http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/missionalchallenge/~3/282956012/ques

Here are some Reflection Questions to help evaluate your Missional Orientation:

1. Who are the unchurched people you rub shoulders with on a regular basis? How will you cultivate redemptive relationships with them?
2. What prevents you from effectively building relationships with unchurched people?
3. Does you church keep you and your members too busy to develop relationships with the unchurched? If so, how can that change?
4. At what stage in the process of trusting in Jesus Christ are those people with whom you are developing a relationship?
5. How can you help your Christian friends to build relationships with pre-Christians?
6. In what ways are you helping new converts reach their network of friends, relatives and associates?

(Adapted from Releasing Your Church's Potential by Bob Logan and Tom Clegg, p 8-6)

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/missionalchallenge/~3/282603516/extr

Extractionalism is moving new Christians out of relationship with non-believers in the culture in order to foster new relationships almost exclusively within the church.

If you don’t have friends outside the church, there’s something wrong with you—and your version of Christianity. (Clegg and Bird, Lost in America, p 133)

Donald McGavran in his book The Bridges of God (p 10-11) describes the problem of extracting believers out of their family and society relationships. “The first thing not to do is to snatch individuals out of it into a different society.” He suggests that a “Christward movement within a people” can be “defeated by extracting the new Christians from their society.” McGavran quotes J.W. Picket in his important study Christ’s Way to India’s Heart:

The process of extracting individuals from their setting in Hindu or Moslem communities does not build a Church. On the contrary it rouses antagonism against Christianity and builds barriers against the spread of the Gospel … It has sacrificed much of the convert’s evangelistic possibilities by separating him from his People.

Extractionalism is an obstacle to missional Christianity. “By the time newcomers have scaled the fences built around the church, they are so socialized as churchgoers that they are not likely to be able to maintain their connection with the social groups they came from.” (Frost and Hirsch, The Shaping of Things to Come, p 208)

Extractionalism is especially a problem for pastors and church leaders.

Ironically, full-time clergy in the traditional-attractional churches often find themselves so run off their feet with the busyness of serving on various committees, attending myriad meetings, and running worship services, that they have very few social contacts with unbelievers. We think this is one of the great blights of the institutional church; it covertly withdraws its clergy from casual, social contact with the neighborhood communities. (Shaping of Things to Come, p 58-59)

Dan Kimball observes, “It’s too easy for pastors and church leaders to get caught up in the busyness of church activities with Christians and to subtly lose touch with the mindset of emerging generations.” (The Like Jesus and Not the Church, p 13) Additionally, pastors often feel they need to stay in the office all week to be available for church members. Instead of relating to lost people in the culture around them, pastors focus on preparing sermons and caring for their flock.

Frost and Hirsch emphasize the need “for the gospel to be incarnated into the thousands of sub-cultures that now exist in our complex, postmodern, tribalized, Western contexts … It is now critical for the sake of the gospel itself that these people experience salvation in a way that does not dislocate them from their organic groups but rather allows them to encounter Jesus in a way that is seamlessly connected with life as they have come to understand it through their own histories and experiences.” (Shaping of Things to Come, p 40)

The problem is that extracting believers from relationships within the culture has a negative impact on both believers and unbelievers. Christians fail to have any spiritual impact or participation in extending the kingdom. Non-Christians go to hell. Neither of these things is good—especially the part about going to hell.

In American churches, “far too many Christians have few if any lost friends. They have lots of lost acquaintances, but not many lost friends.” (Aubry Malphurs, Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century, p 175) Too few relationships with unbelievers can be a significant obstacle to fulfilling the mission of Jesus.

The longer a person attends church, the fewer evangelistic discussions they engage in with family and friends. Fewer presentations of the life-changing plan of salvation are given, and fewer invitations to events that attractively present the message of Christ are offered, mostly because Christ-followers have fewer friends outside the faith to whom to offer them. (Bill Hybels, Just Walk Across the Room, p 61)

Christians have been transformed to have a transforming influence in the world. God has designed the church for this purpose. “Corporately the collection of transformed individuals creates a transformed culture.” (Charles Van Engen, God’s Missionary People, p 53) There is a desperate need for transformation of both individuals and communities. Yet if Christians keep building friendships with Christians within the walls of a local church, the transforming influence of believers will be wasted.

