God’s Mission – Our Mission : God’s Mission – Our Mission by Melanie J.S. Wallschlaeger
CL7521 “The Missional Church”
Doctor of Ministry in Congregation Mission and Leadership Development
Table of Contents : Table of Contents Project Purpose (Slide 3)
Presentation of “God’s Mission – Our Mission, Part I” given at All Team Meeting, Tuesday, September 15th, 2003. (Slides 4-28)
Presentation of “God’s Mission – Our Mission, Part II” to be used to guide Executive Team in reflection as we discern God’s calling (Slides 29-48)
Bibliography (Slide 49)
Project Purpose : Project Purpose The purpose of this project is to serve as a guide for
discussion regarding:
1. God’s mission
2. Our call as a congregation to participate in God’s mission
It is my hope that this project will facilitate shared
learning, conversation and discernment among lay
leaders of Holy Cross.
God’s Mission – Our Mission Part I : God’s Mission – Our Mission Part I An exploration of our call in community.
What is “mission”? : What is “mission”? Mission implies:
A sender
One(s) being sent
An assignment
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in
Theology of Mission, (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1991) 1.
Cartoon: Homiletics Volume 14, Number 3, May-June,
2002, 56.
What is “mission”? : What is “mission”? When we think of mission, we tend to think of:
Overseas missionaries
Work of a committee
Specific programs/activities
Statements of purpose used in the “business world.”
What is mission? : What is mission? But mission is more than an activity
or a program…it is our very being as
we are created in the image of God.
Missio Dei : Missio Dei
The God we worship is a God
in mission.
We have a mission…a mission
made possible only because it
is called into being as a result
of God’s mission.
Ubuntu
“I am, because you are…
We are because Christ is.”
Missio Dei : Missio Dei
Missio Dei : Missio Dei
Missio Dei : Missio Dei God’s reign – both future and present… NOW & NOT YET
Jesus spoke of the reality of God’s presence.
“the kingdom of heaven has come near”
(Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15)
“the kingdom of God is among you”
(Luke 17:21)
“If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons,
then the kingdom of God has come to you.”
(Matthew 12:28)
Jesus spoke of God’s reign yet to come.
“Thy kingdom come…”
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission,
(Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2002) 32-33.
Missio Dei : Missio Dei God’s ministry is in the “now and the yet to come.” Then, why is it so easy for us to get stuck in the past?
“You are setting your mind not on divine things, but on human things.” - Jesus
What is the purpose of a mission statement? : What is the purpose of a mission statement? To share an understanding of our communal identity as God’s people.
To explore who we are as God’s people living in this specific time and context.
To inspire (guide) to action – to guide us as we seek to live into the identity of who God has created us to be.
Slide14 : Homiletics Volume 14, Number 3, May-June, 2002, 35.
Baptismal Identity : Baptismal Identity “It is not water that does these things,
but God’s Word with the water and
our trust in this Word. Water alone
is only water, but with the Word of
God it is a life-giving water which by
grace gives the new birth through the
Holy Spirit.”
The Small Catechism,
by Martin Luther Photo courtesy of Angela Smith
Communal Identity : Communal Identity “I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.”
The Third Article
The Apostle’s Creed Photo courtesy of Angela Smith
Slide17 : Homiletics, Volume 13, Number 4, July-August, 2003, 20.
How do we discern our God-given mission? : How do we discern our God-given mission? History – 15 years of exciting growth that has often demanded change.
Biblical witness – Missional nature of Matthew and Acts, the call of the early disciples/apostle and how that call was lived out.
Values – tradition is at the top of the list.
Context – young, mobile, energetic, building/construction is an ever present reality.
Who is to discern our God-given mission? : Who is to discern our God-given mission? God – “Come, Holy Spirit, come!”
Leaders (that’s you!)
People of Holy Cross
Matthew 28:16-20 : Matthew 28:16-20
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The New Revised Standard Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1989.
3 Common Misinterpretations of the Gospel of Matthew : 3 Common Misinterpretations of the Gospel of Matthew It did not apply to the priesthood of all believers – only to clergy.
Impossible to obey the demands of Jesus outlined in chapters.
Attitudes more important than actions.
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission,
(Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2002) 69.
“make disciples” : “make disciples” “Disciple” appears 73 times in the Matthew, while occuring 46 times in Mark and 37 times in Luke.
“Make disciples” occurs 4 times in NT – 3 of which are in Matthew.
“Disciples” does not refer to merely the 12 disciples in
Matthew (as it does for Mark and Luke) – but also to the
disciples that are to follow.
Distinguishing marks of disciples:
They live in relationship with Jesus Christ.
They live in expectation of God’s reign. (5:20)
They are “salt of the earth” and “light of the world.” (5:13)
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, 73-74.
“baptize” : “baptize” Forgiveness is a central idea for Matthew.
6:12, 6:14f, 26:28
“What God has done in Christ – the forgiveness of sins – is the point of departure of the new life of the disciple and is being sealed in the act of baptism.” -- David Bosch
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, 79.
“teach” : “teach” Jesus teaches the disciples, he does not preach to them.
For JC, teaching is not “merely an intellectual enterprise” – it
is a “call for a concrete decision to follow him and submit to
God’s will.”
Context of JC’s teaching is not the classroom, but the world.
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, 65-68.
“to obey all…” : “to obey all…” Sermon on the Mount
Disciples called to live out of step with society.
Love of God & love of neighbor becomes the two fold commandment to love. Go hand in hand.
To believe and understand is to move to an active commitment that flows into deeds.
David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, 65-68.
“Go therefore” : “Go therefore”
Authority of Jesus over all is already implied in this phrase.
