Missional Community Leader Handbook CONTENTS 36 What if someone is struggling with fear of others/codependence? 3 INTRODUCTION 37 What if someone is inconsistent with 4 ELEMENTS OF A DISCIPLESHIP CULTURE attendance? 5 THE ECOSYSTEM 38 What if someone doesn’t seem to care? 6 MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES OVERVIEW 39 What if someone says something wrong or AND TRAINING heretical? 7 Responsibilities of an MC Leader 40 What if someone talks too much? 12 MC Leader/Coach Expectations/Development 41 What if someone drains the group? 13 Short Term Missional Communities MODEL 14 FAQS 42 How do I reach out to my community? CARE AND COUNSEL 43 How do I encourage accountability? 16 How do I give godly counsel? 44 How do I welcome new people into the group? 18 How do I interpret Scripture correctly? 45 How do I practice Biblical rest? 20 How do I care for widowed members? 46 How do I deal with discouragement? 21 How do I visit someone in the hospital? 47 How do I interact effectively? 22 What is Spiritual Warfare? 48 How do I decide whether to call, text, or meet? 23 What is formal Church Discipline? 49 How do I follow up with someone? 24 How can I shepherd my group members? 50 How do I handle breaks between MC terms? 25 How can I help someone struggling with 51 How do I handle children in group? temptation? MOBILIZE 26 How can I help someone in crisis? 52 How do I decide on group size? 27 What if someone is struggling with guilt or accusations? 53 How do I encourage others to make disciples? 28 What if someone is struggling with finances? 54 How do I share the ministry? 29 What if someone is considering suicide? 55 How do I set a culture of multiplication? 30 How do I minister to someone struggling with anxiety? 31 How do I minister to someone struggling with an eating disorder? 33 How do I minister to someone struggling with anxiety? 34 What if someone is struggling with pornography? 35 What if someone is struggling with adultery? MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK Introduction Knowing how to shepherd, direct, and Most of the content in the FAQs comes from respond to someone takes training, practice, The Village Church in Texas. We have made and the work of the Holy Spirit. This resource some alterations to better suit our context, serves as a reference when you need but we are indebted to them for the majority direction or have questions about leading a of the work in creating this resource. Missional Community. You may read it in its entirety or as needed when situations arise. In a desire to keep things succinct, the majority of the FAQs are dealt with through a one-page outline. We have aimed at the heart of the matter, providing action steps and other resources on the topics. Our hope is to be as practical as possible. You are likely to deal with many of the situations described in the FAQs throughout your time as an MC Leader. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 3 Elements of a Discipleship Culture define Who is a disciple? 1 De 6.941 define develop How are disciples formed? 2 Dv 15.999 develop diagnose How are disciples measured? 3 Di 83.80 diagnose demonstrate Are you a disciple? 4 Dm 180.95 demonstrate MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 4 THE ECOSYSTEM REPRODUCER WORSHIPER Intentionally pours into others what God has poured Sees God as greater than anyone or anything else and into them. A disciple of Jesus who makes disciples lives in joyful, grateful obedience. Pursues communion who make disciples, to see the movement of the with and obedience to Jesus in all of life, relentlessly Gospel continue from generation to generation. eliminating idols. Might look like… Might look like… • Prays for others’ growth. • Surrenders heart and life to Christ. • Intentionally invests in and teaches others. • Private devotional life; prayer, Scripture, meditation, etc. • Helps/encourages/challenges others to take • Pursues obedience in all things. next steps. • Participates in corporate worship. • Lives life alongside others with intent to disciple. MISSIONARY FAMILY MEMBER Lives as though God has sent them to Lives as a committed member of an proclaim the gospel in word and deed authentic, transparent, truthful wherever they are. Burdened for those community built on the foundation of the who don’t know Jesus, therefore gospel and living out its implications. intentionally uses resources and makes Obeys the “one anothers” of Scripture, decisions to fulfill God’s mission, not loving others and sharing life with them their own dreams. in a gospel-shaped way. Might look like… Might look like… Prays for others to know Jesus. • • Committed part of Missional Community. Intentionally reaches out to demonstrate • • Growing in availability to others. and communicate the gospel. • Confession, transparency. Implements