missionary churches in a non-christian world
DESCRIPTION
Missionary Churches in a Non-Christian World. Which Context? Which Map?. The Post-Church Map. The community around the church is increasingly unchurched, more and more reflecting the “pre-churched” context of ministry. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Missionary Churches in a Missionary Churches in a Non-Christian WorldNon-Christian World
Which Context? Which Context? Which Map?Which Map?
The Post-Church MapThe Post-Church Map
The community around the church is The community around the church is increasingly unchurched, more and increasingly unchurched, more and more reflecting the “pre-churched” more reflecting the “pre-churched” context of ministry.context of ministry.
At the same time, the church continues At the same time, the church continues to operate with the assumptions of a to operate with the assumptions of a “churched” society or context.“churched” society or context.
The Post-Churched MapThe Post-Churched Map
Who’s in Charge?Who’s in Charge?
The unchurched are Cultural “Insiders”
The churched still think they are “Insiders”
The Post-Churched MapThe Post-Churched Map
Who’s in Charge?Who’s in Charge?
The unchurched are Cultural “Insiders”
Can we choose to become outsiders
once again?
Peter and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the
dispersion . . . according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the
sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood.
1 Peter 1:1-2
The Post-Churched MapThe Post-Churched Map
Recalculate for the Kingdom of God is at
hand. Matthew 4
RecalculatingRecalculating
The Post-Churched MapThe Post-Churched Map
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it
remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
(John 12:24)
OrientingOrienting
To Whom are you a Who?
Where and when do you connect?
What’s the starting place?
Answered by Unchurched
The Post-Church MapThe Post-Church Map
First step in mission work is to First step in mission work is to become become permeable
Live and serve in the Language Live and serve in the Language and Culture of the “insiders”and Culture of the “insiders”
Share life experiencesShare life experiencesGet to know and be knownGet to know and be known
Enter their worldEnter their world
OrientingOrienting
First Article BridgesFirst Article Bridges
What are the starting places?
Ask the Gate KeepersAsk the Gate Keepers
Bridges go two waysBridges go two ways
The Pre-Church MapThe Pre-Church Map
Three steps in permeationThree steps in permeation
• Learner
• Trader
• Story Teller
The Post-Church MapThe Post-Church Map
Note: The pastor might never become Note: The pastor might never become a cultural insidera cultural insider
Get Gospel communication into the Get Gospel communication into the hands of cultural insiders ASAPhands of cultural insiders ASAP
Pastors focus on multiplying cultural Pastors focus on multiplying cultural insiders who speak the Gospelinsiders who speak the Gospel
The Post-Church MapThe Post-Church Map
Focus on the unchurchedFocus on the unchurchedHigh engagement with the unchurchedHigh engagement with the unchurched
Maintain a porous boundary with Maintain a porous boundary with unchurchedunchurched
Operate with Several Word gifts (Eph. 4)Operate with Several Word gifts (Eph. 4) Unchurched → evangelist Unchurched → evangelist
Churched → pastor/teacherChurched → pastor/teacherBoth → apostle, prophetBoth → apostle, prophet
Utilize the PriesthoodUtilize the Priesthood
The Post-Church MapThe Post-Church Map
Utilize the PriesthoodUtilize the Priesthood
Priests connect other Priests connect other people with God and people with God and God with other peopleGod with other people
Priests: Pray & ProclaimPriests: Pray & Proclaim
DiscussionDiscussion
What contextual conditions are What contextual conditions are assumed in your congregation’s assumed in your congregation’s future planning?future planning?
– Pre-ChurchedPre-Churched– ChurchedChurched– Post-ChurchedPost-Churched
DiscussionDiscussion
How would your congregation look at itself if How would your congregation look at itself if it were a New Testament congregation, it were a New Testament congregation, that is, a small church located in a non-that is, a small church located in a non-Christian community possibly hostile to Christian community possibly hostile to the Gospel? the Gospel?
DiscussionDiscussion
What pastoral roles are assumed by What pastoral roles are assumed by the members of our congregations?the members of our congregations?
What lay roles are assumed?What lay roles are assumed?
Theological Education In A Theological Education In A Post-Church EraPost-Church Era
Accu
ltura
tion-
-Bui
ldin
g
cultu
ral i
nsid
ers
Structure
Life Contexts &Experience
Formal
Informal Non-formal
This presentation is shared by permission This presentation is shared by permission of Dr. Robert Newton, President of the of Dr. Robert Newton, President of the CNH District of the LCMS. If you have any CNH District of the LCMS. If you have any questions or comments concerning this questions or comments concerning this presentation, please direct them to Dr. presentation, please direct them to Dr. Newton at Newton at [email protected] or call or call 925-245-4000925-245-4000