Action Plan:

1. Evaluate your own relationships with unbelievers. Who would consider you a friend? When was the last time you shared a meal with unbelievers in your home?
2. What activities do you enjoy doing that you could choose to do with unbelievers on a regular basis?
3. What will you stop doing so you can start spending time cultivating relationships with unbelievers?
4. Who do you know that isn’t a Christian? When will you share a meal with them?
5. Who will consistently ask you when you’ve spent time socially with unbelievers?

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/missionalchallenge/~3/282919738/mana

I love coaching leaders, pastors, and church planters! It gives me incredible joy to use the gifts that God has given me to help others to "discover God's agenda for their life and ministry, and then cooperating with the Holy Spirit to see that agenda become a reality." I received a copy of an article recently from my friend Becky with this note:

Dave (aka Coach Dave)

I enjoyed the thoughts in the article that was in the Signal. It reminded me of you! You were great at "coaching" me back in the "old" days at Lake Hills! And I know that's what you are great at! Thanks for all your encouragement over the years. I know those in your ministry now will be being encouraged by your coaching!

Becky

Here are some highlights from the article: "Are you managing when you should be coaching?" by Kenneth W. Keller (president of Renaissance Executive Forums)

Managers spend more time dealing with the problems caused by the behaviors of some employees than they do trying to get the best from all employees. Instead of spending time mentoring and coaching employees to become better, managers have become record keepers of employee misdeeds, dealing with problems that have no place in today's workplace.

Keller describes the attitudes and behaviors of a great coach by drawing comparisons from John Madden, coach of the Oakland Raiders (record: 103-27-7).

What made Madden coach and not manage? Coahcing molds a person's attitude, behaviors and skills. Madden did his best to motivate and counsel his players to help them identify and realize their full potential. He led by example.

Madden was a goal fanatic, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, an excellent listener, open to feedback, supportive, flexible and focused on learning and fun.

Describing Madden's players, Keller notes:

With winning as the goal, they responded by winning. They saw the coach as a coach, someone who was teaching them to succeed, interested in their development and success, and they responded in kind.

I love coaching because I get to help people succeed. If you want to be a great coach - start by working on these things noted in the article:

• Be a Goal Fanatic
• Be Enthusiastic
• Be Knowledgeable
• Listen!
• Be Open to Feedback
• Be Supportive
• Be Flexible
• Focus on Learning
• Have Fun
  

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/missionalchallenge/~3/289965637/coac

I've been reading a great book on coaching for Christian leaders called Coaching for Christian Leaders. It's very practical!

Here are a couple of good thoughts so far:

Christian Coaching is a focused Christ-centered relationship that cultivates a person's sustained growth and action. (p 10)

Christian Coaching always, without exception, results in action. (p 12)

Here are some excellent coaching questions (p 15):

• How can this conversation help you move forward?
• What specific actions are needed right now?
• What other options need to be considered before you take action?
• With that outcome in mind, what actions will you take?

In Developing Coaching Excellence, Bob Logan emphasizes the need for continued development to avoid stagnation and mediocrity. If you want to increase your coaching effectiveness, I would encourage you to consider some of the following ideas that Bob suggests: (p 12-13)

• Increase your understanding of coaching. Check out coaching seminars, workshops and books. (check out Bob's book Coaching 101: Discover the Power of Coaching or Coaching for Christian Leaders by Linda Miller or Chad Hall)
• Evaluate your coaching effectiveness regularly. Self-assessment can be a useful starting point. Also ask for feedback from those you are coaching.
  
