'This [20's+30's] Generation': FITTED FOR THE TIMES: A Field Guide for Field Churches

By Michael J Budd

To This Present 20's+30's Generation:

"Go and make disciples of all nations . . . " Jesus couldn't have stated it more simply in giving His Church her singular mission until His return. Not only did He give us our singular mission, He gave us a simple church "model" to carry the mission forward. Yet, some 2000 years later, a massive work remains before the Church.

Not only does a massive work remain, this present 20's+30's generation has overwhelmingly exited today's traditional church model. Other models are desperately needed. I believe Christ's followers of this present 20's+30's generation are particularly "Fitted For The Times" to lead the way forward in developing another model--field churches--to carry the mission to their local fields. And to fields everywhere. You will discover that the only way to develop and initiate field churches to fulfill Christ's mission is to do it "on the go!" That's where He promises to be present. Will you go in loving obedience to the One who calls you to follow Him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9781483559155

Book preview

Endnotes

Prologue

If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly —G.K. Chesterton

Chesterton’s words came to mind recently while experiencing deep discouragement after editing this field guide manuscript once again. Once again I had a sense of the badness of all my hard work and these words brought great encouragement. No matter the outcome of my writing, I have a deep sense that it has all been well worth doing. I needed to do what I have done. It’s a matter of obedience. It’s a matter of love. So, my dear readers, whether or not the words satisfy, listen carefully for a gentle Whisper beyond the pages. The Spirit may be speaking, using a writer’s weak voice. If He does, then there is something here worth hearing. Something here worth doing. Even badly.

Some of you who respond to the call of this Field Guide may be particularly gifted with a pioneering spirit. As did the early Church, I believe God has His contemporary pioneers—or, sent ones—to help initiate and fulfill His purposes. Sent ones hear God’s Voice clearly and respond. These will prepare the way in the wildernesses of your generation, and open the way for many others to follow.

Whether or not you have this particular gift, you are able, by God, to initiate field churches to fulfill LifeMission. Later in the guide, I will offer a means of communication, so that (among other things) you will be able to encourage one another throughout the pioneering stages of field churches, and thereafter.

For some, this short guide may seem slow in getting started. Some things must be in place first. I encourage you to stick it out from cover to cover, including the endnotes. God may speak to you at any point. His is the Voice worth hearing. Worth obeying.

This guide’s intent is to simply get you started. The joy is to be found as you follow Jesus into the midst of your fields. Your generation, overwhelmingly, is just not coming to today’s churches. Is God calling you to go to them? Then read on, the guide will help get you off to a quick, solid start.

About the Front Cover:

* ‘This [20’s+30’s] Generation’: Here, I am alluding to Matthew 24:34. The entire chapter is subtitled, Signs of the End of the Age in the NIV. This Field Guide is particularly interested in the link between v. 14 and v. 24. I have inserted the 20’s+30’s reference suggestively. It has no biblical merit. Will this present 20’s+30’s generation be the last? Nobody knows. Even so, your generation has the joyous responsibility to participate in the proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom throughout the whole world until it is fully realized and Christ returns. I have a deep sense that Jesus’ followers of this present 20’s+30’s generation are indeed fitted for the times at hand by God, for His purposes. It is my prayer that this guide will be useful in directing you to that end.

* Cover Photograph

In ‘03, I purchased this photo at a quaint little shop (The Secret Garden) in a small village called Empire, nestled along Lake Michigan’s upper eastern coast of Lower Michigan. The picture (on display in my home office) often captures my gaze. At some point I began imagining something beyond trees randomly growing within ripe fields on a dreamy, late summer’s day. The trees became churches, and they were growing and flourishing right in the midst of every harvest field. In the agricultural realm, a crop field with so many trees is a rather unusual sight. Farmers typically remove trees from their fields, making as much room as possible for their crops as well as for ease in preparing the soil, planting and harvesting. Not so in the kingdom realm. Rather than removing, Jesus sends His Church right into the midst of harvest fields everywhere. That’s where Jesus and His early disciples went. That’s where field churches¹ will be today.

