1. Missionary Churches in a Post-Churched World

2. Which Context? Which Map?
Pre-Church
Churched
Post-Church

3. The Post-Church Map
The community around the church is increasingly unchurched, more and more reflecting the “pre-churched” context of ministry.
At the same time, the church continues to operate with the assumptions of a “churched” society or context.

4. The churched still think
The Post-Churched Map
Who’s in Charge?
The unchurched are
Cultural “Insiders”
The churched still think
they are “Insiders”

5. Can we choose to become outsiders once again?
The Post-Churched Map
Who’s in Charge?
The unchurched are
Cultural “Insiders”
Can we choose to become outsiders once again?

6. Peter and apostle of Jesus Christ,
The Post-Churched Map
Peter and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood.
1 Peter 1:1-2

7. Recalculate for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Matthew 4
Recalculating
Recalculate for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Matthew 4

8. 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)

9. Orienting To Whom are you a Who? Where and when do you connect?
What’s the starting place?
Answered by Unchurched

10. Share life experiences
The Post-Church Map
First step in mission work is to become
permeable
Enter their world
Live and serve in the Language and Culture of the “insiders”
Share life experiences
Get to know and be known

11. What are the starting places?
Orienting
What are the starting places?
First Article Bridges
Bridges go two ways
Ask the Gate Keepers

12. The Pre-Church Map Three steps in permeation Learner Trader
Story Teller

13. The Post-Church Map
Note: The pastor might never become a cultural insider
Get Gospel communication into the
hands of cultural insiders ASAP
Pastors focus on multiplying cultural insiders who speak the Gospel

14. The Post-Church Map Focus on the unchurched
High engagement with the unchurched
Maintain a porous boundary with unchurched
Operate with Several Word gifts (Eph. 4)
Unchurched → evangelist
Churched → pastor/teacher
Both → apostle, prophet
Utilize the Priesthood

15. Priests: Pray & Proclaim
The Post-Church Map
Utilize the Priesthood
Priests connect other people with God and God with other people
Priests: Pray & Proclaim

17. Discussion
What contextual conditions are assumed in your congregation’s future planning?
- Pre-Churched
- Churched
- Post-Churched

18. Discussion
How would your congregation look at itself if it were a New Testament congregation, that is, a small church located in a non-Christian community possibly hostile to the Gospel?

19. Discussion
What pastoral roles are assumed by the members of our congregations?
What lay roles are assumed?

20. Theological Education In A Post-Church Era
Formal
Acculturation--Building cultural insiders
Structure
Life Contexts &
Experience
Non-formal
Informal

21. This presentation is shared by permission of Dr
This presentation is shared by permission of Dr. Robert Newton, President of the CNH District of the LCMS. If you have any questions or comments concerning this presentation, please direct them to Dr. Newton at or call