I have recently found this blog.
Check it out some great information here.
Volunteers In Service Blog
Great stuff
Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts
Monday, May 28, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Missional - Missional Ministry and the Technology challenge
Found this article the other day:
Report: 48% of Leisure Time is Spent Online
MarketingVOX: A report from Media-Screen finds that broadband users spend an average of 48 percent of their free time online in a typical weekday, reports the Center for Media Research. The percentage measures out to about one hour and 40 minutes.
On average, online broadband users devote 27 percent of their time online to leisure/entertainment, 27 percent for communication, 9 percent on information searches, 15 percent on personal productivity, and 12 percent on shopping.
Among younger users, 48 percent report they learn about new entertainment mainly through peer-powered sites like social networks, review and video sites, and blogs.
Two media activities - sending email and visiting sites for personal reasons - are more popular than watching TV.
You can find the original article here.
I think this has real significance for those individuals and churches seeking to be missional.
More young people surf the web than watch TV!
So part of the problem resides in the fact that we want to bring pre-believers into an atmosphere where in most churches we are technology challenged. The first thing these folks think is that suddenly they are beng asked to be part of a group who doesnt understand them.
What do we need to do? What can be done?
We need to not be affraid of Blogs, MySpace, Social Networking, emailing prayer reports and Bible study resources. Create ebooks and other resources.
It doesnt take much to record services as MP3's or video files anymore and put them online. Free services like YouTube and others host all this content free.
People are looking for an ongoing conversation. One that doesnt end when the service ends. But one that is a continuation. How can we do creative things to extend that conversation?
But the first step in tradtional churches who long to move missionally must be able to integrate technology in a seamless way that allows for new people to see thought, planning and consideration going into how technology is being used. And not just in the presentation during the service but in the use during the week and thepromotion of that ongoing conversation.
How can we use the powerful tool of modern communication to increase the scope, reach and quality of our conversations with those who are in our congregations?
Any Ideas?
Report: 48% of Leisure Time is Spent Online
MarketingVOX: A report from Media-Screen finds that broadband users spend an average of 48 percent of their free time online in a typical weekday, reports the Center for Media Research. The percentage measures out to about one hour and 40 minutes.
On average, online broadband users devote 27 percent of their time online to leisure/entertainment, 27 percent for communication, 9 percent on information searches, 15 percent on personal productivity, and 12 percent on shopping.
Among younger users, 48 percent report they learn about new entertainment mainly through peer-powered sites like social networks, review and video sites, and blogs.
Two media activities - sending email and visiting sites for personal reasons - are more popular than watching TV.
You can find the original article here.
I think this has real significance for those individuals and churches seeking to be missional.
More young people surf the web than watch TV!
So part of the problem resides in the fact that we want to bring pre-believers into an atmosphere where in most churches we are technology challenged. The first thing these folks think is that suddenly they are beng asked to be part of a group who doesnt understand them.
What do we need to do? What can be done?
We need to not be affraid of Blogs, MySpace, Social Networking, emailing prayer reports and Bible study resources. Create ebooks and other resources.
It doesnt take much to record services as MP3's or video files anymore and put them online. Free services like YouTube and others host all this content free.
People are looking for an ongoing conversation. One that doesnt end when the service ends. But one that is a continuation. How can we do creative things to extend that conversation?
But the first step in tradtional churches who long to move missionally must be able to integrate technology in a seamless way that allows for new people to see thought, planning and consideration going into how technology is being used. And not just in the presentation during the service but in the use during the week and thepromotion of that ongoing conversation.
How can we use the powerful tool of modern communication to increase the scope, reach and quality of our conversations with those who are in our congregations?
Any Ideas?
Monday, May 21, 2007
Missional - A Leadership Lesson
“Ph.D. in leadership. Short course: Make a short list of all things done to you that you abhorred. Don’t do them to others. Ever. Make another list of things done to you that you loved. Do them to others. Always.” — Dee Hock
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Missional Another example In My Neighborhood
Here's another great example:
Read the rest Here.
Missional In My Neighborhood
A determined caller asked, "What can I do to be missional in my neighborhood?"
I love questions that seek to create opportunities to share the simple 'love' of Jesus. So I offered a quick list of suburbia ideas for the caller to consider for her 'neck of the Northern California suburbia woods'
I've always felt awkward when I'm resting at a stop light, trying not to look at the homeless panhandler (Icon of God) out my driver's side window. I know, I know..."they do this as a scam to make easy money off of guilt ridden passers-by." I don't care. I want to meet a need, and I want to do it cheerfully and loving.