• Work with a coach mentor to help facilitate your coaching development. Have a coach mentor observe you as you coach and provide feedback afterwards.
• Obtain a formal assessment. This would include an extensive interview process that produces an objective assessment of how strong you are in each area of coaching competencies. (Note: behavioral interviews provide numerous advantages, such as focusing on actual behavior, avoidance of vague generalities, and a careful mining of the coach's own experiences.)
• Write a Personal Development Plan. After you have evaluated your own coaching skills, develop a personalized plan for improvement. First, clarify what you want to accomplish. Second, set goals that will help you address your objective. Third, develop a strategy to achieve the goals you've set.
  
• Implement your plan and evaluate your progress. After writing a plan, some form of accountability needs to be built in to help you follow through. Involving others in teh process will help you move forward in your implementation.
  
• In what ways could someone hold you accountable for continuing to develop as a coach?
• Who might be a good person to do that?

Becoming a good coach takes effort. Becoming an excellent coach takes even more effort. For the past six months I've been working at becoming a better coach. Today I reviewed an assessment of my coaching competencies with my mentor coach. It was encouraging to get feedback and to evaluate myself. Yet, I've got a ways to go! Now I'm working on my Personal Development Plan.


What steps should you take to become an excellent coach?


See Also: Good Coaching Questions and The Power of Coaching

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/missionalchallenge/~3/290736556/theo

This past Sunday, Dr. Mark Saucy (Professor of Theology at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, Califorinia) presented a very insightful and practical lesson to our Missions Class at Grace Baptist Church in which he addressed theological priorities for western missionaries.

1. The Priority of the Gospel

He asked the question: "What is the core of the message that defines Christianity?"


The Event is the CROSS! (Eph 1:10; 1 Cor 1:23)

Three Questions --

• Who was there? (Who is Jesus?)
  
• What happened there? (What is the meaning of the Cross?)
  
• How can it apply to us? (How is it applied?)

The answers to these questions are the "Die For" issues. This is the core of Christianity!

We must not die for "isms" - Calvinism, Dispensationalism, Pre-Millenialism, Protestantism, etc.

We must be clear that Jesus is more than just a man, that on the cross Jesus paid the penalty for sin, and that salvation is by faith alone.

2. The Priority of the Gospel in its biblical context

We must be clearly biblical. We must not just find a verse in the Bible to support our doctrinal beliefs, we must find the way the Bible presents a doctrinal belief.

We must also be aware of our cultural perspective. In the West, our western values influence the way that we read Scripture. "It is impossible to read Scripture outside of your cultural perspective."

a) Be attentive to Scripture's own deep theological structures.

We must understand that the theme of the Bible is not Redemption of a People, but Kingdom and Covenant. Jesus preaches the Kingdom.

b) Be attentive to Scripture own terminology.

We must see God the way that He reveals Himself in Scripture as the God of loving holiness. While you may feel compelled to present God to others as the God of sovereign grace, the Bible prioritizes God's love and holiness as His primary attributes more than His sovereignty and grace.

We must "follow the Bible's terms."

__________________________

As you attempt to engage in missional activities, whether here in North America or abroad, you must be clear on the message of the gospel. How would you answer these three questions:

• Who was there? (Who is Jesus?)
  
• What happened there? (What is the meaning of the Cross?)
  
• How can it apply to us? (How is it applied?)

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/missionalchallenge/~3/291509113/deve

I was listening to a presentation by Bob Logan recently on developing leaders and coaches. He asked the question: "How many training events have you been to that missed the mark because they were irrelevant?" The key question we need to ask when it comes to training leaders is: "What do leaders need?" One of the best ways to get an answer is to ask them. Then provide training that actually provides what they need.

Bob notes:

"Focusing your training agenda in accordance with needs and priorities will greatly enhance your fruitfulness.... Specifically targeted skill development is much more effective than taking a scattergun approach. General training trains generally; specific training trains specifically."

Before you can develop ministry leaders, elders, small group leaders, church planters, worship leaders, or any other kind of church leader, ask this question:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/missionalchallenge/~3/291788819/coac

Recently, I posted on this great book by Chad Hall and Linda Miller - Coaching for Christian Leaders. Unfortunately, I can't participate but I want to encourage you to check out this webinar...

