One Page Book

 

The Present Future by Reggie McNeal

 

Six Tough Questions and Realities for the Church

Reality #1: The Collapse of the Church Culture

The church Jesus started will live and flourish, but the culture we have created and called “church”, particularly in North America, is on life support and will die.

Wrong Question: How do we do church better?

Tough Question: How do we “deconvert” from churchianity to Christianity?

Reality #2: The Shift from Church Growth to Kingdom Growth

The emphasis will change from successful individual churches and ministries to a larger perspective on the state of the Kingdom on earth.

Wrong Question: How do we get people to church?

Tough Question: How do we transform our community?

Reality #3: The Rising of a New Reformation Releasing God's People

The first Reformation focused on freeing the church. The New Reformation will decentralize ministry, change the “scorecard”, and be about freeing people.

Wrong Question: How do we turn members into ministers?

Tough Question: How do we turn church attenders into missionaries?

Reality #4: The Return to Spiritual Formation

There is a shift within spiritual formation from text to life experience, from classroom to home, from privatized learning to team learning environments, and from scripted lessons to life-shaped dialogue

Wrong Question: How do we develop our church members?

Tough Question: How do we develop followers of Jesus?

Reality #5: The Shift From Planning To Preparation

There will be more time and energy given to seeking and listening for what God is doing in order to be prepared and aligned with His will, and less dependency on strategy and measurable goals and plans

Wrong Question: How do we plan for the future?

Tough Question: How do we prepare for the future?

Reality #6: The Rise of Apostolic Leadership

Initiated by Jesus, men and women will step up to give shape to a movement that will define the expression and life of the church for hundreds of years.

Wrong Question: How do we develop church leaders?

Tough Question: How do we empower leaders of movements?