A Premise for Intentional Church

7/31/2019 A Premise for Intentional Church

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INTENTIONAL COMMUNITYA Premise

Whoever claims to live in Him must walk just as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6

OFFERED BYMICHAEL HOGG

COMMUNITY FOR THE KINGDOM-MINDED

WHO MAY NOT BE CHURCH-MINDED


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Intentional CommunityWhoeverclaims to live in him must walk just as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6

Welcome

Getting Started

1: The Difference of Intentional Community

2:The Involvement of Intentional Community

3:The Fraternity of Intentional Community

4: The Growth of Intentional Community

5:The Obedience of Intentional Community

6: The Discipline of Intentional Community

7:The Doctrine of Intentional Community

Acknowledgments

. . . give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods willfor you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

I must first give thanks to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who is moving me in a journey I

did not envision or even knowingly desire but a journey into what it means to be a part of His

spiritual community and where His Father is moving in our world. I am indebted to those who

have encouraged and supported me but also inspired and challenged me. I cannot predict the

outcome of this experience save that it will certainly end in His presence where all will be

revealed.

Michael Hogg

All verses are taken from the New International Version of the Holy Bible, unless otherwise noted.


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Welcome

First, you must understand that I love the church. I have served it for over forty years and have

enjoyed the comfort of its fellowship and the support of its people. It is out of that love that I sought to

understand what has been happening to the church. Men much wiser than myself have shared the

same concern their work predominates much of current Christian thought.

What follows is not an alternative to the established institutional church or a criticism of the same. It is

an observation and appreciation for what God is evidently dong in our communities of faith. It is a

response to the crisis now present in our churches.

A growing number of people are leaving the institutional church for a new reason. They are

not leaving because they have lost faith. They are leaving the church to preserve their faith.

Reggie McNeal

The proposals found in this paper are in recognition of the spiritual desire found in all people of

faith and seeks to compliment that desire and work to accomplish that to which we were saved.

Bythis gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise,

you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance:

that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was

raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.1 Corinthians 15:24

I ask that those who read these proposals keep that priority in mind and consider how even this

can add to the work of the Kingdom of God.

Forhe has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom

of the Son [Jesus] he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:1314

I believe that Kingdom of God is among us but can only be found in that personal journey that ismade with God through His Son Jesus Christ. There is a transformation offered by God thatcannot be fashioned by any of mans creations but only in the spiritual rebirth that comes fromGod.

Yetto allwho received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to

become children of Godchildren born not of natural descent, nor of human decision

or a husbands will, but born of God.John 1:1213

It is my prayer that the Intentional Community offers a means by which some of the followers ofChrist may experience that rebirth and find their personal mission in revealing of Gods Kingdom toa world lost in darkness.


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Getting Started

There is a stark reality in our churches that we may not want to admit. Despite our programming

and the good intent of its people, we are seeing a decline in the number of disciples being formed

in our church bodies.

The Christian church in America is comprised of many converts but shockingly few

disciples.George Barna

His research has identified all too many common symptoms of this plight.

No Spiritual Priority. When Christian adults were asked to identify their most important goal fo

life, not a single person said it was to be a committed follower of Jesus Christ or to make disciples

of Christ.

No Spiritual Plan. Less than one in five born again adults had any specific and measurable

goals related to their personal spiritual development.

No Biblical Roots. When given the basic teachings from the Bible, only 1% of Christianadults embraced those teachings as being biblical.

No Absolutes. A minority of adult and teen believers possess a biblical world view as the

basis for their decision making or behavior.

Few believers said their church lacked programs but most Christians complained that little idone to effectively motivate and facilitate their development as genuine and fervent followersof Jesus Christ. Our surveys among pastors showed that they dismissed such views asexcuses and as inaccurate, but the bottom line still remains unchanged: most Christians aresimply not making progress in their personal spiritual development.George Barna

It should come as no surprise that many of these tenuous disciples eventually fade from thechurch. Matt Chandler defines them as De-churched and offers a reasonable explanation for

these departures from the established church.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzTm3W2Ai7s

My hope is that the intentional community can offer a means by which the de-churched and

even the disenfranchised can reconnect to the community of faith and renew both their

commitment to the church and to fostering other disciples.

A DEFINITION:

Intentional Community is a smaller assembly of people (10 to 30) who meet outside the

sanctuary setting in private homes, restaurants, coffee shops and even in unused rooms on

church campuses. By its definition, those attending must intend to pursue a commitment to

an authentic life with Jesus Christ that will result in spiritual life and discipleship. They will

represent a counter-cultural response to their neighbors, family and friends who have

become disillusioned with the so-called American Dream.


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1The Difference of Intentional Community

As previously stated, Intentional Community is not a replacement for the established church.What it offers is an opportunity the de-churched to renew their spiritual purposes in a climate that

is strategically different to their traditional experience. Those differences are by design.