Coaching for Christian Leaders Webinar with Chad Hall - MAY 22 Are you: Curious about coaching? New to coaching? Thinking of hiring a coach? Considering how to use coaching? Interested in adding to your coaching skill set?" If so, join Chad Hall on May 22 at 2:00 PM EDT for a webinar based on his recent book Coaching for Christian Leaders: A Practical Guide Chad Hall is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) who works as an executive coach with SAS Institute, Inc. He has also served as a pastor, church planter, and denominational consultant. Having coached over 50 Christian leaders from across North America, Chad understands the power coaching has for ministry of all types. Participants will learn how to best use the most important coaching skills, what a great coaching conversation looks like, the 5 high leverage elements of a coaching relationship, and more. Ample opportunity for Q&A will ensure a quality growth experience for all. Registration is $19.00 and is limited to 20 participants. Register today by clicking here. seminars@thecolumbiapartnership.org 828.781.6577 http://www.TheColumbiaPartnership.org

Keywords: Missional Posted by Dave DeVries | 0 comment(s) May 18, 2008 Dave DeVries Ogne on Multiplication Movements http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/missionalchallenge/~3/292716133/ogne In a lunch conversation with my friend Steve Ogne a few weeks ago, he shared three observations about Multiplication Movements after his trip to India. #1 - Value the function of the apostle. (Ephesians 4:11) Train those who are gifted apostles with the same intensity we train pastor-teachers. Train how to lead and multiply. #2 - Value multiplication at all costs. When a church is started and it gets going, the church planter is expected to go start another church. The idea of a long-term pastorate is lazy and self-centered. Bigness is not a big deal. If you grow a big church the key question is: "Why haven't you started another church yet?" #3 - Faith is valued and taught - not knowledge. In the United States, Christianity is knowledge driven; in India they are faith-driven. The mindset is completely different. Imagine what would happen if we started valuing the function of the apostle, multiplication of disciples and churches, and faith more than knowledge! ________________________________________ Here is a quick understanding of the word MISSIONAL – "being a missionary everywhere you are!" It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere! Keywords: Missional Posted by Dave DeVries | 0 comment(s) Dave DeVries "Jesus Christ is not a weapon" http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/missionalchallenge/~3/293254161/jesu May 15 episode of "LOST" - Hurley walks into his home and is concerned that there might be a prowler inside. Before opening the back door, he reaches down and grabs a foot-tall statue of Jesus off the dresser and raises it over his head. To his surprise and relief, on the other side of the door he discovers his parents and friends who are throwing him a surprise party. Seeing the small statue in his hand, his mother asks him, "Hugo, what are you doing with that?" He explains, "I don't know. I thought there might be a prowler or something." Then his mother says something quite profound: "Jesus Christ is not a weapon." On my run this morning, I reflected on this statement and I realized that some Christians use Jesus Christ and the message of the gospel like a weapon. In an effort to get someone to make a decision for Christ, the gospel of God's grace is delivered in ways that try to scare or intimidate someone to trust in Jesus. Have you ever done that? Have you tried to scare someone into becoming a Christian? Have you used guilt to communicate their need for salvation? My friend Tom Clegg notes: "People's response points have changed. What worked effectively in the past doesn't necessarily connect with society nowadays. Yesteryear's appeal to guilt of duty doesn't resonate well today.... Fear of dangling in hell doesn't impact people because most seekers aren't evens sure hell exists, and they are turned off by negative threats." (Lost in America, p 42) The gospel includes the Good News that a believer will not spend eternity in hell - but the gospel is more than a ticket out of hell. The gospel is Good News! Proclaiming the Good News should not require using Jesus Christ as a weapon to beat someone up over their sin. The gospel is about a loving and holy God sending His Son to redeem sinners. It's a message of love and grace and forgiveness and atonement and reconciliation. It's Good News. It's not a hammer. ________________________________________ Here is a quick understanding of the word MISSIONAL – "being a missionary everywhere you are!" It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere! Keywords: Missional Posted by Dave DeVries | 0 comment(s) May 21, 2008 Dave DeVries unChristian - perceptions http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/missionalchallenge/~3/294808387/unch Here's a short video that emphasizes the perceptions that non-Christians have of Christians: [click here] ________________________________________ Here is a quick understanding of the word MISSIONAL – "being a missionary everywhere you are!" It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere! Keywords: Missional Posted by Dave DeVries | 0 comment(s) May 23, 2008 Dave DeVries Pray for the Windsor Community Church Family! