My good friend Doug Paul had posted a really helpful blog on the top reasons why Missional Communities fail. Actually it’s in two parts, but they are both short. (Well, until he reaches point 9, but it’s still good stuff!)
I’d encourage you to read his posts first, then if you want some further reflections, try my questions below, which really are by of response in thinking about how to apply the things that Doug challenges us on.
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I’ve seen all of the scenarios Doug mentions play out. I think in seeking to learn from these issues, we as leaders need to recognize that with each one there is an internal barrier that both the MC leaders and their wider church family have to break through. Here’s my attempt to precis those.
Are we:
1. Prioritizing making disciples over everything else we do?
2. Disciplining ourselves to focus in on one particular mission context (which means that we have to say ‘no’ to other worthy opportunities)?
3. Aware of how people belong in different sizes of gathering, especially if we want to go in mission?
4. Lacking in love for, and valuing of, Christ’s church beyond our MC?
5. Humbling ourselves and being accountable, even when we disagree with those who lead us?
6. Serious about living as missionaries to our mission context, rather than mission being just an occasional bolt-on activity?
7. Comfortable if others (eventually) can do our favored area of ministry more effectively than we can?
8. Not bothering to think creatively about how we should worship and learn from the Bible?
9. Failing to see the mission equation as this: Mission = Witness + Service?
10. Functionally cessationist and thereby not putting ourselves in situations where God HAS to intervene for the Kingdom to advance?
Discussion
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