Worship Community Mission

Church Emerges

Jan 10

In the Underground, a microchurch is an extended spiritual family that lives in everyday gospel community, led by ordinary people, who own the mission of Jesus in a specific network of relationships. When these families work together in sincere worship and genuine community to accomplish their part of God’s mission, they function as the Church.

Worship, community, and mission, then, are the core pillars of a microchurch. (For further reading, review the Functions of a Microchurch section of The Missionary Pathway Primer.)

BALANCE

"Like anything in life, it is important to stay in balance. When our food intake is out of balance, we can feel lethargic. When medication is out of balance, we can feel sick. When relationships are out of balance, we can feel sad, frustrated, bitter, and more. It is the same with disciple-makers and microchurches. A balanced disciple-maker leads to health. A balanced microchurch leads to health.

Because we are human, we lean towards the pillar that we feel we “do” well, with which we feel most comfortable, or simply the one that is our favorite. We may lean this way because of our spiritual giftings or passions. These giftings and passions are not bad! But, if we focus on one pillar over the others, we are unbalanced.

Only Worship – Hypocrisy

If our spiritual life is confined to a privatized worship that is sincere but does not lead us into mission or into deep relationships with others, we face the threat of hypocrisy. As we are offering ourselves to God but then not putting into practice what his presence and his word would naturally require.

Only Community – Idolatry

If we pursue deep relationship but fail to live those relationships in the light of the mission of God or submit those relationships to the headship of Jesus, then we risk idolatry. Deep relationships that are unmediated by a concern for the kingdom and mission of God will take over our hearts, taking a place that should only belong to God. These unbalanced relationships will quickly become unhealthy and detrimental to our spiritual life.

Only Mission – Pride

If our spiritual life is confined to independently pursuing mission but not open, accountable friendships or dependence on God, then we risk becoming our own God. Taking the mission on ourselves without realizing our need for God or the people of God will certainly lead to error and egomania.

In order to evaluate the health of a microchurch, we must spend some time reflecting on the balance of the three pillars represented.

Our brothers and sisters at Tampa Underground have created the visual below to help us understand “the dangers of limiting the church to our favorite component.”

For a deeper dive, walk through the Microchurch Assessment (pg 2-4 of Tampa Underground Ecclesial Minimum resource):

Ecclesial Minimum Tool

REFLECTION

RHYTHM: UP/WORSHIP

"Worship is moving from unbelief to belief in Jesus (i.e. a living, embodied faith that acknowledges Jesus is Lord and seeks to obey Christ) in every area of life (Romans 12:1-2)."

Two organized UPs (suggested: every four weeks)

In what ways are we seeing worship expressed in our context?
What do we need to focus on next to help our microchurch family move from unbelief to belief in Jesus? What specific area?
How will we do that? What is our next step?

Organic UPs as the Spirit leads

Who’s being discipled outside of ‘organized’ time? Who’s not? Who’s discipling them?
How are we doing at praying for each other daily?
How are our microchurch family members doing in developing the spiritual habits of Bible engagement, prayer, accountability, the BLESS rhythms, and obedience to and intimacy with Jesus?

RHYTHM: IN/COMMUNITY

"Community is living out the “one another” commands on a daily basis and living into our connection to the larger body (Hubs/Collectives)."

Two organized INs (suggested: every four weeks)

In what ways are we seeing community expressed in our context?
What do we need to focus on next to help our microchurch family live out the “one anothers” on a daily basis? See Masterlist of One Another Commands
How will we do that? What is our next step?
In what ways am I staying connected to my Hub and/or Collective?
How are we and others in our microchurch being equipped?"

Organic INs as the Spirit leads

Are we hanging out together outside of the organized “up time”?
Are we texting/talking often?

RHYTHM: OUT/MISSION

Mission is making new disciples (Matthew 28:18-20) and making the Kingdom tangible (Matthew 6:10) in our network of relationships.

Two organized OUTs (suggested: every four to six weeks)

In what ways are we reaching out to people in our context?
What are our upcoming outs? A party (a social inclusive space) and a serve (making the Kingdom tangible)?
Who are the new people that could be invited to a discovery group? Into baptism? Into leadership?

Organic OUTs as the Spirit leads

How is our spiritual family doing at constantly inviting Persons of Peace into organic group time?
Are we seeing meaningful and spiritual conversations happening?
Who are the “green light” people with whom members of our microchurch are having meaningful and spiritual conversations?
Who are the new people that could be invited to a discovery group?

MULTIPLICATION AT EVERY LEVEL

Organized

Who are we raising up as disciple-makers?
How are we doing at sharing ownership of everything (facilitating, hosting, planning, giving, etc.)?
Who are new people that could be invited into a new discovery group?

Organic

Describe the culture of obedience in your group. How could this be strengthened?
Describe the culture of multiplication in your group. How could this be strengthened?
As you watch people interact organically, who is a potential disciple-maker, microchurch leader, elder, and/or equipper on a Hub team?

REFLECT