Halter and Smay are veteran church planters that changed up their model and started a "faith community" in Denver, mostly by accident. It has multiplied. They tell their story and propose this model as a way to reach post-moderns (as opposed to the big attractional church.) I am excited about their new book coming out in April called "AND: The Gathered and Scattered Church" where they try to bridge the attractional/missional divide and propose that both models have something to offer.
Notice: I am not a professional book reviewer. When I read a book, I try to make a list of all the key quotes that spoke to me. Here they are (part two):
The Tangible Kingdom: Creating Incarnational Community, The Posture and Practices of Ancient Church Now by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay
Attractional model works when the church matches the culture. The greater the cultural distance from organized religion a person is, the greater the need for an incarnational presence of a gospel community. The incarnational approach tries to first create a people to which someone can belong so that they can feel or see aspects of the gospel lived out. They experience the good news, even before they know what it is.
The authors’ model is an inclusive Christian community of consistent “missional people” (individuals committed to forming their character and lifestyle after those of Christ and who are compelled to live out their faith in the context of community) along with “Sojourners” (temporary, spiritually curious but disoriented God seekers). Sojourners are welcome to be a part of the community and be as they are, no rules for them. We want them to be with us so that we can help them- on their own timetable- come to faith. As much as the missional people need some clear rails to run on (or “rules of life”), the Sojourners need only an environment in which they can be eyewitnesses to our life without feeling any pressure to be like us.
You first look for the Sojourner to confess interest, not belief. This is evidence that God is on the move in their hearts. As soon at the Sojourner expresses curiosity, I buy them a Bible and ask them to begin to read so we can talk more.
We use the word apprentice because it’s more accurate to the intent of what Jesus meant by his use of the word disciple.
Create belonging environments.
Become good news to people.
Be intentional and authentic in the places I find myself in.
Community more horizontal structure (collaborative team environment) than vertical (leader/pastor on top)
Leaders must call people beyond where they’ve been.
Hebrews 10:24 “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds.”
God’s mission is not for the faint of heart. Looking for folks to roll up their sleeves and serve.
In existing churches, the authors recommend not leaving the church but rather starting a group and seeing if it can grow from there.
4 Practices/habits to attract Sojourners
(1) Leaving - Replace personal or Christian activities with time spent building relationships with people in the surrounding culture- dine with Sojourners, do things we love (hobbies) with Sojourners, look for chances to talk with neighbors, co-workers, etc.
(2) Listen
(3) Living Among- participating in the natural activities of the culture around you, with whimsical holiness (defined as being like Jesus with those Jesus would have been with). Whimsy is the posture we take that allows people to be themselves.
(4) Loving without strings- Shalom references one person’s desire to see the peace of God touch every aspect of another’s life. Blessing requires action. Blessing wasn’t just nice things you said to make people forget about their problems. It was actually doing something about their problems. Blessing without coercion (no strings attached) has a unique power to draw.
The Primary Spheres of Incarnational Community
Community – sharing friends, food, life.
Communion- sharing Scripture, Sabbath gathering, Soulace
Mission- benevolent action, spontaneous blessing, sacrificial giving, sending of leaders
Monthly community activity grid (gather 4 times): one evening for a party, one mission activity, twice for scripture/prayer
The goal of church is to grow missionaries.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Book Review- Tangible Kingdom (Part One)
This will be at least a two parter. Halter and Smay are veteran church planters that changed up their model and started a "faith community" in Denver, mostly by accident. It has multiplied. They tell their story and propose this model as a way to reach post-moderns (as opposed to the big attractional church.) I am excited about their new book coming out in April called "AND: The Gathered and Scattered Church" where they try to bridge the attractional/missional divide and propose that both models have something to offer.
Notice: I am not a professional book reviewer. When I read a book, I try to make a list of all the key quotes that spoke to me. Here they are.
The Tangible Kingdom: Creating Incarnational Community, The Posture and Practices of Ancient Church Now by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay
Missional and incarnational- two words that describe ancient faith communities in the Book of Acts who lived a countercultural, communal experience that always influenced the cultures they found themselves in.