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/missionalchallenge/~3/296352239/pray I received the shocking news that a tornado hit the community of Windsor, Colorado and destroyed the Windsor Community Church building earlier today. I've been coaching Pastor Dan Harty for the past six months. We were at the District Conference in Indian Wells together for the past three days. He was on the way to the airport on the way home from the conference when he got the word about the destruction. Praise God the church secretary was spared as she felt compelled to leave the building just minutes before the tornado hit. Two of the families in the church also had their houses damaged. Please pray for the people in this community and those that are part of this church family. We believe that God will be honored and glorified through all of this. Pastor Chris Carlson from Mountain View Community Church in Fort Collins writes: Please be praying for the church body and for the Windsor community itself. This provides a wonderful opportunity to put our faith to work in helping to serve the community’s needs and sharing the good news of Christ in the midst of many people’s sorrow. Unfortunately, it sometimes takes difficult events to open people’s hearts – but whatever it takes, God is in control! Pray that the Lord brings himself much glory through this and that our churches can shine brightly to the people in Windsor. Also please pray that this event would significantly mark those at WCC [Windsor Community Church] and at MVC [Mountain View Community Church] and Greeley [Crossway Chapel Greeley} to make their lives count for the Lord. ________________________________________ Here is a quick understanding of the word MISSIONAL – "being a missionary everywhere you are!" It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere! Keywords: Missional Posted by Dave DeVries | 0 comment(s) May 29, 2008 Dave DeVries I was hungry and you fed me... http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/missionalchallenge/~3/300886731/i-wa Last week on my way back from Indian Wells with my friend Len, we stopped for lunch in Redlands at Chipotle. In the parking lot we passed a homeless man pushing his grocery cart. He naturally asked us for money. Len responded by offering to buy him lunch. It was so natural for Len to just engage in conversation and invite him to join us for lunch. As we stood in line, I discovered that his name was Dave - same as mine. He has been living on the streets for the past sixteen months. Before that he had a variety of jobs including being a personal caregiver for an older woman - but she died. He told us where he could get a free meal for dinner every night and where he could take a shower on Thursdays. Len encouraged him to read the Bible - he said he had a new one in his backpack. We prayed for him and traveled on our way down the road. I doubt I'll ever see Dave again. I don't usually buy lunch for a stranger - but I was really glad I did. It made me wonder if this was the kind of thing Jesus had in mind when told the story about the King who said - "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I as hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink." (Mt 25:34-35) I've got a few friends who think that I'm supposed to show strangers like Dave that they are sinners because they've broken God's law and if they don't believe in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for their sins, they will go to hell for eternity. I didn't do that. I just fed him because he was hungry. Somehow, according to Jesus, I am blessed for doing this. I believe that communicating the message of the gospel is critical - both physically and verbally. I'm glad my friend Len encouraged me to buy lunch for Dave. In the future, I hope I will be better at both showing the gospel and telling the gospel. Check out this video I saw on YouTube today - click here: ________________________________________ Here is a quick understanding of the word MISSIONAL – "being a missionary everywhere you are!" It's being Jesus to everyone everywhere! Keywords: Missional Posted by Dave DeVries | 0 comment(s) Dave DeVries | Tags | Resources Friends Lance Ford Rick Meigs Phil Kingsley Alan Hirsch [View all Friends] Blog Personal blog (RSS) Bookmarks Bookmarks ( 0 ) Community memberships Missional Church Church Planting Files File Storage (0 files) Random Members Shapevine Terms and conditions | Privacy Policy