Last night I had a conversation. It was a community conversation. One where we dreamed and danced around on pogo sticks. We imagined what it might look like if the church quit buying into the lie that it is a building or a Sunday event and it started living like it was a people. We reflected how the early church wasn't about buildings, budgets, and butts. But was about discipleship, community, and Gospel. We thought about what might happen in San Francisco if we started living with gospel intentionality. 
If our gatherings on Sunday were times to connect with each other, worship God, recenter our hearts around the cross, and be equipped to be disciplers. And if our Monday through Saturday was all about gospeling our world. What if I, as lead pastor, embraced the apostolic model of shared leadership? You know, Jesus sent them out by twos, so what if the pastorship was not a lead pastor but a shared pastorship? What would it look like if I, as an elder, split my time between training elders and community leaders, and reaching out to my neighborhood?
It was fun at first, but then we started thinking of all the logistical factors and challenges. The discussion meandered down some streets with potholes and broken asphalt. We embraced the fact that this wasn't a smooth ride. The discussion was healthy and started us dreaming and thinking. We didn't resolve anything or form any conclusions. We just talked about God's kingdom. Someone suggested we post a blog and keep the discussion going. And invite others into the discussion. So here are some questions to interact with: (1) From God's perspective, what should the church look like? In its relationship to the world around it? (2) What is the mission of the church? (3) How can we best prepare/equip our community to live the mission? (4) Where should we go from here? (5) What pieces should be thought through more thoroughly and what aspects need more reflection?
Can't wait to hear from you.