We leaders need to model a new way of life, live Christ’s alternative ways in the world again. Make the Kingdom of God tangible.
Jesus asked us to accomplish the proliferation of global blessing and the making of apprentices of Jesus (people that look, act, and sound like he did!)
Christians must learn to live the gospel as a distinct people who no longer occupy the center of society, build relational bridges that win a hearing.
To move forward, we can’t keep everything we’ve always had. Ancient faith communities were lean. When you don’t have all the “stuff,” you’re left with a lot of time to spend with people.
Don’t throw out the church folks that won’t necessarily see the vision and “do,” they can help support the old and new structures that will allow others to go out.
We can’t try to fix church from the inside-out, we must go out and then let church reemerge as a reflection and the natural outgrowth of our missional way of life.
Missional has an inseparable twin. It’s called incarnational.
Non-Christians find it highly offensive when Christians try to tell them truths without any tangible relationship.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves
Our posture with sojourners (temporary, spiritually curious but disoriented God seekers) must be correct. When posture is wrong, we are perceived as enemy. When correct, we are perceived as an advocate. Sojourners belong before they believe. Belonging may be a long process.
Correct posture- caring in a way that touches another soul, person to person, rather than trying to fix that person from a position of superiority. John 8 – Jesus “bent down” to physically get on the adulteress’ level. He lowers himself and becomes her advocate. He challenges her to sin no more, but not before he postured himself as her advocate.
Jesus doesn’t need for us to stick up for him; he needs us to represent him, to be like him, to look like him and to talk like him, to be with people that he would be with.
Pre-institutional church – small groups of faithful countercultural people did incredible things to influence their world from the margins. Their lives exposed and challenged the present value system with new Kingdom values.
People will always be interested in good news if it is observable.
Community open to all- I trust that as we continue to provide him a place in our community he too will prefer our views because of what he sees in us.
Jesus knew that the only people who would find his news to be bad news would be people who didn’t want to lose control of their lives. Everyone else would view his gospel as an attractive alternative to the life they were experiencing.
Blessing – the life of God flowing tangibly onto his people.
Notice: I am not a professional book reviewer. When I read a book, I try to make a list of all the key quotes that spoke to me. Here they are.
The Tangible Kingdom: Creating Incarnational Community, The Posture and Practices of Ancient Church Now by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay
Missional and incarnational- two words that describe ancient faith communities in the Book of Acts who lived a countercultural, communal experience that always influenced the cultures they found themselves in.
We leaders need to model a new way of life, live Christ’s alternative ways in the world again. Make the Kingdom of God tangible.
Jesus asked us to accomplish the proliferation of global blessing and the making of apprentices of Jesus (people that look, act, and sound like he did!)
Christians must learn to live the gospel as a distinct people who no longer occupy the center of society, build relational bridges that win a hearing.
To move forward, we can’t keep everything we’ve always had. Ancient faith communities were lean. When you don’t have all the “stuff,” you’re left with a lot of time to spend with people.
Don’t throw out the church folks that won’t necessarily see the vision and “do,” they can help support the old and new structures that will allow others to go out.
We can’t try to fix church from the inside-out, we must go out and then let church reemerge as a reflection and the natural outgrowth of our missional way of life.
Missional has an inseparable twin. It’s called incarnational.
Non-Christians find it highly offensive when Christians try to tell them truths without any tangible relationship.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves
Our posture with sojourners (temporary, spiritually curious but disoriented God seekers) must be correct. When posture is wrong, we are perceived as enemy. When correct, we are perceived as an advocate. Sojourners belong before they believe. Belonging may be a long process.
Correct posture- caring in a way that touches another soul, person to person, rather than trying to fix that person from a position of superiority. John 8 – Jesus “bent down” to physically get on the adulteress’ level. He lowers himself and becomes her advocate. He challenges her to sin no more, but not before he postured himself as her advocate.
Jesus doesn’t need for us to stick up for him; he needs us to represent him, to be like him, to look like him and to talk like him, to be with people that he would be with.
