Today our group tried to listen to the Spirit and hear one core word or phrase that was behind all of out core values. Our group's core values were: incarnation, hospitality, authenticity, listening, and continuity (of spiritual practice).
After listening and talking about these values, our group came up with this phrase to describe our group: "He is, therefore we are."
We decided that what we really want is just to "be." We don't want programs and pressures and outside things defining who we are and what we do. We want to be Christians continually. We don't like the question, "How is your walk with Christ?" as if our Christianity is some sectioned off piece of who we are. We want to simply be, and we want to be Christians.
But we also felt that was a bit reactionary. We also don't want to be reactionary.
We also talked about how Christ is the ultimate example of all of our values. He was ultimately incarnational, absolutely authentic, constantly listened, lived spirituality, and was overwhelmingly hospitable. We want to be like Christ.
We felt that this was a much more proactive stance to take.
Combining the two thoughts, we discussed Descarte's "I think, therefore I am." We discussed how we want our identity as individuals and as a group to be rooted in Christ. We talked about how God calls Himself "I AM." Like we want to be, He is. So, we joined the two into "He is, therefore we are," establishing ourselves in Christ, following His example of a lifestyle of righteousness, and highlighting our community.
He is, therefore we are.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Class Reflection - 11/19/09
On Thursday in class, we discussed our final papers and aggregated our different groups' core values.
Talking about the paper was a good thing to do. I have a lot more direction now, and am looking forward to writing it.
It was also very interesting to see what things the different groups brought as core values. I honestly expected the lists to be largely the same. They were not. I guess that's why it's important to go through the process with your team - everyone brings different expectations to the church.
Talking about the paper was a good thing to do. I have a lot more direction now, and am looking forward to writing it.
It was also very interesting to see what things the different groups brought as core values. I honestly expected the lists to be largely the same. They were not. I guess that's why it's important to go through the process with your team - everyone brings different expectations to the church.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The Sky Is Falling!?! by Alan Roxburgh
Chapter 1
Roxburgh describes two different tribes of people in today's forward-thinking church leadership world: liminals and emergents. Liminals are people who don't want to jettison the traditional church modes. They recognize a change is taking place in society, but they feel ill equipped to handle it.
Emergents don't know anything but change. They are frustrated with the structures they know, and so they have done away with them, but this has left them without a framework for effecting change.
This book is about finding a way for the two groups to work together. They each have the same goals; they're just going about it in different ways, and they both have something to offer one another.
The emergents only know change, and so they lack the discernment to know which changes to heed and which ones to disregard. When change is constant, it is easiest to shrug everything off rather than be blown every which way.
The liminals lack the imagination to see ways to address the changes taking place. They've learned to trust their tools, and they're the only tools they know how to use.
We need common ground.
Chapter 2
Roxburgh contends that we are living in a period of discontinuous change. Discontinuous change is change without a discernible pattern. It comes from all directions at all times. For instance, we face the pressures of postmodernism, rapid technological development, globalization, pluralism, staggering need, the democratization of information, pluralism, and the end of Christendom. Discontinuous change leaves us feeling bewildered, and established patterns don't seem to work anymore.
Chapter 3
People react one of two ways to this sort of change - they try to regain the past or they jump to some unknown future. Instead, Roxburgh advises, we should learn to live together and help one another in the present situation we find ourselves in.
We have to realize that the outside pressures aren't our main concern. In times of transition, people feel the change within themselves, and this is more disconcerting than what is changing in the world. People feel unsettled about the change, and leaders need to be aware of this in those they lead and in themselves.
Chapter 4
There are 5 phases to change:
1) Stability and Equilibrium - We are not here anymore. In times of stability, leaders can maintain the status quo.
2) Discontinuity - This is the onset of change. Leaders tend to try to maintain the stability through these periods while they figure out what is changing in the world around them.
3) Disembedding - The former power structures no longer hold. Leaders need to be able to adapt and revise their institutional cultures. This is very difficult, because people still don't want the world to change.
4) Stability predictability, and control within the former world are gone. People don't know where to turn or what to do. They latch on the most popular current system, but systems keep letting them down further highlighting their lack of control of the world around them. In this situation (the one we are in now) leaders need to listen to God and let Him define what the new future will be.
5) Reformation - The people have negotiated the changes and are restructuring their lives accordingly. Leaders help people adapt their ancient stories to the new context. Roxburgh doesn't think we are anywhere this phase currently.
Chapter 5
Discontinuous change is common to the Biblical narrative. The israelites went through all the stages of change.
