tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-162869402024-03-13T14:13:46.275-05:00Tim CatchimMusings on Missional Discipleship and the ApostolicUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-8584593350319476452016-04-13T13:27:00.000-05:002016-04-13T13:27:58.898-05:00229. The Ancient GospelIts amazing what you find when you start digging into church history. I have been on a 6 year journey of studying the atonement, and it was not until recently that I have begun to appreciate the treasures that can be found in the first 3-4 centuries of the church an dhow they explained the atonement. This video captures most of where I have landed in my understanding of the text of scripture as it relates to the gospel and how we explain the "how" of what Jesus has done for us. And believe me, the "how" really matters. Not so much that people understand it all on the front end, but how you explain the gospel to people sets a framework for how they will view God, themselves and a host of other really important sets in their faith. For example, when I first started studying the atonement, I ran across books that took what I call the pragmatic approach. They took the various models of atonement like penal substitution, exemplary, Christus Victor etc, and tried to say that the scriptures can vouch for all of them in some form or fashion. This sounded right at first, but then I started t see some glaring contradictions in the models. For example, either God poured his wrath out on Jesus to punish him instead of us, or he didn't. You cant have it both ways. Jesus either takes our punishment for us, or he doesn't. I, for one, can't find anywhere in the Bible where it says or teaches that God punished Jesus and poured his wrath out on him. And yet, this is exactly what most of Reformed theology teaches. I have completely rejected the penal substitution model of the atonement because I don't see it being taught in scripture. I do, however, see what my friend <a href="http://www.newhumanityinstitute.org/index.htm">Mako Nagasawa</a> has coined medical substitution, or in more technical terms, ontological substitution. Jesus is still a substitute, but he is not a penal substitute. Rather than God punishing Jesus instead of us, God united himself to our corrupted human nature and throughout the whole course of his life, he converts it back to God. At his death, he condemns the sin in his own flesh, and kills it. in his resurrection, that corrupted human nature is healed and transformed, and through out union with him, by the Spirit, he shares his new humanity with us.
Hope you enjoy the video.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DzdgDdZkSOY?list=PLxYHlY9TebDvio7RJwr43S40dIfoRvWAf" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-57142077159749293642015-08-11T20:27:00.000-05:002015-08-11T20:27:42.716-05:00Using APEST to Build Effective Teams<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z6ya_bu8FYM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-88041093198283663402014-10-31T11:12:00.001-05:002014-10-31T11:17:07.131-05:00228. Self Organizing Adaptive Systems and MovementIn <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Permanent-Revolution-Apostolic-Imagination-Practice/dp/0470907746/ref=la_B005XD38GM_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414768318&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Permanent Revolution: Apostolic Imagination and Practice for the 21st Century Church</span></a>, we talk how the church is facing an adaptive challenge here in the West. By definition, an adaptive response requires you to innovate. In other words, an adaptive challenge resists already existing solutions. If the existing solutions were adequate, than we would not be facing the challenge.<br />
<br />
So how do you make an innovative, adaptive response to an adaptive challenge? The simple answer is you allow people to self-organize in their own context and let the movemental energies of the gospel, community, discipleship, and fivefold (APEST), work themselves out in organic ways. But how does this work in real life?<br />
<br />
<h2>
Centralize before you Decentralize</h2>
Any time you hear someone say something really cool, and propose a clever solution, you should always pause and ask: What's the back story? In other words, how do we actually get there? The simple (yet challenging) answer to this question is: through disicpling relationships.In order for people to make an adaptive response, they first have to be discipled into the core DNA (essential skills,sensibilities, paradigms and practices) of being like Jesus, the most adaptive leader ever. The discipling relationship is a season where a few people centralize around a leader in order to learn how to live and lead into the core DNA of a movement. It is through discipling relationships that the DNA gets transmitted in a movement. <a href="http://www.generatecoaching.com/apostolic-ministry-and-discipleship/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">After a period of centralization, then you can de-centralize and let innovation run wild</span></a>. It is this core DNA that allows any organism, system, organization or community to self-organize and formulate adaptive responses.<br />
<br />
<h2>
The Monk Offense</h2>
<h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsERa50VX0aFnDUrPrHBm_AWBHKqjOk8KyFqr8b4iAj969_YdztB8DVU_k8LHJHAAhKkJhOYD39oDT2yoXIDNTVbY2j9Aw04J2UxJtQdNmXWY_c7gGM2SSryH7vE8xY7imz8xc/s1600/sddefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsERa50VX0aFnDUrPrHBm_AWBHKqjOk8KyFqr8b4iAj969_YdztB8DVU_k8LHJHAAhKkJhOYD39oDT2yoXIDNTVbY2j9Aw04J2UxJtQdNmXWY_c7gGM2SSryH7vE8xY7imz8xc/s1600/sddefault.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
</h2>
As I researched the concept of self-organizing systems, I ran across a guy named Ron Ekker, a seasoned NBA coach who started a training organization called <a href="http://www.basketballtalkpro.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Basketball Talk Pro</span></a>. This guy created the <a href="http://www.basketballtalkpro.com/the-monk-offense-explained-briefly-there-is-more-to-come/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Monk Offense</span></a>, an offensive strategy that incorporates the principles of self-organizing, adaptive, improvisational systems.<br />
<br />
Ron doesn't necessarily package his training well (talks slow, a bit boring) but he is the only person I know that has systematically applied the concepts of self-organizing adaptive systems to the realm of sports and teams. He really is a genius in explaining how the concept of DNA (what he calls "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1vX68RuAnI" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">rules</span></a>") is axiomatic to any system being able to improvise, and thus make an adaptive response. <br />
<br />
This is a video of him explaining how it works in basketball. It is a beautiful example of how simple DNA(rules) can facilitate movemental dynamics and facilitate innovation.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/36OJhXAFxLo" width="560"></iframe>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-50545550927328810622014-09-16T17:09:00.002-05:002014-09-16T17:09:33.370-05:00227. Missional Commons: Evangelism in the Missional Church<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zqt4es7IwGc/VBizb8h2_QI/AAAAAAAAAWE/dNxlxdBWV8I/s1600/Missional%2BCommons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zqt4es7IwGc/VBizb8h2_QI/AAAAAAAAAWE/dNxlxdBWV8I/s1600/Missional%2BCommons.jpg" height="122" title="Missional Commons" width="320" /></a></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">The Missional Commons</span></span></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ever participated in the Missional Commons? This will be my first opportunity to hang out with some folks in the Chicago area. Geoff Holsclaw has been stoking this fire for a while now. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Here is some of the info from<span style="color: #474747;"> </span><a href="http://geoffreyholsclaw.net/evangelism-in-the-missional-church-nov-7-8/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Geoff's site</span></a><span style="color: #474747;">. </span>This year’s </span><strong style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Missional Learning Commons</strong><span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> will focus on the oft forgotten member of the 5-fold gifts for the church (Eph. 5): the <strong style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Evangelists</em></strong>.</span></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;">The Evangelist in the Missional Church</span></h2>
<h3 style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
While the Attractional Church focuses mostly on <em style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Pastors</em> and <em style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Teachers</em>, the Missional Church often gravitates toward the <em style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Apostles</em> and <em style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Prophets</em>.</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">But what of the Evangelists?</strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
On Nov. 7th and 8th the Missinoal Comons will focus our attention on the <strong style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Practices of Proclamation & Presence </strong>as we seek the Kingdom of God among us in <em style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">personal spaces, social spaces, and public spaces. </em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
I'll be teaching a session on the profile of an evangelist, with implications for how we recognizer and empower evangelists in the missional church and movements. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">SCHEDULE:</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
Friday, Nov. 7th (7:30-9:00pm)<br />Saturday, Nov. 8th (8:30am-3:00pm)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">REGISTRATION<span style="color: #474747;"> (</span><a href="https://guestlistapp.com/events/281352" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.14s ease 0s; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; color: #7cc0cb; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.14s ease 0s;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="color: #474747;">): </span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
Registration will include a catered lunch on Saturday as well as childcare on Satuday for those who need it.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">LOCATION:</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; color: #474747; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
<em style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; color: #474747; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
The <strong style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://missionalcommons.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4f7f21fdbad1f28be075c71cf&id=38f27bf8a4&e=c57fbfa9eb" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.14s ease 0s; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; color: #0687d9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.14s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Commons</a></strong> of <strong style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://missionalcommons.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4f7f21fdbad1f28be075c71cf&id=679f7b5758&e=c57fbfa9eb" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.14s ease 0s; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; color: #0687d9; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.14s ease 0s;" target="_blank">Peace of Christ Community Church</a></strong> in Westmont, IL.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
If your in the area, check this thing out. </div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-35603932183247623592014-09-06T16:16:00.000-05:002014-09-06T16:31:02.160-05:00226. The Permanent Revolution Playbook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtr8D6evtmGQUJKHqo6c04jB9-bEHvPOSTt1f-B6NzcDxMXxC294QXp8JxqhaYp1K4uEMjnOVRBuTYIfXdepbo6vLiM5XG-KJgJTi-EELGfpQ4OAbOFkXWy6mvyYDzIJSyxw9j/s1600/Tim+Catchim+The+Permanent+Revolution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtr8D6evtmGQUJKHqo6c04jB9-bEHvPOSTt1f-B6NzcDxMXxC294QXp8JxqhaYp1K4uEMjnOVRBuTYIfXdepbo6vLiM5XG-KJgJTi-EELGfpQ4OAbOFkXWy6mvyYDzIJSyxw9j/s1600/Tim+Catchim+The+Permanent+Revolution.jpg" height="320" title="Tim Catchim The Permanent Revolution" width="250" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 6pt 13.35pt 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At last! After a lot of hard work, a practical resource for engaging the five-fold ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers (APEST) is now available! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.missiopublishing.com/permanent-revolution-playbook-1/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Permanent Revolution</span></a> is a six week exploration into Ephesians four with special emphasis on how APEST functions in groups and teams. Whether you are currently in a group or are at the beginning phases of starting one, this Playbook has been especially deisgned to help a group develop theior potential for ministry and leadership. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Specifically, The Permanent Revolution Playbook is designed to bring:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Greater Awareness</b> to the Biblical foundations for the five-fold ministry vocations of Ephesians 4, with an emphasis on clear and practical definitions for each gifting. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Deeper Appreciation</b> for how each gifting uniquely contributes to the growth and maturity of the church as missional movement. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Clearer Assessment</b> of both individual and group APEST ministry profiles and processes for identifying key areas for individual and group development. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Closer Alignment</b> for negotiating the tensions between unity and diversity, with implications for equipping and empowering others for ministry and leadership. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have been waiting for a resource on APEST that anyone can participate in, then wait no longer. <a href="http://www.missiopublishing.com/permanent-revolution-playbook-1/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">This Playbook</span></a> is a great way to introduce the biblical principles of APEST, while also guiding people through a process of how to practically implement it within their own context. </span></span></div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-3031729067546682502014-06-22T19:56:00.003-05:002014-06-22T19:56:35.572-05:00225. Team Development for Church Planting<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;">
<em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Lord of the Flies, </em>William Golding’s novel about a group of boys stuck on an uninhabited island, remains a classic. What at first seemed like an ideal situation for a bunch of kids away from their parents soon became a rather harrowing experience. Stranded all by themselves, they were suddenly forced to entertain an entirely new set of challenges.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;">
One of the many challenges they faced was how to function as a group. Questions related to roles and responsibilities in the group began to surface. Needless to say, this group of kids could not come to a place of unity. Their disagreements about how live together led them to splinter into two opposing groups, each with their own methods of survival. Unfortunately, the boy’s naiveté and immaturity got the best of them. Their inability to function as a team seriously undermined their ability to face the challenges of their environment. The boys finally make it off the island, but not without significant trauma and violence to certain members of the group.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;">
<a href="http://thev3movement.org/2014/06/what-everybody-ought-to-know-about-team-development/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">FINISH READING HERE</span></a></div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-60987686668110803262014-04-15T13:47:00.003-05:002014-09-11T10:49:21.188-05:00224. The Gospel and the Apostle: movemental through and throughThis article by Paul Bowers is perhaps one of the most profound articles on the movemental nature of the gospel. It is rare to find a missiologist in the academy that makes this link between the gospel and movement. The great thing about Paul Bowers is that he also integrates this insight into Paul's view of his mission. If you are into church planting, or the missional conversation in general, then this will be a stimulating read for you.