* These … fields. Of course, Jesus was speaking of Samaritan fields. Samaritans were half-breeds and despised. Marginalized. They were interested in spiritual things but their understanding was incomplete. Yet they knew Messiah (called Christ) is coming and When He comes, He will explain everything to us. (see John 4:1-42). These fields are a lot like your fields: Mixed races and cultures filled with spiritual hunger. Some of these are despised and/or ignored. Fill in the quotation with names that represent your fields.

* While the Calling of this guide is directed primarily to "this 20’s+30’s generation," the Church of Christ is, of course, made up of all generations.² This call to you in particular stems from an ongoing sense that you are best fitted to lead the way forward in developing field churches capable of carrying Christ’s mission to your generation. You will go where you already are. This is where field churches will live and the mission will thrive.

Trailhead

Fitted for the Times

In January, 2013 I took my wife, Callie, to the movie Lincoln on her birthday. Though the movie was largely dialog (very limited Civil War battle scenes) it was immensely powerful. At one point, President Lincoln turned to a young man and asked, Do we choose to be born or are we fitted to the times we’re born into? The young man thoughtfully replied Well, don’t know ‘bout myself. You maybe. I was immediately struck by this brief exchange. Reaching for my ticket stub and pen in my jeans’ pocket, I scribbled (inaccurately) in the dark, "fitted for the times. I had no idea then that I would come to use these slightly altered words as the title for this guide. But, in regards to your generation and field churches, the idea of fitted for the times" had been there all along. For some time, I have believed that you are the ones best fitted to explore and initiate field churches capable of carrying Jesus’ mission to fields near and far. You—together—are uniquely fitted for your times. Your places.

Looking back, it seems Lincoln was uncommonly fitted for the long, weary battle before him. Like Lincoln’s day, you live in the midst of turbulent, uncertain times. Could it be that you are positioned—wherever you are, wherever you go—for such a time as this? Will the Church one day look back and marvel over you? Not only because your generation was uncommonly fitted for the mission before you. Nor solely because you best understood your times and places. But ultimately because you quietly and humbly understood what Jesus was saying to His Church and obeyed.

Some 2340 years before the scenes portrayed in Lincoln, an exiled Jew sent a message to his younger cousin (who also happened to be the queen), Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. The message concluded with these soul-stirring words: And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?

The destiny of young Queen Esther’s people was thrust upon her. The ball was in her court. According to the rules of the times, anyone who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. Esther needed to choose whether to risk her life. Or not. Kings have a history of being unpredictable. Boldly, she chose to act on behalf of her people, And if I perish, I perish (quotes from Esther 4).

Esther is a story of the profound interplay of God’s sovereignty and human will. God prepared the place and the opportunity, and his people, Esther and Mordecai, chose to act.³ Yours too, is a story of the profound interplay of God’s sovereignty and your response to the places and opportunities God opens before you. Every generation lives under the shadow of death. God has summoned His own into the inner court through His Son. The King of glory has extended the gold scepter, His blood poured down from the Cross. The death sentence has been lifted. New life must be proclaimed everywhere.

God prepares places and opportunities for His people of every generation to carry the good news of the kingdom. Though the King Himself summons His faithful community—His Church—to carry His mission, the consequences of obedience have often been severe.⁴ It may be severe for you. Will you be found taking your stand along-side countless others and embrace Esther’s resolve, If I perish, I perish? Or, like so many others, will you remain silent—your faith out of sight—living a private faith in private places? If so, relief and deliverance for your fields will have to arise from another place. If at all. Know this: you are in a ‘royal position for such a time as this." The King Himself has fitted and empowered you for your times, your places. Though the journey may at times be hard and lonely, there will be much joy too. And this joy will not be taken from you, enduring for eternity.

I have labored over what has come to make up this little guide for a long time. I have sensed His leading somewhere beyond church as many of us have always known it. I believe your generation is best fitted for your times, your places. I believe you are in the best position to lead the way forward to a uniquely fitted model to carry Jesus’ LifeMission to every field.

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Field Guide?

A word about the use of Field Guide. It is reasonable to assume that any guidebook is written by someone who has experience and expertise with its topic. The writer is the guide, the expert. She/he draws upon firsthand knowledge and experience, helping the less informed, less experienced travel along whatever path they hope to explore. Well, throw away any such assumptions here! When it comes to field churches, I have no previous experience or expertise. (But I have stayed at a