Integrating Missionally

My Summer Listening Tour

David Phillips — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:17:09 +0000

I’ve spent June and July in relative silence. I’ve been listening a lot. I’ve been observing a lot. I’ve been reading a lot. I’ve been praying a lot.

It’s not because I’ve really wanted to be quiet. There have been times when I’ve wanted to make a snarky comment or put up a snarky blog post because of what I have seen. Tweets have come through and it would have been easy to respond in a way that made it evident I was just rolling my eyes at the tweet. The same with a facebook post. But I thought twice about it and just deleted what I was going to say. It was better for me that way. Actually, I got convicted every time I wanted to say something so I just kept my mouth shut for the most part.

A lot has happened over the summer that I haven’t commented on and I thought I would make a few observations in general on what I have seen and heard.

The SBC
The Southern Baptist Convention was held in June and the big deal was the Great Commission Resurgence. We all knew it would pass, and it did. I did find it interesting that the leadership of the SBC and their minions took to the twitterverse to try to sell the package, and, in some ways, to shout down those who were against it.

The SBC is a unique animal. It is incredibly political. I have seen the underbelly of it on a couple of occasions and, as recently as this year, it became personal. It really shows me that denominationally it is mostly about money and power and control.

I also realized what SBC professors do not write much, and if they do, it all sounds the same. I was having lunch with a former SBC professor and he told me this story. He said that in most institutions of higher learning, it is publish or perish. However, in SBC seminaries (and others where you have to sign a denominational confessional statement) it is publish and perish. There was no such thing as academic freedom. I can accept that, but could not embrace it. It stifles the learning process that the Spirit has for the person and those whom he or she teaches. I also guess that is why I just don’t read books from SBC professors anymore. It’s the same old stuff.

Practitioners
I had someone who is a well-known practitioner tell me in the past few years, “I really love …. and he’s a friend, but his stuff is all theory. Find someone who is practicing what you want to accomplish and get to know them.” I have really taken that to heart. Yet I see more and more people who don’t practice try to tell pastors how to do things. Not just on a philosophical or theological level, but on a practical level. You cannot hold conferences about that which you have not practiced in twenty years. You can’t say you understand what small church pastors are going through if you haven’t been one in twenty years. You can’t teach urban church planting if you have never planted an urban church.

That is why I love to read and dialogue with actual practitioners. I love to read people like NT Wright, who until recently, was a pastor in England. I love to read David Fitch’s blog. He is a professor and pastor of a missional community in Chicago. I really enjoy Bob Roberts in metro Dallas. Then there is my friend Todd Littleton. He as some really good things to say. Caleb Crider has some great things to say as well.

And that is why I love Len Sweet. I spent three years with Len as a student. I have been privileged to spend time at conferences with him, and one on one in conversations. I’ve seen people ask Len a practical question and almost without fail, Len will respond with a theological or philosophical framework answer. He doesn’t want to tell you how to do something, because people would leave his talk and all wear jeans and dark sport coats. He wants to you take the framework he has given and allow the Spirit to work it out in you and your community of faith, if that is what the Spirit wants to see happen. Unfortunately, as pastors, we want people to tell us how to grow our church and in doing so we can have the next killer app. But the killer app is the one birthed inside us by the Holy Spirit. Someone suggested I look at Len as an architect. I don’t expect to get practical advice from Len on many things. But he does create a framework that makes me think about what I do and say.

Networks
There are more church networks than there are television stations. And all of them are having conferences. I don’t mind conferences, it’s just that I do not attend them any more. I would rather attend something akin to a multi-day small community gathering of 20-30 people sitting around the room talking with others about life and ministry. I’ve found that so many of the conferences have the same people speaking and you can get what they are saying by reading their books. So it’s cheaper to read the book than spend all the money to go see them on a screen 60 rows or more from the front. Len Sweet does some great advances and the Ecclesia Network does some great things as well, as does the Upstream Collection.

Networks will be important as denominations wane. They will replace the denomination as the primary influencer of ministry, if they have not already done so.

