…is missional discipleship aimed at three target audiences:
Prospective Missionaries, Missionaries, and Leaders.
We are necessarily expanding our focus beyond leaders to assure a convergence of missional discipleship across an entire body and to equip leaders to replicate execution of this curriculum. The media and delivery systems are diverse (Prezi, video, interactive exercises, toolboxes) and not all under a single printed cover to fit the learning styles and practical needs of a generation that thrives on visual sound bites, often taken in on the run of doing life and ministry. So while sometimes we sit for more traditional training, we emphasize more interactive, experiential elements and apprenticeship. The learning process is organic and in community with many elements available online so people can access from any screen, anytime, anywhere…
So peoples’ passions, gifts, talents and resources are fanned into Flames for God’s glory!
Module 1 – for prospective missionaries
I. Foundations of Missional Living
Kingdom Life
- Communion
- Community
- Mission
Essence of Missional Communities
- Missio Dei – actively participating in the mission of God
- Missional DNA
- Distinctives between missional communities and small groups
Seven Elements of missional communities
- Lordship of Christ
- Gospel Identity – missionary servants
- Sent
- Living Amongst – incarnational lifestyles
- Blessing
- Disciple Making
- Communitas
Overcoming Barriers to Kingdom Life
II. Theology of Mission
Gospel connections – demonstration and proclamation
Biblical Exegesis
- God’s Glory - why
- Mission - what
- Convictions - values
- Strategies - how
Module 2 – for Missionaries
III. Practices of Missional Communities
- Communing – intimate relationships with God, worship, prayer and spiritual formation.
[Lordship of Christ]
- Communicating Christ – life witness and intentional sacrificial serving & sharing truth within new spheres of influence based upon compassionate discernment of:
i. where God is working (and alignment with His heart through prayer and the Word), and
ii. understanding of our neighbors, and their needs & dreams (community exegesis).
[Gospel Identity as missionary servants]
- Collaborating – partnering with others who ‘go’ and pursue common callings to specific people groups together.
[Sent]
- Connecting – life-on-life presence and relationship building at the intersections of life in the community; ‘go and be’ AND ‘invite in’ as appropriate.
[Living Amongst - incarnational lifestyles]
- Catalyzing Change – transformational impact within the community through the complete gospel…practical, loving demonstration and sensitive proclamation of the Good News.
[Blessing]
- Cultivating (to grow & reproduce) – discipleship and empowerment to change, plan, act and replicate (individually and corporately).
[Disciplemaking]
- Committing courageously – deeper fellowship developed by being on a risky and adventurous mission together and living inter-dependently.
[Communitas]
IV. Practicum on Participating in Missional Communities
- Understanding Life Purpose (E2.10), Ministry Callings (E4) and Gifts (R12.6).
- Intentional Relationship Building within the Intersections & Rhythms of Life: Practicing Presence and Proximity
- Navigating Different World Views and Lifestyles: Policies and Postures.
- Ministry in Pluralistic Contexts: Understanding identities within the culture and effective evangelism strategies.
- Family Dynamics: On mission together.
Module 3 – for Leaders
V. Leadership Practicum on Starting & Nourishing Thriving Missional Communities
- The Heart of the Leader: Who God uses in spiritual leadership.
- Team Building: Formation, Empowerment and Conflict Management.
- Equipping & Resourcing for Mission: Training & Apprenticeship.
- Community Exegesis: Understanding people, needs and resources.
- Strategies for Externally Focused Ministry: Engaging the culture in the ‘burbs,’ in urban neighborhoods and other non-geographical contexts.
- Discipleship of Saints and Sojourners Together
- Transitioning Small Groups to Missional Communities
Additional for staff, senior leaders and coaches:
- Missional Leadership Development and Coaching
- Measuring Missional Outcomes and Impact
- Gathered and Scattered Communities: The Dynamics of ‘AND.’
- Partnerships and Cross Domain Activities
VI. Missional Transformation Processes (for staff and most senior leaders)
- Organizational Culture and Change
- Change Management: Towards Discovery, Discernment and Display of Christ in our Communities.
- Movement Dynamics: Mobilizing all of God’s people.
- Organizational Support Systems