Whenever I go to McDonald's or any fast food location of your appetite's choice, I buy multiple $5 gift cards.
Last week I purchased $25 worth and placed the cards above my car's visor. Now, whenever I see someone asking for 'some help', I quickly pull one of the cards out from the visor and tell them to go get a warm lunch on me.
If the light is longer than normal, it creates a conversation.
I now pray for "Jimmy" on a daily basis, and I look for him each Wednesday afternoon during my drive into the radio station. We've struck up a dialog each time I've handed him the card. He's confounded at the 'love in forethought' that goes into buying the cards. Last week a small break through...he told me to keep praying for him as I drove away.
Read the rest Here.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Missional - Here's a Neat Way to Be Missional
Seth Godin Shared this organization with his readers.
I think this is an incredible idea. You can do this as an individual, family or faith community.
Family to Family
What if every family unit in a church would do this. How many lives could it change?
To my blogging friends - spread the word.
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
I think this is an incredible idea. You can do this as an individual, family or faith community.
Family to Family
What if every family unit in a church would do this. How many lives could it change?
To my blogging friends - spread the word.
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Missional - Missional Ministry must be generational
I believe on of the biggest challenges to missional ministry is the need for the ministry to be cross generational. A great value is lost when we focus on only one segment of the population:
The follow generations are the ones sitting in our churches today:
Traditional workers (born before 1946): They value loyalty and discipline, and they respect authority and hierarchy.
Baby Boomers (1946-1960): They have great expectations of success. Currently, this group occupies positions of higher corporate responsibility, and has the largest proportion of workaholics in history. This is also the generation that gave birth to the “Yuppie” phenomenon.
Generation X (1961-1979): This generation has the best academic training and international experience in history. They have begun to make a break with traditional patterns of behavior, demanding a more informal environment and abandoning hierarchical authority in favor of a more horizontal and flexible structure. They have pioneered policies that involve flexibility and conciliation. This generation is rich in entrepreneurs because personal initiative predominates within a context of skepticism toward large enterprises.
Generation Y (starting from 1980): Generation Y is the first in history to have lived their entire lives with information technology. It is not easy for them to understand the world without it. Like members of Generation X, their childhood was comfortable and prosperous. They are more individualistic than earlier generations and demand autonomy in their opinions and behavior. They emphasize personal activities above social and labor considerations.
As you can see there are vast differences between these groups. Add to that the environment i.e. urban, suburban, and rural and you can the mix of generational factors the church faces today.
If we are to have truly missional ministry in a community, when will be able to involve all generations. Each will be counted on to bring their strengths to the mission and contribute as God as gifted.
To many times today ministry is aged focused. We need more cross generational opportunities. Whets wrong with all worshipping together, learning together or serving together? We need the ability to pass on wisdom down and up the generational chain. Traditionals and Boomers need x,yer's knowledge of technology and our changing world. X and Yer's need their commitment to getting the job done, experience and determination.
True communitas can only come across the generations when we are all committed to a common mission with common purpose. Leaving groups behind does not create communitas it creates division.
How can we strive for our missional communities to be cross generational?
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
The follow generations are the ones sitting in our churches today:
Traditional workers (born before 1946): They value loyalty and discipline, and they respect authority and hierarchy.
Baby Boomers (1946-1960): They have great expectations of success. Currently, this group occupies positions of higher corporate responsibility, and has the largest proportion of workaholics in history. This is also the generation that gave birth to the “Yuppie” phenomenon.
Generation X (1961-1979): This generation has the best academic training and international experience in history. They have begun to make a break with traditional patterns of behavior, demanding a more informal environment and abandoning hierarchical authority in favor of a more horizontal and flexible structure. They have pioneered policies that involve flexibility and conciliation. This generation is rich in entrepreneurs because personal initiative predominates within a context of skepticism toward large enterprises.
Generation Y (starting from 1980): Generation Y is the first in history to have lived their entire lives with information technology. It is not easy for them to understand the world without it. Like members of Generation X, their childhood was comfortable and prosperous. They are more individualistic than earlier generations and demand autonomy in their opinions and behavior. They emphasize personal activities above social and labor considerations.
As you can see there are vast differences between these groups. Add to that the environment i.e. urban, suburban, and rural and you can the mix of generational factors the church faces today.
