Ed Stetzer: “We should not be so concerned about the container but the church being contained.”

Missional Small Communities from Ed Stetzer on Vimeo.

Here is the outline for his talk:

1. Can small communities be missional?
a. Made up of people living on mission
b. Most likely place for life transformation
c. Less to maintain = more focus on mission
d. Yo-Yo Illustration: Centrifugal Force (missional) & Centripetal Force (attractional)
e. Do something for the gospel, not just ourselves

2. Why small communities?
a. Accountable relationships
b. Provoking is possible (specific vs. generic)
c. Flat structures help people live on mission (vs. hierarchy)
d. Maximum participation (from rows to circles to the world)

3. What are some hindrances to missional small communities?
a. More of a concern for knowledge than life transformation
b. Leaders love to teach more than to help people learn
c. Reflections of the past
d. Segmentation of the mission (”every expression of the church owns all the mission of God”)

4. What are some key practices of missional small communities?
a. Mission orientation
b. Word-driven community
c. Multiplication mindset
d. Incarnationally valid
e. Stranger welcoming
f. Kingdom focused

5. Build a strategy that is communicable and understandable for our people
a. Connect
b. Grow
c. Share
d. Go

Conclusion: “The most likely place for life transformation and missional engagement is in small communities.”