I have always been a huge U2 fan. I own every cd they ever produced (although I did sell “POP” to a used cd store a few days after I purchased it) and at times have traveled several states to see them in concert. I say that to admit that I have a bias in regards to U2 being [...]
Archive for March, 2007
God Who Sends: A Fresh Quest
Posted: 28th March 2007 by Brad Brisco in Books, Ecclesiology, MissionalComments Off
I have been reading an excellent book by Dr. Francis DuBose titled “God Who Sends: A Fresh Quest for Biblical Mission.” The book was published in 1983 when Dr. DuBose was professor and director of World Missions Center at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. In the preface of the book DuBose writes: “This work is [...]
I found chapter 5 of Alan Hirsch’s “The Forgotten Ways“ to be an excellent presentation of the basics of missional issues. Hirsch provides a thorough description of what he calls the “missional-incarnational impulse” as the biblical alternative to the attractional mode of Christendom. Early in the chapter Hirsch recognizes the need to present the theological foundation of the missional-incarnational [...]
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“O Lord Jesus Christ, I long to live in your presence, to see your human form and to watch you walking on earth. I do not want to see you through the darkened glass of tradition, nor through the eyes of today’s values and prejudices. I want to see you as you were, as you [...]
In the opening of chapter 4 Hirsch reminds the reader that “all six elements of mDNA must be present for authentic Apostolic Genius to activate and permeate the life of the Christian communities and movements.” Having said that he goes on to contend that this element (disciple making) is perhaps the most critical element [...]
Hirsch offers (p. 75) a short introduction to the second section, in which he presents the core piece for the rest of the book – mDNA (missional DNA). He states on p. 76: “With this concept/metaphor I hope to explain why the presence of a simple, intrinsic, reproducible, central guiding mechanism is necessary for the reproduction [...]
Missional and Henri Nouwen
Posted: 20th March 2007 by Brad Brisco in Incarnational, Missional, Way of JesusMore and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them. It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not [...]
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A reminder of the dates and times for the Missional Network gatherings coming up this Friday and next Thursday. Remember the next two times we meet we will be examining Alan Hirsch’s “The Forgotten Ways.” We plan to discuss the first five chapters in March and finish the book in April. If you haven’t had the chance [...]
In chapter two of “The Forgotten Ways” author Alan Hirsch proposes that the decline of the church in Western culture can be attributed to defaulting to a Christendom mode of thinking. Moreover, because of our Christendom default mode we don’t even know that there is a better alternative. Quoting Bono from U2, “we are stuck in a moment [...]
What Do Missional Leaders Look Like? #7
Posted: 16th March 2007 by Brad Brisco in Leadership, MissionalThe last in our series on key characteristics of missional leaders is: They believe the Kingdom of God is bigger than the church. Missional leaders understand that the activities of God can and do take place outside the realm of the church. Therefore, they move out in ministry expecting that God is already at work [...]
What Do Missional Leaders Look Like? #6
Posted: 15th March 2007 by Brad Brisco in Leadership, MissionalThe sixth characteristic in our series on what missional leaders look like from notes of Dr. Dan Morgan, Nehemiah Church Planting Professor at Southwestern seminary is: They disciple with a view to deployment on mission, not servicing the organization. Morgan stated that as the institutional church ages an increasing percentage of its workers and leaders [...]
We continue our discussion of “The Forgotten Ways” by Alan Hirsch by looking at chapter one. Remember chapter one can be downloaded from Hirsch’s website, however after that you will have to purchase a copy, but I think you will discovery that it is clearly worth the buy. In chapter one, titled “Setting the Scene” and subtitled “Confessions [...]
During the next two network gathering times we will be examining Alan Hirsch’s “The Forgotten Ways.” We plan to discuss the first two chapters in March and finish the book in April. I hope everyone has secured a copy of the book, if not remember you can still download the introduction and chapter one of the book [...]
What Do Missional Leaders Look Like? #5
Posted: 6th March 2007 by Brad Brisco in Leadership, MissionalComments Off
The fifth characteristic in our list of what missional leaders look like is: They foster relational structures rather than institutional structures. At this point Morgan shared some great insights on relational networks. He stated that in comparison to institutional structures there is no doubt that highly relational structures appear to be more chaotic. In fact, [...]
What Do Missional Leaders Look Like? #4
Posted: 5th March 2007 by Brad Brisco in Leadership, MissionalComments Off
The fourth of the seven distinctives of missional leaders as observed by Dr. Morgan is: Their focus is on the Kingdom, not preservation of an institution. With this characteristic Dr. Morgan’s primary focus was on the missional leader’s caution toward the entanglements of buildings and formal organizations. They recognize that owning a building and developing [...]