Introduction to the Missional Church

In a 1998 book by Darrell L. Guder he explains that there has been a decline in dedication from Americans to the established church. He presents that the missional church is the new growing trend in the world and that the way church as we know it needs an overhaul as it pertains to ministry. Many concepts and models of ministry have recently been implemented with some success but it may be short-lived. The “contemporary” church is young, hip, and attractive to anyone under 50 in the US. These mega-churches have formed an entertaining and heartwarming church experience but nonetheless it is still the same church. Live bands, pastors in jeans, mobile apps, and small group studies are all well and good with intention but will not sustain a church for the ages.

The mission of the modern church is to “fill the pews on Sunday”. Everyone is expected to be at church on
Sunday and be involved in monthly dinners and holiday social events. Is this the model of worship that Jesus
wants? I will argue that Jesus’ never intended for anyone to just show up to church at 10:30 every Sunday when it was convenient for them. The fulfillment of the Great Commission is our true calling in God’s Kingdom. Jesus said “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them”. The word “go” is more than likely the key word in this passage. Go means to move or travel or proceed. In a ministry sense, go would mean to actually move into the community that surrounds you and not stay docile in the four walls of your church. The second part of the sentence says to “make disciples of all the nations”. Adding this part to the definition of “go” is saying to proceed into the community, teaching everybody of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The last part of the quoted text is “baptizing them”. This is crucial to the meaning of the commission. A baptism is a transforming and renewal of a person into a life with Christ.

Taking this understanding of the text, we can now form a mission statement that should be the root of all Christian ministries. “Travel into your communities and the world, educating everyone of the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and baptizing them so that they may be washed of their sins and live eternally with God Almighty."

In weeks to come I will be posting interesting links about missional ministries and the like.  Also I will be placing weekly articles pertaining to the missional church.