How to Lead a Missional Church that Expands God’s Kingdom

 

Commit to prayer and intercession. Missional leaders teach and practice prayer; they understand the power of prayer. God answers our prayers. The prayers of God’s people change the spiritual climate of entire cities and nations. We are also changed in God’s presence when we faithfully pray. “Prayer is the one hand with which we grasp the invisible. Fasting is the other hand, the one with which we let go of the visible.”²⁴

Jesus is our best example to follow. He continually spent time in prayer. “Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening” (Luke 8:28-29). Everything that we plan and do needs to be based on prayer. In addition, intercessory prayer is paramount to develop missional churches. When we stand in the gap for our communities, cities and nations, we can expect great things from the Lord. The Holy Spirit can give us fresh strategies to meet the needs of the people.

Know that God can move in every context. When we exercise God’s authority in love to overcome the strategies of the enemy, transformation in people’s lives begins. “It is a perception that views every context as a missional context, and every congregation as a missional congregation that is responsible to participate in God’s mission in that context.”²⁵ Terri Elton identifies the four core principles of the United States as being “discovery, democracy, equality, and diversity” with these qualities having been “born, tested, and challenged in this country and still stand strong today.”²⁶ Consequently, it is important that missional leaders study, research and assess their communities. Missional leaders should also know the spiritual strongholds of their communities. As Paul states: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Eph 6:12-13, emphasis added).

Seek daily opportunities to connect with people. Missional pastors and leaders encourage their members to build healthy relationships with their neighbors. Our neighborhoods and cities are drastically changing in our nation. Ethnic and religious diversity are very common. Our children are going to school and their classmates are Buddhist, Hindus, Muslims, etc. It is paramount that we disciple our children at home. We need to stand firm in what we believe and be willing to dialogue with people from different religious backgrounds. “Connecting is so unassuming—just being an outlet for others to pass through. Resources and people and opportunities are like wires flopping on the floor just waiting to be connected—that’s the job of a pastor.”²⁷

Tags: church, expands, gods, kingdom, lead, missional

Category: Ministry, Winter 2011