Pre-institutional church – small groups of faithful countercultural people did incredible things to influence their world from the margins. Their lives exposed and challenged the present value system with new Kingdom values.
People will always be interested in good news if it is observable.
Community open to all- I trust that as we continue to provide him a place in our community he too will prefer our views because of what he sees in us.
Jesus knew that the only people who would find his news to be bad news would be people who didn’t want to lose control of their lives. Everyone else would view his gospel as an attractive alternative to the life they were experiencing.
Blessing – the life of God flowing tangibly onto his people.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Internal Church PR
Good PR (public relations, promotion, word-of-mouth) is vital not just outward to your community but also inward to your congregation.
Why?
• builds congregation morale (if you aren't highlighting all the great stuff happening, stuff that may not be seen by everybody, people will tend to focus on the one or two things they don't like. Overwhelm them with the positive ways that God is working through this church.)
• increases financial giving (people give to a winning cause)
• increases servant/volunteer participation (people serve where a difference is being made)
• exposes people to the mission
• enhances and grows the mission
• develops promoters
It is amazing how many church members miss our promotion and communications. You've got to hit every avenue repeatedly and then do some more. You may be sick of it, but that's because you are involved every moment of every day. Your people aren't. Most of them don't go to bed thinking about the church like you do.
Essentials:
1. Spotlight positive things happening in Printed Bulletin and Newsletter, Electronic Bulletin and Newsletter, Facebook, Website, Bulletin Board
•Roswell UMC– “Celebrations” section in each bulletin and newsletter
•Austell FUMC - “Counting our BLESSings: A Report on How We Blessed Our Community” section in each bulletin and newsletter
•Pictures. Pictures. More Pictures.
•Testimonies, thank you notes printed, newspaper stories
2. During worship
•Pre-service slides with pictures from church activities and mission (let’s people see what they missed and feel good about all that is happening at this church)
•Sharing our Praises during the Offering
•Read thank you notes aloud
•Pastor tells how money is changing lives/making an impact as lead-in to Offertory prayer
•Mission Moment: Austell FUMC – “BLESS Profile” (different mission of the church highlighted each week. Also used to educate congregation about the outside organizations/schools we are involved in)
•Testimonies (live or video)
•Use Holy Communion offering to collect for a different mission each time (great way to do required/suggested UMC offerings)
3. Church financial giving statements
Do them more often and include a celebration letter highlighting how people’s giving is making a huge difference!
WARNING: Think long and hard about how you will communicate negative information.
Action Steps
** Find a consistent way to spotlight positive happenings in your bulletin and newsletter. Call it something that people will look for (i.e. Celebrations)
** For those with video in worship, pre-service slides every week with pictures of church happenings. For those without video, get a TV and put the digital pictures on a running loop in the Narthex or post them on a poster board and easel.
** Weekly Mission Moment in worship. The discipline of doing this weekly will let people know that mission/outreach is who we are, not some fad.
BONUS: All three of these things will stretch the pastor and the church to do more mission/outreach, if for no other reason than you don’t want to repeat the same thing every single week!
Why?
• builds congregation morale (if you aren't highlighting all the great stuff happening, stuff that may not be seen by everybody, people will tend to focus on the one or two things they don't like. Overwhelm them with the positive ways that God is working through this church.)
• increases financial giving (people give to a winning cause)
• increases servant/volunteer participation (people serve where a difference is being made)
• exposes people to the mission
• enhances and grows the mission
• develops promoters
It is amazing how many church members miss our promotion and communications. You've got to hit every avenue repeatedly and then do some more. You may be sick of it, but that's because you are involved every moment of every day. Your people aren't. Most of them don't go to bed thinking about the church like you do.
Essentials:
1. Spotlight positive things happening in Printed Bulletin and Newsletter, Electronic Bulletin and Newsletter, Facebook, Website, Bulletin Board
•Roswell UMC– “Celebrations” section in each bulletin and newsletter
•Austell FUMC - “Counting our BLESSings: A Report on How We Blessed Our Community” section in each bulletin and newsletter
•Pictures. Pictures. More Pictures.