Declining Numbers
My wife, who is a children’s pastor, has noted to me recently that a lot of Children’s Pastors are talking about declining numbers. Pastors are talking about declining numbers as well. It looks like we are finally beginning to realize American Christianity has failed. Oh wait, did I say that? Actually, what I think is happening is a multi-faceted failure to stay true to our first love. We have embraced consumerism, excellence, theological frameworks, philosophical frameworks, ministry styles, preaching styles, and even the gospel while turning away from our first love: Jesus. There are other reasons as well. A friend of mind, who supported the SBC’s GCR, noted to me that when the SBC traded Jesus for the Bible in 2000, things began to change. I think in general, we have a passion for practices instead of a passion for the Person of Jesus.

In all this, I am seeing a change in tone and understanding about what success means in ministry today. I think the church is going to have to learn a new meaning of success.

Etc.
I’ve seen more polarization, particularly in politics but in the church as well. You can’t be a Christian and be a democrat, for instance. All the while, families are falling apart, lives are being destroyed, and people are continuing a dehumanization process into hell. My friend Heidi and I have had discussions about this, and she’s right. We’ve got too many people on a journey into hell to be fighting the government or each other. Change the person, change the culture. Change the culture, change society. Change society, and change the country. And the world. Of course, we do not change people; but as we partner with the Spirit and follow Jesus, we will have those opportunities.

The church is under-forgiving and over-controlling, a lot more pharisees than followers of Christ. I will leave it at that.

If we would do more listening than speaking with people who do not follow Christ we would have more influence in their life to help them uncover the Christ the created them. If we would do more loving than condemning, we would have more opportunities to nudge people to Jesus.

Oh well, I’ve probably said too much. More later. Maybe.

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Dr. Randy Millwood Talking about Holy Rewired

David Phillips — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:08:09 +0000

Yesterday I gave a talk entitled “The Journey Toward Wholeness” at a leadership training event sponsored by the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. Dr. Randy Millwood, Dr. Randy Millwood, fomerly of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and now Leadership Development Missionary for the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware talks about the impact of reading Holy Rewired.

I am moving around trying to get some seating arranged as people came it.

Transitioning Preschoolers in Church

David Phillips — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:02:38 +0000

Transitions can be difficult for young children. They get used to one class, and then as they grow older, it is time for them to move on to another class or group. Those transition times can be stressful and emotional on young lives.

This book will help give young children an idea of what to expect in children’s worship.

This book teaches about the importance of tithing and daily devotion times. It will help parents remember to set aside special at-home Bible teaching times to reinforce children’s worship lessons.

I confess my preference for this book. It was written by my wife, Brenna Phillips, who has been doing children’s ministry since 1992. She has been on staff and a volunteer, served in large churches and very small. She has been in traditional churches and very untraditional churches. In addition, she has served as an early childhood educator for some of those same years. She knows what she is doing and what she is talking about.

You can purchase her book here and get an autographed copy. It will be available on amazon and barnesandnoble.com soon as well. Get some for your friends and for your church library!

Embracing the Mysterious

David Phillips — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 12:15:52 +0000

Expectations. We have them of ourselves. We have them of friends. We even have them of God.

Expectations are formed through experiences. Based on experiences, we know what to expect out of restaurants. Based on experience we know what to expect out of our hair stylist. Based on experience, we think we know what to expect out of God.

The expected provides for us a level of predictability. If we helped form and shapes those expectations, they are a form of control.

It is the un-expected that makes us nervous. The un-expected is what rattles our lives. It is the un-expected that reveals the fault lines in our polished exterior.

The un-expected disclose our needs and force us to consider the mysterious. The mysterious cannot be controlled. It cannot be predicted. But it is transforming. It is moving.

The unexpected embraced. Mystery manifested in the Wind, blowing where it will. It is in the mystery veiled glass that we find our maker.

Embrace the mystery, for it will lead you to hope, wholeness, and a love so profound yet so sustaining. Even in the mystery, there is a strong tower, a rock and a sure foundation.

