Darrell Guder, dean of Princeton Theological Seminary and (God bless him) the man responsible for coining the phrase missional, spoke recently at a gathering I attended. He said that when we read the Scriptures we are to ask three questions:
1. What is the good news in this passage?
2. How does this passage continue the formation of the witnessing community – and how does it do that today?
3. How does this text send us? [What is the missional mandate]
Imagine if we read our Bibles with these questions at the forefront of our minds. The implications are tremendous.
germerian said...
1I’ve heard Guder share a more extensive list of questions, which has helped me:
1. How did this scripture continue the formation of the witnessing community then, and how does it do so today?
2. How does this text announce good news?
3. How does this text call for change/conversion?
4. Hos does the text read our world and context?
5. How does this text enable us to live the saved life?
6. Hows does this text focus us on God’s future?
7 . How does this text send us?
03/21/09 4:18 PM | Comment Link
brad brisco said...
2JR, here is a bit more on Guder’s questions:
http://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/inministry/viewpage.php?pid=26
BTW, Guder isn’t the one who coined the word “missional.” The usage goes back at least to Dr. Francis DeBose in his book “God Who Sends.” Here is a bit on that book:
http://missionalchurchnetwork.com/god-who-sends-2/
03/21/09 6:55 PM | Comment Link
admin said...
3Brad –
Interesting. I have always been told that Guder is the one who coined the phrase (though certainly not the concept). I look forward to looking into this deeper. thanks for the link.
03/21/09 9:58 PM | Comment Link