Link <a href="http://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/30/30-2/30-2-pp185-198_JETS.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">HERE</span></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="400" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/33562376" width="476"></iframe>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-44100804593952590652014-03-13T11:24:00.003-05:002014-03-13T11:24:40.220-05:00223. The Missional Incarnational Journey and Missional Communties<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;">
<span style="color: #444444;">One of the defining characteristics of missional communities is how they organize their </span><a href="http://thev3movement.org/2013/12/developing-a-rule-and-rhythm-of-life/" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; text-decoration: none; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">rhythm of life</span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> around being on mission to a particular neighborhood or network of relationships. </span><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; color: #444444; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">A missional community is, after all, a community with a mission.</strong><span style="color: #444444;"> That particular mission, however, can (and should) look different for every missional community.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;">
<span style="color: #444444;">In time, disciples, leaders and missional communities multiply. This creates the potential for missional communities to focus on the </span><a href="http://thev3movement.org/2013/11/exegeting-a-neighborhood-within-the-city/" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; text-decoration: none; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">various people groups and places of your city</span></a><span style="color: #444444;">. This is the beauty of missional communities: they provide a common vehicle that allows people to pursue a diversity of callings.</span></div>
<h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 32px; margin: 10px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;">
Missional-Incarnational Impulse</h2>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;">
<span style="color: #444444;">While every MC will have a different look and feel, they should all be shaped by what </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0801014913/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0801014913&linkCode=as2&tag=chrismortonin-20" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; text-decoration: none; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Michael Frost and Alan</span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0801014913/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0801014913&linkCode=as2&tag=chrismortonin-20" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; -webkit-transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out initial; color: #4aabe8; text-decoration: none; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out initial; visibility: visible;" target="_blank"> Hirsch</a><span style="color: #444444;"> have coined as the “missional-incarnational impulse.” </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;">
The missional impulse is the notion that we are to be a sent and sending presence in the world. This is the “going” of our collective vocation as the people of God. As a sent people, we are inherently movemental, which is to say, in Bible-speak “apostolic.” Part of living out the missional impulse is being willing to cross boundaries and engage people on their own turf as it were.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;">
<a href="http://thev3movement.org/2014/03/the-missional-incarnational-journey/" style="font-size: 14px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Read more here</span></a></div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-60748568763752218302014-03-06T09:51:00.000-06:002014-03-06T09:52:08.862-06:00222. Developing a Rule and Rhythm of Life in Church Planting<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;">
Founding a new community will lead you to encounter unusual levels of chaos. New people, new places, new plans, and new priorities are just a few of the dynamics at work behind the chaotic experience of a planter. Although typically avoided, chaos is not always a bad thing. Under the right conditions, it can actually facilitate growth and innovation. This is why we often see a new leader(s) emerge during chaotic situations. In fact, one of the staple features of leadership is the ability to bring order out of chaos. Those who manage to facilitate order in the midst of chaos are often invested by the group with charisma. That is, the group deems such people as being worthy of following.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;">
In the beginning phases of a plant, it is often the leader(s) charisma that provides the initial energy in the life of the new group. The leader(s) vibe (personality), vision, values and virtues serve as a point of reference around which the group will organize itself. Without this point of reference in the leader(s), a new group will struggle with a sense of identity and purpose.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased !important; background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; visibility: visible;">
<a href="http://thev3movement.org/2013/12/developing-a-rule-and-rhythm-of-life/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">READ MORE HERE</span></a></div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-87421926872514256422013-11-30T09:19:00.003-06:002014-09-11T10:50:05.010-05:00221. Discipleship and Mission: the logic of imitationI have recently been diving into the work of Rene Girard. Needless to say, it is like tumbling down a rabbit hole. It engages so many other fields and informs so much of the things that I invest my time in. Things like leadership, discipleship, movements, worship, mission, and community all stand in line to be re-envisioned through Girard's mimetic theory.<br />
<br />
As I was researching mimetic desire and church planting, I came across this article about how imitation under girds the logic of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. Thought I would share.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe height="480" src="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_0xdyQM4embRXpWOWpCdDk0MEU/preview" width="720"></iframe>
In regard to this article, it is amazing to me how the logic of imitation in I Corinthians serves to undermine the notion that some "scholars" have proposed in regards to whether or not Paul encouraged his communities to overtly evangelize. I really do think this principle of imitation is a hermeneutical key for multiple topics we tend to wrestle with. For example, I think an exploration into how the <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://timcatchim.blogspot.com/2012_01_01_archive.html"><span style="color: blue;">dynamics of imitation can illuminate our understanding of inspiration and the formation of the canon</span></a> </span>would be quite revealing.<span style="color: blue;"> </span>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-53728256568803823622013-09-05T18:07:00.001-05:002013-09-05T18:07:48.497-05:00Petyon Jones and Church Zero<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg8TDZbLMow/UikNg-5Pi0I/AAAAAAAAAH0/cmpj_JwA-cM/s1600/zero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg8TDZbLMow/UikNg-5Pi0I/AAAAAAAAAH0/cmpj_JwA-cM/s320/zero.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="270" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">So I ran into this guy at Exponential this year named Peyton Jones. Turns out, he has a really cool book on APEST. I love this guy, his personality, and his pioneering ways. Peyton Jones founded New Breed Church Planting. He is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Church-Zero-Raising-Churches-ebook/dp/B00BLVGPRE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1378422191&sr=1-1&keywords=Church+Zero" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Church Zero: Raising1st Century Churches Out of the Ashes of the 21st CenturyChurch</span></a>. Peyton is also the co-host of the
Church Planter Podcast and Managing Editor of Church Planter Magazine (Free
Subscriptions available through this link: http://bit.ly/18ImRmW ). Here is the Interview. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">TC:
Your new book Church Zero deals with a theme that’s very close to my heart,
namely the recovery of APEST to the church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">PJ:
I actually term the APEST as FIST leadership, using each of the fingers as a
metaphor for each of the roles. I think
in pictures, I can’t help it. That’s why
I thought your diagrams in Permanent Revolution were fantastic. That really worked for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">TC:
Speaking of pictures, you’ve got some funny stuff in Church Zero. Tell me about your writing style? There’s a lot of pop culture references. In fact, more so than most Christian books. What’s that about?<br />
<br />
PJ: Well, after being on the mission
field in Europe for 12 years, I had to start to learn to communicate in
pictures. To say that Europeans are
biblically illiterate would be an understatement. I love them to death, but when I got there, I
realized that my standard American way of preaching wasn’t working. When I started utilizing everything I could
from pop culture to communicate the gospel, I started to see the gears turn in
people’s brains and the lights came on.
It changed me. In America, you
can still reference Moses and people know who you mean. Not there. There is a second reason too. I’m the grandson of a best-selling author,
and My wife is an English Lit major with a MA in Creative Writing. We love books and literature, so when I
write, I tend to pick a theme for my illustrations. It’s a sort of literary device. For example, in Church Zero I propose that
the church is still stuck in the 80s and wondering why nothing is working. So, most of the illustrations from that book
are from the 80s; Heman, Star Wars, Karate Kid, Voltron. Plus, I watched a lot
of TV growing up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">TC:
The chapter titles themselves are amusing.
