What are the questions that individuals and faith communities that possess a missional mindset are interested in asking?
This is far from exhaustive, but it probably offers a good sampling.
I am sure there are others and I'd love to hear from you all regarding ones that need to be added to the list.
Here's a start...
-How are we blessing the neighborhood/community?
-How can we help?
-How are we earning the right to be heard, growing to be an ally and an advocate for the community in which we live, work and play?
-Who is in my oikos (Greek word for family, household, social sphere, circle of influence) and how am I being intentional with them?
-How are we listening to the needs of our community? What are the top needs of our community and how can we unleash the various passions, skills and gifts that exist in our faith community in order to meet those needs?
-What are ways we can join God, who is already actively at work in the world today?
-How am I growing to be more like Jesus through my attitudes, thoughts, feelings and actions in the midst of my everyday activities?
-How can I ____________ in the name of Jesus today?
-How are we creating spaces of belonging for those who are not interested in things of God? How am I intentionally inviting people into those spaces to listen, party, hang out, converse and live life?
-How am I learning from the other?
-What is good news to "those people"? (This is a question of understanding context of certain groups and sub-groups, not an 'us/them' dichotomy).
-What is a holistic gospel understanding and how can I flesh that out in my life?
-Where am I spending time? Is it in a location where people who are close to the heart of Jesus hang out?
-How am I developing opportunities to build relationships with people outside the four walls of my church?
-How am I living out the values and the patterns of a Jesus life seven days a week, not just on Sunday?
You're going to like "Missional Renaissance" that I'm reading now. It's all about blessing the city of people around you. Simple and bold, I'm digging it. Just finished "Evangelism without additives" by Jim Henderson- also good stuff. Pumped to see you very soon. al
Posted by: Big Al Briggs | February 09, 2009 at 07:10 PM