Understanding the Two Structures of God’s Redemptive Mission.

The term “missional” has gained popularity since Dr. Darrell Guder wrote The Missional Church in 1999. (I was much helped in writing my dissertation when Dr. Guder agreed to serve on my doctoral committee.) The term “missional” has helped brighten many church tasks, as church leaders and members have realized that they are already doing many God-glorifying mission tasks. It is good to “think missionally.” However, churches do not do some things that are missional; mainly, churches do not usually establish churches among non-Christians. Since that is what Paul did (Ephesus, Colossae, Philippi, Corinth), and that is what Priscilla and Aquila did (see Romans 16:3-4 here), we have to realize that there two kinds of missional: First, there is everything a church can do to help Christians and neighbors live a better life. Second is what churches do not usually do: establishing churches of non-Christians.

Unfortunately, some churches celebrate the missional things that a church can do, but come to the end of their mission involvement at that point. I am reminding church administrators in this blog to partner with Missional 2 specialists in order to establish churches among non-Christians. In Romans 15:11 quotes Psalm 117:1: “Praise the Lord, all you nations, Glorify Him, all you peoples.” So long as there are nations and peoples without hope and without God, churches will need to shake hands with mission agencies in cooperative mission efforts.

Next: A Double Helix Explains William Carey’s Life. Two Structures of God’s Redemptive Mission (6th of 8 Illustrations).

Here are links to all eight illustrations in this series:

Lighthouse and Flint

Warp and Woof

Two Fishing Boats and a Great Catch of Fish

A Double-Helix–Churches and Mission Agencies

A Double-Helix–”Missional One” and Missional Two”

William Carey’s Two Structures

Modalities and Sodalities

Swiss Watches. Southwest Airlines. H20. Binary Code. Male and Female.