For example, Chapter One is titled “This is Gonna Hurt”, Chapter Seven
“Blowing Up the Deathstar”, and Chapter Eight “Why Your Church Sucks”. What kind of response have you gotten from
this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">PJ: People are pretty intrigued by the book. When they read it they usually agree. It is calling for a reformation in the church
and it doesn’t take the combat boots off.
It comes out swinging and ends by kicking the door down. They called it “A Punk Rock Approach to a
Pastoral Issue”. I’m happy with
that. It’s meant to be provocative,
edgy, and prophetic. I basically felt as
if God asked me if I wanted to be liked or if I wanted to be used. It couldn’t be both. I’ve never run after celebrity. I’ve always been a “keep your head down and
charge ahead” kind of guy. I’m more
excited about the ride I’ve been on the past 14 years starting up churches in
Starbucks, or the inner city. I’ve
become addicted to planting like other guys are addicted to getting tattoos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">TC:
Is that the kind of thing that people can expect when they knock at the door of
your training Network “New Breed Church Planting”?</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">PJ:
Well, I think it’s safe to say that it’s the embodiment of Church Zero. It’s a 1<sup>st</sup> century style Church
Planting network. It’s the kind of</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">network
that I wish I had access to when I stared on this journey.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">We operate much
like the</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Apostle Paul did
in the 1st century. We train people up through doing. We actually take them
with us and show them, rather than just make them sit in a classroom.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">TC:
But the classroom stuff is still valuable right?</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">PJ:
Of course. Paul taught his church planters daily in the school of Tyrannus,
using Ephesus as a planting hub. You’ve heard of the 7 churches of Asia? Well,
over the two years Paul was there, he sent his planters out to plant those
churches. It’s a combination of theory and practicum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">We
have a couple of unique distinctives.
First, we value the five roles in Ephesians 4, and we’re also</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">dedicated to reaching the unreached. In
that sense, we’re not original, but unusual. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Secondly,
we are very missional and frontlines about planting. We go where the need is,
not where the money is. Right now I’m
passionate about planting amongst the urban poor. Plants that serve merely to set up a career
for the planter bug me to no end. We always say, </span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">“If you want to reach the ones nobody is
reaching, then you’ve got to go where nobody is going, and do what nobody is
doing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Thirdly,
we plant churches that plant churches. It’s about multiplication for us. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Paul didn’t have transfer growth issues,
and the way we train guys, and where we send them, it doesn’t become an issue.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">TC:
I raised that because I knew that you also teach planting at the</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">University level.</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">PJ:
Yes, I do. I’m passionate about passing the torch on to this</span><span style="font-family: "Times","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">generation. I realize that not everybody
can just up stakes and come train at one of our hubs. Although I’m currently
developing online education for multiple institutions, we’re making all our
training available via the internet at the New Breed Church Planting
website. We’re pretty proud of the fact
that all of the profit from the sales of those materials actually pay for the
training of another church planter.
That’s something you don’t really see done. In fact, it’s the only reason we even charge
for those materials. Everything else we
do is free, just because we know that church planters are poor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">TC:
Right now, Church Planter Magazine is also free isn’t it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">PJ:
Yes, we keep approaching ministries to buy bulk subscriptions so that the
planters can have it for free. We are
passionate about getting the help to the guys on the ground who need it. It’s in the iTunes store for the Apple Newsstand,
but we’re working on a Kindle, and Droid version as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">TC:
Peyton thanks for letting us pick your brain, and get to know you a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt;">PJ:
Well, the contents of my brain made for a short interview, but it’s been my
pleasure. Your work has been a huge help
to me as well, and I look forward to what you do next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-46186080848249003922013-07-01T14:16:00.002-05:002013-07-01T14:16:17.555-05:00Sentralized Conference 2013 <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18pt;">
<span style="color: #333333;">Sentralized is about helping the missional conversation move beyond theory. It is about to inspiring and propelling the church to engage in God’s mission in life changing ways. As always, Sentralized 2013 will give significant focus on practical engagement through the stories and personal examples of some of the best missional practitioners around. If you desire to gain a clearer, deeper understanding of the missional conversation, but would also benefit from knowing <i>how</i></span><span style="color: #333333;"> to engage your local context, then join us this September in Kansas City. </span><a href="http://sentralizedconference.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://sentralizedconference.<wbr></wbr>com</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18pt;">
Just a few of the topics:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18pt;">
<b>Every Believer a Justice Seeker, </b>with Jen & Brandon Hatmaker<b></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18pt;">
<b>The Art of Neighboring, </b>with Dave Runyon<b></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18pt;">
<b>Resourcing God's People for Mission, </b>with Matt Smay & Hugh Halter<b></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18pt;">
<b>Going Deep in The Hood, </b>with Kirsten Strand<b></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18pt;">
<b>A Missional Agenda for Neighborhood <wbr></wbr>Transformation, </b>with Michael Frost<b></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18pt;">
<b>The Story of God: Making Disciples & Building Community, </b>with Caesar Kalinowski</div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-2810094242095911572013-06-18T20:45:00.000-05:002014-09-11T10:51:38.291-05:00218. Some linguistic implications from the word APOSTLE Part 2In the previous post, we looked at the implications of the word APO for understanding how apostles are wired, and consequently, their approach to ministry. Pauline apostles tend to launch out (separate) from the center and pioneer something at the edge. Petrine apostles, however, tend to mobilize the center towards the edge to achieve missional impact.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhffShQq64CfY5tZnvHDsI_oi1sOz740AtO0HXxKZckIAG809Y_J9ThDuryg_ehROVtcD1DBsV_ViqIhrtzW9c1UpwRmF6f4LuX3DU0xDnk2DpvIcHoyJFzHmj3rPrF__O6S2/s1600/ApoLOGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhffShQq64CfY5tZnvHDsI_oi1sOz740AtO0HXxKZckIAG809Y_J9ThDuryg_ehROVtcD1DBsV_ViqIhrtzW9c1UpwRmF6f4LuX3DU0xDnk2DpvIcHoyJFzHmj3rPrF__O6S2/s320/ApoLOGO.jpg" height="318" width="320" /></a>So how does the impulse to APO show up in the Petrine form of apostolic ministry? If Petrine apostles tend to stay at the center, in what ways does the APO surface in their ministry? While there are many ways to explore this, I want to suggest that the tendency to "separate" shows up in Petrine forms of apostolic ministry through a decentralizing of the organization for missional impact. That is, Petrine folks will often seek to diversify the organizations efforts to reach as many people and places as possible. Rather than trying to attract as many people as possible to the center (a staple feature of evangelistic ministry), Petrine apostles will seek to build a strong center <b><i><u>in order to</u></i></b> resource the edge. For a Petrine apostle, the center is not an end in and of itself. It is a generative focal point to fuel the movement. In other words, Petrine apostles see the center as a tool for mission, and the mission will tend to be multi-cultural and city wide, often leaping into other regions and spheres of influence.<br />
<br />
Both Pauline and Petrine apostles are entrepreneurial, but their entrepreneurial energy tends to gravitate towards two be applied in two different spheres. Pauline forms of apostolic ministry will tend to focus entrepreneurial energies at the edge, while Petrine apostles will tend to focus their entrepreneurial energies at the center, mobilizing the organization itself to be entrepreneurial. This is why we say in our book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Permanent-Revolution-Apostolic-Imagination/dp/0470907746/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371605770&sr=8-1&keywords=the+permanent+revolution+apostolic+imagination+and+practice+for+the+21st+century+church" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Permanent Revolution</span></a> that Petrine apostles are more aptly described as being <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrapreneurship" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">intrapreneurs</span></a>. They focus their energies within the organization helping to mine its resources and mobilize the organization for entrepreneurial ventures. This often requires an organization to diversify (APO - separate) its focus and resources. <br />
<br />Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-34213166905293624352013-06-12T10:27:00.002-05:002014-09-11T10:51:53.120-05:00217. Some linguistic implications from the word APOSTLE Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqQ9S7lVSl_7BAp_AHbLIa-kYflHe5hr_eul05cQgNgQ2ScFXL22l6kv1L3GuFvq25u-uGK8lJkeqQO-g0fIkXdKTQujzQ7A7-0pEYheaRWw-r9qktnNi2GFycZ9-W5tcyXcz/s1600/ApoLOGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqQ9S7lVSl_7BAp_AHbLIa-kYflHe5hr_eul05cQgNgQ2ScFXL22l6kv1L3GuFvq25u-uGK8lJkeqQO-g0fIkXdKTQujzQ7A7-0pEYheaRWw-r9qktnNi2GFycZ9-W5tcyXcz/s200/ApoLOGO.jpg" height="199" width="200" /></a></div>
