The first fundamental transition in 500 years Modernity and Christendom are crumbling We’re moving beyond incremental and exponential transition It’s a time of radical discontinuity The rules by which the game of life is played no longer exist

Everything is set on speed

Everything is set on blur

Whether or not one is liberal or conservative or belongs to this group or that group no longer matters All that matters is that one is REVOLUTIONARY About the way mission is carried out!

What will Christianity look like when it truly understands that North America is a mission field?

What is the difference in being missional and doing evangelism? What is the difference in a being pastor and being a cross-cultural missionary?

What will ministry look like in an organic worldview? Quantum physics The whole is greater than the sum of the parts

How will we communicate the gospel when salvation means far more than just the transformation of “my” soul? What will the church look like without programs and committees?

What will authority look like in an out-of-control, anti-institutional, non-religious world A deconstructing world Institutions are losing favor Spirituality is back and redefined

What does it mean to live in a world where one’s spirituality is more important than credentials? Can we imagine doing evangelism that is not carried out within the context of conquest? How do leaders lead without control?

What will Christianity look like when it’s no longer defined by ? Personal Narratives Electronic Ink Images Holographics Virtual Reality

How will we communicate the message and engage the truth? How do we transition from handing out data that informs to offering an experience that transforms? How will we help people grow their spirituality instead of just learning more about the Bible?

What will Christianity look like when the church is missional and not institutional? - The Reformers “marks of a true church” is out House churches Cell groups Warehouse churches Cyber-Churches City Reaching

How will we “be” the church instead of “go” to church? How will we celebrate such things as Communion, baptism, ordination?

In a world with no rules, what is non-negotiable and eternally significant in God’s mission?

What is it about our relationship with Jesus that the world cannot live without knowing?

In such a world… the growth of people replaces the management of organizations

In such a world… clarity of mission is essential

The anti- institutional sentiment is continuing to…. In such a world… churches will become smaller and more varied in character

We are witnessing the interaction of all the sciences and people In such a world… It’s not enough to read theology

The internet continues to grow and will become the primary form of communication, information, commerce, and networking throughout the world In such a world… new ways are needed for Sunday School, teaching, worship, and communication

Communication and education are entering the visual, experiential, and interactive world of virtual reality In such a world… experience is the foundation of learning

Authority must now be earned by the individual In such a world… how one lives before others determines the amount of authority

People are moving to the cities In such a world… reaching the city and Church Planting are the primary missions

The boats no longer come from Europe In such a world… multi-cultural ministry is essential

In such a world… rational, linear thought is out of place

Bio-genetics is replacing In such a world… “my genes made me do it” Gay Rights Abortion Gender

Society continues to become more hostile to local congregations and more open to spirituality In such a world… only high commitment churches will do well

Anti-institutionalism continues to grow, and grow, and grow In such a world… the primary search is for wholeness, community, dignity, identity, and empowerment

The world is running out of world class leaders In such a world… teams will replace the lone-wolf, charismatic leader

Consumerism continues to grow unabated In such a world… churches must be culturally relevant if they want to grow disciples

Our Greatest Need Is To Raise Up Spiritual Leaders Who Can Function In A World Of Speed, Blur, and Flux

Leaders provide an atmosphere in which people are transformed and empowered to be leaders and do God’s will -Success depends on what the leader is able to help others achieve -It is leaders of leaders, not leaders of followers

“Who will I mentor today?” - instead of what must I do?” “Who will I discover?” - instead of what is my job description? “ How many others can I equip?” - instead of how much can I do?”

The Clash Between The Old And The New Will Shape Most Of The First Two Decades Of The 21 st Century

Churches that know where they are going and why, will do the best - The issue of values, identity, security, relationships, and purpose will become primary The only churches that survive will be those who are culturally relevant and biblically sound.

The Growing Segments Of Christianity Will Continue To Rediscover First Century Christianity

A passionate commitment to Jesus Christ - In a pagan society it’s not enough to just talk about God Indigenous worship - In the language, technology, and culture of the times Lay ministries - The Priesthood of the believer

Church planting will be the primary mission of the thriving churches and healthy religious groups Behavior modification will be the primary focus of preaching and teaching

The Effective Local Church Is Organized Around The Prime Directive

The prime directive is growing disciples who grow disciples - Felt needs are responded to only to make disciples All leaders are equipped to “Fractal”

Every person is encouraged to live out their spiritual gift without having to ask permission from a centralized authority Democracy, voting and representation are replaced by leadership, prayer and a demonstrated life Doers and Deciders are the same MVVMVV

Everything is measured by the Prime Directive Leaders drop everything that does not enhance the PD and add anything that might enhance it - Innovation and risk taking is a normal way of life

Reaching An Area Or Group Of People Is Replacing The Present Focus On Growing Local Churches

Trans-denominational efforts to reach large metropolitan areas is replacing an emphasis on growing local institutions - The goal is to spiritually and socially transform the city Emphasis will shift from church size to percentage of penetration into the city

Churches Will Become Smaller, More Intimate, And Will Ask For Higher Commitment

The number of deeply committed Christians will become more numerous - while nominal, cultural Church members will continue to decrease

Covenant will be the gateway to leadership and thriving churches will have more people in worship than on the role Succession will plague the mega church

Churches With Multiple Sites Will Become The Norm

The death of place The New Testament Church - Church of Philippi Churches will follow the prime directive instead of focusing on large institutions

Multi-Track Churches Will Become The Norm Among Healthy, Established Churches

As the U.S. grows older and younger and more diverse, established churches will have to respond to thrive -Worship -Education -Pastoral Care -Nurture

Mainline Denominations Will Continue To Decline While Loosely Associated Groups Will Emerge

Market share is shrinking and an age mesa is approaching Parachurch groups are providing resources and support instead of denominations Thriving mainline churches will stay in their denomination if they are seen as teaching churches rather than mavericks

Worship Will Continue To Become More Eastern And High Tech

The issue is no longer contemporary versus traditional worship - but is it spirited? Does it have the mystery of the East and the high tech of the West?

Worship is moving from an emphasis on music to visualization -The arts are back -Images may replace music as the key -Holographic imagery will become the norm Preaching will be more Q & A and conversational

Food, drink, incense and sarcasm are in If it doesn’t entertain, stimulate, and touch all of the senses, it won’t educate or be worshipful - “Edutainment” is a key

The Majority Of Pastors Will Be Women

Cyberchurches May Be The New Form Of Mega church

The Electronic Church is already with us The Key question – “Can authentic community be found online?”

Social Ministries Will Flourish As Government Continues To Fail In The Social Sector

By 2050, the government will abandon most social services, including social security Once again our congregations have the opportunity to be the change agents in the community - OR leave it to other spiritually- based, non-profit organizations

Teams Will Replace Committees

The logical result of the permission giving, gift based church Most churches will be led by co- pastors Many Churches will compensate the team rather than individuals

The Future Belongs to Those Who Can Change The Fastest And Easiest For The Purpose Of Growing Disciples Who Grow Disciples.

See RetroFuture HyperChoice consumerism The end of the “local church A redefinition of the Bible