten minutes of contemplative prayer. Talking to God is an important part of prayer, but you might also consider reciting a psalm, a written prayer, or a hymn. Challenge yourself to move from talking to God to talking with God. Tell God what is happening in your life and the world, lift different concerns, and trust that God will answer. To move from talking with God toward listening to God, use lectio divina to read scripture and listen for what God is calling you to do. From there, move to being with God, that sweet spot where you are looking at God, and God is looking at you. There’s no wrong way to pray and listen; the only rule is that you show up regularly.

As you walk through the month seeking to grow in prayer, may God show you the people in your neighborhood or community, those who surround you. May you see where God is already at work so that you can partner with God and engage the community in a life-giving way.