Missional Renaissance, by Reggie McNeal

Missional Renaissance

Reggie McNeal has written a great practical application book as a companion volume to his ground breaking “Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church.” In MR McNeal articulates what many of us in the simple church movement have felt for a long time. He understands just how sweeping the changes must be in order to move the church back to its original power and purpose.

Chapter 1: The Missional Renaissance

We are in a ministry environment that is rapidly changing. The emergence of the “altruistic economy” means that the church must move from an internal to an external focus. Unprecedented search for personal growth requires a ministry shift from program development to people development. Increasing hunger for spiritual vitality means leaders must become

kingdom-based rather than church-based.

Chapter 2: Missional Manifesto

Discussion must not be about “a church” but about “the church.” The heart of the church is not an static institution but a movement of people. It is rightly characterized as “the people of God partnering with God in His redemptive purpose.” When we view the church this way we also begin to see the Bible through different eyes. God is up to something new and the church needs new metrics to measure his work through it. Are we prepared to make this shift?

Chapter 3: From an Internal to an External Focus

In order to move from an internal to an external focus several shifts must be made in the way we “do” church including:

- From church-centric to Kingdom focused

- From destination to connector

- From being attractional to becoming incarnational

- From a membership culture to a missional culture

- From institutional to organic

- From worship services to service as worship

Chapter 4: Changing the Scorecard from Internal to External Focus

We will need to refocus virtually all our resources: prayer and people, facilities and finances, management and technology.

Chapter 5: From Program Development to People Development

We have seen the rise and fall of the program driven church in the last fifty years. Now it is time to foster a people development culture. This means relationship building must become the core activity of the church.

Chapter 6: Changing the Scorecard from Measuring Programs to Helping People Grow

The challenge will be learning how to stop counting numbers and start celebrating people. Once again reallocation will need to be made in the areas of prayer and people, facilities and finances, time management and technology.

Chapter 7: From Church-based to Kingdom-based Leadership

The model of leadership needs to come from the early church (AD 30 leadership). This requires “shifting gears” for all of those with “church jobs.” What is the role of the traditional church? Professional clergy? How will we maintain doctrinal and biblical orthodoxy? How do we earn a living?

Chapter 8: Changing the Scorecard from Church-based to kingdom-based Leadership

Leaders must change what they are doing and thinking about. There is a paradigm issue here. Many new micro-skills must be developed in coaching, story-telling, transition leadership, listening skills, missions, and prayer. Also personal growth needs to happen physically, spiritually, financially, and in family development.

Conclusion

This book will be a great help to anyone who is transitioning from institutional to organic Christianity. I have found myself going back to the book (especially the leadership scorecard) again and again. For leaders that are not yet able to “go there” it will be a challenging read.

(review by Dan Smith)