Emerging CluesEmerging CluesTo The FutureTo The Future

Something ReallySomething ReallyBig Has HappenedBig Has Happened

The first fundamental tra

nsition in 500 yearsModernity and Christendom are crumbling

We’re moving beyond incrementaland exponential transition

It’s a time of radical discontinuity

The rules by which the game of life

is played no longer exist

Scientists Have A Word Scientists Have A Word For What Is Happening For What Is Happening

TodayToday

In The WormholeIn The Wormhole

•Everything is set on speed

In The WormholeIn The Wormhole

• Everything is set on blur

In The WormholeIn The Wormhole

In The WormholeIn The Wormhole

•Whether or not one is liberal or conservative or belongs to this group or that group no longer mattersAll that matters is that one is

REVOLUTIONARYAbout the way mission is carried out!

What Will Ministry Look What Will Ministry Look Like On The OtherSide Like On The OtherSide

Of The Wormhole?Of The Wormhole?

Wormhole QuestionsWormhole QuestionsThat May Unlock The That May Unlock The

FutureFuture

Key QuestionsKey Questions

•What will Christianity look like when it truly understands that North America is a mission field?

Answers Are Found Answers Are Found In Further QuestionsIn Further Questions

•What is the difference in being missional and doing evangelism?

•What is the difference in a being pastor and being a cross-cultural missionary?

Key QuestionsKey Questions

•What will ministry look like in an organic worldview?

Quantum physics

The whole is greater than

the sum of the parts

Answers Are FoundAnswers Are FoundIn Further QuestionsIn Further Questions

• How will we communicate the gospel when salvation means far more than just the transformation of “my” soul?

• What will the church look like without programs and committees?

Key QuestionsKey Questions

•What will authority look like in an out-of-control, anti-institutional, non-religious world

A deconstructing worldInstitutions are losing favor

Spirituality is back and redefined

Answers Are FoundAnswers Are FoundIn Further QuestionsIn Further Questions

• What does it mean to live in a world where one’s spirituality is more important than credentials?

• Can we imagine doing evangelism that is not carried out within the context of conquest?

• How do leaders lead without control?

Key QuestionsKey Questions

•What will Christianity look like when it’s no longer defined by ?

Personal Narratives

Electronic Ink

Images

Holographics

Virtual Reality

Answers Are FoundAnswers Are FoundIn Further QuestionsIn Further Questions

•How will we communicate the message and engage the truth?

•How do we transition from handing out data that informs to offering an experience that transforms?

•How will we help people grow their spirituality instead of just learning more about the Bible?

Key QuestionsKey Questions•What will Christianity look

like when the church is missional and not institutional?- The Reformers “marks of a

true church” is out

House churches

Cell groups

Warehouse churchesCyber-Churches City R

eachin

g

Answers Are FoundAnswers Are FoundIn Further QuestionsIn Further Questions

•How will we “be” the church instead of “go” to church?

•How will we celebrate such things as Communion, baptism, ordination?

Key QuestionsKey Questions

• In a world with no rules, what is non-negotiable and eternally significant in God’s mission?

Answer Is Found Answer Is Found In Further QuestionIn Further Question

•What is it about our relationship with Jesus that the world cannot live without knowing?

Mega CluesMega Clues

Clue OneClue One

In such a world… the growth of people replaces the management of organizations

Clue TwoClue Two

In such a world… clarity of mission is essential

Clue ThreeClue Three The anti-

institutional sentiment is

continuing to….

In such a world… churches will become smaller and more varied in character

Clue FourClue Four

We are witnessing the interaction

of all the sciences and peopleIn such a world…

It’s not enough to read theology

Clue FiveClue Five The internet continues to grow and will become the

primary form of communication,

information, commerce, and networking throughout the

world In such a world… new ways are needed for Sunday School, teaching, worship, and communication

Clue SixClue Six

Communication and education are entering the

visual, experiential, and interactive world of virtual

reality In such a world… experience is the foundation of learning

Clue SevenClue Seven

Authority must now be earned

by the individual In such a world… how one lives before others determines the amount of authority

Clue EightClue Eight

People are moving to the cities

In such a world… reaching the city and Church Planting are the primary missions

Clue NineClue Nine

The boats no longer come from Europe

In such a world… multi-cultural ministry is essential

Clue TenClue Ten

In such a world… rational, linear thought is out of place

Clue ElevenClue Eleven

Bio-genetics is replacing

In such a world… “my genes made me do it”

Gay RightsAbortionGender

Clue TwelveClue Twelve

Society continues to become more hostile to local congregations and

more open to spirituality

In such a world… only high commitment churches will do well

Clue ThirteenClue Thirteen

Anti-institutionalism continues

to grow, and grow, and growIn such a world… the primary search is for wholeness, community, dignity, identity, and empowerment

Clue fourteenClue fourteen

The world is running out of world class leaders

In such a world… teams will replace the lone-wolf, charismatic leader

Clue Fifteen Clue Fifteen

Consumerism continues to grow unabated

In such a world… churches must be culturally relevant if they want to grow disciples

Implications For Implications For 2121stst Century Ministry Century Ministry

First ImplicationFirst Implication

Our Greatest Need Is To Raise Up Spiritual Leaders Who Can

Function In A World Of Speed, Blur, and Flux

A New Kind Of LeaderA New Kind Of Leader• Leaders provide an atmosphere

in which people are transformed and empowered to be leaders and do God’s will- Success depends on what the

leader is able to help others achieve- It is leaders of leaders, not leaders

of followers

The Difference?The Difference?

