Becoming a Mission-Focused Church Becoming en mission fokuseret Kirke

Becoming a Mission-Focused Church Becoming en mission fokuseret Kirke

What does it take to become a mission-focused church—a church that “shares Hvad kræver det at blive en mission-fokuserede kirke-en kirke, at "aktier
God’s self-sacrificial love for the lost, lonely, and broken, and cultivates a commitment Guds opofrende kærlighed til det tabte, ensomme, og knækkede, og dyrker en forpligtelse
toward outreach as an expression of worship”? mod opsøgende som et udtryk for tilbedelse "?

Despite an outreach activity here and there, many churches are not really På trods af en outreach-aktivitet her og der, og mange kirker er ikke rigtig
outreach-focused churches. opsøgende-fokuserede kirker. They might give out holiday gift baskets to needy families, or sponsor an annual Bring-a-Friend-to-Church day, or raise money to support the local De kan give ferie Gavekurve til trængende familier, eller sponsor en årlig Bring-en-ven-til-kirken dag, eller rejse penge til at støtte de lokale
homeless shelter. hjemløse husly. But their ministries flow more from skin-deep compassion (“Those poor homeless people”) or superficial obligation (“There, that takes care of that!”) than a genuine longing to see God’s will be done in their community as it is in heaven. Men deres ministerier flow mere fra hud-dybe medfølelse ( "Disse stakkels hjemløse mennesker") eller overfladisk forpligtelse ( "Der, som tager sig af det!"), End en egentlig længsel at se Guds vilje ske i deres samfund som det er i himmelen. The dominant understanding is that the church exists to serve the needs—spiritual, social, and relational—of the membership. Den dominerende forståelse er, at kirken eksisterer for at tjene de behov, åndelige, sociale og relationelle-af-medlemskab.

From observing where many churches spend their energy, money, and time, said Fra observere, hvor mange kirker bruger deres energi, penge og tid, sagde
Christian activist Harold Frey, one would think that John 3:16 read: “God so loved the Christian aktivist Harold Frey, man kunne tro, at John 3:16 læses: "Gud så elskede
church that He gave His only Son.” What does the text really say? kirke, som han gav sin eneste søn. "Hvad betyder teksten egentlig sige? “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son”! "Gud så elsket verden, at Han gav sin eneste søn"! Church leaders do have a significant responsibility toward the members of the church, but one key dimension of this responsibility “is to lead them into their vocation (mission) in the world, which God loves, and for which Christ died.” Rev. Tom Theriault is Mission Pastor at a wonderful holistic congregation, Solana Beach Presbyterian Church. Kirkens ledere har et betydeligt ansvar over for medlemmerne af kirken, men en central dimension af dette ansvar "er at føre dem i deres kald (mission) i verden, som Gud elsker, og som Kristus døde." Rev Tom Theriault er Mission Pastor på en vidunderlig holistisk menigheden, Solana Beach presbyterianske kirke. He writes about the tension between “in-reach” and Han skriver om spændingen mellem "in-nå" og
“outreach”: "Opsøgende arbejde":

I’ve gotten a lot of mileage from my M & M soap box . Jeg har fået en masse kilometer fra mit M & M sæbe kassen. . . the “More and More for Me "Mere og mere for mig
and Mine Syndrome,” the “What-can-you-do-for-me-today,-God gospel.” As in the og mit Syndrome "," Hvad-kan-du-do-for-mig-dag-Gud evangeliet. "Som i den
time of Jesus, many are looking for an M & M Messiah, a savior who will deliver us tidspunktet for Jesus, mange er på udkig efter en M & M Messias, en savior der vil give os
from all manner of oppressions (and depressions and repressions and dysfunctions). fra alle mulige oppressions (og depression og repressive og funktionsforstyrrelser). As with Jesus’ contemporaries, we are frustrated, if not infuriated (Luke 4:30f), by a savior who is for the world. Som med Jesus' samtidige, vi er frustrerede, hvis ikke rasende (Luke 4:30 f), ved en savior der er for verden. When He turns the “M & M’s” right-side-up and into “WW’s” . Når han gør "M & M's" højre-up "og i" WW's ". . . a “We are for the World,” gospel, we have trouble. "Vi er for verden," evangeliet, vi har problemer.

