SECTION 3.1: Mission, Vision & Strategy of Disciples Church – April 2011
SECTION 3.2: Missional Church Rebirth/Renewal – May 2011
SECTION 3.3: Mission Perspectives – June 2011

This year the Missiology Trimester is compressed into three sessions. In all liklihood it will be extended to at least four sessions next season. This means the readings, especially in Section 3.2 and 3.3 are extensive and will require much. The upside is we will not be meeting through the summer. Each section has three main components. 1) Personal Study; 2) Reflection Paper; and 3) Gathering, which includes a lecture as well as discussion.

//SECTION 3.1//

Mission, Vision, Strategy & Values of Disciples Church // April 2011 //

1. For personal study read and thoroughly consider the following:

Robert Coleman’s Master Plan of Evangelism (link is for Amazon, for best price check half.com or see if Stu has a loaner copy)

Stu on DisciplesChurch_DNA

Driscoll on Radical Reformission

2. Reflection Paper – this needs to be sent on Friday before our gathering.

In your reflection paper (200-500 words) please discuss one of the distinctives of Disciples Church that you are most passionate about, and discuss one of the written distinctives you feel are not as central to our DNA as the paper suggests. paper is to be emailed to each person for further reading and reflection from one another. Email your thoughts  directly to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com this should direct everything we send to each person in the group automatically. If you are not yet part of this Google Group you will need to email Stu@discipleschurch.net first to request admission to the google group…no big pomp and circumstance, I just need to add you to the list.

3. Come prepared to discuss the following

–What are the strengths and potential blind spots in our approach and strategy as a community of faith?

–How will we know when we are being successful as a new local church?

–How will we remain distinctively unique in a sea of sameness? Does it matter for us to be different?

//SECTION 3.2//

Missional Church Rebirth  // May 2011 //

1. For personal study read and thoroughly consider the following:

Roberts on transformational mission

Hunter on rebirth of apostolic congregations

2. Reflection Paper – this needs to be sent to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com on Friday before our gathering.

In your reflection paper (200-500 words) please discuss one standout idea/concept/argument in each of the two readings. Furthermore take a second look at Hunter’s complete list of “Top Ten Features of the Apostolic Congregation” and explain how this list marries with Roberts ideas of “Kingdom in, Kingdom out” from chapter 2 in the Roberts reading.

3. Come prepared to discuss the following

–How are the values & vision of Disciples Church uniquely shaping our experience of mission.

–Roberts discusses in detail how the western church ought to learn from the eastern church. What things are you currently learning about God’s mission for you in Disciples Church.

//SECTION 3.3//

Perspectives on the ‘how-to’ & ‘what-to’  // June 2011 //

1. For personal study read and thoroughly consider the following:

Sweet on The Missional Life

Snyder on Coherence of Mission

Lewis on Irresistible Influence

2. Reflection Paper – this needs to be sent to pastorincubator@googlegroups.com on Friday before our gathering.

In your reflection paper (200-500 words) please discuss one standout idea or common thread through the three readings. If God has inspired any ideas for your own missional life, or things we can do as a church to further our own irresistible influence, discuss those as well.

3. Come prepared to discuss the following

–What do you see as the difference between “doing missions” and living missionally in Folsom and the world?

–What difference is Disciples Church making practically in Folsom outside of Sunday Gathering?