Who’s Informing You—and Forming You?

0:00 Intro/What is missiology?

4:06 “What informs us forms us”

9:53 Terry’s thoughts on what’s ahead for the church and how to adapt

15:31 Generational changes in what people expect from the church and from culture

22:35 When the things that are supposed to make us better end up shackling us

27:39 Self-doubt and the spiritual disciplines for overcoming it

35:44 Toward a more meaningful prayer life

41:25 Closing thoughts: hopes and fears

Snippets/excerpts

2:29 to 3:16—Terry explains the concept of missiology—the study of God’s mission and humanity’s interaction with it

5:55 to 6:32—“What informs you forms you”

17:28 to 18:20—Terry’s views on how Gen Z’s attitude toward the church differs from Gen X’s

26:23 to 27:12—Recognizing the systems in our lives that negatively impact our behavior

31:08 to 31:57—“God will always maximize what you have in your hand”: A mantra for blocking out distraction and re-aligning with God’s plan

36:36 to 37:42—A line-by-line analysis that examines the Lord’s Prayer in a new and creative way—and how to make it a template for your own prayer life

Discussion

5:26—As you made the decision to put aside sin and seek a closer relationship with God, what was the aspect of your previous life that you were most reluctant to give up—the thing about which you thought you were least likely to say, “Jesus is better”? Has putting that aside been as difficult as you predicted?

6:33—Who are the people who, for better or worse, have informed you the most over the years? They can be people you know, like family and friends, or cultural figures such as writers, artists, or political leaders. Was there ever a period in your life when, as Terry puts it, you accepted their influence on “autopilot”? Looking back, is there any influence or teaching you wish you’d questioned a little more?

16:56—What is the single most important thing a church leader could do to bring you into that congregation? In your opinion, what do today’s church leaders most overestimate the importance of—the things they emphasize that really don’t move the needle for you or the men you know?

24:30—Can you think of anything in your life that you began pursuing with good intentions—physical fitness, creative expression, personal freedom—but that eventually took over your life to the point where it was “shackling” you? When did you realize that pursuit was exerting too much influence over your life, and what changes did you make?

29:12—Have you ever experienced “impostor syndrome”? Do you still struggle with the idea that other people are giving you too much credit for your wisdom or ability, and that eventually you’ll be “found out”? Where do you think those doubts come from, and what have you learned about God that offers some comfort?

33:54—What are some things in your life that you carry “more heavy than they need to be carried”? Why do you think you place such outsized importance on them or let them occupy a space in your life so much bigger than they deserve? What reassurance does the Lord offer you in dealing with those problems?

37:44—As Terry dissected the Lord’s Prayer line by line, what made the biggest impact on you? Was there anything that made you say, “I’d never thought about that before”? How might that inform your prayer life going forward?

Additional Resources

Terry’s book, Future Church: How Disruption, Innovation, and a New Generation Are Reshaping the Church