Chapter 6
We are living in a time of transition, and it is important for leaders to recognize and empathize with those they lead and to understand the stress discontinuous change is bring to their lives. We also need to have the patience and courage to live in transition and listen to God as to how to proceed instead of retreating into the past or jumping into the future.
Chapter 7
In this time of transition, it is important for people to support one another. Both liminals and emergents need one another. If we can't come together around anything else, then we must come together around our felt need for change. We need to learn from each other. Roxburgh calls this togetherness "communitas."
Chapter 8
Communitas to support one another in periods of transition is a pattern that runs through scripture. The Israelites in the wilderness, the period of the judges, the Babylonian exhile, and the first century Christians including Paul's ministry team are pictures of people supporting one another in periods of great transition.
Chapter 9
Transition isn't just happening in the church. It's happening in the wider culture as well. Core traits are changing, and we need to change too to interact with the changes. According to Roxburgh, we need to:
1) Create a common language
2) Redefine group boundaries and criteria for inclusion and exclusion
3) Learn to dialogue outside system of power and status
4) Get past ideologies
Chapter 10
The leader's main job is to create environments where "missional imagination" is possible amongst the people he or she leads. Missional imagination is simply the freedom to imagine and pursue the things God may be laying on people's hearts to do.
Chapter 11
We need a more communal form of leadership. We need a concert of leaders.
We need some people gifted at expressing the current emotional, mental, and sociological state of the people. (We need poets.)
We need people gifted at calling us into a new future. (We need prophets.)
We need people gifted with the ability to concretely work that future out on the ground now. (We need apostles.)
We need people gifted to care for people in the midst of transition. (We need pastors.)
Chapter 12
And we need people to bring all these divergent leadership styles together. We need what Roxburgh calls at abbot or abbess. This is a person who can organize the competing voices of leadership in times of transition. We need to be brought together to lead the church and each other during this time of transition in the world and in the church.
Roxburgh describes two different tribes of people in today's forward-thinking church leadership world: liminals and emergents. Liminals are people who don't want to jettison the traditional church modes. They recognize a change is taking place in society, but they feel ill equipped to handle it.
Emergents don't know anything but change. They are frustrated with the structures they know, and so they have done away with them, but this has left them without a framework for effecting change.
This book is about finding a way for the two groups to work together. They each have the same goals; they're just going about it in different ways, and they both have something to offer one another.
The emergents only know change, and so they lack the discernment to know which changes to heed and which ones to disregard. When change is constant, it is easiest to shrug everything off rather than be blown every which way.
The liminals lack the imagination to see ways to address the changes taking place. They've learned to trust their tools, and they're the only tools they know how to use.
We need common ground.
Chapter 2
Roxburgh contends that we are living in a period of discontinuous change. Discontinuous change is change without a discernible pattern. It comes from all directions at all times. For instance, we face the pressures of postmodernism, rapid technological development, globalization, pluralism, staggering need, the democratization of information, pluralism, and the end of Christendom. Discontinuous change leaves us feeling bewildered, and established patterns don't seem to work anymore.
Chapter 3
People react one of two ways to this sort of change - they try to regain the past or they jump to some unknown future. Instead, Roxburgh advises, we should learn to live together and help one another in the present situation we find ourselves in.
We have to realize that the outside pressures aren't our main concern. In times of transition, people feel the change within themselves, and this is more disconcerting than what is changing in the world. People feel unsettled about the change, and leaders need to be aware of this in those they lead and in themselves.
Chapter 4
There are 5 phases to change:
1) Stability and Equilibrium - We are not here anymore. In times of stability, leaders can maintain the status quo.
2) Discontinuity - This is the onset of change. Leaders tend to try to maintain the stability through these periods while they figure out what is changing in the world around them.
3) Disembedding - The former power structures no longer hold. Leaders need to be able to adapt and revise their institutional cultures. This is very difficult, because people still don't want the world to change.
4) Stability predictability, and control within the former world are gone. People don't know where to turn or what to do. They latch on the most popular current system, but systems keep letting them down further highlighting their lack of control of the world around them. In this situation (the one we are in now) leaders need to listen to God and let Him define what the new future will be.
5) Reformation - The people have negotiated the changes and are restructuring their lives accordingly. Leaders help people adapt their ancient stories to the new context. Roxburgh doesn't think we are anywhere this phase currently.
Chapter 5
Discontinuous change is common to the Biblical narrative. The israelites went through all the stages of change.
Chapter 6
We are living in a time of transition, and it is important for leaders to recognize and empathize with those they lead and to understand the stress discontinuous change is bring to their lives. We also need to have the patience and courage to live in transition and listen to God as to how to proceed instead of retreating into the past or jumping into the future.