• “Who will I mentor today?”- instead of what must I do?”

•“Who will I discover?” - instead of what is my job

description? “

•How many others can I equip?” - instead of how much can I do?”

Second ImplicationSecond Implication

The Clash Between The Old And The New Will

Shape Most Of The First Two Decades Of The

21st Century

Radical Change Radical Change Leads To Turbulent Leads To Turbulent

TimesTimes• Churches that know where they

are going and why, will do the best- The issue of values, identity,

security, relationships, and purpose will become primary

• The only churches that survive will be those who are culturally relevant and biblically sound.

Third ImplicationThird Implication

The Growing Segments Of Christianity Will

Continue To Rediscover First Century Christianity

RetrofutureRetrofuture• A passionate commitment to

Jesus Christ- In a pagan society it’s not

enough to just talk about God• Indigenous worship

- In the language, technology, and culture of the times

• Lay ministries- The Priesthood of the believer

RetroFutureRetroFuture

• Church planting will be the primary mission of the thriving churches and healthy religious groups

• Behavior modification will be the primary focus of preaching and teaching

Fourth ImplicationFourth Implication

The Effective Local Church

Is Organized Around The Prime Directive

The Prime DirectiveThe Prime Directive

•The prime directive is growing disciples who grow disciples- Felt needs are responded to

only to make disciples

•All leaders are equipped to “Fractal”

Permission-givingPermission-givingUndergirds Prime Undergirds Prime

DirectiveDirective•Every person is encouraged to live out their spiritual gift without having to ask permission from a centralized authority

•Democracy, voting and representation are replaced by leadership, prayer and a demonstrated life

•Doers and Deciders are the same

MVV

The Prime DirectiveThe Prime Directive

•Everything is measured by the Prime Directive

•Leaders drop everything that does not enhance the PD and add anything that might enhance it- Innovation and risk taking is a

normal way of life

Fifth ImplicationFifth Implication

Reaching An Area Or Group Of People Is

Replacing The Present Focus On Growing Local

Churches

City Reaching-City Reaching-A Profound RevolutionA Profound Revolution

• Trans-denominational efforts to reach large metropolitan areas is replacing an emphasis on growing local institutions- The goal is to spiritually and

socially transform the city• Emphasis will shift from church

size to percentage of penetration into the city

Sixth ImplicationSixth Implication

Churches Will Become Smaller, More Intimate, And Will Ask For Higher

Commitment

The Intimate,The Intimate,Committed ChurchCommitted Church

• The number of deeply committed Christians will become more numerous- while nominal, cultural Church

members will continue to decrease

The Intimate,The Intimate,Committed ChurchCommitted Church

•Covenant will be the gateway to leadership and thriving churches will have more people in worship than on the role

•Succession will plague the mega church

Seventh ImplicationSeventh Implication

Churches With Multiple Sites Will Become The

Norm

Multiple Site ChurchesMultiple Site Churches

•The death of place•The New Testament Church

- Church of Philippi

•Churches will follow the prime directive instead of focusing on large institutions

Eighth ImplicationEighth Implication

Multi-Track Churches Will Become The Norm

Among Healthy, Established Churches

Multi Track ChurchesMulti Track Churches

•As the U.S. grows older and younger and more diverse, established churches will have to respond to thrive- Worship- Education- Pastoral Care- Nurture

Ninth ImplicationNinth Implication

Mainline Denominations Will Continue To Decline

While Loosely Associated Groups Will

Emerge

Mainline DeclineMainline Decline•Market share is shrinking and an

age mesa is approaching•Parachurch groups are providing

resources and support instead of denominations

•Thriving mainline churches will stay in their denomination if they are seen as teaching churches rather than mavericks

Tenth ImplicationTenth Implication

Worship Will Continue To Become More

Eastern And High Tech

2121stst Century Worship Century Worship

•The issue is no longer contemporary versus traditional worship- but is it spirited?

•Does it have the mystery of the East and the high tech of the West?

2121stst Century Worship Century Worship•Worship is moving from an

emphasis on music to visualization- The arts are back- Images may replace music as the key- Holographic imagery will become the

norm•Preaching will be more Q & A and

conversational

2121stst Century Worship Century Worship

•Food, drink, incense and sarcasm are in

• If it doesn’t entertain, stimulate, and touch all of the senses, it won’t educate or be worshipful- “Edutainment” is a key

Eleventh ImplicationEleventh Implication

The Majority Of PastorsWill Be Women

Twelfth ImplicationTwelfth Implication

Cyberchurches May Be The New Form Of Mega

church

The CyberChurchThe CyberChurch

•The Electronic Church is already with us

•The Key question – “Can authentic community be

found online?”

Thirteenth Thirteenth ImplicationImplication

Social Ministries Will Flourish As Government Continues To Fail In The

Social Sector

Social Ministries Social Ministries OpportunityOpportunity

• By 2050, the government will abandon most social services, including social security

• Once again our congregations have the opportunity to be the change agents in the community - OR leave it to other spiritually-

based, non-profit organizations

Fourteenth ImplicationFourteenth Implication

Teams Will Replace Committees

Team Based MinistryTeam Based Ministry

•The logical result of the permission giving, gift based church

•Most churches will be led by co-pastors

•Many Churches will compensate the team rather than individuals

A Parting ThoughtA Parting Thought

The Future Belongs to Those Who Can Change The Fastest And Easiest

For The Purpose Of Growing Disciples Who

Grow Disciples.

•See RetroFuture

•HyperChoice consumerism•The end of the “local church•A redefinition of the Bible