It is amazing what kind of implications you can draw from the etymology of a word. I have been grinding over the word APOSTLE the past few weeks, and have had a few epiphanies about the word and its implications about apostles and their approach to ministry.<br />
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The word apostle is actually a conjunction of two words: APO = "to separate" or "withdraw" and STELLO meaning "sent." Lets camp out on this word APO first. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This notion of "separating" is a staple feature of apostles and how they approach their callings. Relationally speaking, apostles typically do not have a problem separating from the group. In fact, this separation from the group is often a prerequisite to being sent. Take Acts 13 for example. The Holy Spirit says "<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G873&t=KJV" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">separate</span></a>" Paul and Barnabas for the work I have called them to. In order to be sent, you have to make a break from the group. People who are wired as apostles typically adapt to this kind of separation from the group pretty well. In MBTI frameworks, most apostles tend to be a "T." That is, they have a penchant for creating distance between themselves and the people who will be effected by their decisions. Granted, this can be a vice if it is not tempered with love, compassion and wisdom. However, when it comes to being sent, this capacity to "separate" oneself and move forward is actually a strength. It allows the apostle to more readily make a break from the group and pioneer into new frontiers. This is more readily seen in the more Pauline type apostles who like to <a href="http://timcatchim.blogspot.com/2011/07/166-mbti-and-apostolic-ministry.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">leave the center and pioneer something out on the edge</span></a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the next post, I will look at how this impulse to "separate" shows up in the more Petrine types who tend to focus their ministry within the center in order to mobilize people towards the edge for missional impact. </div>
</div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-23525309039292546952013-05-04T17:36:00.003-05:002013-05-04T17:36:57.159-05:00216. Forge America<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLBLuuIdx5KvvlBpchKbj-ZP50PpdgKxgUizKnakgYbenBwJfCW62_feWf5PlP29_wrBTqHo7iZZksoKWW0VbDEEfysYDlP18-NupW-jSAvojOr7pWxobKQHD0MWYC4Kn1_Qt/s1600/Forge+America+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLBLuuIdx5KvvlBpchKbj-ZP50PpdgKxgUizKnakgYbenBwJfCW62_feWf5PlP29_wrBTqHo7iZZksoKWW0VbDEEfysYDlP18-NupW-jSAvojOr7pWxobKQHD0MWYC4Kn1_Qt/s320/Forge+America+Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It is only within the past few years that I have really come to realize the necessity of being part of a larger network. There are a lot of church planting networks and organizations out there. A lot of good ones, and some, according to who you ask, not so good. The great thing about a network is that it facilitates relationships. This may sound overly simplistic, but relationships <div>
can be a gateway to so many other things. Networks are a strategic environment where everyone gets to be influenced, as well as be an influencer. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I recently had a great opportunity to hang out with a great network of missional practitioners. The <a href="http://www.forgeamerica.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Forge America</span></a> team at Exponential is a blast. Not only do they know how to throw a good party. these folks are all about serving the missional movement in our day. They think grass-rootsy (a fettish of mine) and have real servant hearts. They really do champion the idea of ordinary people doing extraordinary things for God. In fact, after reflecting on the nature of their organization, it hit me one day that Forge is <a href="http://timcatchim.blogspot.com/2010/05/115-innovation-apple-or-google-way.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">a lot like Android/Google</span></a>. They don't mind you hacking in to their stuff and innovating with it, and actually design their organization and content to facilitate this very thing. They truly are a centered set kind of organization, I love it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After a few discussions with their leadership, it seemed like a great fit for me to link up with them and join their team. Really excited about the future possibilities of hanging out with them how I will be influenced by the great folks in their network. </div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-56957931328714377042013-04-12T11:27:00.000-05:002014-09-11T10:54:14.063-05:00215. A peek into the Fuzzy Front End of the Permanent Revolution Part 4In looking at the metaphors Paul uses to describe his apostolic function and role, it is an interesting exercise to think about how these terms relate to one another in the realm of authority. There is a certain social currency afforded to founders within the group by virtue of them being the founders. Whether they want to recognize it or not, founders have a certain level of authority within the organizations they found. The group looks to the founder with a certain sense of obligation and gratitude. The group exists, after all, because of the founders efforts. Without the founder, the group would not have formed, and those within the group would not have access to the life and resources that have emerged within the context of that group.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So founders, whether they like it or not, have a certain level of social currency within the groups they found. How and when they choose to spend this currency within the group will determine whether or not that currency increases or decreases in value (a topic for another post :-) My hunch is that Paul was aware of the social currency available to him as a founder. I think the metaphors Paul uses for his apostolic role within the communities he has founded points to a <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/taxonomy?s=t" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">taxonomy</span></a> of social currency that is made available to founders of new communities. I suggest the following framework as a <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/heuristic?s=t" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">heuristic</span></a> for distilling the kind of social influence inherent within the apostolic function of planting new churches. See the picture below to the right.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqL5tVnk9jQSCAZv7S959CP1l1wLk-qyXUFqJL31qjENFVdB0xPrT0JwD096rj6_WGZvB8H9u08ir1zy6ShF6vGvLV5xrpKkiiqxBc37Ag7fTUh7kSjfJTW9wJT9xUnu4nJ2k/s1600/Green+Notebook+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqL5tVnk9jQSCAZv7S959CP1l1wLk-qyXUFqJL31qjENFVdB0xPrT0JwD096rj6_WGZvB8H9u08ir1zy6ShF6vGvLV5xrpKkiiqxBc37Ag7fTUh7kSjfJTW9wJT9xUnu4nJ2k/s1600/Green+Notebook+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqL5tVnk9jQSCAZv7S959CP1l1wLk-qyXUFqJL31qjENFVdB0xPrT0JwD096rj6_WGZvB8H9u08ir1zy6ShF6vGvLV5xrpKkiiqxBc37Ag7fTUh7kSjfJTW9wJT9xUnu4nJ2k/s400/Green+Notebook+3.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a>The nature of metaphor, as Aristotle says it, is the similarity of dissimilarities. In other words, metaphors help open up new relationships of meaning. When Paul says he is an ambassador, he trying to open up the Corinthians mind to how his role as an apostle is similar to what they understand the role of an ambassador is. To say that Paul is an ambassador (2 Corinthians 5) is to say something different from saying he is a father ( 1 Cor 4). Yet each of these terms clearly point to a certain relational terrain Paul sees himself navigating as a founder of the Corinthian community. Some terms like father draw on certain facets of Paul's social currency, while other terms draw on other facets of that currency. Each term does something different. As such, these different metaphors affirm different facets of that social currency, as well as provoke within the Corinthian community various frameworks by which they are to perceive Paul and his role as a founder among them.<br />
<br />
The diagram to the right was my first attempt to arrange these metaphors into a framework that accounted for the various degrees of social currency each metaphor may have evoked within the Corinthians. So for example, when you look into the metaphor Ambassador, you will find it connotes a sense of authority derived from the one they are representing. This is perhaps the most authoritative metaphor Paul uses with the Corinthians. I have sense rearranged this list into the following order.<br />
<br />
1. Ambassador<br />
2. Father<br />
3. Slave<br />
4. Foundation Layer<br />
5. Planter<br />
6. Partner<br />
<br />
These are listed in descending order as to the perceived amount of social currency Paul wold have been leveraging when he used this term. To frame your role as an ambassador draws more social currency than to frame ones role as the foundation layer. There are notions of representative authority in ambassador that are not present in the metaphor of foundation layer. Ambassador points to a source of authority beyond itself, while simultaneously sharing in that authority from a representational perspective. Foundation layer points to a source of authority tied up in the skill, craftsmanship and wisdom of the designer and builder. The one who lays the foundation has a right to say how others should build upon it. their authority is inherent to their activity of foundation laying, not an outside source. This is why founding authority is not unique to Paul as an apostle. This kind of social currency is available to founders of all kinds, whether they are church planters, founders of non-profits, entrepreneurs of new businesses or whatever. It is a sociological phenomenon related to the group dynamics. <br />
<br />
And just in case you think founding a new community is an opportunity to secure a new source of authority, take note of the kinds of difficulties Paul encountered in his efforts to found new communities. Founding authority is unique, but so are the challenges associated with the task of founding something new. The cool thing about Paul's letters is that they provide us a window into how to steward the social currency that emerges from founding new communities. In fact, I think 2 Corinthians is the largest window available to us in this respect. </div>
</div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-38364534197436435352013-03-21T10:35:00.002-05:002014-09-11T10:53:53.109-05:00214. A peek into the Fuzzy Front End of the Permanent Revolution Part 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CmmQkDW7eiBRPjULu5rfwL4GY6w2r4usXp8cDq4ftSybPqRFUmwooLu_jnUw7tjALBBY5xOCSDcqwItp5RSWoYVjyenwJogG23pXOMEUPsBbcCV3T9UlSAHvU7IlU7Na-3i2/s1600/Green+Notebook+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CmmQkDW7eiBRPjULu5rfwL4GY6w2r4usXp8cDq4ftSybPqRFUmwooLu_jnUw7tjALBBY5xOCSDcqwItp5RSWoYVjyenwJogG23pXOMEUPsBbcCV3T9UlSAHvU7IlU7Na-3i2/s400/Green+Notebook+2.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
