Missional preaching
Presenters: Gerald Hildebrandt & Michael VandenEnden

Guest blogger: J Janzen

Michael VandenEnden (co-pastor at Grantham MB Church, St. Catharines, Ont.) and Gerald Hildebrand (pastor at McIvor Ave MB Church, Winnipeg) reminded us this morning that “missional” preaching is different from “typical” (?) preaching in at least 2 ways.

First, missional preaching is a communal activity. For example, instead of a sermon, the community may read and discuss a passage of Scripture, allowing anyone to speak biblical truth in the 20–40 minute preaching slot.

Consequently, a second difference is that missional preaching is less about passing down information from the pulpit, but about inviting all people to engage with all of their senses. In that sense, preaching is less about receiving the Truth and more about participating with the Truth.

That said, missional preaching is very much similar to that of “regular” preaching in that both call people repent – to reshape their lives around the reign and mission of God.

In my view, the missional church “movement” of recent decades is recognizing and practicing a treasured Mennonite Brethren conviction. MBs have long held to the belief that God shows up, Jesus speaks, and the Spirit empowers the church when disciples read and interpret the Bible together. I think it’s fantastic that more Christians are experiencing the life-transforming, disciple-making power of community hermeneutics – something that we MBs, I suspect, sometimes take for granted.

My hope is that MBs and our “missional” brothers and sisters will learn even more from each other, and (more importantly) from God as we pursue missional preaching.

J Janzen is pastoral elder at Highland Community Church (MB), Abbotsford, B.C.