Salt + Gold Footwashing Series by Jess Bond
Mark 10
A Church with Well-Trained Leaders
13 Marks of a Faithful Missional Church
in the 21st Century American West
This
series of special Notes are touching on a subject growing in
recognition and discussion within the 21st century American church.
What is the missional local church?
Is it something we do or who we are?
What does a congregation look like
that is living out the mission of God
in their cultural context?
How does a community remain faithful
to the good news of Jesus,
the Spirit of God,
the Scriptures,
What is the missional local church?
Is it something we do or who we are?
What does a congregation look like
that is living out the mission of God
in their cultural context?
How does a community remain faithful
to the good news of Jesus,
the Spirit of God,
the Scriptures,
the Church throughout human
history
and around the world,
and the mission of God
that the Church is called to join,
while also meeting the questions,
needs, and desires of the people
God is sending us to in
the cultures and contexts we live in today?
I have found no better book to answer these questions than in Michael Goheen's A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story.
and around the world,
and the mission of God
that the Church is called to join,
while also meeting the questions,
needs, and desires of the people
God is sending us to in
the cultures and contexts we live in today?
I have found no better book to answer these questions than in Michael Goheen's A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story.
For this series of posts, my goal is to share the final chapter of the book – Chapter 9: What Might This Look Like Today – with you. In this chapter, Goheen
shares from his pastoral and professional experience in answering the
question, "Ten Things I'd Do Differently if I Pastored Again." The list
grew from ten to a lucky thirteen. I think all thirteen are essential
for considering how Emmaus City could live into being a faithful church for our city – Worcester, MA.
Mark 10
A Church with Well-Trained Leaders
"To live out a missionary encounter
in the world,
local congregations will need
in the world,
local congregations will need
at least three things:
1) leaders who carry and embody
a missional vision
and equip others to follow,
a missional vision
and equip others to follow,
2) households that are training
the next generation in
what it means to be faithful,
the next generation in
what it means to be faithful,
3) missional communities
that can facilitate
the various dimensions
of the Church's task.
that can facilitate
the various dimensions
of the Church's task.
It is impossible for a pastor to carry and implement a vision for a missional church alone. Identifying and training leaders who can journey and act as change agents together is essential. But how we conceive of leadership will shape the way leaders are trained.
Lesslie Newbigin suggests that too much of our understanding of ecclesial leadership has been formed by a nonmissional setting. His own missionary experience caused him to reenvision what leadership in the local congregation should look like. In the New Testament leadership was primarily in mission, while ministry in the Christendom setting was largely pastoral care of established communities: 'In one, the minister is facing the people – gathering, teaching, feeding, comforting; in the other he is leading the people, going before them on the way to the cross to challenge the powers of this dark world.'
Lesslie Newbigin suggests that too much of our understanding of ecclesial leadership has been formed by a nonmissional setting. His own missionary experience caused him to reenvision what leadership in the local congregation should look like. In the New Testament leadership was primarily in mission, while ministry in the Christendom setting was largely pastoral care of established communities: 'In one, the minister is facing the people – gathering, teaching, feeding, comforting; in the other he is leading the people, going before them on the way to the cross to challenge the powers of this dark world.'
New Testament leadership
is best defined in the words of Paul:
'Follow my example,
as I follow the example of Christ'
(1 Corinthians 11:1).
Leaders are those who
follow hard after Jesus
and enable others to do so as well.
Leaders are those who themselves
lead by example in missional engagement
and then equip others
also to participate in God's mission.
Two images capture this kind of leadership,
which is necessary for a missionary congregation:
is best defined in the words of Paul:
'Follow my example,
as I follow the example of Christ'
(1 Corinthians 11:1).
Leaders are those who
follow hard after Jesus
and enable others to do so as well.
Leaders are those who themselves
lead by example in missional engagement
and then equip others
also to participate in God's mission.
Two images capture this kind of leadership,
which is necessary for a missionary congregation:
1) Pacesetter:
Leaders are to be pacesetters,
people who are ahead of others,
setting the pace for others
in the congregation,
inviting and urging others to follow.
people who are ahead of others,
setting the pace for others
in the congregation,
inviting and urging others to follow.
2) Pioneer:
A pioneer is one who ventures
into unknown and uncharted territory first,
so that others can follow him or her there.
As Jesus was the pioneer
leading the way in his life,
inviting others to join him in his mission,
so church leaders do the same.
into unknown and uncharted territory first,
so that others can follow him or her there.
As Jesus was the pioneer
leading the way in his life,
inviting others to join him in his mission,
so church leaders do the same.
If the congregation is to take on a missional identity, leaders must exhibit that vision and work to form structures that engender that calling. If the congregation is to live out of the gospel as the power of God unto salvation, leaders must embody that commitment in their own lives.
If the congregation is to learn
'frontline' prayer,
leaders must lead the way.
If the congregation is to become
more radical in the task of
raising the next generation
to follow Christ,
leaders must show what that means
in their own home.
If the congregation is to engage
the powers of the public square,
leaders must already be deeply engaged
there themselves.
The key to a missional congregation will be leaders who are already following Christ in his mission and looking for ways to enable and equip the rest of the congregation to follow him more faithfully as well." + pgs. 220-221
If the congregation is to learn
'frontline' prayer,
leaders must lead the way.
If the congregation is to become
more radical in the task of
raising the next generation
to follow Christ,
leaders must show what that means
in their own home.
If the congregation is to engage
the powers of the public square,
leaders must already be deeply engaged
there themselves.
The key to a missional congregation will be leaders who are already following Christ in his mission and looking for ways to enable and equip the rest of the congregation to follow him more faithfully as well." + pgs. 220-221
Here are the previous Missional Church posts:
Many blessings of peace and presence,
Rev. Mike “Sully” Sullivan
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