Chapter 7
In this time of transition, it is important for people to support one another. Both liminals and emergents need one another. If we can't come together around anything else, then we must come together around our felt need for change. We need to learn from each other. Roxburgh calls this togetherness "communitas."
Chapter 8
Communitas to support one another in periods of transition is a pattern that runs through scripture. The Israelites in the wilderness, the period of the judges, the Babylonian exhile, and the first century Christians including Paul's ministry team are pictures of people supporting one another in periods of great transition.
Chapter 9
Transition isn't just happening in the church. It's happening in the wider culture as well. Core traits are changing, and we need to change too to interact with the changes. According to Roxburgh, we need to:
1) Create a common language
2) Redefine group boundaries and criteria for inclusion and exclusion
3) Learn to dialogue outside system of power and status
4) Get past ideologies
Chapter 10
The leader's main job is to create environments where "missional imagination" is possible amongst the people he or she leads. Missional imagination is simply the freedom to imagine and pursue the things God may be laying on people's hearts to do.
Chapter 11
We need a more communal form of leadership. We need a concert of leaders.
We need some people gifted at expressing the current emotional, mental, and sociological state of the people. (We need poets.)
We need people gifted at calling us into a new future. (We need prophets.)
We need people gifted with the ability to concretely work that future out on the ground now. (We need apostles.)
We need people gifted to care for people in the midst of transition. (We need pastors.)
Chapter 12
And we need people to bring all these divergent leadership styles together. We need what Roxburgh calls at abbot or abbess. This is a person who can organize the competing voices of leadership in times of transition. We need to be brought together to lead the church and each other during this time of transition in the world and in the church.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Class Reflection - 11/17/09
Today in class we mainly discussed the missiology lectures last week and our reflections on them. We also discussed our common desire for a civil dialogue between the traditional and emerging church mindsets. It seems no one wants to fight.
At the end of class we broke up into our groups to talk about what core values would guide our (fake) church plant. After our weeks of discussion, these values came out quickly, though we realize that there is still a wide gulf between these values and putting these values into practice.
At the end of class we broke up into our groups to talk about what core values would guide our (fake) church plant. After our weeks of discussion, these values came out quickly, though we realize that there is still a wide gulf between these values and putting these values into practice.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Class Reflection - 11/12/09
I think what Bishop Cray adds to the mix is extremely helpful for me.
His sequence, which is essentially the same as Ryan's church planting procedure, is great. I need to let go of all my preconceived ideas about what I need to be doing. I know God wants me to live missionally. I know I need to align myself with God's mission in the world. I now need to let God show me how I am to be involved.
I'm a bit hesitant, honestly. I fear God will send me to a culture I do not fit in, but why would He do that? Why would He make me a certain way, with certain interests and talents, and then put me in a place where those interests and talents are worthless? I don't believe God will do that. I trust Him to send me to an appropriate place. I trust the life He wants for me to be better than the life I want for myself.
And now it's time to begin to listen.
His sequence, which is essentially the same as Ryan's church planting procedure, is great. I need to let go of all my preconceived ideas about what I need to be doing. I know God wants me to live missionally. I know I need to align myself with God's mission in the world. I now need to let God show me how I am to be involved.
I'm a bit hesitant, honestly. I fear God will send me to a culture I do not fit in, but why would He do that? Why would He make me a certain way, with certain interests and talents, and then put me in a place where those interests and talents are worthless? I don't believe God will do that. I trust Him to send me to an appropriate place. I trust the life He wants for me to be better than the life I want for myself.
And now it's time to begin to listen.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Class Reflection - 11/12/09
I suppose I should post on the Missiology Lectures.
The day actually began with chapel. Bishop Cray spoke on the importance of "dying to live." In essence, he said that church planters need to lay down all their preconceived notions about how church works if they want to be be part of what God is doing amongst a people group. I see myself as being deeply rooted in a Christian subculture, so this touches me deeply.
Later, Bishop Cray spoke again at the Missiology Lecture. He basically explained in a little bit more detail everything that Ryan told us on Tuesday. It was good to hear it from the bishop's mouth though.
Then the panel responded to his comments.
I found this to be hugely encouraging. I really appreciated the differing critiques offered by Barry Taylor and Mark Lau Branson especially. As I looked listened to the panel, I thought to myself, "That is the degree I want to get here."
The day actually began with chapel. Bishop Cray spoke on the importance of "dying to live." In essence, he said that church planters need to lay down all their preconceived notions about how church works if they want to be be part of what God is doing amongst a people group. I see myself as being deeply rooted in a Christian subculture, so this touches me deeply.