If we are to have truly missional ministry in a community, when will be able to involve all generations. Each will be counted on to bring their strengths to the mission and contribute as God as gifted.
To many times today ministry is aged focused. We need more cross generational opportunities. Whets wrong with all worshipping together, learning together or serving together? We need the ability to pass on wisdom down and up the generational chain. Traditionals and Boomers need x,yer's knowledge of technology and our changing world. X and Yer's need their commitment to getting the job done, experience and determination.
True communitas can only come across the generations when we are all committed to a common mission with common purpose. Leaving groups behind does not create communitas it creates division.
How can we strive for our missional communities to be cross generational?
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Missional - Creating Third Spaces
Third Spaces are all about creating places where we can interact with pre-believers. Im finding all kinds of kewl ways people are doing this. What Im not finding is ways churches are doing this.
New church plants that use the concept of creating a third space first and then creating a meeting location for the church is a model for the future every plant should consider.
New church buildings need to be built in consideration of how to create a third space first. A place of service to the community and not another fortress for the church.
Here's a great example of what Im talking about for the Planting God Communities which I used with permission.
This is the kind of church concept that changes communities. Imagine what would happen if each church in the US decided to open such a place. Think of the lives that would be changed and the opportunities that would come to share the Gospel and build the kingdom.
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
New church plants that use the concept of creating a third space first and then creating a meeting location for the church is a model for the future every plant should consider.
New church buildings need to be built in consideration of how to create a third space first. A place of service to the community and not another fortress for the church.
Here's a great example of what Im talking about for the Planting God Communities which I used with permission.
Our missional incarnational approach here in Turley, OK with the creation of 'a third place' as part of our planting got written up today in the Tulsa World. Here is the link where you can read the article.
A Third Place: Turley's New Community Center: Facility gives residents area to relax, socialize
I guess, since there is no mention in the article of me as a minister and of the creation of the center as a way that our church is serving the community, of how we are purposefully becoming "a guest in our own home" as a spiritual discipline, that it must be working. No seriously, when I first read the article, my old default mode of thinking went up and I thought "oh I wish they'd mentioned the church" but if they had, since we are not only serving people of existing religious affiliations but especially the de-churched and unchurched, I probably would have thought "oh I wish they hadn't played up the church so much." Such is the plight of the 50-something planter moving more into missional approaches to what it means to be church.
We don't have a sign that says the name of our church or even a flier out front that we meet in the space we have created (we did but I took it down); we do have a flier for the church that is available in the community information area but we also post information prominently about events that take place at other churches in our area; we do have a cross placed next to the cable television area but I have been debating about taking it out and just bringing it out, in a kind of processional, whenever we have our meetings (still haven't decided; there are pros and cons). Upshot is that people will find out about us first through our mission, our work together, and through conversation rather than some printed material, a sign, slogans, or worship service.
The fact that it all feels weird, disorienting to people's stereotypes of church, means we are on the right track I think. End. Ron
This is the kind of church concept that changes communities. Imagine what would happen if each church in the US decided to open such a place. Think of the lives that would be changed and the opportunities that would come to share the Gospel and build the kingdom.
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Missional - Church in Action
Stumbled on an article today and this quote just jumped out at me:
You can read the rest of the post:
The Church on the Corner
it's my prayer that this is the goal of every church, especially ones who consider themselves to be or are trying to be missional.
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
“Our dream,” says Russell, “is to be as much a part of the community as the corner dairy. A corner Dairy is an integral part of any community. It is a place that would be missed if it were to shut down and it meets a need in the area. Also, there is nothing mystical about a dairy, it is a normal and accepted part of life. This is what church should be, a normal and accepted part of life that meets people where they are at and at their individual level.”
You can read the rest of the post:
The Church on the Corner
it's my prayer that this is the goal of every church, especially ones who consider themselves to be or are trying to be missional.
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Missional – Thought
It’s hard to think missionally. It really is.
Most of us have been raised in church settings that tell us church is all about me. Church is about what I get and what my kids get. Church is something I do.
A missional way of thinking about church turns that upside down. It’s about turning God’s love on the people around us. Being His love to an unlovable people.
There’s the rub. We live in a world that preaches the religion of “me me me” and because we buy into that idea Monday through Saturday its very hard to turn it off on Sunday.
