Sending Disciples
Recent church research reveals a longing for something far beyond a great weekend presentation and enticing programs. People are deeply interested in living with a mission and a purpose, and mission trips seem to be more popular than ever. Though they certainly broaden our perspectives, they’re really only another temporal program. How do we instead develop a long-term transformational ministry…and ultimately transformed lives?
Is this what pastors are searching for as they consistently ask us about this “Missional Ministry” concept? There’s clearly a resurgence in things missional, but few really grasp what it is. Hence, this effort to explore the six foundational concepts of this emerging missional ministry approach:
We explored element #1, Jesus At The Center, Wednesday.
Element #2: Disciple Making
Mention the name Gandhi and people immediately think of the little man from India who changed the destiny of nations in the modern world. Yet, he was a humble weaver of cloth who never held an official political office. He transformed the history of his people while basing his message solely on “moral authority.”
Christians call it spiritual authority. It is the unique kind of social power that comes from the personal integration and embodiment of great ideas, as opposed to the power that comes from position or titles. When we examine the life of Jesus we find that he had no official titles or office either. He had no armies, spoke against violence, and taught us instead about love and forgiveness. Yet, He changed the world forever by the power of His teaching and the quality of His life. To follow as His disciples, aren’t we therefore called to develop this “moral authority” in ourselves and in others?
Element #3: Missional – Incarnational Impulse
I recently read that if your church has a Mission Committee then you’ve missed the point. Missions cannot be merely an activity of the church. Rather, missions is the result of God’s initiative, rooted in God’s purpose to restore and heal creation. Mission means sending, and it is the central Biblical theme. “As the Father sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21)
To gain moral authority in our communities, the church must be a “sent people.” We must add a new Sending Model of ministry to the already popular Attractional Model (build it and they will come). We must send people to help in the public schools, the broken families, with the lonely business people, in the storm-damaged neighborhoods, the coffee shops, and those parts of town that you just don’t go in. Jesus’ love must become incarnate in every corner of our communities through us, His disciples. Kirsten’s efforts with Community 4:12 are a wonderful example.
What was it that one guy said about missions? Oh, give me just a second…..almost got it………………”GO”
Yep – that was it.
MT
Thanks Michael…as Al Hirsch would say, you’ve got the “missional impulse” down well.