As I reflected on the metaphors Paul used to describe his relationship with others, I also came across language that was not so egalitarian. While Paul leaned heavily on egalitarian metaphors, he also recognized that by virtue of his role as a founder of new communities, there was a certain relational matrix that emerged from this kind of activity.<br />
<br />
By virtue of being a founder, there exists a certain degree of authority built into the relationship between the founder and the community that was founded. It is built into the nature of founding things. Said another way, it is axiomatic to Pauline forms of apostolic ministry.<br />
<br />
Paul frames the nature of this relationship with the of parent/child metaphor in I Corinthians 4:14-17 when he says:<br />
<br />
<span class="text 1Cor-4-14" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn <i>you.</i> </span><span class="text 1Cor-4-15" id="en-NKJV-28449" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet <i>you do</i> not <i>have</i> many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.</span><span class="text 1Cor-4-16" id="en-NKJV-28450" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>Therefore I urge you, imitate me. </span><span class="text 1Cor-4-17" id="en-NKJV-28451" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.</span><br />
<br />
Paul uses this metaphor of father/child to describe his role as the catalyst of planting the seed of the gospel that gave birth to their community. Paul is a parent to the Corinthians in this respect. By virtue of Paul's role in the development of the community, he occupies a sphere of influence that only a founder(s) can occupy. This sphere of influence is, it should be noted, only reaches into the communities he founded. So Paul does have this kind of relational currency with those communities he has not founded. Looking at some of the metaphors Paul uses to describe his role in the communities, we can discern a certain relational terrain associate with the landscape of apotolic ministry. Some of these metaphors are:<br />
<br />
1. Foundation Layer - I Cor 3<br />
2. Father - I Cor 4<br />
3. Ambassador - II Cor 5<br />
4. Founder - I Cor 4<br />
5. Worker - II Cor 6<br />
<br />
It is important to recognize that while Paul occupied a unique sphere of influence in his communities, he did not lord it over them. So for example, listen to what he says in II Corinthians<br />
<br />
<span class="text 2Cor-1-23" id="en-NKJV-28824" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. </span><span class="text 2Cor-1-24" id="en-NKJV-28825" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><i><u>Not that we have dominion over your faith</u></i></b>, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand...</span><br />
<br />
So while Paul is a parent to the Corinthians, he is not paternalistic. While he occupies a sphere of influential authority in the communities he founds, his posture towards them is not authoritarian. Paul was able to find, as Michael Gorman would say, a way of exercising authority in a cruciform way. That is, his authority in those communities originated in the gospel, and was expressed in alignment with the values of the cross - weakness, humility, sacrificial love etc.<br />
<br />
The next post will attempt to outline how some of these metaphors relate to one another with respect to spheres of authority. </div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-91190833193863016132013-03-14T23:36:00.001-05:002014-09-11T10:53:25.736-05:00213. A peek into the Fuzzy Front End of The Permanent Revolution Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9CLBzc23uYsw_fHNzS6dxqT7iVlWDsvgxW6W8k4SebGUyp2LnpdxSQQ-djqwlIzPCsq1rfsq4gpi0jaSdKip6EBvaqQ3ySGMGr2I4DzKx0f7WL7YHnEgf3uo2-_REBlJpsta/s1600/Green+Notebook+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9CLBzc23uYsw_fHNzS6dxqT7iVlWDsvgxW6W8k4SebGUyp2LnpdxSQQ-djqwlIzPCsq1rfsq4gpi0jaSdKip6EBvaqQ3ySGMGr2I4DzKx0f7WL7YHnEgf3uo2-_REBlJpsta/s400/Green+Notebook+1.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
This is one of the earlier diagrams I was working on at the forefront of the project. I was fascinated by all the metaphors Paul used to describe his relationship with the communities he founded. This first diagram was centered around the metaphors that communicated a more egalitarian relationship. Paul had no reservations about referring to himself as a:<br />
<br />
1. Fellow Worker<br />
2. Brother<br />
3. Disciple<br />
4. Partner<br />
5. Priosner<br />
6. Soldier<br />
7. Slave<br />
<br />
All of these metaphors can equally describe any one in the body of Christ. You do not need to function apostolically to own these terms. This is important to recognize when looking into the nature and function of apostolic ministry. Paul is first a brother in the Lord, then a "father" in the gospel. Paul is first a disciple of Jesus, then a leader for Jesus. Paul is first a partner in the gospel, then a steward/custodian of the gospel etc.<br />
<br />
There is an egalitarian nature to Paul's ministry as an apostle. He is not an elitist. He is a fellow worker in the gospel, right along side of the communities he plants. However, as we will see in the next two posts, he does use metaphors that help frame his role as an apostle among the communities he founds. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-20025314515101313822013-03-10T19:30:00.001-05:002014-09-11T10:52:56.624-05:00212. A peek into the Fuzzy Front End of The Permanent Revolution Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSGA3PF6SyGnTF8aiKnbk-GROeGAjJ0gLYSDzt5VywxeejD6eyUrV1meTa3ftjQco8QYHDD2wzadljRymDc9xz2bS2CG9sWf2lPRLS_iOLBC20ID0qjo9PyQe0iFAVL63pQf_/s1600/Green+A+Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSGA3PF6SyGnTF8aiKnbk-GROeGAjJ0gLYSDzt5VywxeejD6eyUrV1meTa3ftjQco8QYHDD2wzadljRymDc9xz2bS2CG9sWf2lPRLS_iOLBC20ID0qjo9PyQe0iFAVL63pQf_/s640/Green+A+Book.jpg" height="640" width="361" /></a></div>
Warning: You are about to enter a "PLUG" zone. One of the coolest projects I have been a part of in the past 10 years was co-authoring a book entitled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Permanent-Revolution-Apostolic-Imagination-Practice/dp/0470907746/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362957929&sr=1-1&keywords=the+permanent+revolution" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">The Permanent Revolution: Apostolic Imagination and Practice for the 21st Century Church</span></a>. It actually took about 2 1/2 years to collect all the ideas, synthesize them, and formulate them into a coherent format.<br />
<br />
Alan helped out tremendously with the coherency factor. As an INTP (mbti) he is a more systemic thinker than I am. He is more prone to accuracy and symmetry. As an ENTP, I lean towards accuracy, but my sweet spot is in seeing things from multiple perspectives and scavenging for new ideas and information. Our strengths turned out to complement each other quite well. Essentially, I populated the text with concepts and ideas, and Alan helped hone it into a coherent, systematic presentation. It made for a great partnership in producing the book in its final form. <br />
<br />
Most creative projects start in what is often termed the "<a href="http://timcatchim.blogspot.com/2011/10/174-mbti-and-fuzzy-front-end-of.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Fuzzy Front End</span></a>." That is, they begin on a canvas cluttered with disparate, seemingly unrelated ideas and concepts.<br />
<br />
My first canvas was this little green book that I found one Saturday on the side of the road as I delivered packages on my FedEx route. Clarksville is home to the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. This transient population sometimes produces piles of "junk" on the side of the road. When soldiers get PCS'd or get deployed, sometimes they leave things behind for their former landlord to "manage" for them. On that Saturday, a random soldiers G.I. notebook made its way from the curb to my little black duffle bag I carried with me on my routes. I ripped a few of the pages out that had writing on them, and from that Saturday on, I began to populate the canvas with all things related to five fold and the apostolic.<br />
<br />
So this little green book marks the beginning of an epic journey for me. The graphic on the front is what I drew on my lunch breaks at FedEx. The next few posts will be snap shots of some content from this green book. Some of this content made it into the book, some of it didn't. Either way, it is a peak into the fuzzy front end. </div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03151142452129116457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-22251787770401351502013-03-06T23:52:00.000-06:002014-09-11T10:56:14.816-05:00211. Apostolic Ministry and Legitimacy Part 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In II Corinthians 3, Paul is looking to contrast his style of ministry with the super-apostles style of ministry. Perceiving themselves as "agents of transformation," they couldn't help but position themselves as central focal points in the community.<br />
<br />
Paul comes against this style of ministry not just because it is false, but because it hinders the community from accessing the transformative power of the Glory of the Lord. Their superior rhetoric, manifestations of power, and letters of recommendation may at first seem to be a necessary component of leadership. I mean, who doesn't want to communicate well, demonstrate the power of the Spirit, and accelerate the establishment of our credibility through organizational legitimacy?<br />
<br />
Paul does not have a beef with any of these things in themselves, it is HOW the super-apostles are utilizing these things in the community. If your rhetoric, gifts/charisms, or reputation stands in the way of people developing a fascination with the Glory of the Lord, then your style of ministry will ultimately bring death. It is the Glory of the Lord that provides the dynamic power to perpetually transform.<br />
<br />
