Part 4: "Why Missional Living Fizzles" (and how to reverse it)

This week we are looking at the fourth reason so many congregations make a good start with missional living, only to see it soon fizzle.

What are the other three reasons? (And what are the simple remedies?)

1) We think studying what Jesus says is the same as doing what Jesus says. (Read the full blog here.)

2) We never seem to get around to building an actual friendship with someone who is living without Jesus’ grace and truth. (Read the full blog here.)

3) People are recruited away from the mission of God by their own congregational programming. (Read the full blog here.)

And here’s #4:

We think discipleship is rooted in scholarship. It is not. It is rooted in relationship and lifestyle.

When discipleship is rooted in scholarship, we reproduce nothing but scholars and do it very slowly. Likewise, the unintentional but clear message to the congregation is that discipleship is really just for the smart kids. Unfortunately, when discipleship is simply scholarship, we end up with people who know the right answers, but don’t know what to do. They remain untrained and inexperienced in practicing the ways of Jesus for the good of others.

However, discipleship is not just learning the facts and figures of the faith. It is having a relationship with someone who can show us how to live out the facts and figures of the faith for the good of others. When discipleship is rooted in relationship and lifestyle, we see the rapid multiplication of discipleship among people (John 13:35, Philippians 3:17, Hebrews 13:7, Matthew 28:19).

Because preachers and program leaders think discipleship is scholarship, they over-value teaching new content and under-value facilitating discipling relationships and lifestyles.

Remedy: Re-prioritize discipling relationships.

At home: the parent/child relationship is the strongest discipling relationship there is. Children are designed to imitate their parents and, for better or worse, are already being deeply discipled by them. Therefore, the most effective family ministry begins by helping parents understand the deep influence their lifestyle is already having on their children and give them tools to become more intentional about how they live. (Our upcoming book, “Joining Jesus as a Family: How to Raise Your Children to be Followers of Jesus” will help parents unpack this. Soon we will be able to announce when it will be available.)

In neighborhoods, workplaces and schools: implement the Connect Strategy in order to foster and multiply discipling relationships and unhurried conversations throughout the congregation and out into the community. Here’s a two-minute video where Susan and I briefly explain the Connect Strategy.

If you would like to unpack this more, email me at finkeonthemove@aol.com

Part 1: "Why Missional Living Fizzles" (and how to reverse it)

Last week, Susan and I had the great fun of joining 2600 people at the Best Practices for Ministry Conference in Phoenix. Over the next four weeks, I will share with you the four main points of our session: "Why Missional Living Fizzles” (and how to reverse it).

Why do so many congregations make a good start with missional living, only to see it soon fizzle? It is no longer a mystery.
 
Congregations are perfectly calibrated for the results they are currently getting in mission, discipleship and multiplication. And most congregations are not getting very good results - no matter what their mission statements may say or how much mission passion they may have.

Why?

There are four unforced errors most congregations are committing that are keeping them from seeing better results. What are they?

1) We think studying what Jesus says is the same as doing what Jesus says.

U.S. Christians have very little impact on the neighborhoods where they live because studying what Jesus says doesn’t benefit our neighbors. Jesus tells us to love our neighbors not so we will study His words, but so that our neighbors will experience His love. Remember, action verbs mean we take action.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Luke 6:46.

“The entire law is summed up in a single command, ‘Love your neighbor,’” Galatians 5:14.

Remedy: Pivot from studying to taking action.

When teaching the Bible, conclude by asking people to respond to the following question, “As a result of what I have studied today, what does Jesus want me to believe and what does He want me to do for the good of others?” Have them write down their responses and then look for opportunities to put Jesus’ words into action in daily life. The next time you gather, begin by taking ten minutes to have them share the stories of what happened and what was discovered.

If you would like to unpack this more, email me at finkeonthemove@aol.com

[more next week]