BLESS practices intentionally. • • Neither avoids nor enjoys confrontation. Shares what God has done and is doing in them. • • Bears the burdens of others, fosters their spiritual growth. SERVANT LEARNER Joyfully and sacrificially serves in response to the way Humbly seeks to learn from the Spirit and others through they’ve been served by Jesus. Looks not to their own diligently studying Scripture and seeking wisdom. Wants needs but considers how to use all they have for the to grow in knowledge and effectiveness in Christ. sake of others and God’s glory. Might look like… Might look like… • Studies Scripture consistently and diligently seeks to • Disadvantages self for the sake of others. apply what they learn. • Serves on a ministry team. • Accepts rebuke, seeks correction. • Thinks of others, has empathy. • Teachable heart, seeks the wisdom of others. • Takes action outside of their comfort zone. • Engages with and applies Scripture. • Looks for needs around them. • Growing in Gospel fluency and application. • Generous with time, energy, and resources. • Takes advantage of opportunities to learn and grow. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 5 And Jesus came and said to them, “All WHAT a MISSIONAL COMMUNITY IS NOT… authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make When we describe Missional Communities as “small groups,” people interpret this word in disciples of all nations, baptizing them in different ways. The tendency is to assume, the name of the Father and of the Son even for those that are bought-in to the vision and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to and DNA of Resonate, that MCs are “small observe all that I have commanded you. groups” or “Bible studies” by a different And behold, I am with you always, to the name. It is helpful to clarify what a MC is not: end of the age.” - Matthew 28.16-20 (ESV) A Missional Community is not primarily a Small Group. Many churches start Small Groups as a way to "close the back door” of discipleship at resonate the church; to help people who come to Resonate exists to fulfill Jesus’ Great Sunday services get connected and stay Commission to go and make disciples. connected to the church. While MCs help Everything we do is meant to point people to people connect to the church family, this is Jesus and lead them into a growing not the reason we have them. relationship with Him. Discipleship is growing as a follower of Jesus and it is the call of A Missional Community is not primarily a every Christian and every local church. Bible Study. Bible Studies often involve studying and discussing Scripture as a While the Bible provides clear guidance on substitute for living on mission and engaging what it means to follow Jesus, each church in the ministry God made us for. While MCs has its own process and vocabulary will study Scripture, the emphasis will be on surrounding discipleship. At Resonate, we the way God equips us through Scripture, use the Ecosystem, which is detailed on the and being faithful to obey what we learn. previous pages. This paradigm provides both practical, specific next steps related to each A Missional Community is not primarily a of the six marks of a disciple as well as a support group. While members of groups clear picture that we are constantly growing will experience love and support, the purpose and never “arrive” as disciples. Growth is a of the group is to grow people so they are lifelong, ongoing process. And at the center able to take care of their own families, and of it all is the Gospel. one another. A Missional Community is not primarily a WHERE MISSIONAL COMMUNITIES FIT IN social activist group. We want each group to be “For the City" and live on mission to our Gospel-centered communities are the context city. Causes are good, but if we miss the for discipleship; the people you experience mission of the Gospel - the call to make Christ with. We live out and pursue every disciples - we have missed our true calling. element of discipleship through Missional Communities. Made up of men and women from all generations, Missional Communities A Missional Community is not primarily a meet throughout the week for prayer, weekly meeting. While a Missional fellowship, challenge, encouragement, and Community will get together once a week, it growth. They are not simply places to build is not a weekly meeting. An MC is a group of community, but community will be built. They people seeking to live life together in pursuit are groups of people in pursuit of Jesus. of Jesus. You don’t define your family as a weekly meeting; the church is your family. MISSIONAL COMMUNITY HANDBOOK 6 WHAT a MISSIONAL COMMUNITY IS… CARE AND COUNSEL In Missional Communities we are seeking to Caring and counseling are everyday activities live life a different way.