Paul understood this as both a follower and a leader. Notice the "we" language in 3:18 so characteristically debated in the book of II Corinthians. Paul includes himself with the community as one who needs to look beyond himself onto a greater, more glorious object of affection. Both the leader and the follower are perpetually transformed "from glory to glory" by beholding the Glory of the Lord. Notice the diagram below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdzk8PVZEJ3FIF1AJLWiXkgIZT_Zq2S9BKDF1STBLy7wHpbkpGh8Ebd6gCgF_oBwNHjsaGz_ZuMB2fIpLp2GB4z6PukIheVqL6vmuv9MV6fOrrI0uDN_dEITl9ZYVAnXJakXX/s1600/Aposatle+as+Leader+and+Follower.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdzk8PVZEJ3FIF1AJLWiXkgIZT_Zq2S9BKDF1STBLy7wHpbkpGh8Ebd6gCgF_oBwNHjsaGz_ZuMB2fIpLp2GB4z6PukIheVqL6vmuv9MV6fOrrI0uDN_dEITl9ZYVAnXJakXX/s640/Aposatle+as+Leader+and+Follower.png" height="574" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Paul is both a leader and a follower. He is both disciple and rabbi. Paul puts himself in front of the Corinthian community as an object of imitation because he too orients himself towards the glory of the Lord. He too is transparent and weak. To imitate Paul is to learn how to look towards Jesus and be shaped by the patterns of the gospel. To imitate Paul is to learn how to develop the patterns life that focus our attention on the Glory of the Lord. To follow Paul as a leader is to pattern ones life after The Pattern which he himself patterns his life...the gospel. So Paul is not just inviting the Corinthians to follow a leader, he is also, simultaneously, asking them to follow a follower. In doing so, the Corinthians would learn how to both lead for, and follow after, Jesus. this is essentially what Paul did with Timothy.(I Cor 4:15-19)<br />
<br />
Seeing this logic within the text, I have no problem with leadership, using the language of leadership, or training other people to be leaders. The catch to this is, what style of ministry are we modeling for other people to imitate? Paul knew that superior rhetoric was quick way to establish legitimacy in the Corinthian context. He intentionally scaled back his rhetorical devices so as to side step the Corinthians tendency to be more fascinated with the container than the content. (I Cor 2:1-4)<br />
<br />
Paul was quick to deflect attention off himself by exposing his suffering and weakness. When it came up as a point of contention to de-legitimize his apostleship, Paul utilized the gospel to legitimize his ministry. He essentially says "The reason I am legit is because the patterns of my life mirror(imitate) the patterns of the gospel."(II Corinthians 4) Ultimately, it was the gospel that funded Paul's apostolic legitimacy.<br />
<br />
So question: what do you tend to lean on when it comes time to "legitimize" your ministry? Numbers, rhetoric, invitations to speak at other churches, charisms??? How we seek to legitimize our ministries will shape the style of ministry we engage in. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-9680729631782204092013-02-27T02:21:00.002-06:002014-09-11T10:55:54.480-05:00210. Apostolic Ministry and Legitimacy Part 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In <a href="http://timcatchim.blogspot.com/2013/02/208-apostolic-ministry-and-legitimacy.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a> and <a href="http://timcatchim.blogspot.com/2013/02/209-apostolic-ministry-and-legitimacy.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a>, we looked at how Paul, in chapter 3 of II Corinthians, contrasts the super-apostles
“agent” style of ministry with a more gospel centered style ministry. Paul
likens the “agent” style of with the ministry of Moses. At first, this style of
ministry is appealing. It has a certain glow to it that attracts attention. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, over time, as people get closer to the leader, they
will begin to notice that the leader has weaknesses and inadequacies. The “glory” of the leader begins to fade. In
the eyes of the follower, they become all too human and mundane. Most leaders
know when their followers begin to lose their fascination with as a leader. The
leader can sense when their followers are no longer impressed with them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In order to compensate for their fading “glory”, the super-apostles
were putting a “veil” over their face to cover up their weaknesses. In an “agent”
style of ministry, when you lose your glory, you lose your following. So in a
James Bond like fashion, the super-apostles enacted the “secret agent man”
lyrics:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
“Ah, be careful what
you say, you might give yourself away”</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In an “agent” style ministry where the leader sees
themselves as the source of transformative power, secrecy and distance become
the key leverage points for the leader to secure their status of leadership and
influence in the group. Eventually, their weakness and humanity will shine
through, exposing themselves as empty vessels. In hopes of prolonging their
gravitas, the super-apostles, have to conceal(veil) their fading glory and focus
attention on external devices of legitimization (in this case letters of
recommendation.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ajmwKP0ZzvfRkXkqaTxCRRZm76Ic2Bj2DD4Jq420ZGbYDGA29a7Tb-_72K1zgvZtMc-_jPxI6l9p5ePC8T35Ljky-frb2PiZqfae-qMnMpuOTb-2pdvSpp68LaUyzjYZtah5/s1600/Apostle+as+Agent+Revised+with+arrows+and+modified+Credentials.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ajmwKP0ZzvfRkXkqaTxCRRZm76Ic2Bj2DD4Jq420ZGbYDGA29a7Tb-_72K1zgvZtMc-_jPxI6l9p5ePC8T35Ljky-frb2PiZqfae-qMnMpuOTb-2pdvSpp68LaUyzjYZtah5/s640/Apostle+as+Agent+Revised+with+arrows+and+modified+Credentials.png" height="368" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
In contrast to this “agent” style of ministry (which
corresponds to the ministry of Moses) Paul says that there is a new style of
ministry which finds it’s legitimacy in the new covenant. This new style of
ministry can be framed around the concept of “agency.” The goal of agency is to
bring source and recipient into a direct, unhindered relationship.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></a></span>
</span>In order for an apostle to function as an “agency” they must find ways to divert
attention away from her/himself and onto the transformative glory of the Lord.<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title="">[2]</a></span></span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><!--[endif]--></a></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
The difference Paul and the super-apostles is not so much found
in WHAT they presented. Both Paul and the super-apostles talked about Jesus.
The difference in their ministries is best located in HOW they presented
themselves. What made Paul’s style of ministry different from the super
apostles was that he positioned himself, not as an “agent” of transformation,
but as an “agency” through which the power of the gospel could be mediated. In
contrast to the “secret agent man” strategies of the super- apostles, Paul was
transparent about his weakness, sufferings and inadequacies. Instead of “veiling”
them, he openly discussed them. Rather than seeking to become the communities
focal point of attention, Paul’s willingness to be open about weakness enabled
him to redirect the communities attention away from himself and onto the glory
of the Lord, the true source of transformative power.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPJ6V7WxMzz8gCKw_rtzBMxuomWhwtbryEXqnA5-a4b8DKYqF_tE1uPTEK77FQrRoWPlVKspwpWEAMLW68DOOQ7Hh4h7-9EPeN8jpxQT0OFNO0l-pSMYtBEBlZ4dvQgu6SAfr/s1600/Apostle+as+agency+Revised+with+Arrows+and+Heading.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPJ6V7WxMzz8gCKw_rtzBMxuomWhwtbryEXqnA5-a4b8DKYqF_tE1uPTEK77FQrRoWPlVKspwpWEAMLW68DOOQ7Hh4h7-9EPeN8jpxQT0OFNO0l-pSMYtBEBlZ4dvQgu6SAfr/s640/Apostle+as+agency+Revised+with+Arrows+and+Heading.png" height="380" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Paul’s style of apostolic ministry mirrored the weakness and
power, death and life, suffering and victory contained within the
transformative power of the gospel. It was this mirroring of these patterns of
the gospel within Paul’s life that authenticated his apostleship and ministry. In
this way Paul could put himself in front of the community as a model to
imitate, while simultaneously pointing people beyond himself to the transformative
power of Christ.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
It is crucial to understand the role of transparency in
apostolic leadership because starting new communities from scratch throws us
into group dynamics of power and authority. In the formative phases of a newly
founded community, the apostle can become idealized as they shoulder the
responsibility of infusing the community with vision and meaning. This makes
the leader vulnerable to the often unspoken process of what some call
“transference” in which individuals unconsciously project onto a leader their hopes
and aspirations that often come with authority figures, particularly parents.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
</span>Like a Hollywood actor, apostles will unknowingly step into roles that have
been pre-scripted and transferred onto them by the newly formed group, making
them the repositories of unrealized hopes and expectations.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></a></span>
</span>Not making good on these expectations can create significant disappointment in
the relationship.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
These expectations, while making the leader-follower
relationship somewhat precarious and fragile in nature, also present a unique
opportunity. Whenever a leader shows any promise of coinciding with these latent
expectations, it provides the spark for charismatic authority to emerge.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
</span>Without pre-existing organizational structures to fund the apostle’s
legitimacy, it is charisma that provides the initial currency for leadership to
emerge and function. Because charisma primarily stems from the perceptions of the
follower, the leader is limited as to how they can negotiate it’s emergence. Charisma
neither exists in the follower or the leader, but rather between them. It is
relational in nature.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Charisma can, however, be stewarded. When stewarded in the
way of Jesus, it can empower both leader and follower alike. However, if
stewarded poorly, the leader can nurture unhealthy dependency and frustrate the growth of both individuals and the community. As Heifitz notes, “The pitfall of charisma, however, is
unresolved dependency. People can fail to move on, to discover their own
‘magic,’ their own capacity to flourish and lead. They may not realize their
capability for self-governance…For the charismatic it feels good to be
idealized. For his constituents, it feels good to have someone who assures
deliverance in the long run, and in the short run provides direction,
protection, orientation, the control of conflict and clear norms.”<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
</span>Charisma brings certain benefits to the tasks of leadership. It can generate a
following, but in the long run, it cannot generate a sustainable movement. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
The apostle’s leadership will, initially, foster a certain
level of dependency in the embryonic phases of the communities development.