A missional posture to church is one that says “what can give” not “what can I get.” This means there will be times when church will not met my needs but it may meet the needs of someone else. Does that make the church wrong? Nope – it simply means that I’m learning church is not “all about me.”
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Most of us have been raised in church settings that tell us church is all about me. Church is about what I get and what my kids get. Church is something I do.
A missional way of thinking about church turns that upside down. It’s about turning God’s love on the people around us. Being His love to an unlovable people.
There’s the rub. We live in a world that preaches the religion of “me me me” and because we buy into that idea Monday through Saturday its very hard to turn it off on Sunday.
A missional posture to church is one that says “what can give” not “what can I get.” This means there will be times when church will not met my needs but it may meet the needs of someone else. Does that make the church wrong? Nope – it simply means that I’m learning church is not “all about me.”
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Monday, April 23, 2007
Missional - Only takes a Cell Phone
Check out this article.......
Man gets 5,000 calls for YouTube posting
So you make a YouTube posting offering to talk to anyone about anything. 5,000 needy people call you. Doesn't that tell us something about engaging our world's?
A simple act of being willing to talk to someone sparks a huge response.
I was preaching yesterday on the fact that we are called to love the unlovable. This guy is out there living it out.
So what can you do?
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Man gets 5,000 calls for YouTube posting
So you make a YouTube posting offering to talk to anyone about anything. 5,000 needy people call you. Doesn't that tell us something about engaging our world's?
A simple act of being willing to talk to someone sparks a huge response.
I was preaching yesterday on the fact that we are called to love the unlovable. This guy is out there living it out.
So what can you do?
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Missional - Bob Roberts on Changing a IC
Bob Roberts had some great thoughts on Alan's Blog about changing an Institutional church:
What do you think? How do you move an Institutional church to a missional stance?
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
"Brad you have some really good words there man - and Peggy - I like what you said about visionaries being able to shift things. You’re right. I did this accidently at a couple of places before Northwood - the church I pastor. Don’t change the church - change the people. Since I knew I couldn’t change it - I didn’t try - I just got to know the people and began to reach out in the community - as some of the people accepted Christ - that changed the church and it was from the new believers - not me - that saved me and the church. When we focus on the church, we focus on the institution - focus on the people and you focus on relationships. Think Asian - relationships are everything. This is why I’m not interested in too much ecclesiology - Alan’s mDNA is the only ecclesiology I want. If your discussion is “we gotta change” good luck. They’ll all say Amen but do Justme. There’s another way - for lack of a better word - do missional. Don’t talk it - just do it. Find the neediest people in your area and get your people to tackle it. Don’t talk worship - it’s a Sunday event for God’s sake - that doesn’t make missional at home - house, building, 3rd space, upperspace, whatever. The people they reach as a result will be different and without trying - they’ll change the church. The old “church” people will allow it because these are the people they reached and they will value these new believers. This will do so so so much more than conferences on revitalization. Those conferences generally start out - we’re doing bad - we’re loosing - somethings gotta happen - everyone leaves depressed with a new org chart, constitution and by - laws, and new set of songs to sing on Sunday! mission, Mission, MISSION - drives ecclesiology that leads to reformation and renewal - NOT structure! Everyone wants “relational” even old traditionalist. Everyone wants to make a difference - even old traditionalist. The problem is, they see no spiritual skin in the game. It’s a rare church - even a near dead one - that won’t feed, clothe, or serve someone hurting in their community - all you need is to get those people doing “mission.” Will there be headaches? Yep - but now you’re alive, and all living things have to fight viruses, infections, disease, cancers, and crapola of all sorts. "
What do you think? How do you move an Institutional church to a missional stance?
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Missional – Reaching Out with Art
Seth Godin has this great post.
Artist in Residence
Now I ask the church…………. Why not an artist in residence?
Art to illustrate each sermon?
Commissioned art for each family?
Community showings
Art on Loan to public businesses
Art classes for the community
So many kewl things could be done with something like this.
What do you think?
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Artist in Residence
Now I ask the church…………. Why not an artist in residence?
Art to illustrate each sermon?
Commissioned art for each family?
Community showings
Art on Loan to public businesses
Art classes for the community
So many kewl things could be done with something like this.
What do you think?
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Missional - are we remarkable?
You need to take the time to watch this:
Be Remarkable
After you watch this, watch 1 other video on this site for a week. Get inspired get informed and then get busy.
