Breaking the Missional Code Transitions to Missional Ministry

Breaking the Missional CodeBreaking the Missional CodeTransitions to Missional MinistryTransitions to Missional Ministry

© 2005 – 2006 Dr. Ed Stetzer, excerpts from Breaking the Missional Code

Change…Change…

…always happens, and most change is out of our control.

…always happens, and most change is out of our control.


What we can control…What we can control…

…is our response to a changing culture.

…is our response to a changing culture.


The response by the missional congregation to change has produced emerging transitional patterns.

The response by the missional congregation to change has produced emerging transitional patterns.


As churches seek to break the code, they respond to change with intentional change.

As churches seek to break the code, they respond to change with intentional change.


From Programs to Processes


Not every program (even GREAT programs) worked every time.

Not every program (even GREAT programs) worked every time.




The most important thing—seek to understand the people we were called to reach and develop processes to reach them.

The most important thing—seek to understand the people we were called to reach and develop processes to reach them.




Programs nevernever seem to work the same way in two places.

Programs nevernever seem to work the same way in two places.




Churches need certain processes to accomplish their purposes.

Churches need certain processes to accomplish their purposes.




The church congregation should function like a human body. (1 Cor. 12:12-20)

The church congregation should function like a human body. (1 Cor. 12:12-20)


The church as a bodyThe church as a body

Every part is influenced by every other part.

The “body” of Christ is one unit that operates through a series of systems.

Every part is influenced by every other part.

The “body” of Christ is one unit that operates through a series of systems.




Program orientation —assumes the health of the overall system and does not see the various programs as interactive and interdependent..

Program orientation —assumes the health of the overall system and does not see the various programs as interactive and interdependent..


Program orientationProgram orientation

Therefore…it is destined to be ineffective.

Therefore…it is destined to be ineffective.




The only exceptions will be those churches with a process-focused approach or if the overall body of a church just “happens” to be healthy.

The only exceptions will be those churches with a process-focused approach or if the overall body of a church just “happens” to be healthy.


Demographics to Discernment


1980s – Elmer Towns launched the highly successful seminar– “How to Reach the Baby Boomers.”

1980s – Elmer Towns launched the highly successful seminar– “How to Reach the Baby Boomers.”




Generational approaches no longer work.

Generational approaches no longer work.




The growing diversity of our society is resistant to pigeonholing.

The growing diversity of our society is resistant to pigeonholing.




Demographics are not the answer.

We need to decipher the individual communities to which God has sent us.

Demographics are not the answer.

We need to decipher the individual communities to which God has sent us.




Pastors are spending more time asking why the people in their community have not yet responded.

Pastors are spending more time asking why the people in their community have not yet responded.


Models to MissionsModels to Missions

It is easy to try and copy the models of others because we want to copy their success in our own context.

It is easy to try and copy the models of others because we want to copy their success in our own context.



Instead of importing styles and models, more pastors are asking the same questions that international missionaries do:

Instead of importing styles and models, more pastors are asking the same questions that international missionaries do:



What style of worship/music will best help this group to worship in spirit and truth?

What style of worship/music will best help this group to worship in spirit and truth?



What evangelism methods should I use here to reach the most people without compromising the gospel?

What evangelism methods should I use here to reach the most people without compromising the gospel?



What structure of church would best connect with this community?

What structure of church would best connect with this community?



How can this church be God’s missionary to this community?

How can this church be God’s missionary to this community?



Christology should shape our missiology and should shape our ecclesiology.~Frost & Hirsch, The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the Twenty-First Century Church

Christology should shape our missiology and should shape our ecclesiology.~Frost & Hirsch, The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the Twenty-First Century Church


Attractional to Incarnational


The leaders that move from attracting prospects to incarnating the gospel are the ones breaking the code.

The leaders that move from attracting prospects to incarnating the gospel are the ones breaking the code.




The church that is incarnational is interested more in the harvest than in the barn.

The church that is incarnational is interested more in the harvest than in the barn.


Uniformity to DiversityUniformity to Diversity

Today, people are realizing that God is using many different kinds of methods and models to reach different kinds of people.

Today, people are realizing that God is using many different kinds of methods and models to reach different kinds of people.



Nobody things that their model is “a” model;

they think it is “the” model.

Nobody things that their model is “a” model;

they think it is “the” model.



If churches are faithfully proclaiming the Word and reaching their communities, we should celebrate them, whatever they look like.

If churches are faithfully proclaiming the Word and reaching their communities, we should celebrate them, whatever they look like.



The answer is not to make all of our churches look alike.

The answer is not to make all of our churches look alike.



The answer is to have everyone seeking the same thing: to glorify God by being an indigenous expression of church life where they are.

The answer is to have everyone seeking the same thing: to glorify God by being an indigenous expression of church life where they are.


Professional to Passionate

Professional to Passionate

Ministry used to be the realm of the seminary-trained—not so any more.

Ministry used to be the realm of the seminary-trained—not so any more.


Seating to SendingSeating to Sending

“Big” was almost better in the age of church growth.

“Big” was almost better in the age of church growth.



In the age of the missional church, the impact of kingdom growth is more important.

In the age of the missional church, the impact of kingdom growth is more important.



Church leaders that break the code have decided that the most important thing is to empower and release their church family for kingdom impact.

Church leaders that break the code have decided that the most important thing is to empower and release their church family for kingdom impact.



These churches give themselves away rather than serve their own needs.

These churches give themselves away rather than serve their own needs.



Churches need to move from “every member a minister” to “every member a missionary.”

Churches need to move from “every member a minister” to “every member a missionary.”


Decisions to DisciplesDecisions to Disciples

For too many churches, we supposedly win thousands to Christ every year, and yet few follow through and become active disciples.

For too many churches, we supposedly win thousands to Christ every year, and yet few follow through and become active disciples.



“Should churches focus on better disciples or focus on reaching out?”

“Should churches focus on better disciples or focus on reaching out?”



You cannot separate evangelism and discipleship.

You cannot separate evangelism and discipleship.



We need missional churches that are focused on serious disciple making, not just leading people to make a decision.

We need missional churches that are focused on serious disciple making, not just leading people to make a decision.



For this to occur, we must identify what is a disciple.

For this to occur, we must identify what is a disciple.



As we fully define a disciple to include both the inner disciplines of personal spirituality and the outer disciplines of missional living…

As we fully define a disciple to include both the inner disciplines of personal spirituality and the outer disciplines of missional living…



…then we will move our churches to be filled with missionary disciples like the early church.

…then we will move our churches to be filled with missionary disciples like the early church.


Additional to ExponentialAdditional to Exponential

All healthy things reproduce.

All healthy things reproduce.



One of the signs that something is “living” is that it reproduces itself.

One of the signs that something is “living” is that it reproduces itself.



But let’s face it, there is not much addition going on, let alone multiplication.

But let’s face it, there is not much addition going on, let alone multiplication.

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Breaking the Missional Code Transitions to Missional Ministry