the third space

Erwin McManus, lead pastor of a dynamic church community in LA, gave a very interesting, many of us would claim to say common sense, talk Friday about reaching people. However, one thing to think about, and something we need to dialogue about is this:
There are three spaces in which we can go and communicate with people when thinking about church. The first, is the easy space. It is the church; the place where we are safe and secure where we will tell everyone about God because we know they will agree with us. The church does this well
The second is the public space. However, this is the less threatening of the public spaces. This is where people will have some buy in. This is the place where we all pat each other on the back because we are 'reaching' people. These still are pretty easy places and many churches are going here to bring new people in.
The third place is the place where everyone in the church would be offended if you went. It is the place where we say we really need to communicate the love of Jesus Christ, but really we know we never will. This is where Paul finds himself at times in Acts. Where Paul is pushing every envelope to reach people. He goes to people who are named after the Greek Gods of drunkenness.
As a church we need to live in this third space. It is horribly hard and very threatening. We say that it is common sense but, yet, none of us do it. We say we do but we are too scared to actually go and reach these people.
Where do you need to be going? Are you trying to recruit more church people to your church? Are you spreading the gospel to people who already know it and are going to agree with you?
Just think, some one's knowledge of grace may be just one conversation away.