Emerging, Missional, Mosaic, Monastic - Next Generation Church DNA?
June 23, 2008
In a June 2008 issue of The Mennonite Magazine, author Tom Sine provides a glimpse inside the cover of his latest book release, The New Conspirators. Sine is convinced that God is doing something new through the next generation of leaders who are creating new ways to make a difference in both the world and the church. In The New Conspirators, he points out that these young activists and innovators can be best understood and articulated in at least four streams: Emerging, Missional, Mosaic and Monastic.
Even though I do not endorse all of the viewpoints embraced by Tom Sine or of the Mennonite Church USA, I had to make you aware of an article that makes great strides towards defining the various movements of God around the world among the next generation of church leaders. The fact that there is no hidden agenda or bias on the truth about the movements, alone, makes this article worth reading (Click Here to Read).
After reading the article give me your thoughts on this particular section:
“…many of these young activists have turned away from the influences of the religious right to embrace a more biblically progressive agenda for social transformation. They are consistently much more committed to working for social justice, racial reconciliation and caring for God’s good creation than many of the churches from which they come.”
Church Websites, Blogs, Podcasts, and Social Networking
April 29, 2008
Yesterday, an article was released by the Barna Group detailing the use of technology by churches. According to George Barna, “Churches are well-advised to have an intelligent and foresighted Internet strategy in order to facilitate meaningful ministry.” The survey touched on eight technologies and applications and the percentages of churches that have implemented the use of these emerging tools. Yesterday, I discussed the uses of large screens and movie clips. Today, let’s look at the ways that churches are using new media to communicate and connect with their congregations.
First, let’s pause for a moment of silence as we reflect on the passing of glossy paper newsletters as the primary means for a church to update members of ministry highlights and upcoming opportunities. Ladies and gentlemen I present to you: E-blasts. 
If 400 million people are online worldwide and they spend 91% of their time checking and responding to e-mail, then it is no secret that e-Newsletters are a way to connect with people right where they are connecting with people. Many people will respond to an e-mail the moment it is sent. I believe that the noise that outlook makes upon receipt of an e-mail has become the best illustration for classical conditioning since Pavlov’s dog. Hang on, I just got an e-mail…be right back… Read more
Barna on How Technology Impacts Your Church Experience
April 28, 2008
An article was released this morning by the Barna Group detailing the use of technology by churches to “influence people’s lives and enliven their church experience.” According to George Barna, “The internet has become one of the pivotal communications and community-building tools of our lifetime. Churches are well-advised to have an intelligent and foresighted Internet strategy in order to facilitate meaningful ministry.” The survey touched on eight technologies and applications and the percentages of churches that have implemented the use of these emerging tools. Today let’s look at the first two: large screens and movie clips.
Two-thirds of the churches surveyed by the Barna group now have large screens in their church. The most common use is to project the words to worship songs. I have found that having the words on a screen allows me to raise my head from the dusty hymnal and participate in corporate worship in a new way. For me it is not just about seeing the words on a screen, but also seeing the people in front and to the side of me making a “joyful noise”, as well.
At many mega-churches the screens are used to allow those that are too far away from the stage to look on the screen on the right or left to see the pastor during the sermon. In addition, churches are using screens for announcements before and after the service.
Finally, the are a number of churches that are using the large screens for movie clips during the sermon, Barna’s second area of discussion. I have seen this method used in a number of churches and my concern is that often the medium becomes the message. I have seen pastors do a series on a particular movie, where the movie’s theme or plot becomes the primary focus and then the pastor seeks to find Scripture to support the point of the movie. If movie clips are used, they should support a message that is based upon Scripture and not vice versa. Please, no more exegesis of Forrest Gump - Yes, I have actually seen this done.
Tomorrow, I will discuss Barna’s article further, specifically the new ways that churches are communicating with their church family.
Leadership Journal Article - “Is the Gospel Too Small?” II
April 8, 2008
In case you missed part one of my response to the Leadership Journal article by Tim Keel that suggests that the gospel today is too small - here are some highlights:
Now let’ s continue the interaction with Mr. Keel’s article. He continues his argument for the gospel having a broader scope than the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “Where might the Holy Spirit be forcing his people to reckon with the scope of God’s work in the world, to once again consider the nature and scope of the gospel?” He continues, “There is no aspect of our lives outside the scope of God’s salvation and purposes. Salvation is not just then and there, it is also here and now.”
I would argue that the gospel is not about what we do; rather, it is simply about what Jesus has done. Ephesians 2:8-9 says it best, “8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.” We must be careful to see salvation as trust in Christ alone and not Christ plus anything else.
In the final section of Mr. Keel’s article he suggests that the gospel is about more than Christ and his role as redeemer. According to Keel, “It is obviously true and good news that Jesus and his life and work function redemptively. But when we reduce Jesus to redeemer only, we miss another essential element of our faith: that Jesus is also creator.” It seems his motivation here is that in a time that so many people are searching and exploring spirituality that the gospel as Jesus as Redeemer only is too narrow to answer the questions that seekers may have. If the Holy Spirit uses one’s search for understanding of creation or the Trinity as a means to open their eyes and ears to the gospel of grace that is great. But let’s not confuse Trinitarianism with Soteriology. I have no problem when Trinitarian explanations become a bit complex, but let’s keep the gospel clear and simple.
Keel is wrestling with cultural relevance and I respect that; however, I believe that Keel is trying to be relevant to the point that he is changing the gospel. The Bible is 66 books, whereas the gospel can be summed up in 10 words: Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.
He is changing not only the method, but the message as well. I think it is fair to say that Mr. Keel has performed an eisegesis of the gospel. We must be committed to a clear and simple gospel that is based upon sound doctrine and a careful handling of Scripture. That is the motivation behind my response to Mr. Keel.
What are your thoughts on Mr. Keel’s article? Remember to read the entire article and even check out Part I of my response to Tim Keel’s Leadership Journal Article, “An Efficient Gospel?”
Leadership Journal Article - “Is the Gospel Too Small?”
April 7, 2008
In a recent article in Leadership Journal (a publication of Christianity Today) pastor Tim Keel asks the question, “Is our gospel too small?” Allow me to interact with this article for a moment. Feel free to click here to open the article in a new tab or window. Stay with me…
First of all, let me give you the most important quote, the main idea of Mr. Keel’s article:
“In a modern world, we tend to reduce the complexity and diversity of the Scriptures to simple systems, even when our systems flatten the diversity and integrity of the biblical witness.” In other words, he is saying that modernity is to blame for what he considers to be a narrow definition or even oversimplification of the gospel. Keel continues, “And the gospel itself gets reduced to a simplified framework of a few easily memorized steps.”
In response to Mr. Keel, I want to make my argument as clear and simple as the gospel. Check out Paul’s explanation of the gospel in I Corinthians 15:1-8:
1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also…”
Paul used four verbs to define the gospel in this passage. Christ died. He was buried. He rose again. He was seen. Based upon this passage we can define the gospel by which we are saved in just 10 words: Christ died for our sins and rose form the dead. That is the gospel - clear and simple.
Is our gospel too small? I would say most of the time it is too large. Read more