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Be Remarkable
After you watch this, watch 1 other video on this site for a week. Get inspired get informed and then get busy.
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Missional - Bolger interview
You need to see this:
What is a Missional Church
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
What is a Missional Church
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Missional Small Groups
What happens when missional small groups start?
Check out this post from my friend Mark.
Missional Small Groups
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Check out this post from my friend Mark.
Missional Small Groups
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Missional – Do “missions-minded” and Missional go together?
One thing I think is a concern with churches who are moving in a missional direction is that some feel that a missional mind does not include a missions-mind.
This is not the case at all. A missions-minded church is one who has a heart and practice of supporting foreign missions. Missions-mindedness is necessary for a missional church. It is the outgrowth of the church taking the last part of Acts 1:8 to heart: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." A church must have a missions-mindedness towards taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. It’s what Christ commanded for us.
I am aware of a church considered one of the most missional in the country who sends 25% of their income to foreign missions and has one-half of the congregation of 2,000 go on short term mission trips each year. Twice a month the church sponsors short term trips. They even have pre-believers going on missions trips and being lead to the Lord while there.
Missions-minded is essential to missional.
So what’s the difference?
Missional takes the first part of Acts 1:8 and makes it a reality: “and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,” this is the other part of missional, reaching your Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. If we ignore these then we are turning our back on the command of Jesus. It’s the same with foreign missions. They go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other. The key becomes making them dance partners. A good dance occurs when both dancers are in balance, know their steps and roles and perform their own roles.
Matthew 28:19-20 says: “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” A better translation of the Go here is, “in your going, do!” As we go about our lives we are supposed to be carrying out the commission in our everyday life. A missional church will live out the mission of God in all aspects of its life. In it’s community and region and state and around the world.
The problem comes when we try to separate these things and only do one of them. We get out of balance and the dance begins to look awkward. The longer we stay out of balance the more accustomed we become to our dysfunction. This causes us to be incomplete in accomplishing God’s mission for His church.
A missional church views it’s town as it’s mission field, it’s county as it’s mission field, it’s state as it’s mission field, it’s country as it’s mission field and also the world as it’s mission field. All these in proper balance make up a missional church.
As you can see one can not be completely missional without being missions minded. The goal is to treat our communities with that very same missions mindedness and see ourselves as the missionaries. I believe that churches and the believers in them are called to have a heart for missions, to personally share the Gospel message, and to support those who take the message to others. Missional embraces all those things and more.
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
This is not the case at all. A missions-minded church is one who has a heart and practice of supporting foreign missions. Missions-mindedness is necessary for a missional church. It is the outgrowth of the church taking the last part of Acts 1:8 to heart: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." A church must have a missions-mindedness towards taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. It’s what Christ commanded for us.
I am aware of a church considered one of the most missional in the country who sends 25% of their income to foreign missions and has one-half of the congregation of 2,000 go on short term mission trips each year. Twice a month the church sponsors short term trips. They even have pre-believers going on missions trips and being lead to the Lord while there.
Missions-minded is essential to missional.
So what’s the difference?
Missional takes the first part of Acts 1:8 and makes it a reality: “and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,” this is the other part of missional, reaching your Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. If we ignore these then we are turning our back on the command of Jesus. It’s the same with foreign missions. They go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other. The key becomes making them dance partners. A good dance occurs when both dancers are in balance, know their steps and roles and perform their own roles.
Matthew 28:19-20 says: “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” A better translation of the Go here is, “in your going, do!” As we go about our lives we are supposed to be carrying out the commission in our everyday life. A missional church will live out the mission of God in all aspects of its life. In it’s community and region and state and around the world.
The problem comes when we try to separate these things and only do one of them. We get out of balance and the dance begins to look awkward. The longer we stay out of balance the more accustomed we become to our dysfunction. This causes us to be incomplete in accomplishing God’s mission for His church.
A missional church views it’s town as it’s mission field, it’s county as it’s mission field, it’s state as it’s mission field, it’s country as it’s mission field and also the world as it’s mission field. All these in proper balance make up a missional church.
As you can see one can not be completely missional without being missions minded. The goal is to treat our communities with that very same missions mindedness and see ourselves as the missionaries. I believe that churches and the believers in them are called to have a heart for missions, to personally share the Gospel message, and to support those who take the message to others. Missional embraces all those things and more.
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Missional or Not? Your Chance to Vote
It's time for another addition of Missional or not.
Check out the link and VOTE!
King of Kings Statue
So how do you vote?
HT: to my best buddy Jeff for the tip.
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Check out the link and VOTE!
King of Kings Statue
So how do you vote?
HT: to my best buddy Jeff for the tip.
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Missional - State of Church Video
Here's my first attempt at some video.
Version 2.0
Which is better?
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Version 2.0
Which is better?
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Missional Frustration
I frustrated with people who think missional and emerging are the same thing.
They arent - Im far more traditional than emerging yet Im very missional.
I believe every church should be missional, because actively participating in God's redemptive work is everyone's role.
So when I see the number 2 entry in Google for the keyword missional so messed up like it is here it really frustrates me. There is a bias and an agenda with some of the contributors.
The fact that the word has been around 100 years doesnt seem to matter. Only thing that matters is source cites that meet with their approval.
Let's be real here folks - there's little that is nuetral in the statements made there.
Co-opted? from what? emerging and missional are not the same. Missions and missional are not the same.
What say you to helping Brother Maynard set the record straight?
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
They arent - Im far more traditional than emerging yet Im very missional.
I believe every church should be missional, because actively participating in God's redemptive work is everyone's role.
So when I see the number 2 entry in Google for the keyword missional so messed up like it is here it really frustrates me. There is a bias and an agenda with some of the contributors.
The fact that the word has been around 100 years doesnt seem to matter. Only thing that matters is source cites that meet with their approval.
Let's be real here folks - there's little that is nuetral in the statements made there.
In this usage "missional" has rapidly entered the lexicon of the growing emerging church movement whose participants have co-opted the term for their own use, enabling participants in this movement to recognize each other across denominational lines. Different emergents may use the term with different nuances and connotations, but the term persists as essentially a postmodern alternative to the ecclesiology and missiology of Evangelical Christians. The practical outworking of emergent, missional living does not coincide with the emphases on propositional evangelism, teaching, and holiness found in historic Christianity. Missional believers are more inclusive than exclusive, refusing to identify boundaries that could be perceived as an "us vs. them" mentality. Within this atmosphere so-called missional believers seek to enhance the lives of all postmoderns regardless of their belief system or lifestyle.
Co-opted? from what? emerging and missional are not the same. Missions and missional are not the same.
What say you to helping Brother Maynard set the record straight?
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Monday, April 02, 2007
Missional - Community means Belonging
Sunday I got to teach my first week of 13 weeks of Sunday School class on Becoming more missional (thanks to those who helped me with the cir).
One of the things we mentioned briefly there was the idea of community.
I was following a motorcyclist tonite, everytime he passed another biker he waved. It was like he was friends with every other biker on the road. That couldn't possibly be, but there he was waving.
Why? Because bikers share a common bond and it doesnt matter who you are, if your a biker your in.
A friend of mine and I were talking sometime ago about the fact that fans are the same way. Show up at a staium full of tailgaters, throw on the proper team jersey and instantly everyone wants to share their drinks and food with you. Put wrong jersey on and you will get run out of the parking lot. But the right jersey means your in!
See to fans if your one of them it doesnt matter. Come on in and join the party!
What we talked about in the class was the classic TV show "Cheers"
Remember the lyrics to the theme song?
One aspect of being missional is that we must be able to develop a sense of belonging in people around us. The sense that a life lived in loneliness is a life unfulfilled. God created us for community! We must build that sense of community in everything we do.
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
One of the things we mentioned briefly there was the idea of community.
I was following a motorcyclist tonite, everytime he passed another biker he waved. It was like he was friends with every other biker on the road. That couldn't possibly be, but there he was waving.
Why? Because bikers share a common bond and it doesnt matter who you are, if your a biker your in.
A friend of mine and I were talking sometime ago about the fact that fans are the same way. Show up at a staium full of tailgaters, throw on the proper team jersey and instantly everyone wants to share their drinks and food with you. Put wrong jersey on and you will get run out of the parking lot. But the right jersey means your in!
See to fans if your one of them it doesnt matter. Come on in and join the party!What we talked about in the class was the classic TV show "Cheers"
Remember the lyrics to the theme song?Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.
You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.
One aspect of being missional is that we must be able to develop a sense of belonging in people around us. The sense that a life lived in loneliness is a life unfulfilled. God created us for community! We must build that sense of community in everything we do.
missional, missional church, Missional Living, Leadership,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
