The Structure of the Missional Church Gathering

Should mission define how we gather on Sunday?  Yes I believe it should.   In fact the great commission should define all of life, especially our Ecclesiology, the form and function of church.  Jesus' last command to His disciples was the great mission to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28: 18-20). I believe this last mandate to us, should shape the way we scatter during the week and the way gather on Sundays.

With the mission of God in mind, this Sunday theMovement church will gather for 4 reasons.

(1) To Celebrate.  Luke 10:17 states: "the seventy two returned again with joy" – Celebration is at heart of what it means to belong to God so much so that God gave His people, the Israelites, 37 days of holidays apart from Sabbath days. On most of these occasions, God asked His people to rejoice which in Hebrew means to "dance with joy."  The Israelites were known for celebrating God and each other, so we believe we should do the same through, praise, music, and singing, as well as our after party which always includes a meal.

(2) Story Telling.  Luke 10:17b states: “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” – Story telling and reports of what God is doing through our kingdom priest and priestess in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth keeps the mission alive and provides encouragement and inspiration.

(3) To be Equipped. Ephesians 4:11-12 states: "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up" - We cannot be effective missionaries without being equipped.  The dictionary definition of equip means "to supply with necessities such as tools, and to To furnish with the qualities necessary for performance.  This is why we teach and cast vision every Sunday we meet.  We supply and furnish the saints with the necessary tools to engage their worlds with the good news of Christ.

Finally we gather to remember Christ. (4) The Holy Eucharist - for so long we have made our gathering about the sermon. Traditionally every element of the gathering leads up to or prepares us for the sermon, which can make the gathering about us, "being fed," thereby promoting a "consumer faith."   Rather when the focal point of the gathering is on the Holy Eucharist/Communion/Lord's Supper, Christ (whose life and example demonstrated radical mission), becomes the center. As Jesus stated: "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me... For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death" (1 Corinthians 11: 24-26).

If you are pastor or leader of a Christian movement, I encourage you to think through these concepts. How else could the "great mission" of Christ define and shape your gatherings?