To be sure, ours is a delivering God. For at være sikker på, vi har en levering af Gud. But He delivers for a purpose. Men han leverer til et formål. He delivers us Han tilbyder os
out of our dead-end obsession with self and into the mainstream of His life-giving ud af vores blindgyde besættelse med selvdisciplin og i hovedstrømmen af sit liv, der giver
water that is destined for the nations (Rev 22:2). vand, som er bestemt for de nationer (rev 22:2). We want a “sit-and-soak Savior,” Vi ønsker en "sidde-og suge frelser,"
One who fills our little hot tubs up with all kinds of soothing blessings. En der fylder vores lille varm baljer op med alle mulige lindrende velsignelse. What we really Hvad vi virkelig
have is a “Get up and GO God,” One who soothes and saves so that He can launch har, er en "Kom op og gå Gud," En der lyder beroligende og sparer således at han kan iværksætte
us out (the root of the word for “mission” is the same as for “missile”) into His Kingdom purposes to sooth and save the world. os ud (roden af ordet for "mission" er det samme som for "missiler") i Hans Kongerige formål at sooth og redde verden. Hot tubs are great, but if you spend too much time in one you shrivel up and get sick. Hot baljer er store, men hvis du bruger for meget tid i en du vissen op og bliver syge. Same is true for the bath of blessings that our wonderful Savior provides for us. Samme gælder for badekar af velsignelse, at vores vidunderlig frelser bestemmer for os. The blessings are meant to be fuel in our little rockets, rockets that have a trajectory set by the Word of God (Luke 4). Den velsignelse er tænkt som brændstof i vores små raketter, raketter, som har en bane, der er fastsat i Word af Gud (Luke 4). If we stop with merely basking in the blessings of salvation, we, our families, our churches, will shrivel up and get sick. Hvis vi stopper med blot brugde i velsignelse om frelsen, vi, vores familier, vores kirker, vil visne op og bliver syge. A body needs exercise, and so does the Body of Christ. Et organ behov øvelse, og det gør selve Kristus. The mission of Christ is the exercise regimen prescribed by the Ultimate Personal Trainer. Missionen Kristus er udøvelsen regimen foreskrevet af Ultimate personlige træner.

Continuing Tom’s metaphor, to prescribe the proper exercise for a human body, Fortsat Toms metafor, til at ordinere den korrekte øvelse for en menneskelig krop,
trainers have to know what the body is designed to do. undervisere have at vide, hvad kroppen er designet til at gøre. Internally focused churches are Internt fokuseret kirker åre
busily doing an incomplete set of exercises, because they have a flawed understanding of what the church body is designed to do. ivrigt gør et ufuldstændigt sæt øvelser, fordi de har en mangelfuld forståelse af, hvad kirken krop er designet til at gøre. An inward-focused congregation must be led to examine the question: What is the church designed to do? En indadvendt fokuseret menigheden skal ledes til at undersøge spørgsmålet: Hvad er kirken designet til at gøre? What is the church’s mission? Hvad er kirkens mission? Say “mission,” and many think of what some Christians do “over there.” The word has come to be identified with special projects and trips. Sig "mission", og mange tænker på, hvad nogle kristne do "derovre." Ordet er kommet til at blive identificeret med særlige projekter og ture. But mission has more to do with the church’s purpose than its programs. Men missionen har mere at gøre med kirken's formål end dens programmer. As theologian David Bosch explains, “Mission is not primarily an activity of the church, but an attribute of God. Som teolog David Bosch forklarer: "Mission er ikke primært en aktivitet i kirke, men en egenskab af Gud. God is a missionary God. Gud er en missionær Gud. .. . There is church because there is mission, not vice versa.” Holistic ministry is part of the answer to the question, “How are God’s character and saving actions expressed through our church in the world?” Der er kirke, fordi der er mission, ikke omvendt. "Holistisk ministerium er en del af svaret på spørgsmålet:" Hvor er Guds karakter og gemme aktioner udtrykt gennem vores kirke i verden? "

Overcoming an inward focus means changing the paradigm from “going to church” At overvinde en aktiv fokus betyder at ændre paradigme fra "Kirkegang"
to “being the church” in mission. til "at være kirke" i missionen. “Going to church” is only part of the purpose for the "Kirkegang" er kun en del af formålet for
church’s existence. kirkes eksistens. A church cannot be a witness, agent, and sign of the gospel only by En kirke kan ikke være et vidne, en agent, og tegn på evangeliet alene ved
filling its pews for worship services. udfylde sin pews for tilbedelse tjenester. A lay leader at Cookman United Methodist Church puts it this way: En lægmand leder på Cookman United Methodist Church lægger det på denne måde:

Being a place where people can just come and worship on Sunday does not make At være et sted hvor folk kan bare komme og tilbede på søndag ikke gør
you a church. dig en kirke. You have to be in service to one another to be a servant to our Lord Du skal være i drift til en anden for at være en ansat til vores Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. og frelser Jesus Kristus. So that means church doors need to be open during the Så det betyder kirke døre skal være åbne i løbet af
week, not just Sunday. uge, ikke kun søndag. . . . . . . You need to just be there for the people. Du skal bare være der for folket. . . . . . . A lighthouse En Fyr
isn’t just out there sometimes. er ikke bare derude tider. It’s always out there. Det er altid derude. The light is always on. Lyset er altid på. And Og
that’s what we need to do as a church. det er hvad vi skal gøre som en kirke.

