Mission Lab

Episode 052 - What Have We Learned?

We celebrate our fifty-second podcast in a row, marking one year since we started, by reflecting on what we've learned about mission, discipleship, church, and the gospel over the last year. We also share a few stats about the podcast - and Shawn shares his surprising marathon story from his second marathon the week before.

Episode 051 - What to Do When Your Church Doesn't Get It

Back in episode 25, we discussed whether we should "go rogue" when it comes to mission and community in our churches if others don't get it. In this episode, we circle back around to this idea after receiving a question from our friends who seem to be facing this very issue in their own church experience. Is there a place to cut the chord and launch out on our own? We share some surprising insights from older Adventist sources and how they might apply today.

Episode 050 - Third Spaces in Germany

While in Michigan, attending and presenting at a conference, Shawn made a new friend - Simret Mahary - and talked with him about his missional efforts in Frankfurt, Germany. Born in Ethiopa but raised in Germany, Simret is a pastor who started PRESENCE Kulturlounge, which is a cultural center that brings people together to talk about art, movies, and spirituality (what missional theorists would call a "Third Space"). Glean some ideas from what it's like to be missional in Europe - the most secular part of the world.

Episode 049 - Elaine, the Seventh-day Atheist?

While visiting family in Florida recently, Shawn sat down for a conversation with Elaine Gregory, who's the mother of his brother-in-law and an atheist. She talks about growing up in England, where her mother exposed her to many different religions and how she arrived at her atheism. She unpacks her views on life without God, what religion offers, what type of church experience she would enjoy, what her vision of heaven is, and a few barbs about the Catholic church (but kudos to the Pope).

Episode 048 - It's Bryant

While visiting Andrews University to attend and present at a conference on reaching Millennials, Shawn ran into his friend Bryant and they sat down to talk about life in Tennessee. After graduating with a degree in theology in 2017, Bryant found himself without a job, with no one hiring him to pastor. So after finding a job with McKee Foods, he started his own community, serving those on the fringes. 

Episode 047 - Coming Out of the Church Closet

Shawn sits down with one of his very best friends, who is just two days older than him, as they talk about what church looks like to a pastor who now sits in the pew. For the last couple years, Jarod Thomas has been working for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and has come to some surprirsing and interesting insights as he has been an observer in the crowd. How does Jarod feel about church? And what might it look like in the future? Check out this thought-provoking episode!

To read the article Shawn references about why church is so "blah," even for many pastors, click here. 

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Episode 046 - Questions, Questions - Part 2

We answer a few more of your questions, discussing what we would have done differently in the past, knowing what we know now; how we can approach Scripture with the proper hermeneutical lens; and how tithe would work if pastors served more as planters and equippers.

Episode 045 - Questions, Questions - Part 1

We tackle four questions in this episode, discussing what we do when we are being missional but our values clash with those we're trying to disciple, whether and from whom we can learn about discipleship, how we can be supportive of those in leadership at our church who want to just do traditional evangelism, and what we would change about our church. We also announce the winner of our book drawing. Don't miss out!

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Episode 044 - This Man Eats With Sinners

We've touched on it in the past, but we circle back around and spend more time on the importance of eating with people as a missional and communal posture. We look at the precedent of Jesus on this and how it was one of His favorite missional activities. We also suggest some good questions one can ask during a missional community meal, and talk about how food should unite us and not divide us.

Check out this really good article for further thoughts on this: https://saturatetheworld.com/2018/03/22/eating-together/

Email us at shawnbrace@gmail.com.

Follow us on Twitter @mlabpodcast.

Episode 043 - The Secret Missional Weapon

It may sound like a cliche, but we talk about the importance of prayer when it comes to mission and discipleship, sharing a few stories about how it has impacted our own lives and mission. Since we cannot control other human beings, we discuss how only the Holy Spirit can bring conviction, speaking to people's hearts. At the same time, we share a huge caveat about how prayer cannot be used as an excuse for inaction.

Don't forget to get questions in for our special episode on April 2. Get them in by March 29 by emailing shawnbrace@gmail.com

Follow us on Twitter @mlabpodcast.