Synopsis
Missional Essentials is a response to Jesus' commandment for us to love God with our all in all: "And he answered, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.' (Luke 10:27) Each lesson includes components that engage our heart and soul, mind, and strength, as we move forward on the missional quest of loving our neighbors as ourselves.
WHAT ARE THE IDEAL CONTEXTS FOR USING THIS GUIDE?
*Existing Leadership Teams that have begun to investigate the missional conversation and are interested in studying the concepts and practices together.
*Small Groups interested in exploring the paradigms and biblical directives toward missional community.
*Church Planting Core Teams seeking to develop a DNA of missional principles and practices as a way of shaping and forming their faith community.
Missional Essentials is designed in a one lesson per week format over a twelve-week period. Each lesson is structured to take approximately an hour and a half, depending on your learning style and your desire to dig deeper with the suggested study resources. In addition to the handbook materials there is also a weekly "missional action step" that is created to enhance the learning experience of each lesson. Each weekly lesson is organized around the following six elements:
Previous Lesson Reflection
The first few minutes of each week's lesson involves a time of looking back on the
missional engagement from the previous week's lesson. It is important to have time to listen and learn from others who are making the missional quest.
Central Theme
The central theme serves as the key idea that the lesson is built around. In addition
to a basic definition of the key idea there are a couple of questions that help introduce the idea. The remainder of the lesson is designed to bring clarity and further understanding.
Biblical Reflection
Missional engagement must be rooted in the example and teaching of Jesus.
Therefore each lesson includes a biblical study and reflection to ensure that Jesus defines who we are as well as what we do.
Article
Each lesson includes an article intended to bring additional insight to the weekly discussion. The article combines the best missional thinking from a collection of authors as well as practical advice for missional living from practitioners in a variety
of settings.
Reading Reflection
All articles conclude with reflection questions to help reinforce essential principles and further the learning experience.
Missional Action Step
Each lesson concludes with one or more action steps to assist in moving from missional principles to real world practices. The action steps will not only accelerate the learning curve but will provide practical opportunities to begin participating in God's mission.
About the Authors
Lance Ford is the cofounder and director of Christianity Today's Shapevine.com and the former director of the Northwood Church Multiplication Center. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Biblical Seminary, Hatfield, Pennsylvania. A writer and consultant, Lance has designed several unique training systems currently in use by networks, seminaries, and leaders throughout the world.
Brad Brisco is the Church Planting Strategist for a network of churches in Kansas City, where he recruits, trains, and coaches church planters. He is on the board of KC Sentral, a missional training center and is the co-founder of the Sentralized Conference. He has a doctorate in the area of mission ecclesiology, and blogs regularly at missionalchurchnetwork.com.
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