Colossians 2:2-3 (NIV)My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they mayhave the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery ofGod, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Intentional Community removes some of the hindrances perceived in the traditionalchurch experience.

The intentional community does not do programming. It assumes that God has already placed

them in significant relationships with family, friends, coworkers and community where they may

and should represent Christ. Fulfilling those roles provides their greatest opportunity to minister

on Christs behalf and to represent Him to their world. It asks no more of them than to make their

world their mission.

The intentional community does not own buildings or property that depletes or distracts from

the missional calling of the community. We meet in rented or borrowed spaces and own only

materials sufficient to our teaching purposes.

The intentional community does not compete with traditional church schedules. Members of

this community may meet midweek as well as midday. By intent, we do not meet during the

worship times of the traditional church to allow members to the opportunity to access and

attend such services for their spiritual purposes

The intentional community assembles only once a week. Yet, due to its smaller and more

intimate size, informal fellowships and pastoral responses to its membership are flexible and

more easily achieved.

The intentional community makes good use of the todays technology to allow the disciple to

maintain a daily connection to the group and their study and support. Much of their resourcematerial is digital and so available in real time.


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2The Involvement of Intentional Community

Intentional Community requires the engagement of every member of its fellowship.

1 Corinthians 14:26 (NIV)What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or aword of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done forthe strengthening of the church.

Smaller communities of faith by their size experience a higher level of intimacy and

fellowship. The biblical sanction of the priesthood of all believers is capitalized in this

environment.

As baptized believers, all members of the community are expected to be led by the Holy Spirit

in aiding the strengthening of the group. This is to be accomplished by the gifting of the Holy

Spirit and to be received both within and without our worship experience.

While there is a pastor or teacher to the community for the equipping of the community, that

experience is achieved by the involvement and harmony of the entire community. Each brings

to the table and each takes away from it.

Intentional Community involves every member in the practice of their weekly gathering.

Acts 2:42 (NIV)They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking ofbread and to prayer.

While the study of Gods Word follows a discipling plan, the sharing of Gods Word and the

message to be gained requires a cooperative spirit from all the members. They are expected

to prepare and participate in the sharing of all teaching.

While the pastor or teacher engages in the care of his or her flock, the membership of the

community is responsible for their own shepherding and fellowship. They are to practice the

spirit of compassion and encouragement for one another as illuminated in the scriptures. The

pastor is not hired to perform any other service than member save those legally required.

The ordinance of baptism and communion is shared by the community. There are no church

officers who distribute the emblems but a common body that break bread together and

remember Him.

Essential to involvement is the place of prayer in the lives of the community. It is both act of

corporate worship and a commission of personal responsibility. Each member is expected to

pray actively for those within and without the faith.


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3The Fraternity of the Intentional Community

John Eldredge said, When scriptures talk about church, it means communitya shared life.

They worship together, eat together, pray for one another, go on quests together. They hang out

together, in eachothershomes.

Herein lies on of the defining opportunities for an intentional community. Because of their

intimacy, they are more apt to share their real selves, be vulnerable to one another and

experience an authentic relationship of life in the faith community.

When they gather, their conversation is more likely to be honest in their discussion of real struggles

and their search for a practical life of faith. As relationships develop and life is shared, it becomes

possible to genuinely encourage one another and bear one anothers burdens.

Intentional Community deals with the reality of their lives and their faith over any

sectarian need of the established church.

There is no room for a disciple to hide themselves from the view and work of the body. Those

who attend are aware of this reality and so are subject to it. They are expected to build those

Christian bonds and engage themselves in the support of their Christian brothers and sisters.

The intentional community does not engage in the criticism of any other congregation or

community of Christian faith. Quite the contrary, that fraternal spirit induces them to see them ascomrades in the mission and calling of Christ.

Unlike the structure of the established church, there are no membership requirements in the

intentional community outside their covenantal relationships. They are bound to Christ and to

each other by their faith and love which are more binding than any signed record.


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4The Growth of the Intentional Community

The Intentional Community draws first from the fringes of the established church and then the community at large.

Then intentional community seeks to leverage the experience of the Kingdom-minded de-churched

into an experience of viable Christian community that will foster evangelism and discipleship in its

purest forms.

Churches within the community will be consulted and, if willing, be engaged in developing a

summary list of candidates for an intentional community. It will be made clear that this community

not in competition with their church but seeks to access and involve those who have drifted from

their ranks.

Whatever means is used to solicit the involvement of these Christians, the dynamics and covenan

relationships required will be explained with clarity. This is not a refuge for malcontents but a

resource for those who still have a Kingdom heart.

Likewise, the presentation to the community at large will reflect such a commitment. It is anticipate

that the initial core of the community will be drawn from the church community. Informational and

orientation experiences will be offered to aid those with interest to determine their involvement.

