Moving The Church In A Missional Direction

Many church leaders are recognizing that more and more people are less and less interested in the programs of the church. There is a new realization that the church has lost its ability to “attract” people to church activities and events.

Furthermore, many leaders are struggling with the church’s inability to have a lasting impact on have their local communities. In the midst of this struggle, they sense that something has changed, but they are unsure about the essence of the change and what ministry adjustments might be necessary. In most cases, the leaders have no “grid” or framework to rethink the form and function of the church and its relationship to God’s mission.

When bringing about transformative change in the way people think and behave, I am convinced we must start with questions of “why” before considering the practical issues of “how.” In the book Start with Why, author Simon Sinek contends that there are two primary ways to influence human behavior: you can either manipulate it, or inspire it. While manipulation is not always negative (for example when a department store drops the price of a product to motivate a purchase), it often involves the use of fear or peer pressure to influence behavior. Additionally, change that is manipulated is usually short-lived. 

Inspiring change, on the other hand, involves the consideration of deeper issues. We need to ask underlying questions of “why.” Why do we perceive things in a particular way? Why do we behave in a certain manner? What are the motivations or inherent factors that undergird our behaviors?

With this in mind I have used the following framework to help existing churches move in a more missional, outwardly focused direction. This is a slight tweak of the "Knowledge Funnel" made popular by Roger Martin in the book "The Design of Business." I am convinced this "Change Funnel" provides a substantial, yet accessible way for existing churches to make shifts towards activating all the people of God. It starts with key paradigm shifts in the way people think, then moves to necessary patterns or methods of change, and finally employs specific practices that help people take practical steps. Below are several of the different concepts and actions I most often suggest:

Paradigm Shifts: A framework of accepted views on a particular subject, or a way of perceiving a certain topic. Key paradigm shifts include:

• Missionary Nature of the Church

• Incarnational Mission

• Participation in the Missio Dei

• Christendom to Post-Christendom Shift

• Rethinking Vocation

• Discipleship / Evangelism

• Leadership

Patterns:  The visual representation of the paradigm shift taking root in your context. Potential patterns or principles:

• Christology > Missiology > Ecclesiology

• mDNA (Missional DNA)

• Creating a Missional Culture

• 4 Spaces of Belonging

• Diffusion of Innovation

• Missionary Formation

• Discipling & Equipping Towards Mission

• APEST

Practices and Pilots: Patterns are not enough. We need a way of doing things that helps us live out the reality that the pattern is pointing us to. These will involve actions that may be brand new practices and habits. In many cases they will be experimental “pilots” where a person is trying something for the very first time. Possible practices and pilots:

• Missional Rhythms (BLESS or BELLS)

• Missionary Flow – Creating Social Momentum

• 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Engagement

• Sharing Meals

• Biblical Hospitality

• The 4 Ds of Missionary Engagement

• Church Planting / Starting MCs or Micro-churches

• Action / Reflection Questions

• Language

• Stories

• New Scorecards

• APEST Assessments

• 5Q Resources