Breaking the Missional Code

Breaking the Missional Code involves Being Biblically faithful and culturally relevant at the same time.

Missiology Ecclesiology Christology

Breaking the Missional Code involves The church being the missionary in its context.

What does it mean to be missional? The church sees itself as being the missionaries, rather than having a missions department. We see ourselves as representatives of Jesus “sent” into our communities and into the world, and that the church aligns everything it does with the Mission of God. We see the church not as a place we go only on Sunday, but as something we are throughout the week. We understand we don’t “bring Jesus” to people but that we realize Jesus is active in our culture and we join him in what he is doing.

What does it mean to be missional? We are very much in the world and engaged in culture but not conforming to the world. We serve our communities, and that we build relationships with people in them, rather than seeing them as evangelistic targets. Being all the more dependent on Jesus and the Spirit through prayer, the Scriptures, and each other in community.

Breaking the Missional Code Involves Recognizing that we all have the same Mission.

“19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-21 NIV

8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 NIV

Our Jerusalem – Going Missional Every Weekend Our Judea – Multi-site Our Samaria – Church Planting Our ends of the earth – World Care

Breaking the Missional Code Involves Having a Redemptive Imagination.

If God’s Kingdom was to come on earth (in my context) as it is in heaven what would look like?

Breaking the Discipleship Code Involves Recognizing you have to be a missional disciple in order to make missional disciples.

Questions to Consider: What does it mean to be missional? Using your redemptive imagination describe God’s Kingdom coming in your context. Define what it means to be a disciple.

Breaking the Missional Code Missional Principles

Missional Principles… God is at work in the lives of those who are disconnected and he invites us to join him.

Missional Principles… Those who are disconnected begin their journey with their backs to the Gospel.

The Engle Scale -8 Awareness of a supreme being -7 Initial awareness of the gospels -6 Awareness of the fundamentals of the gospel -5 Grasp of the implications of the gospel -4 Positive attitude toward the gospels -3 Personal problems recognition -2 Decision to act -1 Repentance and faith in Christ 0 Conversion +1 Post-decision evaluation +2 Incorporation into the body +3 A lifetime of conceptual and behavioral growth in Christ

Missional Principles… Those who are disconnected have to overcome specific barriers in their journey to Christ.

Image Culture Gospel Total Commitment

Missional Principles… You can’t evangelize without discipling those who are disconnected.

Impacting Becoming Belonging Deciding Searching Commitment to ministry and missions Barrier: Structure Becoming Commitment to a renewed life Barriers: Thinking and lifestyle (Lordship) Belonging Commitment to a relationship with other believers Barriers: Acceptance and awareness Deciding Commitment to a relationship with God through Christ Barrier: Gospel Searching Commitment to being open to spiritual matters Barrier: Image and Culture

Searching Becoming Going Believing Belonging

Missional Principles… Prayer is essential in reaching disconnected people.

Missional Principles… Those who are disconnected need a safe place and safe people to explore, experiment, and experience the Gospel.

Agnes Liu’s “Triangle” Scale Experience Attitude Conversion

Missional Principles… Those who are disconnected are most often reached relationally.

Gospel Delivery Comparison Teaching Confrontation Relational 35 36 169 25 209 6 180 58 2 Convert Drop-Out Non-Convert Flavil R. Yeakly

Christians say one thing but live something entire differently. unchristian Hypocritical Christians say one thing but live something entire differently. Christians are transparent about their flaws and act first, talk second.

Christians are insincere and concerned only with converting others. unchristian Get Saved Christians are insincere and concerned only with converting others. Christians cultivate relationships and environments where others can be deeply transformed by God.

Christians show contempt for gays and lesbians. unchristian Antihomosexual Christians show contempt for gays and lesbians. Christians show compassion and love to all people, regardless of their lifestyle.

unchristian Sheltered Christians are boring, unintelligent, old fashioned, and out of touch with reality. Christians are engaged, informed, and offer sophisticated responses to the issues people face.

unchristian Too Political Christians are primarily motivated by a political agenda and promote right-wing politics. Christians are characterized by respecting people, thinking biblically, and finding solutions to complex issues.

Christians are prideful and quick to find faults in others. unchristian Judgmental Christians are prideful and quick to find faults in others. Christians showing grace by finding the good in others and seeing their potential to be Christ followers.

Three Key Components in Transitioning Your Church Community Pastor

The Cultural Context in the Mid 20th Century Community Core Pastor

The Cultural Context Today Community Core Pastor

Missional Impact Community Church Pastor

The Great Commission Principle “GO” Missional Challenge Community Pastor Core The Great Commission Principle “GO”

They are highly spiritual, but not Christian. Mission Field They are highly spiritual, but not Christian. They like Jesus, but not the church. They don’t have any friends who are missional followers of Jesus. They are ignostic. They are searching for meaning purpose and acceptance. Missional Leader Nurture Vitality Mean about the Vision Finance the Mission Think Team Redefine Discipleship Missional Church They are committed to the Great Commandment and Commission. They are Biblically Faithful and Culturally Relevant. They understand that there are two types of mission fields. They are highly committed to removing all barriers. Missional Disciples Live, Love, and Leave

Simple Steps for Transitioning the Church Salt and Light Principle Mission Field Explore your Community Create a positive Image in the Community Build Credibility Become part of social and relational networks Invest in people personally Missional Leader Missional Church Invite people into community Call people to commitment Continue to make disciples Empower people to go Missional Disciple

Simple Steps for Transitioning the Church Invest and Invite Principle Mission Field Explore your Community Create a positive Image in the Community Build Credibility Become part of social and relational networks Invest in people personally Missional Leader Missional Church Invite people into community Call people to commitment Continue the Discipleship Process Empower people to go Missional Disciple

Simple Steps for Transitioning the Church Discipleship Principle Mission Field Explore your Community Create a positive Image in the Community Build Credibility Become part of social and relational networks Invest in people personally Missional Leader Missional Church Invite people into community Call people to commitment Continue to Make Disciples Empower People to go Missional Disciple