The appeal of the intentional community may precipitate a larger response than anticipated.

Consideration will have to be given to soliciting among the churched first to refine our expectations

Wolfgang Simson describes the potential of such an unencumbered community,

a church which does not need huge amounts of money, or rhetoric, control and manipulation,

which can do without powerful and charismatic heroes, which is non-religious at heart, which can

thrill people to the core, make them loose their tongues out of sheer joy and astonishment and

simply teach us The Way to live; which has not only a message but is the message, will spread

like an unstoppable virus, infect whatever it touches and cover the earth with the glory and

knowledge of God.

Member of the community are not expected or even asked to invite others to their fellowship befor

they have first invited them to consider Christ. Only then can the community take them within their

fellowship for the sole purpose of discipling them as they disciple themselves.

The community does not invite people to come and see but challenges people to go and do. Thos

who may observe will in a timely manner be asked why they believe God has led them there and

what they intend to do with that leading of God.


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5The Obedience of the Intentional Community

During the days of Jesus life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and

tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent

submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.Hebrews 5:78

I do not have grandiose visions of what this community may accomplish. Though it may not sound

leadership in nature, I tremble at what all may occur in this experience. But this I do know, it will

come with a price not measure in earthly terms and reward us with riches still stored in heavens

treasure house.

Our ability to stay faithful to our relationship with God in Christ and our willingness to submit these

things to God will determine His blessing and whatever glory we may give to the Father. With Gods

help, we may return to the spirit of Christianity and replace church growth with a wider vision of

Kingdom growth. We my develop disciples instead of church members by focusing on spiritual

formation rather than church programs. And we may as a community of faith move from prediction an

planning to preparation for the challenges of this uncertain life and world.

The Intentional Community must be accountable to the church at large.

We must submit ourselves not just to Christ and one another but to good and godly men and women

the church at large who can give us accountability and with whom we may share the discoveries and

blessings to be found.

It will be necessary to establish a board of directors to see to our legal responsibilities and to represent

us to the church at large. They will aid in ensuring the credibility of the ministry and facilitate any large

outreach to the church community.

The intentional community will be cyclical by nature to allow for growth and to prevent stagnation of

covenantal relationships. The community will periodically (18-36 months) purposely review itself and

determine whether it should renew, rebirth or disband to fulfill Gods purposes. Members of the

community may at anytime choose to return to a traditional church practice or exit the community but

will be challenged at the end of the cycle to consider what God would have them do now.


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6The Discipline of the Intentional Community

Jesus answered, It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes

from the mouth of God.Matthew 4:4

The intentional community and disciple are centered on the Word of God. The cycle life of the

community requires that we address certain disciplines and doctrines in that time.

Some of the disciplines that will be sought include:

Spiritual Awareness: The disciple is called to open himself to the light and Word of God to honestly

and accurately understand where he is in his spiritual journey.

Spiritual Management: The disciple is called upon to address the difficult emotions, expectations,

temptations and rigors of the devoted life.

Spiritual Development: The disciple is called upon to keep a life-long commitment to learning andgrowing and buildings ones spiritual strength.

Spiritual Mission:The disciple is called upon to discover and keep a sense of Gods purpose in his

life, his family and his community.

Spiritual Decision Making: The disciple is called upon to address the elements of godly decision

making in his life and to learn from his failures.

Spiritual Belonging: The disciple is called upon to nurture his relationships and to live in community

with others including family, followers, mentors and friends.

Spiritual Aloneness: The disciple is called to the regular practice of soul-shaping solitude and

contemplation.

.


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7The Doctrine of the Intentional Community

Our desire is not create another church but to be the church and to please the Lord by what we

do.

So we make it our goal to please him.2 Corinthians 5:9

Fulfilling that desire requires that we faithfully share that which was given us. The biblical

foundations sought in the life of the community occur with a purposed plan that allows for the

leading of Gods Spirit.

The foundational goals sought for the community occur on the following timelines:

Year One:

A study of the basic teachings every believer should know to allow the disciple to understand

the big picture or worldview of God.

A study of the habits we form, the sin we embrace, the forces we struggle against and

overcome as they have been addressed by our victorious Lord.

A study of the biblical elements key that lead to discovering the will of God and makingspiritually wise decisions.

Year Two:

A study of deeper biblical teachings of Christ and the scriptures so that His Word may abide

in their hearts.

A study of the patterns of godly relationships in the home and with our loving God.

An intense study of the Spirit-filled life that addresses the dynamics but allows the disciple tounderstand how to walk in the Spirit, grow in the Spirit, serve in the Spirit and share in the

Spirit-filled life.

Year Three:

A study of the biblical principles for developing, reproducing and bearing lasting spiritual fruit.

A study of spiritual parenting or discipling that allows you to intentionally invest in the lives of

others in preparation for the decisions next in the intentional community.


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A Premise for Intentional Church

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