I am often asked how does an individual practice the “missional mindset”. Just read a good example from the Blind Beggar Blog, here is the quote:

“When the new neighbors move in you go knock on the door and welcome them to the neighborhood, you talk about football and fishing over the fence, you invite him out…and get acquainted. You invite them over for barbeque and listen to his lame jokes with grace. When he tells you about the problems he is having at work, you talk about your struggles also and how God has helped you through them. When the wife’s dad dies, you let them know you are praying for them. When he asks about what you do with your spare time, you humbly tell him how you work down at The Bridge with street kids every other month, how you help with a homeless ministry, tutor students in reading at the local high school, and have a wonderful community of faith that you love being involved with. You live a modest low consumption lifestyle before them. You pray for them regularly and are always ready to talk about why you’re living the way you are.”

The article includes several other examples of everyday missional living. For me living missionally is simply living my everyday life with God.

Preaching is an interesting act. Once a week I take my place up front and I talk. What I talk about is up to me. Sometimes I choose the text and other times the text is chosen for me. What I’ve realized is how I can use that time to help cultivate various atmospheres in the church I serve.

Over the past ten years I have become increasingly convinced that a missional atmosphere in a church is not only important but essential in the 21st century. Others are leaning the same way. Church planters have an advantage here because they do not have to fight the history of a church that tends to delude any missional focus. Those of us in traditional churches have history that we have to battle.

To believe that one can take an already organized traditional church and transition it to a missional mindset quickly is naive. Perhaps we can add programs that look missional, or have missional components, but that is not the same as cultivating a missional mindset or atmosphere in the church’s “DNA.”
Preaching is an important aspect (although some missional church planters contest this point) of ministry because it can serve to gradually change the atmosphere in a church. Therefore, it should not be entered into lightly. The weekly sermon can be used to help cultivate a transition to missional.

When I preach, there are foundational assumptions that affect how I preach and even how I read the text for the day. These assumptions guide me. I also understand that they color (some might say cloud) how I read the passage, but we all have assumptions when we read any text. At least I know what some of mine are.

I believe the following assumptions are missional in nature. Because of that, I also believe, they are important for those in a traditional church who yearn to help a congregation transition to a missional mindset. I’m sure I have other assumptions. I’m also sure that I have some that are not reflected in this list. But, to start the conversation, here they are: