I have two issues that I'm batting around that I'm curious about:
1. Missio Dei on the City
Bryan and I have batted around the idea of setting up a social network for Missio Dei Church, similar to Facebook, but available only for members so that we can engage in frank "family" discussion. The website is called, "The City" and was developed at Mars Hill Church. We utilize this heavily in the Acts 29 Network and find it to be a remarkable tool.
The positives:
This would allow our members a way of continuing spiritual dialog that arises out of sermons, community groups discussions, service projects, etc.
It would offer another connection point to assist in communication.
The dialog can take place in an environment of safety as it will not be open to anyone and everyone.
The site would allow us to keep upcoming events in front of people as we can utilize it to advertise things.
The site would serve as a place to share prayer requests that come up in the middle of the week, so that we can pray as a community.
The site could facilitate planning meetings and provide a place everyone can come and continue a discussion.
The negatives:
It is one more social networking tool that isn't necessarily streamlined to other places you may already be connected (i.e. Myspace, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, blogs).
It is not free.
Would you utilize this if we offered it?
2. Fall Series on Ephesians
As I begin prepping for the fall series, I am curious if it would be helpful to put together a study guide to aid your study of the book as we work through it together. The study guide would include background information that would be helpful, but not timely for a Sunday morning setting (i.e. in depth look at authorship, setting, etc.). Would this be a helpful resource, or would we be picking them up from the floor on a weekly basis?
Feedback highly anticipated.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
A Crack at Simplifying "Missional"
So the term is here to stay and everybody is laying claim on what it means to be "missional." Trying to distinguish it's meaning proves a daunting task.
Some use the term to describe a new way of doing ministry, as opposed to more traditional congregations, which would be branded as "attractional," due to the amount of effort, promotion, expectation around programs at or around church property. Often these folks tend to see building wells in Africa for clean water as good (which it is), but telling people to repent from sin as bad (which it is not). This critical over-reaction poses missional against attractional in a way that I think is weak, unbiblical, and unfaithful to the gospel.
Others use the term to describe a new way of doing church, so that whatever is traditionally done during worship gatherings is replaced with new ways of doing things. For example, if growing up you heard preaching and sat in pews, this crowd of missional now sits on couches and engages in dialogue. This approach wrongly places emphasis on methods, which are not weighty while neglecting principles that are. For example, Scripture doesn't specify what songs, in what style, with what instruments are used in the church. To be adamant that a contemporary style is more faithful is just as ridiculous as saying that guitars are Satanic.
While there may be a new word to describe what should be happening, it often only amounts to new ways of being disobedient to Scripture in an attempt to being novel and innovative.
At Missio, we're not interested in being innovative for novelty's sake. We believe that we are to strive to remain faithful to the ancient and historic faith (Jude 3). We believe that craftiness and innovation are actually signs of immaturity (Eph. 4:14) and we long for obedience to Jesus commission (Matt. 28). This means that we are not hip or cool, but are a people sent out to proclaim the ugly truth that humanity is broken, but the good news that Jesus is Savior, Redeemer, and Lord and teach them how that applies to the places they live everyday life, whether we go across the seas or across the street.
Simply put, we understand "missional" to mean that we are obedient to preaching, as clearly as possible, the gospel in whatever circumstance or context we find ourselves. The Gospel deals with our rebellion in substituting ourselves for God and in love, God's substituting Himself for us, dying for our sins, being buried, and being raised again in victory over sin, death, hell, brokenness, Satans, demons, weaknesses and failures, struggles and heartaches, on and on.
This gives the church her mission, a reason why our congregation takes on the name, Missio Dei. We are simply participating with God in what He does. "And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?" (Rom. 10:14-15).
Some use the term to describe a new way of doing ministry, as opposed to more traditional congregations, which would be branded as "attractional," due to the amount of effort, promotion, expectation around programs at or around church property. Often these folks tend to see building wells in Africa for clean water as good (which it is), but telling people to repent from sin as bad (which it is not). This critical over-reaction poses missional against attractional in a way that I think is weak, unbiblical, and unfaithful to the gospel.
Others use the term to describe a new way of doing church, so that whatever is traditionally done during worship gatherings is replaced with new ways of doing things. For example, if growing up you heard preaching and sat in pews, this crowd of missional now sits on couches and engages in dialogue. This approach wrongly places emphasis on methods, which are not weighty while neglecting principles that are. For example, Scripture doesn't specify what songs, in what style, with what instruments are used in the church. To be adamant that a contemporary style is more faithful is just as ridiculous as saying that guitars are Satanic.
While there may be a new word to describe what should be happening, it often only amounts to new ways of being disobedient to Scripture in an attempt to being novel and innovative.
At Missio, we're not interested in being innovative for novelty's sake. We believe that we are to strive to remain faithful to the ancient and historic faith (Jude 3). We believe that craftiness and innovation are actually signs of immaturity (Eph. 4:14) and we long for obedience to Jesus commission (Matt. 28). This means that we are not hip or cool, but are a people sent out to proclaim the ugly truth that humanity is broken, but the good news that Jesus is Savior, Redeemer, and Lord and teach them how that applies to the places they live everyday life, whether we go across the seas or across the street.
Simply put, we understand "missional" to mean that we are obedient to preaching, as clearly as possible, the gospel in whatever circumstance or context we find ourselves. The Gospel deals with our rebellion in substituting ourselves for God and in love, God's substituting Himself for us, dying for our sins, being buried, and being raised again in victory over sin, death, hell, brokenness, Satans, demons, weaknesses and failures, struggles and heartaches, on and on.
This gives the church her mission, a reason why our congregation takes on the name, Missio Dei. We are simply participating with God in what He does. "And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?" (Rom. 10:14-15).
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