The Walk

David Phillips — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 23:42:06 +0000

Walk. It is a way that the Old Testament described living. To walk in darkness was to live in darkness. To walk in the Spirit is to live in such a way that the Spirit controls.

Christians don’t talk much about death; we want to enjoy life, to find success, to have a great marriage and to raise great kids. But death… well that’s for later. Hopefully.

But the essence of being a Christian is death. Ironically, new birth is the first step on a journey into death – the death of our walk. For only in our death can Christ live in us. Getting there is never easy. Wholeness only comes through brokenness.

Our death is the end of our attempt at being God. It is the end of control.

It is the beginning of life. The beginning the indwelling incarnation, where it is Christ living through us.

Take the journey.

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The depressed prophet

David Phillips — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:07:40 +0000

I am working on two writing projects, one of which I’ve already started and the other that I am just beginning to think about. It is also one that is not discussed often, but that brings a lot of traffic to my site. That topic is pastoral depression.

Elijah has been a favorite prophet of mine ever since I was seminary. One of the professors there, Argile Smith, shared a message in chapel once from Elijah, talking about decision-making. It stuck, and so did Elijah. And I am going to use Elijah and Jeremiah to talk about pastoral depression.

Why do this? Well I have walked through some of those issues myself. Second, I have two major searches from google that hit my blog: missional and pastor depression. I’ve done a podcast and post on it, and that topic generates traffic, so I know it is an issue in ministry. Third, my doctoral research offers incredible insight into topic, particularly as it relates to brain health, brain function, and decision-making.

I haven’t decided if I am going to make it into a print book or just a free ebook. As I was writing out a description for my coach this morning who – as a Christian counselor and former pastor, will help in the process – the ideas became bigger than I at first perceived. This would make a full book possible, but there is part of me that would like to give it away.

Pastors and ministers do not talk about this much, but we need to have these discussions. Too many pastors are leaving ministry because of it, too many are not making good decisions because of it, and it affects too many ministries, churches, and families. We cannot ignore it.

If you think you may be depressed and would like to talk to someone who has been through it, please contact me! I was thankful to have a coach who had been a pastor and had worked through his own depression battles. I’m not a counselor, but I would be willing to help any way I can.

Who mentors female pastors and ministers?

David Phillips — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:10:25 +0000

I put a post up yesterday offering free coaching for six months for two people. As part of the terms of my offer, I noted that the offer was reserved for males only, since I am a male.

A friend, through facebook, asked me a great question related to that part of the terms. Though not being a pastor, she asked:

since the vast majority of pastors (of all denominations) are male, it leads me to wonder how much coaching or one-on-one help is available to women who might genuinely need it. It seems like the makings for a void that could easily go unfilled. Do you know if this is a problem?

Before now, I have never considered that question, so I don’t have a good answer. But it is indeed a valid question. Who mentors female pastors and ministers? Let’s set aside any thoughts about women not being allowed to be pastors or ministers for a moment. That is not the issue. The reality is that there are women who are senior pastors, children’s pastors, youth pastors, education pastors, music pastors, etc. Where do they get mentoring and coaching? Are there enough females with experience in those roles to be mentors and coaches?

I do not believe it to be appropriate for men to mentor or coach women one-on-one, especially in ministry settings. I would also imagine that in parts of the country, women may find it difficult to find mentors and coaches in ministry.

I would love to hear from women on this. What do you think?

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Free Coaching Offer

David Phillips — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:15:40 +0000

Last year, I was offered the opportunity to become a missional pastor’s coach with a Christian counseling group on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The owner of the practice is a former pastor who moved into the marriage and family area as well as continuing to coach pastors. However, he was noticing a trend of younger pastors going through difficult times in their lives and in their churches, and found himself also being asked ministry-oriented questions by younger pastors and seminary students. He had been out of the ministry for a few years and wanted to bring someone on more in their age range and ministry thinking, so he asked if I would work with them as a contract coach.

