a discipleship church: embracing god’s vision for mission

A DISCIPLESHIP CHURCH:

EMBRACING GOD’S VISION FOR MISSION

Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse

WHAT IS A MISSIONAL CHURCH? Common View: Congregations

have a mission. New Testament: God has a

mission and congregations to help carry it out—sharing the Good News for the sake of the world!

A missional congregation is one that seeks to be a partner in God’s mission!

MISEO DEO: WHAT IS GOD’S MISSION?“TO REDEEM THE WORLD”

GREAT COMMISSION: “GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND MAKE

DISCIPLES!”

GREAT COMMANDMENT: “LOVE GOD AND LOVE YOUR

NEIGHBOR.”

A COMMUNITY OF DISCIPLES The Missional Congregation understands that it is primarily a missional community of people being trained and equipped to live among the world as daily disciples. It’s purpose is to carry out God’s gospel mission for the healing and redemption of the world.

CASE STUDY: TRINITY LUTHERAN

CHANGING THE QUESTIONS:

WHAT IS GOD’S VISION FOR OUR PROMISED FUTURE?

WHERE IS GOD LEADING US?

HOW CAN WE PARTNER WITH GOD IN GOD’S MISSION IN THE WORLD?

Grow

MaintainDecline

18%

14%

68%

ELCA Congregations 2000-2010

82%

Based on worship attendance 2000 to 2010elca.org

AVERAGE SIZE OF A CONGREGATION IN THE ELCA BASED ON WORSHIP ATTENDANCE FOR 1990, 2000, 2008, 2013 (ESTIMATE)

Source: Annual Congregational Reports, ELCA. Prepared by Research and Evaluation, November, 2009.

148144

128

114

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1990 2000 2008 2013

2010 AMERICAN RELIGIOUS SURVEY

1. NONE category now 16% (8% in 1990) 2. Oregon 20% in 1990; Vermont now 34% 3. 69% believe in personal God; 30% NO 4. Mainline Protestant: 12.9% (5.8% loss) 5. Non-denominational: 14.6% (.6% loss) 6. Pentecostal: 3.5% (.3% gain) 7. Mormon: 1.4% (0 loss/gain)

RISE OF THE NONES:

0 5,000,000 10,000,000 15,000,000 20,000,000 25,000,000 30,000,000 35,000,000

Methodist

Lutheran

Presbyterian

Episcopalian

United Church of Christ

Christian (generic)

Non-Denominational Christian

Protestant Unspecified

Evangelical/Born Again

Pentecostal Unspecified

Assemblies of God

Church of God

Churches of Christ

Jehovah’s Witness

Seventh Day Adventist

Mormon/Latter-day Saints

Jewish

Buddhist

Muslim

Other Religions

Nones/No Religion

Don't Know/Refused

2008

1990

TABLE CONVERSATION: 1. Is the ELCA facing a time of crisis

or opportunity?

2. What are the lessons from Trinity Lutheran? How did they move forward after the fire?

3. What new opportunities may God be opening up for your congregation?

SEDUCTION OF THE SANCTUARY

A place of refuge and inspiration? A place to hide from the world?

Self-preservation is antithetical to the cross.

The public arena is God’s arena

The lesson of the LIGHTHOUSE

WHICH DO YOU ASPIRE TO BE? MAINTENANCE

Church-going Insider

Focused inward

MISSIONAL

Gospel-carrying Outsider

Focused Outward

MAINTENANCE: HOW MANY PASTORAL VISITS ARE BEING MADE?

MISSION: HOW MANY DISCIPLES ARE BEING MADE?

MAINTENANCE: IF IT UPSETS OUR MEMBERS, WE WON’T DO IT.

MISSION: IF THIS WILL HELP US REACH SOMEONE OUTSIDE, LET’S DO IT!

MAINTENANCE: HOW WILL THIS CHANGE AFFECT ME?

MISSION: WILL THIS INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST?

MAINTENANCE: WE HAVE TO BE FAITHFUL TO OUR PAST.

MISSION: WE ALSO HAVE TO BE FAITHFUL TO GOD’S FUTURE.

MAINTENANCE: I’D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR MEMBERS.

MISSION: I’D LIKE YOU TO MEET OUR PASTOR!

MAINTENANCE: AVOID CONFLICT AT ANY COST.

MISSION: CONFLICT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND TO GROW.

MAINTENANCE: PREOCCUPIED WITH TENDING TO THE ORGANIZATION.

MISSION: HOW TO MAKE THE GOSPEL RELEVANT TO THE CULTURE.

MAINTENANCE: HOW MANY LUTHERANS LIVE WITHIN 25 MINUTE DRIVE OF OUR CHURCH?

MISSION: HOW MANY UNCHURCHED PEOPLE LIVE WITHIN A 25 MINUTE DRIVE OF THIS CHURCH?

MAINTENANCE: HOW CAN WE GET PEOPLE TO SUPPORT OUR CONGREGATION?

MISSION: HOW CAN WE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY?

MAINTENANCE: HOW DO WE SAVE THE CONGREGATION?

MISSION: HOW DO WE SAVE THE WORLD FOR CHRIST?

PARTNERS WITH CHRIST As a Missional Church, we

surrender to a vision of God greater than our own so that we can be transformed into the image of Christ. We become the face of Jesus to the world, his hands and his feet.