THE PRESENT FUTURE AND BEYOND
Reggie McNeal
Summary by Wayne Proctor
McNeal identifies 3 shifts in Christianity and church culture, from internal to external (the church in the building to the church in the world), program-driven to people-development (building around human relationships rather than curriculum), and planning to preparation (again, preparation of people, especially leadership). Here is the basic outline of 6 PRESENT-FUTURES.
1. The COLLAPSE of the church culture
Wrong question: How do we do church better?
Tough question: How do we deconvert from churchianity to Christianity?
2. The shift from church growth to KINGDOM growth.
Wrong question: How do we grow this church?
Tough question: How do we transform our community?
3. The new REFORMATION: releasing God's people.
Wrong question: How do we turn members into ministers?
Tough question: How do we turn members into
missionaries?
4. The return to SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Wrong question: How do we develop church members?
Tough question: How do we develop followers of Jesus?
5. The shift from PLANNING to PREPARATION.
Wrong question: How do we plan for the future?
Tough question: How do we prepare for the future?
6. The rise of APOSTOLIC leadership
Wrong question: How do we develop leaders for church work?
Tough question: How do we develop leaders for the Christian movement?