I jumped at the chance-I really think that’s part of my calling. It has been affirmed in a variety of contexts and I have been doing it unofficially since college. I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity.

My specific areas of focus have been missional theology and practice, your church as a church planting church, entrepreneurial business and ministry, and life coaching.

Now to the offer. I want to broaden my scope and want to provide my services FREE for six months (6) for two (2) people. Here are the terms of my offer:

1. You receive up to 2 hours per month of phone or video coaching per month.
2. You get up to 40 email responses from me per month.
3. You get one free, autographed copy of my book.
4. The topics can be any of those listed above.
5. It must be a male.

Is there a catch? Nope. None.

If you would like to take advantage of this offer, be one of the first two (2) people to contact me through the Contact link. We will move forward from there.

Holy Rewired is now available!

David Phillips — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:52:38 +0000

I was thinking this morning that I did not announce this in a blog post, though I did put it in the sidebar of the blog.

Holy Rewired is available for purchase. I am offering autographed versions for $12.00 plus shipping and payment is through paypal. You can click on the link in the sidebar to purchase. It is also available at Amazon for $10.79 and at Barnes and Noble for the same price. You can also get the amazon kindle edition.

A Semiotic Scripture?

David Phillips — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:40:30 +0000

Last night, in one of the small groups I lead, we began the book of the Revelation. I have been called crazy by some for doing this and I realize this as I tread with fear and trembling into the journey.

As I was preparing for the introduction to our study, I came across a fascinating term used in Rev. 1:1. The English (NASB) says:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John,

The term in question is translated by the NAS “communicated it”. The Greek uses sémainó, the verb form of a word that means sign. The root of this work is the same root word from which the term semiotics is derived, semeiotikos, which means an interpreter of signs. Semiotics, as a refresher, is the study of sign processes (semiosis), or signification and communication, signs and symbols.

In speaking of this term in Revelation 1:1, Robert Mounce in The Book of Revelation (New International Commentary on the New Testament) notes the following:

The revelation is said to be signified to John. The Greek verb carries the idea of figurative representation. Strictly speaking it means to make known by some sort of sign. Thus it is admirably suited to the symbolic character of the book. This should ward the reader not to expect a literal presentation of future history, but a symbolic portrayal of that which must yet come to pass. (65)

So the book of the Revelation is a “sign”-ified book. It requires a semiotician to understand it.

In Acts 11:28, a prophecy of Agabus is introduced in a similar way, with “he indicated through the Spirit.” The word “indicated” is the same word, sémainó. Agabus was an astute semiotician, as he understood the sign-ified message of the Spirit.

The verb sémainó occurs three times in John, all in the context of Jesus “indicating” by what death he would die (John 12:33; 18:32; 21:19); i.e., Jesus predicted his dead by using the phrase “lifted up” as a description of his impending crucifixion. Jesus was sign-ifying how he would die and people needed to be able to read the sign(s) he was giving them so that they would be able to understand what was happening. Jesus was looking for semioticians.

Finally, in Matthew 16:3, Jesus tells the religious leaders “Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?” . The word for signs here is sémeion, the same root word used in the other passages. Jesus is chastising them for their inability to read the signs, in effect deriding them for not being semioticians.

Just after the event with the religious leaders, Jesus seems frustrated with his own disciples for being semioticians themselves. In verse 6, he says to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They thought he was talking about bread. Then he says in verse 11, “How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” It was then that they understood the sign. Verse 12 states, “Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

And then there is the confession of Peter in Matthew !6:13-20. Jesus asked the disciples:

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Based on the context, particularly because it is a context of signs, that God the Father finally allowed Peter to interpret the signs and he came to the conclusion that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Signs require interpretation. The interpreter for the disciples in Matthew 16 was Jesus. The interpreter in Acts 11 was the Spirit. The interpreter in John was Jesus himself. And in Matthew 16:13-20, the interpreter was God the Father.

As a result, what conclusions would you draw from the New Testament?

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Integrating Missionally

My Summer Listening Tour

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