Cookman United Methodist Church struggles to keep their lights literally on, the staff Cookman United Methodist Church kæmper for at holde deres lyser bogstaveligt talt om, er personalet
paid, and the building standing in one piece. betalt, og bygningen stående i et stykke. The group that gathers for worship on Sunday morning is small, and the tithes from members’ modest incomes are meager. Den koncern, som samler for gudstjenester på søndag formiddag, er lille, og den tiende fra medlemmernes beskedne indkomster er mager. But every day, Cookman is a lighthouse reaching people in the neighborhood with the Good News in word and deed. Men hver dag, Cookman er et fyrtårn nå folk i nabolaget med de gode nyheder i ord og gerning. Women and men in the church’s welfare-to-work ministry learn work and computer skills, pursue their GED, study the Bible, and participate in a weekly worship service. Kvinder og mænd i kirken velfærd-til-arbejde ministerium lære, arbejde og edb-færdigheder, forfølge deres GED, studere Biblen, og deltage i en ugentlig tilbedelse service. Overcomers, a Christ-centered twelve-step support group for recovering addicts, leads a worship service for people who feel uncomfortable in a traditional church service. Overcomers, en Kristus-centreret hundrede og to-trins støttegruppe for inddrivelse af narkomaner fører en tilbedelse tjeneste for folk, der føler sig ubehageligt i en traditionel kirke tjeneste.

The “Kids Café” offers youth a nutritious meal, Bible study, and fun activities. "Kids Café" giver unge en nærende måltid, Bibelen undersøgelse, og sjove aktiviteter. Women Kvinder
rebuilding their lives in a transitional housing program in the parsonage meet in the pastor’s study for Bible study and Christian counseling. genopbygge deres liv i en overgangsfase boliger program i præstegården mødes i præsten's undersøgelse for Bibelen undersøgelse og Christian rådgivning. People in crisis drop by the church for groceries, clothes, a prayer, and a hug. Mennesker i krise drop ved kirken for dagligvarer, tøj, en bøn, og et knus. A group of members occasionally takes prayer walks through the neighborhood, interceding for their neighbors and the urban evils that hold them in bondage. En gruppe af medlemmer lejlighedsvis tager bøn spadsereture gennem nabolaget, interceding for deres naboer og bymæssige onder, som holder dem i trældom. Churches like Cookman are beacons of hope and healing, attracting people to God’s kingdom. Kirker gerne Cookman er beacons af håb og helbredelse, der tiltrækker folk til Guds rige. The harvest is slow, but steady. Høsten er langsom, men støt.

Rev. William Moore of Tenth Memorial Baptist Church reflects on the nature of the Rev William Moore af tiende Memorial Baptist Church afspejler på arten af de
church: “The Jordan River feeds into the Dead Sea, and there’s no outlet. kirke: "Jordan-floden feeds i Det Døde Hav, og der er ikke noget stik. Nothing lives. Intet liv.
They call it the Dead Sea because it takes in but it does not give out. De kalder det Døde Hav, fordi det tager, men det giver ikke ud. The church is the Kirken er den
same way. samme måde. If you take in and don’t give out, you die.” Sometimes churches literally die for lack of mission, as people and resources drain away. Hvis du tager på og ikke giver ud, skal du dø. "Sommetider kirker bogstaveligt talt dø på grund af manglende mission, som folk og ressourcer drænes væk. Other churches are like the Dead Sea: full of water, but unable to support life. Andre kirker er ligesom Det Døde Hav: fuld af vand, men ude af stand til at støtte livet. Throughout the history of the church, writes theologian John Driver, Christians have wrestled with “a perception of the church as a self-concerned community of salvation—an end in itself. Gennem hele historien for kirken, skriver teolog John Driver, kristne har kæmpet med "en opfattelse af kirken som en selvstændig berørte samfund om frelsen-et mål i sig selv. This has led to a clear separation between its own church life and its calling to mission. Dette har ført til en klar adskillelse mellem sine egne kirkelige liv og sin opfordring til mission. . . . The church has existed without mission, and mission has been carried on outside the church, resulting in the impoverishment of the church and the deformation of mission.” Kirken har eksisteret uden mission, og missionen er blevet udøvet uden for kirken, hvilket resulterer i forarmelsen af kirken og deformation af missionen. "

Adapted from Ronald J. Sider, Philip N. Olson and Heidi Rolland Unruh, Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Tilpasset fra Ronald J. Sider, Philip N. Olson og Heidi Rolland Unruh, kirker, der gør en forskel: Opfyldelse
Your Community with Good News and Good Works, chapter 7. Din Fællesskabet med Good News and Good Works, kapitel 7. Used by permission of Baker Books, a division of Baker Benyttet med tilladelse fra Baker Books, en afdeling af Baker
Book House Company, copyright (c) 2002. Book House Company, copyright (c) 2002.