Missional

Toronto Ferry

Martin Luther and the reformers recovered the Bible's teaching concerning the priesthood of every believer.

out for a walk

Are we in danger or have we actually missed the point of why the Church exits, why were called out and into? C. S.

blue stained glass windows
We know how to ‘do church’ but we have not yet learned, perhaps, how to ‘do mission’ – I mean, mission here at home, here in our own contexts with our own neighbours and realities.
Church Ruin, Nenagh, Ireland

‘If we are not missional, our churches will die?'

cross-hatch window

Today’s church has a strategic problem and a missionary problem, say Dave Ferguson and Alan Hirsch, authors of On the Verge: A Journey Into the Future of the Apostolic Church. 

parish church, Newmarket, England

A Pastor said - "I planted my church, and God grew it big. We've done externally-focused, church planting, and multi-site, and we'll keep doing them.

pathway

It is a joy to examine the many aspects and all there may be of the scope of life on this planet.

In Luke 10, Jesus appointed 70 disciples and sent them out to the towns and villages where he intended to visit.

Nike statue, Ephesus

When St. Paul visited Ephesus and spent several years of ministry there, he would have seen the Nike ‘swish’ very similar to that which has become almost ubiquitous in our day.

cross in barn

I was struck and then mused over some words in a review by Claudia FitzHerbert of the book: “Burying the Bones: Pearl Buck in China”, by Hilary Spurling.

Interior of Cork Church: SS Peter & Paul

So, perhaps really just trying to break the ice, I said: “Well, I see that your church sanctuary could seat about 300 people – but somehow you have managed to ‘grow’ it down to 30.

Middle East trees

In the immediate context, Jesus says: Nobody who puts foot to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of Heaven . . .

A Rich Past

old white church

But is there a future?

sepia church

So, perhaps really just trying to break the ice, I said: "Well, I see that your church sanctuary could seat about 300 people - but somehow you have managed to 'grow' it down to 30.

Symbols

Kenya - symbols

Reading, understanding and appreciating the symbols, art, language and cultural mores of others is vitally necessary in mission.

church and spire

We must be careful in our love/or hate of the Church (a lover's quarrel?) and see to it that we love the brothers and sisters, whatever may be their faults - and not take on the task of accus

Door entrance

Can one local church possibly reach, reflect and respond to all the different kinds of people around it?

sundial

If we're just really busy running our churches - can we possibly have time and energy left to be missional ? Does one discount the other? . . .

If we were going to be missionaries, say in Kenya, we would take seriously our need of entering another land, other cultures (one or more of scores of tribes and clans and sub-cultures), learning t

English garden

Whether we have a garden or an orchestra, we can appreciate the rich sights and smells or the wonderful sounds of music that emanate through such diversity - in the context of unity - from th

Granville Island people

What does it mean that in following after God's purposes for our lives, we remember that as Jesus was sent to our world, so are we?

a house and home

We need to beyond the goals of having good leadership and healthy churches to an enabled ministry that actually transforms the communities in which we live and serve.

Toronto skyline

In several of Toronto's 'gateway communities' - places of entrance to life in Canada (such as Regent Park, Thorncliffe Park Village and St.

What kind of church is helpful, relevant, noticed, needed in its community?

Room of planners with whiteboard

How can denominations and Christian leaders intentionally help local churches in their primary and privileged mission task of being with and working with Christ as He transforms neighbourhood

Iona - the Abbey tower under construction

'How do we penetrate society with the message and praxis of the Gospel - in a Community that is both sign and witness of Kingdom coming?' - and: 'Are there times when the church,

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