This dependency is necessary and unavoidable. However, this dependency should be
strategically (and carefully) dismantled over time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
When a leader is transparent about their weakness and
suffering, in essence, they are refusing to put a “veil” on. Unlike Moses who, when
he perceived his glory was beginning to fade, covered his face, genuine
apostolic ministry (an all new covenant ministry for that matter) is
characterized by a perpetual “unveiling” of the leader’s weaknesses and
inadequacies. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Transparency from the leader forces people to negotiate
their own God-given capacity to assume responsibility and take ownership of
their own role within the development of the community. It allows the follower
to reclaim the power they have vested in the leader and re-deploy it within
their own sphere of influence. <br />
<br />
In <a href="http://timcatchim.blogspot.com/2013/03/211-apostolic-ministry-and-legitimacy.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Part 4</span></a> we will look at how Paul can legitimize his leadership while still pointing the community beyond himself and onto the Glory of the Lord. </div>
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span style="text-indent: 0in;">.” II
Corinthians Anchor Bible Commentary Series Victor Paul Furnish p.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> 62</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Recognizing this aspect of apostolic ministry helps us solve the riddle of why
the first person pronoun is virtually absent from the entire first section of
II Corinthians. Paul is using a literary device to reinforce the concept that
apostolic ministry is about directing attention toward the Agent/Jesus and not
the agency/apostle. The focus of the discussion is on the apostolic vocation in
general and not on specific apostles. </div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Putting a New Spin on Groups: The Science of Chaos by Bud A. McClure p. 96</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Leadership without Easy Answers by Ron Heifetz p. 247-488</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span style="font-family: inherit;">On
Fire: Charismatic Leadership and Levels of Analysis. Katherine J. Klein &
Robert J House. Leadership Quarterly, 6(2), 183-198. 1995 JAI Press</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span>
</div>
<div id="ftn6">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Leadership without easy answers by Ron Heifetz p. 247</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-33844046973743967052013-02-18T07:42:00.003-06:002014-09-11T10:55:09.882-05:00209. Apostolic Ministry and Legitimacy Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In <a href="http://timcatchim.blogspot.com/2013/02/208-apostolic-ministry-and-legitimacy.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Part 1</span></a>, we looked at the dilemma Paul faced in Corinth when it came to legitimizing his apostolic ministry. Without the conventional letters of recommendation from toher organizations, Paul faced a significant challenge of how to legitimize his ministry in the face of criticism and insult. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul works with several metaphors in II Corinthians to bring
clarity to what legitimate apostolic ministry looks like. However, before we
look at those metaphors, it would be helpful to start with the work of Jeffrey
Corfton. In his book <i>The Agency of the Apostle, Crofton </i>provides us with an initial framework to orient ourselves around the metaphors Paul uses to describe the nature of his ministry in 2 Corinthians. He makes the careful
distinction between the concepts of “agent” and “agency.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
“An agent is one who acts; an
agency is a means through which another acts. To name the apostolic ministry
through the role of agent is to direct attention to the apostles themselves as
actors; to name the apostolic ministry through the role of agency is to focus
on the means by which God works through the apostle. An agent orientation
assumes that apostles are the actors; that they are essentially in control as
distinct entities. An agency orientation assumes that God acts through the
apostle, that God determines the parameters, the scope, the purpose, the means of
that ministry; it diverts attention away from the apostle as an individual to
apostle as channel, a vessel, a window upon the divine character.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In this understanding of apostolic ministry(and ministry in general), God is the Agent
and apostles are the agency. Apostles are merely the conduit, the empty tunnel that serves as a connection point between a powerful source and an open recipient. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This role of
agency is what causes the unique experience of feeling very weak and inadequate, and yet at the same time feeling a sense of powerful and authority. Paul frames his own apostolic experience
with the similar metaphor of “treasure in earthen vessels.” In this metaphor it's important to recognize that the content is
separate from the container. That is, the treasure is separate from the clay
jar, but it is that very same fragile, weak, vulnerable container that provides the vehicle for the
transformative power of the gospel to become mobile and accessible to others. So in this sense, authentic apostolic
ministry is characterized not just by power, but by power <b><i><u>in</u></i></b> weakness, life <b><i><u>in</u></i></b>
death, and victory <b><i><u>in</u></i></b> defeat (2 Cor. 4).<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Paul introduces this metaphor of “treasure in clay
pots” because there were “super-apostles” (the word super is 'hyper' in the text...a thought worth pondering) in Corinth that thought
apostolic ministry was legitimized by the form and appearance of the container rather than
the power of it's content.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="text-indent: 0.5in;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
Paul’s hang up is primarily with the super apostle’s </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">style </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">of leadership and ministry. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">To catch the surge of Paul's polemical discourse on the super-apostles, you actually have to reboot back to chapter 3 where Paul introduces the topic of legitimacy. This chapter is often a riddle for commentators. </span><span style="text-indent: 48px;">Contrary to the conventional understanding of this passage, Paul is not giving us an introductory lesson on the difference between the Old and New Covenants. He is making a contrast between two styles of ministry.</span><span style="text-indent: 48px;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">In a typically rabbinical form of midrash, Paul levies his weightiest argument against the hyper-apostles by correlating their style of </span><span style="text-indent: 48px;">ministry</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> with the ministry of Moses!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">In drawing attention to
their written letters of recommendation, superior rhetoric and their supposed
manifestations of spiritual power, the ministry of the hyper-apostles were essentially functioning like an Agent, the source of power and transformation. In effect, they were concealing the true
nature of the gospel and obstructing the community from beholding the transformative power of the glory of the Lord. In essence, t</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">heir style of apostolic ministry was diverting attention
away from Jesus and onto their own "weighty" credentials. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Paul says that this style of ministry has more
in common with the ministry of Moses than the gospel. It has an effervescent
quality that is sensational at first, but fades over time and produces no
lasting effect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhorgS_VE6qhjk7hx5S_zPMD35DJs2Ec1wuPQt1iTNNyNeksaSGDYm58N9cdYkKfsAZL7j3qBHhQAbOl1D4ky0BWwCNGfJZUZeEec4nz0WKlgJOX7VogvvWs3q5XTQdrnzR8i/s1600/Apostle+as+Agent+Revised+with+arrows+and+modified+Credentials.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhorgS_VE6qhjk7hx5S_zPMD35DJs2Ec1wuPQt1iTNNyNeksaSGDYm58N9cdYkKfsAZL7j3qBHhQAbOl1D4ky0BWwCNGfJZUZeEec4nz0WKlgJOX7VogvvWs3q5XTQdrnzR8i/s640/Apostle+as+Agent+Revised+with+arrows+and+modified+Credentials.png" height="368" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul is sharply critical of this style of ministry because
it diverts the attention of the community away from the Lord and onto the
apostle, obstructing their view. This essentially conceals, or as Paul would say, it veils, the
transformative power of the gospel. When leaders draw more attention to themselves and their pedigrees, it is flashy and exciting on the front end. But just give it some time. Eventually, the people will become disenchanted with that leader. As the community begins to see their all too human weaknesses and deficiencies, the glory will fade and the people will begin to search for another leader who can dazzle them with their rhetoric and charisma. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In <a href="http://timcatchim.blogspot.com/2013/02/210-apostolic-ministry-and-legitimacy.html" target="_blank">Part 3</a>, we will look at a framework for how Paul frames his relationship to the gospel and the community. </div>
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Agency of the Apostle by Jeffrey Crofton p. 61</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
For an in depth discussion on how Paul’s Apostolic ministry mirrors the gospel,
see Death in Us, Life in You: The Apostolic Medium by Steven J. Kraftchick in
Pauline Theology Vol. 2 1& 2 Coritnhians p 156-181</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Catchim/Documents/My%20Dropbox/PR%20TIM/Snippets/Agent%20Agency.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
It is interesting to notice that Paul’s main beef with the super-apostles is
not with their doctrine. “Looking back at the evidence overall, one is struck
in particular by the fact that there is no direct information about the
‘doctrinal’ stance of the opponents, not even in 11:4. Whatever doctrinal basis
the actions and attitudes of Paul’s rivals may have had, the actions and
attitudes themselves are what Paul attacks, so the personal dimensions of the
conflict are much more apparent than the doctrinal aspects of it.” II
Corinthians Anchor Bible Commentary Series Victor Paul Furnish p. 53 </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-52209321942784591052013-02-16T19:56:00.002-06:002014-09-11T10:55:31.709-05:00208. Apostolic Ministry and Legitimacy Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00bpfE5NXOPEkY3rf3CIvBqJEv5c93yo_kCTmXk4jdK3EiLorXK0ozQwaLwAhTg1Pd8VdiaUDQlHAvfABZVaUjQLER61axU2HTcMYgQzBsMf10SBcsvQXQF08lolBfZiws20I/s1600/Super+Apostles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00bpfE5NXOPEkY3rf3CIvBqJEv5c93yo_kCTmXk4jdK3EiLorXK0ozQwaLwAhTg1Pd8VdiaUDQlHAvfABZVaUjQLER61axU2HTcMYgQzBsMf10SBcsvQXQF08lolBfZiws20I/s320/Super+Apostles.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Proximity to power has a way of skewing our perception. This
is especially true when it comes to the task of leadership. And even more so
when it comes to starting new communities centered on the gospel and mission. Confusing
one’s role as a steward of power with being the actual source of power is
possibly the most fundamental vice that leaders flirt with. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Every apostolic leader needs to be rooted in healthy metaphors
and paradigms that can help them differentiate the power of the gospel from their
own role as a representative of that gospel. The power in the gospel can be focused
towards a particular goal through leadership, rhetoric, and even charisma. However, let's be crystal clear about this, that power does not originate in the leader. No, the leader merely focuses the power by functioning as a conduit through which it can travel. There
is a difference between stewarding power and being the source of power, and
this distinction weighs heavily in Paul’s mind as he writes to a church where
his legitimacy as an apostle has been called into question. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
II Corinthians provides us a window into a complex dilemma
that Paul was confronted with in his ministry. Paul essentially broke ties with
the Antioch church after his confrontation with Peter about table fellowship
with the Jews. The ramifications of this incident in Antioch reached far into
the future and across geographical boundaries. It would ripple outward all the
way to Corinth and pose quite a challenge for Paul’s legitimacy as an apostle. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once Paul essentially branched off from Antioch, he also
made himself suspect in relation to the church in Jerusalem. This may not sound
all that important, but it had social and political consequences or Paul’s
mission. Without the Antioch or Jerusalem church, he was suddenly on his own.
