Lesson 4: Finding the Person of Peace & Tentmaking¶
Course/series¶
Orality & Movement-Based Discipleship
Audience¶
- Church planters seeking receptive relationships
- Tentmakers building Gospel influence through work
- Teams using Luke 10 principles in the field
Purpose¶
Teach learners to identify and follow a Person of Peace instead of forcing the Gospel on resistant communities, and to leverage tentmaking relationships for natural access and trust.
Learning objectives¶
- Define the Person of Peace pattern from Luke 10
- Identify signs of a locally prepared heart
- Map tentmaking relationships that build influence and access
Core principle¶
The Gospel advances most sustainably through people God has already prepared, not through pressure on closed communities.
Field problem¶
Workers who push the gospel on every contact often face rejection and persecution, while missing the Person of Peace who opens a whole network.
Key concepts¶
- Person of Peace: an open social bridge
- Luke 10 pattern of welcome and blessing
- Tentmaking: relationship-building through secular work
Practical framework¶
Use the Person of Peace Community Mapping Guide to chart relationships, daily contacts, and potential peace-people in your workplace or neighborhood.
Discovery Bible Study (DBS) Meeting Format¶
| Meeting segment | Questions to ask | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Review & Care | What are you thankful for? What is stressing you out? How did you obey last week's story? | Build trust, care, and accountability. |
| Discover (The Story) | Listen or retell the passage. What does this tell us about God? What does this tell us about people? | Help the group engage the story and see its meaning. |
| Obey | If this story is true, how does that change how we act? What is one measurable "I will..." statement? | Turn insight into action. |
| Share | Who do you know that needs to hear this story this week? | Multiply the story through relationships. |
Scenario or case exercise¶
A tentmaker notices a market vendor who listens closely and asks about faith, then deliberately follows that relationship rather than preaching broadly.
Checklist or worksheet¶
- Who in your network shows openness to the Gospel?
- What relationships are built through your work or daily rhythm?
- How can you pray specifically for a Person of Peace?
Discussion questions¶
- What signs indicate a Person of Peace in your context?
- How does your work help you access new relationships?
- What will you do this week to build trust with one priority contact?
Field assignment¶
Map your workplace or neighborhood relationships and identify at least one Person of Peace candidate and one pathway to build trust.
Further reading/resources¶
- Making Disciples of Oral Learners by the International Orality Network
- Truth That Sticks by Avery Willis and Mark Snowden
- The Art of Storytelling by John Walsh
- Christian Storytelling by Eric B. Hare and Arthur Spalding
- Orality and Literacy by Walter J. Ong
- Is Hearing Enough? Literacy and the Great Commandments by Donald E. Chapman
- Luke 10 Person of Peace training notes
- Tentmaking examples from movement-based ministry
Reviewer notes¶
Validate the mapped Person of Peace candidates with a mentor and make sure the relationships are grounded in respect and integrity.
Risk/disclaimer notes¶
This material is for educational purposes and is not legal, medical, tax, accounting, counseling, or security advice. Consult qualified professionals before adopting policies or making high-risk decisions.