Later, Bishop Cray spoke again at the Missiology Lecture. He basically explained in a little bit more detail everything that Ryan told us on Tuesday. It was good to hear it from the bishop's mouth though.
Then the panel responded to his comments.
I found this to be hugely encouraging. I really appreciated the differing critiques offered by Barry Taylor and Mark Lau Branson especially. As I looked listened to the panel, I thought to myself, "That is the degree I want to get here."
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Class Reflection - 11/10/09
Ryan gave an overview of Mission Shaped Church, the report put out by the Church of England about how they should proceed in the future.
What they are saying really resonates with me. Christians need to think seriously about how to reach people who have no natural inclination toward the church.
What they are saying really resonates with me. Christians need to think seriously about how to reach people who have no natural inclination toward the church.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
The Sky Is Falling!?! by Alan Roxburgh - Ch 1
Roxburgh describes two different tribes of people in today's forward-thinking church leadership world: liminals and emergents. Liminals are people who don't want to jettison the traditional church modes. They recognize a change is taking place in society, but they feel ill equipped to handle it.
Emergents don't know anything but change. They are frustrated with the structures they know, and so they have done away with them, but this has left them without a framework for effecting change.
This book is about finding a way for the two groups to work together. They each have the same goals; they're just going about it in different ways, and they both have something to offer one another.
The emergents only know change, and so they lack the discernment to know which changes to heed and which ones to disregard. When change is constant, it is easiest to shrug everything off rather than be blown every which way.
The liminals lack the imagination to see ways to address the changes taking place. They've learned to trust their tools, and they're the only tools they know how to use.
We need common ground.
Emergents don't know anything but change. They are frustrated with the structures they know, and so they have done away with them, but this has left them without a framework for effecting change.
This book is about finding a way for the two groups to work together. They each have the same goals; they're just going about it in different ways, and they both have something to offer one another.
The emergents only know change, and so they lack the discernment to know which changes to heed and which ones to disregard. When change is constant, it is easiest to shrug everything off rather than be blown every which way.
The liminals lack the imagination to see ways to address the changes taking place. They've learned to trust their tools, and they're the only tools they know how to use.
We need common ground.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Class Reflection - 11/05/09
For so long I've thought of church as event and/or organization.
Could we make a movie and call it church?
Could we fix a dinner and call it church?
Can we watch a football game, host a house concert, carve pumpkins and call it church?
Is church not just people in Christ's name gathered together. Can we embody Kingdom values as we do the things we do best? Can all our talents be gifts to God?
Church must become "living as citizens of a new world." It must pervade our lives.
If that becomes true, how does the weekly event fit into the mix? I'm not sure, but I'd rather concern myself with making the Kingdom reign in my life. We can worry about the event later.
Could we make a movie and call it church?
Could we fix a dinner and call it church?
Can we watch a football game, host a house concert, carve pumpkins and call it church?
Is church not just people in Christ's name gathered together. Can we embody Kingdom values as we do the things we do best? Can all our talents be gifts to God?
Church must become "living as citizens of a new world." It must pervade our lives.
If that becomes true, how does the weekly event fit into the mix? I'm not sure, but I'd rather concern myself with making the Kingdom reign in my life. We can worry about the event later.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch - Ch 8
True community forms when a group of people find themselves in an unsettled place, when they are faced with a challenge greater than their individual abilities. It is then that they are untied around a common purpose outside of themselves. They cease to become a self-centered group and instead become a true community.
God's future for everything is such a common purpose. His mission, when embraced by a group of people, unsettles and drives them forward. As they move, they are drawn together.
Leaders must articulate that future and remind everyone constantly why we are together, lest we become self-focused, stop moving, and die.
With this mindset, the church becomes an all encompassing part of life, not just a once a week event. We have a group identity not because we congregate but because we are on the move together striving after "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Church happens and must happen everywhere, not just in buildings set aside for worship.
Our aim should not be to arrive; our aim is to journey.
God's future for everything is such a common purpose. His mission, when embraced by a group of people, unsettles and drives them forward. As they move, they are drawn together.
Leaders must articulate that future and remind everyone constantly why we are together, lest we become self-focused, stop moving, and die.
With this mindset, the church becomes an all encompassing part of life, not just a once a week event. We have a group identity not because we congregate but because we are on the move together striving after "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Church happens and must happen everywhere, not just in buildings set aside for worship.
