Neil Cole's Organic Church

In chapter one, Cole discusses the importance of rooting churches (especially new church plants) in a foundational understanding of who Jesus is and what he says about the Church rather than in a particular church model, style, or approach. I desire to have such a Christ-focused approach in my own plant, for without taking Jesus into account we fail to see the power that the Church has to do the work of his redemption in the world.

Chapter two was not particularly relevant for my final paper, as Cole merely tells his personal church story in this section of the book.

In chapter three, Cole debunks several of the myths that the Western Church has come to believe about itself. Of greatest importance to me is the notion that the Church is an organic movement of growth that is not bound to one location but which should rather be decentralized. This idea runs counter to the modernist trend still found in the Church that suggests remaining entrenched in order to fight against culture and thus survive.

As Cole discusses in chapter four, we must begin with one of the most basic questions when starting any new church plant--"What is church?" I recognize that I must begin my own plant with this question and also that I must be prepared for any answer that God gives me, even if that answer does not follow typical or historical church convention.

In chapter five, Cole begins to flesh out his argument that the church is organic. He does this by looking at the first in a series of three parables in Mark 4. According to Cole, planting seed is the most important step in the process. In other words, in order to finish well we must start well; we must have both good seed and good soil rather than being so concerned with the end result of the harvest. This involves neither delaying the initial steps of the planting process nor rushing headlong into the process in order to reach the end.

In chapter six, Cole examines the second of three parables in Mark 4 and makes the point that we expend too much energy on working hard and making plans (on the growing phase of his analogy) rather than allowing the Spirit to move and take care of the growth. We instead need to focus on the sowing and the harvesting steps. This chapter provided me with a perspective different from most that I have encountered in the church in the past. Such a point of view takes the pressure off of a church planter and moves the focus away from numbers and results.

Cole wraps up his discussion of Mark 4 in chapter seven with his examination of the parable of the mustard seed. He uses this parable to discuss the importance of church planting and growth and how it is vital to start small and multiply disciples who can go out and multiply other disciples (and thus eventually entire church communities).

In chapter eight, Cole breaks the Body of Christ down into its essential elements--what he calls DNA, or Divine truth, Nurturing relationships, and Apostolic mission--and how these elements interact. This chapter raised questions for me regarding what elements or core values need to be essential to any church plant regardless of context. In other words, what elements of the Body of Christ are defined by cultural context and what elements transcend even culture?

In chapter nine, Cole examines the notion that with all of the changes occurring in the Church (e.g. becoming more decentralized, having less order, being more spontaneous), we need to turn to the DNA and to what God wants for the Church rather than to our own attempts to structure it. Cole argues for the formation of an internal structure rather than the sort of external strategy that has been imposed on the Church throughout history. Such an idea affects how I will look at issues such as leadership and decision-making processes within my own future plant.

In chapter ten, Cole calls for the church to care for people, to extend compassion, and to be moved to live a life rooted in compassion just as Christ was. These ideas are relevant for church planting because they cause us to stop and consider what people groups in our communities most need help and the love of Jesus. We we reflect on such a question we are then moved to make conscious choices to act in compassion rather than merely allowing it to be an afterthought to all that we do.

Building upon such an idea, in chapter eleven Cole argues that relational community (the oikos) is the most effective way to do the work of the Kingdom and spread the Gospel.

Next, in chapter twelve, Cole examines the five principles that are crucial in planting reproducing churches: the practice of prayer, pockets of people, power of presence, person of peace, and people of purpose. Both chapter eleven and chapter twelve provide material for me to consider as I am thinking about what elements must be foundational to any church plant.

In chapter thirteen, Cole discusses the value of failure in the church planting process and of not allowing our plans and strategies to drown out the voice of God. The chapter is, in general, about Coles's own stories of failure and thus is not particularly relevant for my paper.

Finally, in chapter fourteen, Cole shares specific stories of people involved in the planting movement. This chapter was not specifically helpful for my final paper.

Reflections on 11/12 Class (Bishop Cray)

While I found all of Bishop Cray's lecture in our class on Thursday to be thought-provoking, I especially was struck by the notion that we must approach church planting with an attitude of waiting to see what God grows out of our willingness to partner with him. The results can be as wide-ranging as a new project, an increase in new members, a new cell, or even a new church. The point, though, is not to attempt to understand or determine ahead of time what the results will be, but rather to remain patient, listening to the voice of the Spirit and moving accordingly throughout the entire process. Bishop Cray then raised the important point that churches will need to learn the skill of discernment if they want truly to see what God is doing and thus join in.

Reflections on 11/11 Missiology Lecture

Throughout Bishop Cray's lecture on the Fresh Expression Movement, I was reminded of the importance of allowing the Spirit to guide and direct a church planting or renewal movement. I think that the modern church separated itself almost completely from the moving of the Spirit (often by intellectualizing the faith). Thus, many of us in both the mainline and evangelical traditions are left to re-learn how to appropriate the sort of discernment and imagination that is needed to plant churches that are able to meet the needs of the contexts in which they find themselves.