Our goal as Christians and Christian ministers is never simply to build our own tribe. Instead, we seek the peace and prosperity of the city or community in which we are placed, through a gospel movement led by the Holy Spirit. Movements like these do not follow a “bounded-set” approach in which you only work with others who can sign off on nearly all your distinctive beliefs and practices. Rather it follows a “centered-set” orientation in which you work most closely with those who face with you toward the same center. That center is a classic, orthodox understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ, a common mission to reach and serve your city, and a commitment to have a generous, Christ-focused posture toward people who disagree with you. It’s a type of movement that is missional, integrative, and dynamic.
There is an ongoing conversation today about the nature of the church’s mission and its relationship to the work of individual Christians in the world. This eBook contains the sixth part of Center Church, “Missional Community.” In it, Keller looks at the history of the discussion, outlines what it looks like to be a missional church today, offers some words of caution about the missional conversation, and suggests how churches can practically equip their people in missional living.
