Historical Overview

1000 Years the Western World Influenced by Christendom

Society’s Institutions Christianized People

Society’s Institutions Stigmatized non-Christian Beliefs and Behaviors

  Result – People Were Cultural Christians  The Church’s Job – Challenge People

to be Regenerated

Advantages: Common Language for Public Discourse Society Could Discuss Good and Evil

Disadvantages:  Morality without Regeneration Produces

Hypocrisy and Cruelty The Church was/is often Silent about

Power and Greed

Leslie Newbigin – India 1950

Saw Missional Churches in a Non-Christian Culture

Returned to England – Saw Non-Missional Churches in a Non-Christian Culture

World No-longer Christianized The Church did Business as usual Some Churches did Evangelism as a Ministry

No Churches Adapted All they did to Reach the Non-Christian World  (Negative Description of a Missional Church)

U.S. Different From Europe, Canada and Australia/New Zealand

Still have Two Worlds in One Nation Heartland – Christendom (Informal

Culture) – Quickly Passing However Cities and Coasts – Christendom gone

#1 People Learn to Discourse in the Current Vernacular

Christendom – Little Difference in Language Inside/Outside the Church

Missional Church – Terms/Terminology Need Explanation

The Missional Church Avoids:  Tribal Language Stylized Prayer Language Unnecessary pious “Jargon” Archaic Language to set a Spiritual Tone We –Them Language Disdainful Jokes that mock Politics, Beliefs,

Behaviors Disrespectful Comments about those who

Differ Sentimental, Pompous, Self-Fulfilling Talk

The Missional Church: Always Acts as if Unbelievers are

Present Engages the Culture with Gentle,

Self-Deprecating Joyful Irony Communicates Empathy for Those

Hurt and Mislead by the Culture

The Missional Church Acts Differently Because:

Hearts are Broken for Lost People

It is on a Mission of Love

The Church is not All about Us

The Missional Church Acts by: Asking Questions and Listening Seeing Itself as a Spiritual Guide to

Searching Pilgrims Matching our Vision with the Vision

of Lost People Seeking the Spirit’s Help in

Developing New Strategies

#2 We Enter and Re-Tell theCulture’s Stories with Good News

Christendom Motivated by Guilt (Exhortation)

Christendom did not Listen Missional Church - Preaching and Communication ALWAYS Assumes:  Unbelievers are Present That We Engage Their Stories

Sympathy and Acquaintance With Literature Music Theater

The Arts Reveal the Culture’s Hopes Dreams “Heroic Narratives” Fears

Christendom: Be A Good Person – Live Well – Be Merciful

Current Culture: Be Free – Self Created – Authentic

Make the World Safe so all Can Live This Way (Justice)

Christianity: Freedom without Slavery – Embrace others without Injustice

Understand Grace and its Stewardships

Express our Honesty (Successes and Failures) in Living out Grace

Show How Their Stories and Our Stories Fit the Big Story

#3 Theologically Train Lay People for PUBLIC Life andVocations

Christendom: Trained People for Spiritual Private World Skills

The Missional Church: People Need to Learn to Think Christianly About All of Life and Learn to Live with Distinctiveness

Christians Need to Know:

Cultural Practices – Common Grace

Cultural Practices – Antithetical to Grace

Cultural Practices – Adapted and Revised

Honor Christians Living Well in the “PUBLIC SQUARE”

Most Negating Factors Against Christianity is INTOLERANCE

Robin Hood Philosophy of Ministry – Take Power and Resources for those Without Power and

Resources  The Church is Here to Save Individuals and Communities

#4 Create Christian Community Which is Counter-Cultural and Counter-Intuitive

Christendom: Key is Fellowship

The Missional Church: Christians Radical Approaches to Sex, Money and Power

Sex: Avoid Society’s Idolization and Former Society’s Fear

Money: Promote Generosity in Time, Money and Relationships

Power: Use Power for Racial Equality and Class Equality

Missional Church – More Committed to Social Justice than Liberals Ever Were

Missional Church – More Committed to Evangelism than Fundamentalists Ever Were

Every Aspect of Ministry Committed to Making Disciples

Use our Power and Money for those without Power and Money

#5 We Practice Christian Unity at the Local Level

In Christendom – Churches Defined Against Each

Other Denomination Theology Polity Practice

 Missional Church – Defined in Relation to Culture

Spiritual Characteristics Community Commitment

We Focus on the Kingdom not our Denomination

We Define What is Crucial or Foundational

Marks of a Missional Church Love for the Community Use of Language Biblical Truth Engages People’s

Stories Engaged in the Arts Deep Commitment to the Poor and

Powerless Willing to Work with Other Christians

If Marks are Present: Unbelievers will Come to Learn and Stay

If Marks are not Present: We Only Attract Christians and people of Christendom