Here’s a 2-minute video that explains, in simple terms, what we’re talking about when we say “missional” church.
The only thing I would add is that the church doesn’t simply send out individuals to embody and proclaim the good news, but that the church needs to be equipping individuals-in-community to do these things. I firmly believe what Steve Timmis and Tim Chester say in their book Total Church: “Mission must involve not only contact between unbelievers and individual Christians, but between unbelievers and the Christian community.”
The church must be a community of love, and also be seen as a community of love. You can’t show people a community by yourself. Other than that one thing, I think the video above does a great job delineating the difference between “attractional” church and “missional” church.
What do you think?
I like it.
I totally agree with the concept that people who are not following Jesus are highly influenced by a community of people doing their best to follow Him. In the early 70s, I accepted Jesus through the typical "come-to-the-altar!" invitation after being befriended by a wonderful Christian couple. I still couldn't find a place to fit, and felt lonelier IN church than I did out of it and left. Later, a group of Concordia College students took me "under their wings" and acted rather like big brothers. They didn't try to sell Jesus to me, they just became my friends. We all lived together that summer and those 5 or 6 young students changed and saved my life. That's Community with an outward focus and it excites me!