Customer Reviews

Shaped By God's Heart: The Passion and Practices of Missional Churches

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the criticisms most often levied against the larger body of Missional Church writing (i.e. the GOCN series) is that the writers fail to give "concrete" examples of what a missional church "looks like." Minatrea has attempted to fill that void.

There are some legitimate problems with his effort. Nowhere does he explain his research methodology, so one must assume that his research was primarily personal interviews with pastors and church leaders. Neither does he explain the criteria used to identify the churches included in the research as "missional".

Some of his argumentation is convoluted. One example is when he asserts (I'm paraphrasing) that missional churches don't get bogged down in theological matters that distract from mission. Then, a few pages later in the same chapter, he argues that missional churches will have clearly defined doctrinal statements. One is left wondering, "Which is it?"

Also, in several places it seems as though he and his subjects are creating a straw man of sorts out of "traditional" churches. And the churches he most often cites as examples--Gracepoint (San Antonio), Ecclesia (Houston), Antioch (Waco, TX), and Mosaic (Los Angeles)--while diverse, are all at least loosely assocaited with evangelical Baptists. He tells us in the introduction that missioanl churches can be anywhere and in any denomination. So one wonders why he didn't find some to include in his book.

So it isn't a perfect effort. But...it DOES fill a void in the body of Missional Church literature. Beyond simply identifying nine commonalities of practice among missional churches, he leaves readers with the impression that their church can be both missional and faithful to its current local context at the same time. He also presents a few suggestions for moving a church towards a missioanl ecclesiology.

As stated, this is not a perfect effort. But in addition to practical considerations, Minatrea proviides an appropriate basic introduction to the Missional conversation for those not already familiar with the names Newbigin, Guder, or Hunsberger.

Minatrea proposes to show us what missional churches look like. While his characteristics seem to be useful and would make a good sermon series or introduction to leadership class, he largely draws on 3 or 4 Baptist churches for examples, with an occasional nod to Adam Hamilton @ the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection and Brian McLaren and the emergent conversation.

Formatted in short chapters it is a useful starting place if you don't want to wade thru Guder's Missional Church

The more I read about the missional church, the more I want to learn. This title is the latest in a string of several on the subject. Minatrea begins by describing the need for the missional church. He then lists nine practices of missional churches: they have a high threshold for membership, they are real, not really religious, they teach to obey rather than to know, they rewrite worship every week, they live apostolically, they expect to change the world, they order their actions according to their purpose, they measure growth by capacity to release, not retain, and they place kingdom concerns.

While the explanations of the nine practices of missional churches are useful, the best part for me was Part 3. The author in this section gives some very practical ways in which these new approaches to ministry can be incorporated. Overall, this book is superb!

This author hits the nail on the head of what it means to be a "new wineskin church" in this post-Christian age and in doing so shows where the Church has gotten away from God's original intention for His Body.
This is an excellent resource with a helpful survey at the end to help churches interested in becoming more missional.

When I began to read this book, I couldn't put it down. In fact, I read until 2am! He explains exactly what it means to be on mission for God. He takes you logically through the principles of missional church and helps you know what to expect. At the end of each chapter is a section to reflect and apply as well as to assess just exactly where your church is in the process of becoming missional. He points out how we need to be authentic disciples of Christ and reach the world outside the walls of the church - be missional.

I recommend this book for those interested in moving a church from being just surviving to becoming a thriving missional community. The author offers many innovative and practical methods for accomplishing this goal. He demonstrates the effectiveness of these methods through practical examples of churches that have become missional churches. The methods not only involve the pastoral and lay leadership but involve every member in the process. The book is not for the non-committed, inactive member. I highly recommend this book for every pastor, lay leader and church member who has a sincere desire to impact the local and global communtity.

There are a lot of good basic concepts in this book that you will find in lots of business and nonprofit leadership literature. My problem with this book is that, even as much as it tries to stay away from it, it quickly falls into the idea that we have to do this things in order to grow and growing is our number one priority.

Some books on the missional church in a postchristian culture leave you wonder what a local church is suppose to do and be in the new mileu. Not Shaped by God's heart. It ask pointed questions that help you a church evaluate who they are and how missional they are. It also has some very missional applications. If one is having a hard time figuring out what missional church looks like in the post-christian age...this is the book.

Minatrea is right on target. He has obviously been thorough in his research and his conclusions are stellar. Minatrea delivers what is needed for the North American church today. This book is an easy read but is packed with great information. Minatrea was able to get to the heart of the issues and translate them into practical action. You will not be disappointed by this book.

I have been looking for a single book to give to church leaders that explains what it means to be Missionsal. I have found it in this book. I'm ordering some additional copies to give away.