•Testimonies, thank you notes printed, newspaper stories
2. During worship
•Pre-service slides with pictures from church activities and mission (let’s people see what they missed and feel good about all that is happening at this church)
•Sharing our Praises during the Offering
•Read thank you notes aloud
•Pastor tells how money is changing lives/making an impact as lead-in to Offertory prayer
•Mission Moment: Austell FUMC – “BLESS Profile” (different mission of the church highlighted each week. Also used to educate congregation about the outside organizations/schools we are involved in)
•Testimonies (live or video)
•Use Holy Communion offering to collect for a different mission each time (great way to do required/suggested UMC offerings)
3. Church financial giving statements
Do them more often and include a celebration letter highlighting how people’s giving is making a huge difference!
WARNING: Think long and hard about how you will communicate negative information.
Action Steps
** Find a consistent way to spotlight positive happenings in your bulletin and newsletter. Call it something that people will look for (i.e. Celebrations)
** For those with video in worship, pre-service slides every week with pictures of church happenings. For those without video, get a TV and put the digital pictures on a running loop in the Narthex or post them on a poster board and easel.
** Weekly Mission Moment in worship. The discipline of doing this weekly will let people know that mission/outreach is who we are, not some fad.
BONUS: All three of these things will stretch the pastor and the church to do more mission/outreach, if for no other reason than you don’t want to repeat the same thing every single week!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
3 Faith Factors in Comeback Churches
Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson wrote a book entitled, Comeback Churches: How 300 Churches Turned Around and Yours Can Too. They researched churches that had declined or plateaued but then turned it around. Below are some notes from just one chapter of this book.
Comebacks happen when churches are renewed spiritually.
3 Faith Factors of Comeback Churches
1. A renewed belief in Jesus Christ and the mission of the church
2. A Renewed attitude of servanthood
3. A more strategic prayer effort
1. A renewed belief in Jesus Christ and the mission of the church
People who experienced the reality of Jesus on a daily basis motivate their churches to grow. As people are renewed in their beliefs, their actions changed.
Find out what God is calling you to do and do it.
Think in missionary ways about your context.
Your mission determines everything else.
Church grows a heart for its community.
Church grows a heart for those far from God.
Many churches love their traditions more than their community or those far from God.
Fishing (evangelism) lesson – you can’t clean them before you catch them.
2. A Renewed attitude of servanthood
A comeback church realizes its reason for existing is about more than itself and its preferences. They care more about the community than their own preferences. Every church should be contemporary (not necessarily talking about the music). Repent of any traditional idolatries.
Philippians 2:3-8 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
3. A more strategic prayer effort
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Pray for things that matter. Pray for boldness and for a movement of God’s Spirit within the community and in the lives of those who are far from God is part of an effective outreach strategy. Pray for the church to be led to a deeper passion for the community.
Comebacks happen when churches are renewed spiritually.
3 Faith Factors of Comeback Churches
1. A renewed belief in Jesus Christ and the mission of the church
2. A Renewed attitude of servanthood
3. A more strategic prayer effort
1. A renewed belief in Jesus Christ and the mission of the church
People who experienced the reality of Jesus on a daily basis motivate their churches to grow. As people are renewed in their beliefs, their actions changed.
Find out what God is calling you to do and do it.
Think in missionary ways about your context.
Your mission determines everything else.
Church grows a heart for its community.
Church grows a heart for those far from God.
Many churches love their traditions more than their community or those far from God.
Fishing (evangelism) lesson – you can’t clean them before you catch them.
2. A Renewed attitude of servanthood
A comeback church realizes its reason for existing is about more than itself and its preferences. They care more about the community than their own preferences. Every church should be contemporary (not necessarily talking about the music). Repent of any traditional idolatries.
Philippians 2:3-8 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
3. A more strategic prayer effort
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Pray for things that matter. Pray for boldness and for a movement of God’s Spirit within the community and in the lives of those who are far from God is part of an effective outreach strategy. Pray for the church to be led to a deeper passion for the community.
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