Present Future Points

What does The Present Future have to say. In helping us look to the future, Reggie McNeal talks about six “new realities” and, in each points out the “wrong” question — the one we often spend our time on — and the “tough” question — the one we should really be studying.

Here are McNeal’s realities and their associated questions:

• New reality number one: the collapse of the church culture

Wrong question: how do we do church better?

Tough question: how do we deconvert from Churchianity to Christianity?

• New reality number two: the shift from church growth to kingdom growth

Wrong question: how do we grow this church? (How do we get them to come to us?)

Tough question: how do we how do we transform our community (How do we hit the streets with the Gospel?)

• New reality number three: a new reformation — releasing God’s people

Wrong question: how do we turn members into missionaries?

Tough question: how do we turn members into missionaries?

• New reality number four: the return to spiritual formation

Wrong question: how do we develop church members?

Tough question: how do we develop followers of Jesus?

• New reality number five: the shift from planning to preparation

Wrong question: how do we plan for the future?

Tough question: how do we prepare for the future?

• New reality number six; the rise of apostolic leadership

Wrong question: how do we develop leaders for church work?

Tough question: how do we develop leaders for the Christian movement?

As you begin to think through both your and your church’s future, please begin to consider these points and what God might be saying through them to you.

If you wish, you can download a chart we’ve put together of these points.