http://blog.theupstreamcollective.org/2009/03/25/the-church-from-complex-to-simple/ biblical missiology / the sending church / post-christian contexts Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:24:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 http://blog.theupstreamcollective.org/2009/03/25/the-church-from-complex-to-simple/comment-page-1/#comment-13 JJM Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:21:54 +0000 http://blog.theupstreamcollective.org/?p=111#comment-13 Good thoughts Larry. Yes, I think overall, we have made the church much too complicated, taking on missions, goals, objectives, etc, that are not presented in the person and work of Jesus, and which take us off His intended mission. I'm not sure how we got to this place; this is something that I'm processing as I begin the church planting process here in Seattle. I'm becoming more and more convinced that the church is most effective when it focuses it's collective energy on it's most primary mission; which I think falls somewhere in the love, serve, participate in redemption realm. For me, I have to consider, how do Christ followers in Seattle love their city exceptionally well, serve, with no strings attached, those who are experiencing injustice, and invite everybody, everywhere into the redemption process that Jesus is accomplishing? I think the answers to these three questions help us to stay on Jesus' mission, instead of our own. Also, the lived out expression of these answers will look different from setting to setting. The mission that Jesus has for his church in Seattle is lived out differently than the mission he has for his church elsewhere. So the practics will naturally appear difference from place to place, but the focus and primary mission is the same. Appreciate your thoughts! I'm just thinking out loud here. Good thoughts Larry. Yes, I think overall, we have made the church much too complicated, taking on missions, goals, objectives, etc, that are not presented in the person and work of Jesus, and which take us off His intended mission. I’m not sure how we got to this place; this is something that I’m processing as I begin the church planting process here in Seattle. I’m becoming more and more convinced that the church is most effective when it focuses it’s collective energy on it’s most primary mission; which I think falls somewhere in the love, serve, participate in redemption realm. For me, I have to consider, how do Christ followers in Seattle love their city exceptionally well, serve, with no strings attached, those who are experiencing injustice, and invite everybody, everywhere into the redemption process that Jesus is accomplishing? I think the answers to these three questions help us to stay on Jesus’ mission, instead of our own. Also, the lived out expression of these answers will look different from setting to setting. The mission that Jesus has for his church in Seattle is lived out differently than the mission he has for his church elsewhere. So the practics will naturally appear difference from place to place, but the focus and primary mission is the same.
Appreciate your thoughts! I’m just thinking out loud here.

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