Is your Family Connected to a Missional Community?
One of the most important aspects of a missional community is that it is in balance. Different leaders use different terms to talk about this balance. Mike Breen and the 3DM guys say UP, OUT, IN. Hugh Halter says Communion, Mission, Community.
At Heritage Community Church, we say Growing, Sharing, Serving. The idea is that every group would be participating in things that are helping them GROW spiritually, SHARE life together, and SERVE the world.
Usually, groups tend to lean toward one or two of these and are therefore out of balance. Let me give you some examples:
1. Your average Bible Study :: Most churches’ Bible study groups or Sunday School programs fall into this category. These groups are high on growing spiritually or attaining Bible knowledge yet miss out on the community or sharing life together that God intended for us to live in. Because of this, many of these people tend to have secret sins, feel lonely, and/or become Pharisees (self-righteous, judgmental Christians). These groups also fall short on the missional lifestyle that Jesus commanded us to live out (serving the world). This is what James would call Dead Faith.
2. Your average Community Group :: Community Groups or Small Groups, tend to emphasize Sharing Life Together, but fall short in the Growing Spiritually and Serving The World. Most of these groups are affinity-based, closed groups that quickly turn inward in their focus. Although these groups are probably very honest and authentic, the participants usually don’t grow up in Christ through the study of His Word and by living it out on mission and therefore remain immature, baby Christians.
3. Your average Social Activist Group :: Groups like this seem to exist everywhere these days which means many Christians and non-Christians in this generation are committed to helping and serving others which is awesome! However, if the extent of the group is serving, then it is completely possible that the non-Christians will never hear the gospel (thus staying non-Christians) and the Christians will never grow up into Christ and become the people God is trying to mold them into. Like the first group, participants will also miss out on the sharing life together part and fall into the same pitfalls.
Growing, Sharing, Serving is key for ALL missional communities. If you are involved in a group already, do a quick assessment (it should be obvious) to see if your group is balanced. If it is not, which parts are you missing and how can you go about including them. If you are thinking about starting a group, include all three from the beginning. It is incredibly hard to add-on later! Things that you include in your group from the beginning will become part of your group’s DNA. This is especially important when multiplying because you multiply who you are!
Brian Williams is the worship pastor for Heritage Community Church in Fruitland Park, Florida, and the proud husband of Brooke and father of Ainsley & Braxton.
