CNT - Chapter 1 Q's

1. How does Trinitarian theology inform your concept of mission?
Prior to Trinitarian theology, our idea of mission was to tell people how they were headed for hell unless they pray, pay, and obey. With our understanding of Trinitarian theology now, we are able to show people that the Father truly does love them (always has, always will) and has already forgiven them in Christ Jesus, and that Jesus wishes to help show them a way of life which is truly joyful, both now and forever! We are to simply bring people this good news.
Yes - bring them the good news AND make maturing disciples of them; disciples who also actively participate in Jesus' mission to the world.

4. How does Trinitarian theology inform and affect your goals and plans for church planting?
The core of Trinitarian theology is relationship – the relationship of the Father, Son & Spirit AND our relationship with them (and each other) through our unification with Jesus! So, instead of telling people they need to obey to get closer to God, we show them that they already are connected to God now and help them live in the reality of those relationships. And therefore, as we go forth to plant new churches, we should place our emphasis on the nurturing of those pre-existing relationships and not on condemnation and requiring people to ‘pull their own weight’.

Yes and as we do, we keep in mind that the mission is that of the Triune God. Jesus fulfills the Father's mission through and by the Holy Spirit. We participate in what the Spirit is already doing in the world around us. In our union with Jesus, we not only enjoy communion with him, we enjoy being actively engaged in his work. No spectators!

5. Review the following passages and discuss their implications for church planting:
Matthew 16:13-20 If we can help people to see that Jesus is the Christ and that through his incarnational life we now are connected to God, then they will be freed from their guilt and sin and shame and be able to enjoy the fruit of joyful living in the Spirit.

Yes. And our work is "easier" knowing that it is not our responsibility to "grow/build" the church. That is what Jesus is doing.

Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus proclaims that the Father has given him ALL authority in Heaven and on Earth! Then he tells the disciples to go and make disciples. And so the implication for us is to get in step with what Jesus is already doing in people’s lives and to reach out to those whose lives we cross paths with and share his truth with them!

Yes. And we can do so with great confidence knowing that Jesus has all the power and resources to do the job!

Acts 1:8 We do not have to doubt whether or not we have the Holy Spirit with us – we do! So let us proceed with the confidence of that truth as we witness to those in our communities and to all we come in contact with – both near and far. Yes.

I Corinthians 3:5-15 We need not be overly concerned with what ‘we’ do. We are only servants, and it is God who causes growth. The focus is to be on Christ – who he is and what that means for us – and not on the great things we have done. This also helps to remind us that success should be measured on spiritual depth and not a mere head count.

Yes. Jesus is responsible for the results of our participation in his mission. We are responsible to be available, faithful, responsive and teachable.

Ephesians 4:1-16 God is in all people, and he has gifted us all uniquely. Only when we work together as a team, and not considering ourselves as more important than any other, will we be able to mature into the fullness that Christ desires for us. This truth will help build a church plant by causing the planter to help others seek out their giftedness and to place them in a role which compliments their strengths and talents.

One of the primary roles of a pastor is to equip and release others for ministry. Not only making disciples but equipping them to participate in Jesus' ministry and mission; multiplying ministry leaders, multiplying ministries and multiplying new churches.

7. How is God already at work in your ministry context?
How is He not? God is already at work in every heart out there. We just need to join in with our community – through various culturally relevant contexts – and share the love of God with them, and while walking beside them, help them to see Jesus already living in and through them and to help nurture the growth of that relationship.

As you and others who are in the early stages of discerning your call to start a new church you will need to discern more specifically what Jesus is doing within the focus group or community he is calling you to reach. Matching Jesus' specific work with the specific gifts, resources and passion he has given you will help you understand the particular ways in which you can engage and serve the group or community.

8. What changes need to occur in your current congregation in order for it to become more aligned with God’s mission to the world?
Our current congregation needs to remember that much training occurs while one is ‘on the job’ and that continual classroom training will never fully equip one to be able to perfectly ‘do’ ministry. People need to be encouraged to step up and step out of their comfort zone, while remaining in their area of ministry in alignment with their gift-mix. And when/if they make mistakes, they simply need to learn from those mistakes so they can do better next time and not to be removed from duty. In this way they will desire to seek the next level of service, and thus be more likely to reach the world, and their neighbors, with God’s message of love and forgiveness.

This is a common issue among churches (or just about any human enterprise). It takes faith and courage to release people for ministry - and discernment and grace to know how to deal with the challenges that inevitably arise.