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A growing amount of new research on the behavioral traits of the missional congregation indicates that such a congregation exhibits overt missional behavior and not simple sentimental support or being "mission minded." Such missional behavior transcends "thinking and praying about and giving money in support of others who do mission work," or even supporting a "missions program" among the many and diverse ministries of the congregation. Indeed, in the missional congregation, missions is the very essence of everything the congregation says and does. In his recent book, Shaped by God's Heart--The Passion and Practices of Missional Congregations, author Milfred Minatrea reports that a fourth "essential practice" of the missional congregation is concerned with worship. He uses the phrase "rewriting worship each week" to summarize that worship in the missional congregation is focused and fresh, as opposed to blurred and stale. God is the focus of worship in the missional congregation. Worship is designed and intended to exalt the Triune God, not to entertain people. As members worship, they encounter God, they exalt God, they confess sin and receive absolution from God, they explore the grace of God and his goodness in Jesus Christ, and they extol their relationship with God among those present. In other words, God is the singular focus of worship. And as Christians worship God, the Holy Spirit enables them both to acknowledge God and to experience his grace, goodness and greatness. Because such worship is so focused and authentic, it invites participants, not simply spectators. Some would equate the missional congregation with contemporary (non-traditional) forms of worship. But this is a false assumption. Missional congregations worship through both traditional and non-traditional expressions. The worship is not about style, but about content. While the form of worship in the missional congregation remains constant, the freshness of that worship is stimulated continually through high value placed on using member gifts and talents and multiple forms of communication, actively embracing the creative arts, plus engaging the full range of human senses in the worship experience. So, within the constant form, the worship is fresh each week. The saints of missional congregations do invite those who do not yet know God fully to join experiences of worship, believing and praying that their encounter with God through the Holy Spirit and the Word might draw them closer to a more mature and personal relationship (faith) with him. Although it sometimes includes those who are not yet mature disciples, worship is not intended to reach the unchurched, but to allow those who know God to declare his worth and bring him praise. Minatrea's 9 characteristics of missional congregations:
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Borrowing a page from Charlie, I'd like to share some "just watching" comments about Synod in the area of worship as I travel about the country. These are going to be extremely minimalist observations and examples; space here doesn't allow for more. But there are at least four significant things brewing. I think you should know about these if you don't already - and I hope you will join me in praying about them. |
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Worship Beat! Our brand new monthly e-newsletter written by our National Missional Worship Consultant, Rev. Mike Zehnder, starts in just two weeks! Are you signed up for this free bulletin? Spotlight is on noteworthy resources, contemporary songs of real substance, theological insights and practical helps for the busy pastor and worship leader. To subscribe, click here. Church Planters Assessment Center - January 18-21, 2008. More info Basic and Advanced Mission Planters Training - February 4-8, 2008, in New Braunfels, Texas. It's not too early to register! Basic Mission Planters Training - More info - Register - Pay Also in New Braunfels the same week: Mission Coach Certification Training - Feb. 6-7 - More info & Registration - Pay |
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Mission Moments is a biweekly electronic newsletter sent by the Center for U.S. Missions to bring information and encouragement to all who desire to share God's great love in Jesus Christ with others. The Center for U.S. Missions provides research and training for mission work among unevangelized people in the United States. A partnership of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS) World Missions, Concordia University in Irvine, California, and the North America Mission Executives of the LCMS, the Center serves all Christian denominations. Center for U.S. Missions |
Over the years I've read with interest the occasional missive from Rev. Charlie Mueller, Sr. entitled "Just Watching," now published by Wheatridge Ministries. In it, he journals his observations of the Synod through the perspective of one who has served, studied, supervised and visited LCMS churches of all sizes and in all kinds of urban, suburban and rural settings. His goal is to provide inspirational examples and models for effective ministry.