Our aim should not be to arrive; our aim is to journey.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch - Ch 7
Instead of mechanistic, hierarchical leadership structures, perhaps the church should be organically organized, like everything else in creation. Perhaps we should be a billion parts with the same basic mission communicating constantly and working together to be more than we are on our own.
Institutions tend to focus on maintaining what they have. Organisms are preoccupied with growth. We need a structure that allows us to spread like bacteria. We need to be adaptable to every possible situation. We need to be a network of cells and not a chain of command. Finally, we also need to be all about reproduction, not duplication. Church planting is sex, not synthesis. Only new organisms are strong enough to live successfully in their worlds.
Institutions tend to focus on maintaining what they have. Organisms are preoccupied with growth. We need a structure that allows us to spread like bacteria. We need to be adaptable to every possible situation. We need to be a network of cells and not a chain of command. Finally, we also need to be all about reproduction, not duplication. Church planting is sex, not synthesis. Only new organisms are strong enough to live successfully in their worlds.
The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch - Ch 6
Apostolic ministry is vital to the church. It was vital to the early church (it wouldn't have existed without it), and it is vital to the church today (we won't progress without it). Apostles instill people with the mission of God. They strike the flint that sparks the fire. Then, once the fire is kindled, apostles assure that it burns pure. They keep the church concerned with the mission it was called to.
The other leadership functions are vital as well.
Prophets act as the voice of God, calling the new converts to pure devotion to the mission the apostles instilled and questioning everything for the sake of holiness and justice. Prophets speak to believers calling them to faithfulness.
Evangelists voice the call of God that the prophet opens our ears to. They introduce people to Jesus through the gospel.
Pastors shepherd the people captured by Jesus. He or she cares for the people and creates an environment of discipleship.
Teachers disciple. They train and define what it means to be a Christian.
In an organization, when all five functions are functioning, this necessarily creates conflict because each type of person is focused on a very different task, but the goal is the same, or at least it should be - to advance the kingdom of God.
The other leadership functions are vital as well.
Prophets act as the voice of God, calling the new converts to pure devotion to the mission the apostles instilled and questioning everything for the sake of holiness and justice. Prophets speak to believers calling them to faithfulness.
Evangelists voice the call of God that the prophet opens our ears to. They introduce people to Jesus through the gospel.
Pastors shepherd the people captured by Jesus. He or she cares for the people and creates an environment of discipleship.
Teachers disciple. They train and define what it means to be a Christian.
In an organization, when all five functions are functioning, this necessarily creates conflict because each type of person is focused on a very different task, but the goal is the same, or at least it should be - to advance the kingdom of God.
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch - Ch 5
The people of God (the church) must be missional and incarnational as opposed to attractional. Our aim shouldn't be to pull people into our world; our aim should be to be in their world.
We must start to see the church not as primarily an even that happens once a week, but as a group of people united behind a common goal - to see God's kingdom established on earth. We are the church not because we gather but because we are part of God's mission in the world today.
This missional ethic must define both our individual lives and our communal life. Mission must be done by me and by my community. When people are living for the same ends, they naturally seek to work together for those ends. At its core, a church must be a community in mission.
We must start to see the church not as primarily an even that happens once a week, but as a group of people united behind a common goal - to see God's kingdom established on earth. We are the church not because we gather but because we are part of God's mission in the world today.
This missional ethic must define both our individual lives and our communal life. Mission must be done by me and by my community. When people are living for the same ends, they naturally seek to work together for those ends. At its core, a church must be a community in mission.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch - Ch 4
For a missional church to thrive it must be founded on discipleship. We must be training people to live like Jesus, to be Jesus in the world. Discipleship is the journey and the destination of the Christian.
Discipleship is about adherence to Christ, and as such, it is always against something else. In our society, that something else is consumerism. We must be trained and train others to live markedly different lives in our culture dominated by marketing. We must offer the truth of the gospel in the face of the lies of advertising. We must be disciples of Christ, not Steve Jobs.
Leadership and leadership training is an extension of discipleship. We don't need to train people to lead organizations. We need to train them to live like Christ. Leadership will follow. Discipling is leading.
Finally, if we're not creating disciple, what are we doing?
Discipleship is about adherence to Christ, and as such, it is always against something else. In our society, that something else is consumerism. We must be trained and train others to live markedly different lives in our culture dominated by marketing. We must offer the truth of the gospel in the face of the lies of advertising. We must be disciples of Christ, not Steve Jobs.
Leadership and leadership training is an extension of discipleship. We don't need to train people to lead organizations. We need to train them to live like Christ. Leadership will follow. Discipling is leading.
Finally, if we're not creating disciple, what are we doing?
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