Using the Right Map
Three different worlds Three different worlds (contexts) in which we live and (contexts) in which we live and serve as God’s peopleserve as God’s people
Pre-church
Churched
Post-church
Using the Right MapEach mission/ministry context has its set Each mission/ministry context has its set ofof
Cultural “Insiders”
Cultural “Outsiders”
Using the Right Map
It is essential to know which world It is essential to know which world we are in order to serve we are in order to serve effectivelyeffectively
Are we cultural Are we cultural insiders?insiders?
Are we cultural Are we cultural outsiders?outsiders?
Cultural Insiders/Outsiders
CulturalCulturalInsidersInsidersProtectProtect
BoundariesBoundaries
CulturalCulturalOutsiders Outsiders PermeatePermeate
BoundariesBoundaries
Cultural Insiders/Outsiders
Are we the cultural insiders?
Are we the cultural outsiders?
That depends upon the context
Pre-Churched Context
Non-Christians Non-Christians are Culturalare Cultural
InsidersInsiders
Christian Missionary is Christian Missionary is a Cultural Outsidera Cultural Outsider
The Church has no The Church has no identity, thus no identity, thus no
credibilitycredibility
Churched Context
Christians are Christians are CulturalCulturalInsidersInsiders
Non-Christians are Non-Christians are Cultural OutsidersCultural Outsiders
The Church is essential The Church is essential to the communityto the community
The Churched WorldWe Assumed
• Significant for LC-MS Congregations
• 500 years of Confessional Focus
• Defenders of the true faith in the midst of religious error
• Sense of permanence
• Sense of theological and cultural objectivity
Post-Churched Context
TheThe Non- Non-Christians Christians areare
Cultural Cultural InsidersInsiders TheThe ChristiansChristians areare
Cultural Cultural InsidersInsiders
Post-Churched Context
TheThe Non- Non-Christians Christians areare
Cultural Cultural InsidersInsiders Can we choose to Can we choose to
become outsidersbecome outsiders once again?once again?
Post-Churched Context
TheThe Non- Non-Christians Christians areare
Cultural Cultural InsidersInsiders Can we choose to Can we choose to
become outsidersbecome outsiders once again?once again?
The 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)
Post-Churched World• Three greatest challenges to moving
toward missions
• Moving from teacher/defender to learner
• Willingness to “unlearn” without compromise
• Moving from primarily Minister to equipper for and overseer of ministry
Post-Churched World
• Three steps in permeation
• Learner (Listener)
• Trader
• Story Teller (Proclaimer)
Post-Churched World
•What are the starting places?
•First Article BridgesFirst Article Bridges
•Bridges go two waysBridges go two ways
•Asking the Gate KeepersAsking the Gate Keepers
•Partnering with communityPartnering with community
Post-Churched World• Focus on the unchurchedFocus on the unchurched
• High engagement with the unchurchedHigh engagement with the unchurched
• Maintain a porous boundary with the Maintain a porous boundary with the unchurchedunchurched
• Operate with Several Word gifts (Eph. 4)Operate with Several Word gifts (Eph. 4)
• Unchurched > EvangelistsUnchurched > Evangelists
• Churched > > Pastor/teacher
• Both > > apostle, prophet
• Develop Little structureDevelop Little structure
Post-Churched Context• Church and culture
• Assumption: Strong institutional loyalty (cultural value)
• Reality: Weak institutional loyalty, even among the churched
• Decreased investment in the institution
• Increased investment in personal relationships
Post-Churched Context• What are our cultural assumptions
underlying “Catechetics”?
• Role of church
• Role of society
• Society still “disciples” its children
• Why are so many young people leaving the church and not coming back?
• Where, when, and how will discipleship take place?
Relationship Distinctives
• Relationships center in truly loving my
neighbor
• Relationships require genuine commitment
• Relationships may not translate into
congregational membership.
“Nones” on the RiseImportance of Shared Community
% saying belonging to a community of people where your value and beliefs is ...
Church Membership
• Churched Culture Order
• Believe>Behave>Belong
• Post-Churched Order
• Belong>Behave>Believe
• Cause>Belong>Behave>Believe
Discussion
•How would our congregation look at itself if it were a New Testament congregation– a lone small church located in a pre-Christian community possibly hostile to the Gospel?
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
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