This is a fascinating conversation by Ed Stetzer on missional communities.  In it he discusses the shift in culture from a stage model to a community model.  Very much worth the time.

The following is from the updated Leadership Manual, which is expected to be finished NEAR the end of this month.

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“The common concern with grace is that if we offer it freely it becomes cheap. But intentional grace was never cheap. It always costs something. To offer grace meant someone had to absorb the cost of someone’s brokenness.”

Over the last three months, we’ve been reworking the Leadership Manual to better communicate the “what”, and “how” of Thrive.  It’s been a thrilling experience to say the least and represents the culmination of so much research and learning over the last seven years. Much of the changes will cover the ethos of Thrive and what really makes the Thrive experience work.

If you have requested a leadership manual in the past, don’t sweat it.  We’ll send you the updated one as soon as it’s finished.  If you have requested a manual in the last couple of days, we’ll send you the new one as soon as it’s finished.  It should be out this month.

Much Love

Jonathan

If you are looking to dig deeper into what we do and how we do it, we would like to invite you to a 60-90 minute conference call.

The first Tuesday of every other month at 12:00 PM PST, we will be holding a 60-90 minute conference call for those interested in knowing more about Thrive. This information session will provide you with a deeper understanding of our process, story and what it means to lead a group.

This call is for anyone who is interested in developing a missional discipleship approach in their community, home network, or church. This includes elders, leaders, small group community leaders, pastors, and those who want to follow Jesus in an intentional way.

Participation is by request. Just leave a comment or send us an email with your interest and we will provide you with instructions for joining us on the call. We also ask that you provide specific questions for the call, if you have them.

The next scheduled call is: August 4th, 2009, 12:00-1:30 PM PST

One of the things we explore in great detail is the development of religion as part of the human story.  Tracy wrote the following piece that shares some of the differences between religion and love.

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I was talking with some friends today and they were, in part, recounting what religion has to done people. As I heard the horrors recounted (I will not share them here; you likely already know them all too well), I realize how bastardized what should be good news has become in the religious system of our day.

Rather than proclaim with great boldness: “You are loved. Relax. Go have a bottle of wine with some friends and strangers. Celebrate the uniqueness of both the One who loves you and of yourself! Invite me to eat with you and we can talk and get to know each other,” religion says, “Serve, be good, do the right thing, keep working hard, strive for purity, obey, submit, follow external instructions, and no matter what, conform so that you look just like us.”

Religion says: Celebrate the same way we do, with decency and order, and be sure you stay in line. Be careful who you hang out with—you don’t want a bad influence rubbing off on you. Appearances are everything, so choose carefully.

Love says: Let’s celebrate! Go wild, tip over the edge! Tell everyone they are welcome to my party! Be expansive, wildly open, stupidly generous, and ridiculously joyous. Invite the oddest people you can find—please! Shower one another with openness and love and being authentic. What great gifts you have for each other! Give them indiscriminately.

Religion says: Weigh your options. Try to be sure you’re on the right path. Be cautious so you don’t get out of the will of God.

Love says: Throw caution to the wind. Be the wild self you were created to be, filled with passion and ready to make lots of mistakes. No need to fear; I have it all covered!

Religion says: Do this. Don’t do that. If you do this, I will bless you. If you don’t do this, I will not bless you.

Love says: You don’t need to change a thing for me. You could never disappoint me. My love encompasses all you do. I have thrown away the measuring stick for all time!

Religion says: It’s safe to come out! We want to beat you over the head when you do and tell you how totally unacceptable you are for daring to think differently than we do. Heretic!

Love says: It’s safe to come out! You can be your authentic self, in all your glorious messiness. I see all of your BS anyway, so why bother hiding it? I am love and I embrace you completely.

And, perhaps, the worst contrast of all:

Religion says: Keep on trying. One more altar call. One more prayer. One more donation. One more effort. Try just a little bit harder. You can be “fixed” if you focus more on yourself.

Love says: It is finished! All that’s left is the celebration! Enter into what I’ve done. Let’s have the most passionate, electrifying, fun, wild rollercoaster ride together!

If it doesn’t sound absolutely too good to be true, then you haven’t heard the true message of Love. I can only think that people who still walk in religious ways have simply not met the One who is Love.

Your thoughts?