“If Jesus is indeed Lord of all, this reality just has to be proclaimed,” (David Bosch, p 78).
Slide27 : “I am with you always”
Who are we called to be? : Who are we called to be? In light of the Biblical text…
How do you think God is calling us, challenging us, to see our God-given mission?
What are key verbs that should guide and shape our self understanding?
God’s Mission – Our Mission Part II : God’s Mission – Our Mission Part II An exploration of our call in community.
Missio Dei : Missio Dei
“Because God is a missionary God,
God’s people are a missionary
people. The church’s mission is not
secondary to its being; the church
exists in being sent and in building
up itself for its mission,”
(Bosch, Believing in the Future, 1995, p 32).
Ubuntu
“I am, because you are…
We are because Christ is.”
Missio Dei : Missio Dei “Mission is not a burden laid upon the church; it is a gift and a promise to the church that is faithful. The command arises from the gift. Jesus reigns and all authority has been given to him in earth and heaven. When we understand that, we shall not need to be told to let it be known. Rather, we shall not be able to keep silent.”
(Lesslie Newbigin, Mission in Christ’s Way, 40)
Missio Dei : Missio Dei UBUNTU –
We are, because Christ is.
Our focus is not on,
What do we want?
But rather,
What does God want for us?
Biblical Witness : Biblical Witness Matthew 28:16-20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The New Revised Standard Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1989.
Matthew 28:16-20 : Matthew 28:16-20 Go! – “sentness” for us and the disciples
Called to make disciples
Called to baptize and teach
God does not send us alone
Biblical Witness : Biblical Witness Acts 2:41-47
So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
The New Revised Standard Version, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 1989.
Acts 2:41-47 : Acts 2:41-47 Faith lived out at temple, home and community
All who believed had common bond/unity
Generosity with one another and beyond
Baptisms and devotion to the apostle’s teaching
Signs, wonders, and prayer
Sacred or secular? : Sacred or secular? “In some societies the Church had a hard battle to rid
itself of the insiduous distinction drawn between
‘holy’ and ‘non-holy’ things”
(J. Andrew Kirk, What is Mission?, p 213)
Sacred: special realm of life, “spiritual”
to do with religious events, places, things
to be treated with care.
Secular: ordinary things, worldly, material
The problem with holy things : The problem with holy things
Sacred or secular? : Sacred or secular? “From a Christian perspective this distinction is false.
The secular, understood as the legitimate tasks of ordinary life –
family, work, scientific investigation, gardening, hobbies, leisure,
friendships, political tasks, service in the community – is sacred.”
“The sacred is not another reality distinct from this…
Encounter with God is possible in any place.”
(J. Andrew Kirk, What is Mission?, p 213-214)
Encounters with God in every possible place… : Encounters with God in every possible place…
Come, Holy Spirit Come… : Come, Holy Spirit Come… “To speak and live the gospel of Jesus Christ so that
others might be drawn to Him and His Church.”
How is God calling us to look beyond our congregational boundaries into the greater needs of the local/world community? In other words, how can we reorient the congregation to look outward, rather than only inward?
How can we help the people of Holy Cross see God at work in every aspect of life?
God’s hands, not ours : God’s hands, not ours
Prince of Peace, Burnsville : Prince of Peace, Burnsville The Prince of Peace Vision:
A thriving discipleship community that changes lives and leads society by growing passionate followers of Jesus Christ in every generation.
The Prince of Peace Mission:
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church exists to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19) who pray, worship, read the Bible, serve, relate to others for spiritual growth, and give a tithe and beyond – PoWeR SuRGe.
Core Values: Discipleship, Integrity, Evangelism, Community
Vision Statement: : Vision Statement:
How has God (and is God) equipping us for participation in the Missio Dei?
Mission Statement : Mission Statement
How are we going to live more fully into the call that God has given us?
What are some words that might identify the action/response to which God calls us?
Values : Values Attentive
Authentic (2x)
Caring
Charity
Christ-centered
Community
Compassion
Courageous
Education
Empowered
Energy
Faith-filled
Family (5x)
Fellowship (2x)
Forgiveness (2x)
Generosity
Golden Rule
Grace (2x)
Hospitality
Humility
Inclusiveness (2x) Intergenerational
Integrity
Love (3x)
Mentoring
Motivating
Music Ministry
Open Minded
Ownership (2x)
Passionate
Prayer
Safety
Scripture based
Serving
Sharing
Teaching
Tolerance
Tradition (5x)
Transparent
Trust (3x)
Vision Oriented
Word & Sacrament
Values named by more than one group : Values named by more than one group Tradition (5x)
Family (5x)
Trust (3x)
Love (3x)
Authentic (2x) Fellowship (2x)
Forgiveness (2x)
Grace (2x)
Inclusiveness (2x)
Ownership (2x)
Core Values : Core Values
What values do we share as a community as we live out our shared mission and vision?
God, give us good courage : Lord God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Martin Luther’s Morning Prayer, Lutheran Book of Worship, 137. God, give us good courage
Bibliography : Bibliography Bosch, David J. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1991.
Bosch, David J. Believing in the Future: Toward a Missiology of Western Culture, Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press International, 1994.
Homiletics Journal, Volume 14, Number 3, May-June, 2003.
Homiletics Journal, Volume 13, Number 4, July-August, 2003.
Kirk, J. Andrew. What is Mission?: Theological Explorations, Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2000.
Kise, Jane A.G., LifeKeys Leadership Workshop, July 2002.
Newbigin, Lesslie. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1989.
Newbigin, Lesslie. Mission in Christ’s Way Bible Studies, Geneva, Switzerland: World Council of Churches, 1987.
Wendt, Harry. See Through the Scriptures, Minneapolis, MN: Crossways International, 2003.