There were no institutions willing to sponsor or vouch for him. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was not that big of a problem for Paul seeing he was breaking
new ground in most places with the gospel. The nature of his message and the
signs and wonders of his ministry afforded him a level of legitimacy on the
front end of his apostolic endeavors that funded his initial leadership role
in the communities he planted. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But what about when he left that new community and other
people came in behind him, calling into question his legitimacy? Those looking to exploit a newly formed community as
a platform for their own power base and agenda would either have to align with Paul’s pre-established role, or de-legitimize him as a leader. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is exactly what happened in Corinth. Leaders came in
behind Paul with letters from other churches vouching for their legitimacy as
apostles. They were superior in rhetoric, and according to their letters, they
were superior in their organizational pedigrees. They came highly recommended
by the leading churches of their region. These leaders were highly qualified,
well networked, and had the resumes to prove it. They were sporting the “high
pro glow” of organizational legitimacy, and were quick to point out that Paul
had some serious deficits in this weighty area of leadership credentials. Their central claim was that
Paul is not a legitimate apostle because he has no organizational legitimacy...no one would vouch for him (his style of ministry had no flare either, and this did not help matters). In short Paul's opponents said he is incompetent in almost
every category of leadership <b><i><u>that counts</u></i></b>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul writes II Corinthians with the aim of legitimizing his
apostleship. He cleverly frames an apostle’s relationship not only to the
gospel, but to the community as well. In doing so, he provides a framework by
which all legitimate apostolic ministry is to be tested and weighed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In <a href="http://timcatchim.blogspot.com/2013/02/209-apostolic-ministry-and-legitimacy.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Part 2</span></a>, we will look into this framework and explore some of its implications. </div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-34548599188894470022012-10-24T18:34:00.002-05:002012-10-24T18:34:42.737-05:00207. Discipleship and Mission Workshop in Lexington KY with 3DM<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXdwvRxvFQRKEYKXLhQKowOJBAOt_ztgD6NFkx66H6hxw99QT-jori2EAmCi61POdPxCuSzoNdwfzmEWc7eyUS3GkHVCK6Bk7aHSpcwOELZrHnkbTly0GFXq9fYDt6od_E6n_/s1600/3DM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXdwvRxvFQRKEYKXLhQKowOJBAOt_ztgD6NFkx66H6hxw99QT-jori2EAmCi61POdPxCuSzoNdwfzmEWc7eyUS3GkHVCK6Bk7aHSpcwOELZrHnkbTly0GFXq9fYDt6od_E6n_/s320/3DM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My friend Brent Barger called me this week and let me know about a really cool opportunity. If you live near Lexington KY and would like to expose yourself to some really good tools for being and making disciples, as well as missional communities, <a href="http://weare3dm.com/events/?tab=tab-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">3DM will be hosting a workshop</span></a> November 7-9 at the <a href="http://xroadschurch.org/andover/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Cross Roads Church</span></a>. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As someone who has personally been through their workshop and subsequent <a href="http://weare3dm.com/events/?tab=tab-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Learning Community</span></a> process, I have no problem championing these events and their organization. These guys are excellent practitioners of disciple making and missional communities, with a track record of effectiveness to go with it. If you end up checking it out, look me up, I am actually hanging out at this one. </div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16286940.post-35223980017292373492012-10-10T12:39:00.000-05:002014-09-11T10:56:56.433-05:00206. The Role of Chemistry in a Discipling Relationship<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h3 style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<div style="font-family: 'Droid Sans', arial, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-transform: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">In science, when two different chemicals come into contact, certain reactions occur based on the elements within those chemicals. The reaction can be good or bad depending on what you are trying to achieve. When we talk about chemistry in relationships, we are talking about a certain kind of reaction between people. We all know good chemistry when we experience it. You have a certain connection with someone that you do not have with other people. It could be personality, season of life, or some other factor. When good chemistry is there, you find yourself saying to yourself “I would enjoy spending more time around that person.”</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Droid Sans', arial, serif; font-size: small; text-transform: uppercase;">CHEMICAL REACTIONS</span></div>
<div class="entry-content" style="text-transform: none;">
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So what does chemistry have to do with discipling relationships? Well, chemistry is actually one of the most critical ingredients to a successful discipling relationship. Discipleship is fundamentally about imitation. If this is true, then we are given our first clue as to what holds a discipling relationship together. Without a significant level of attraction between leader and follower, then a discipling relationship is not even likely to start. There has to be a positive reaction between leader and follower that makes them want to spend time around each other. They have to like each other and be open to each other.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">You may be saying something like this to yourself right now: “That sounds right, but shouldn’t we be open to discipling everyone? It sounds like you are saying we should only disciple people we personally like. Doesn’t Jesus tell us to disciple everyone? Isn’t this chemistry thing a bit…well….selfish? Should this really be a part of the equation, or is this whole chemistry thing just an excuse not to engage people who are different from us?”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, this is a typical response, so let’s go a little deeper to substantiate the necessity of chemistry. Discipling relationships require frequent interactions. If the follower is going to imitate the life of the leader, then the follower has to have access to the leaders life. This means they will spend time with each other outside of the classroom, small groups, or bible studies. If there is not a significant amount of chemistry in the relationship, both people will experience relational fatigue. After fatigue sets in, then hanging out together in organic and spontaneous ways is not likely to happen.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Also, a discipling relationship is characterized by what we call invitation and challenge. If you already rub someone the wrong way (or if they rub you the wrong way), then imagine what introducing and ever increasing levels of challenge will do to that “rub” in the relationship. There will be some serious friction…otherwise known as conflict! Good chemistry is the permission structure that allows challenge to take place in a discipling relationship.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Jesus, as a wise leader and discipler, knew the critical role chemistry played in the discipling relationship. Notice what Mark says in his gospel about the criteria Jesus used when inviting the 12 to become apostles: ”And He went up on the mountain and called to Him <strong><em>those He Himself wanted</em></strong>. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, <strong><em>that they might be with Him</em></strong> and that He might send them out to preach…” There are two things here worth noting.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">1. Jesus had a preference for who he wanted to invite closer and invest his life into. We do not know what these preferences were, but those preferences were a determining factor in his method of choosing the 12. This runs counter to our notion of equality and treating everyone the same. The truth of the matter is, Jesus modeled for us the best possible way to choose people we will invest our life in.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">2. Jesus chose the twelve <strong><em>that they might be with him.</em></strong> That means they would be around each other a lot! If there is no chemistry, then this can be a real problem….for both people involved, not to mention the rest of the group. Chemistry is the attractional force that holds voluntary relationships together.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Good chemistry is not always experienced the same way or at the same level between people. This can make the process of inviting people into a discipling relationship a bit tricky. A leader may not have a lot of chemistry with a potential follower, while that same potential follower may actually experience, on their end, a higher (sometimes unusually higher) level of chemistry with the potential leader. Chalk it up to charisma, gravitas, or whatever, but I think we have all had the experience of someone revealing to us that they really like us and we in turn think to ourselves “Really, because I thought you didn’t really like me at all.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This can also happen from the leader’s perspective. They may think there is a high level of chemistry between them and another potential follower, when in actuality it is only the leader who is experiencing a positive reaction. Recognizing the various levels of chemistry that can exist between people helps us discern the potential for success in a discipling relationship. Consider the matrix below.</span></div>
<div style="color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-106" src="http://www.generatecoaching.com/_tc/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/chemistry-necessity.png" height="532" style="display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 15px; max-width: 100%;" title="chemistry-necessity" width="620" /></div>
<div style="color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">FLOP</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Flop happens when the leader over estimates the level of chemistry in the relationship and invites someone into a discipling relationship. If the potential follower is not open to the leader, and is not able to receive an ever increasing scale of invitation and challenge, it can make it quite challenging for the relationship to stay together. This kind of relationship typically happens when we take an overly mechanistic approach to discipling people. Discipling relationships do not form like signing up for a small group. It is an entirely different kind of relationship characterized by high commitment and high accountability. Without significant levels of chemistry the follower and the leader, in the long run, the relationship will be a flop. In most cases, it either does not last the course, or becomes a significant drag for both the leader, the follower and the rest of the group. The only exception to this scenario is if the follower has a significant level of maturity in their life.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">STOP</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">When neither the leader or the potential follower have significant levels of good chemistry, then a discipling relationship rarely forms. When neither person says to themselves “I think I might like to spend some more time around that person” then cause and effect typically keep this kind of discipling relationship from happening. However, there are times when people try to force this kind of relationship into a discipling format and it can be a disaster. Steer clear when chemistry is hovering close to nill.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">DROP</span></span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Drop happens when someone experiences chemistry with you as a leader and is open to being discipled by you, but you do not share the same level of chemistry with them, or you simply do not recognize their openness to you. A good way to limit the number of opportunities that you drop is to develop a routine of praying about people who are within your social reach. More often than not, we drop opportunities when we are not being sensitive to who the Lord is putting in our pathway. Sometimes someone may be open to you, but they may communicate it in ways that you don’t recognize. Jesus spent the whole night in prayer before he selected the 12. There are obvious spiritual implications to this, but I can’t help but wonder what kind of revelation he received during the night from the Father that maybe caused him to change course and select Thomas instead of …..Mathias? Jesus was sensitive to what the Father wanted to happen, and when it came to inviting people into discipling relationships, he spent a significant time observing the crowds, reflecting on his impressions, and discussing it with the Father.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A word of caution: It typically requires a certain degree of maturity in the leader to effectively disciple people he does not have chemistry with. This has to be discerned, just like Jesus, in reflection and discussion with the Father.</span></div>
<div style="padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">P.O.P. </span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">P.O.P. stands for Person of Peace and is taken from Jesus’ teaching in Luke 10. The basic definition of a Person of Peace is this: “You like them and they like You.” Stated positively, peace is about harmony and synergy. Stated negatively, it can mean hostility or opposition. Jesus told the 72 in Luke 10 when he sent them out that when they came to a house they should say “Peace to you.” If a “person of peace” was there, they should stay at that house. What Jesus was essentially saying was this: A person of peace is someone who wants to hang out with you and invite you into their personal space. When you have a moderate to high level of chemistry with someone, this elevates the potential for relational capital to emerge and creates an environment in which a discipling relationship can flourish. If discipleship is about imitation, then the person of peace is somehow drawn to want to be around you. They demonstrate openness to you and may want to serve you and even follow you. This kind of relationship is teeming with potential for imitation, fruitfulness, and a lot of fun!.</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I have experienced a FLOP and a DROP before, and each time, hind sight being 20/20, a good amount of observation, reflection, and discussion with the Father would have probably steered me into another course of action. As I mature in becoming a disciple maker, I find that I am more keenly aware of where I am in relation to other people, and where they are in relation to me as a leader/follower.</span></div>
</div>
</h3>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0