This last week, several staff members and I attended our second session of a missional communities learning community called SynergyEDGE at Rivertree Christian Church in Canton, OH. I'm still trying to digest all that we learned and discussed during our 48 hours there.
Our church made a significant shift to missional communities this past May. I won't take the time here to go into all the reasoning why we did this but I'd encourage you to check out this wiki article that describes missional communities.
Probably the most helpful book in our transition has been Launching Missional Communities: a field guide by Mike Breen and Alex Absalom. Really, really helpful stuff. However, one of the coolest things is that Alex Absalom lives just down the road from us and is the one leading the learning community we just attended.
While we were there, a church planter in Canton made a very good point. He commented to the group that while he appreciated the book that Alex helped write, he appreciates even more that he has developed a close friendship with the author of the book and can meet with him regularly to get advice and encouragement. This struck home with me because while I found great value in Alex's book, I have also really enjoyed getting to know Alex through the learning community. I have especially been challenged by being a part of his leadership huddle. He has answered lots of my questions and has gone out of his way to encourage me in ministry.
This church planter also pointed out that this is a great illustration of our relationship with God. We must never forget that while we have the Bible, a book full of great advice and encouragement, we also have complete access to the author. We can spend as much time with him as we would like. He's always there to listen to us. He will be our biggest encourager and closest friend. He will guide us in our journey of life.
It's no an either/or kind of situation. It's a both/and. We have God's Holy Word but we also have access to God, our Heavenly Father. We must spend time with God through prayer, confession, worship, thanksgiving, and requests but we must also spend time reading God's Word and listening to God through his Word.
My simple question - are you? Are you connected to the author? Are you reading, studying, and meditating on his book?
I'd love to know what you are learning in both! Shoot me an email and tell me what God has been saying to you as well as what you are doing about it.
If you don't have a home church, come join us tomorrow morning at 10:30 am at Gateway Church West.
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