Are you ready for something different? A different kind of format for a learning opportunity? You are invited to join our new Life Group Community offering, TheTALK.
Join us in our next life application growth opportunity as we look at the book ‘Canoeing the Mountains’ by Tod Bolsinger. The book examines Christian living in a post-Christian world, using the historical Lewis and Clark expedition as a metaphor for navigating uncharted territory in which old maps (traditional methods) no longer work. We’ll look at embracing adaptive living, focusing on building trust, fostering learning, asking more profound questions, and leading others.
The Challenge: Like Lewis and Clark, Christians face a new landscape (post-Christian culture) where some of their “canoes” (traditional methods) are useless; they get to learn to navigate mountains (new realities).
The Goal: To survive and thrive by adapting missions and methods to reach people in a world where the church isn’t central.
Key Living Concepts
Adaptive Living: Leading through complex, uncertain challenges where solutions aren’t obvious, requiring learning and experimentation.
Technical problems have known solutions (e.g., fixing a leaky roof); adaptive challenges require fundamental shifts (e.g., changing cultural relevance).
Trust: No one follows others off the map unless they trust them; trust is built slowly and lost quickly.
Loss and Resistance: People resist change not because they dislike it, but because they mourn the loss of familiar traditions; leaders get to guide them through this grief.
Christians can identify essential core values (DNA) to preserve while discarding outdated practices, thereby freeing resources for new forms of ministry.
Practical Application for Leaders
Ask Deeper Questions: What must we keep, what can we discard, and what new DNA needs to be created?
Create Safe Spaces: Foster environments in which failure is viewed as a learning opportunity rather than a reason for punishment, thereby encouraging growth.
Embrace Experimentation: Develop hypotheses, try solutions, learn from failures, and try again. Learn to seek extraordinary support in unexpected ordinary places.
Lead with Vulnerability: Be willing to learn as you go and expect personal transformation, not just for the congregation.
We look forward to having ‘TheTALK’ with all of you!
