Missional communities

*Larry Osborne is pastor at North Coast Church.  He kicked off the RightNow Conference.

North Coast is strictly a word-of-mouth church.  They don’t do marketing.  And the principles they used when they were 180 people are the same that they use now.  So their growth strategy can work no matter your size.  But you have to figure out what God’s calling you to do in your context.

North Coast is believer-targeted and seeker sensitive.  100% of things they do are aimed at Christians, but presented in a way that unbelievers can understand it.  In preaching, don’t take so long explaining the back stories of Scripture that Christians tune out, but give enough background that the one who doesn’t know anything about the Bible can follow along.

“Excellent” works in a dechurched environment.  And it worked for a long time in the church.  Making things HD, pristine, and “perfect” looks great, but what this culture is longing for is authenticity and “the Bono factor.”  Their question is, “What are you doing for someone else?”

Real “church” happens in stealth communities (smaller hubs of people on mission), but big events have merit, too.  North Coast does these multiple times/year.  But this has to be balanced with the consistency in small groups.  Only somebody with the gifts of helps or mercy gets motivated in the big missional events.  During a 48 hour time period, they had 5500 people doing 92 service projects on 56 sites.  The coverage that this got on the news gave legitimacy to those people who had been striving on a personal level to be on mission.

The very first weekend of service, Luke 10:1-20

Before we organize people into large events…or encourage small, “stealth” mission, here are some principles to keep in mind.

  1. Before they went out to serve, Jesus thinned out the herd.  If we’re going to meet needs and spread the Truth of the Gospel, the herd may need to be thinned.  Not just grab everybody that can help.
  2. They were sent out not just to do good deeds.  Heal the sick…and share the Good News.  Jesus doesn’t just preach…he helps people’s physical needs, and works to earn the right to be heard.
  3. They were sent out as Jesus’ advance team.
  4. They focused on those who were open to their message.  The disciples went to hard places…and stayed in open places.  Places that were open to hearing the Gospel.  We have to realize that all needs can’t be met.  *When the door’s open…stay there!
  5. Poverty, injustice, and disease, as condemnable as they are, and as much as Jesus has come to deliver us from them, are not life’s biggest problem.

Tips to mobilizing small groups to be on mission

  1. What is our purpose, and how will we measure success?  We often don’t step back to determine if we’re actually having any success!  We need to find a way to measure success.
  2. How can we make this a great experience for everyone?  We may teach theology of the body of Christ, but when it comes to practically working it out, we’re not so good at it.  We have to understand that the body of Christ really has different people in it, with different callings and gifts, and help them be a better them.  We don’t need to make people into someone they’re not.  And don’t be afraid helping somebody gracefully step out of a position that’s not a good fit.
  3. How can we institutionalize good intentions?  Don’t tell small groups, “Once/year, your group needs to do a service project.”  Most people will be all for it, but have no clue where to go.  The leadership needs to ask consistently what the group’s service project will be.  North Coast puts together a list of events that will be good areas of service.  Because good intentions get pushed to the waylaid.
  4. Something to consider is the idea of “going it alone.”  When North Coast does the big events with other churches, it often ends up with people not knowing where to go the next Sunday morning.  So their answer was to help other churches do this on their own.  They train and equip other church leaders to do the work…and so that they can brand it for themselves.
  5. Institute layers of community service.  Big events…special events…weekly events.
  6. Don’t rip on the rich.  Luke 8:1-3…Jesus and his disciples were supported by a group of rich women.  The apostle Paul’s ministry was supported by wealthy individuals.  1 Timothy 6:17-19 – teach them not to be arrogant, not to trust in it, and teach them to be generous.  He didn’t tell them to sell it all.  The rich aren’t our enemies.  And God’s not calling everybody to do and be the same thing.

The Church has left the building.