NeoZine - Archives

Interesting results are coming in from our informal parenting survey at CT.

Are we as parents able to address needs of our teenagers effectively? What do the teenagers think? As an exercise in parental trouble-shooting, read the answers and post your diagnosis.

Question #1) Your teenager comes drunk…what are you going to do?

• “I will refrain from shooting them.”
• “Not give him any consequences because he’s already feeling sick.”
• “…talk to them about the effects of alcohol.”
• “Tell him you have to be 21 to drink.”
• “I would listen to their story, talk to my spouse, then decide what to do.”

Question #2) Your teenager comes home with a “D” on the grade card - how would you handle it?

• “Ask him if he thinks he was doing his best work.”

Question #3) What are the indications your teenager is doing well (or poorly) ?

• “They tell me.”

Question #4) What does your teenager want from you?

• “They want guideliness, support and guidance.”
• “Stuff.”

Question #5) Your youth-worker says your kid is not interested in the Lord. What do you do?

• “Pray with other Christians about it.”
• “Cry, cry, cry, get help, pray, pray, pray.”
• “Go to a parenting class.”

From teenagers:

Question #6) What do you think your parent’s expectations are of you?

• “They want me to be everything they are. Just because we share genes doesn’t mean we share a brain.”

Question #7) Do you really talk to your parents?

• “No, because whatever it is is my fault. What’s the point if they don’t help me?”

Question #8) Can you trust your parents?

• “No, they invade my privacy and don’t leave me alone. They don’t trust me, and I don’t trust them.”

Question #9) Do your parents listen to you?

• “No. Brick walls listen better.”

Question #10) If you would change 2 thngs about your parents, what would they be?

• “I’m my own person. I’m not you. I make mistakes. So let me, and I’ll be OK.”

Question #11) What would you do differently?

• “My criticism will be constructive, and I’ll understand that my kid isn’t just like me.”

Question #12) What do you admire most about your parents?

• “Nothing. Well, they haven’t killed me yet.”“

Question #13) What do you admire least?

• “They’re ignorant.”

A Word of Prophecy

Tom Dixon’s teaching began with some fumbling and mumbling mishaps with the microphone and sound system, which probably shook Tom up a little. It promised to be a dismal teaching from an obscure figure.

But then Tom launched into a strong message about what it means to carry out the Great Commission: “GO!” It’s all there in the first word. Aside from Tom, there was a surprising paucity of insights about the Great Commission at the STR.

This Great Commission oversight was not only unusual for the STR, but very noticeable since Calvary Chapel was often cited. As a model of a healthy church, if Calvary is actually driven by the Prophet-Leader extolled in the “Tri-Perspectival View,” there should be a clear path to follow in their footsteps. But what is it?

Dennis strongly endorsed Calvary’s “hot theology of ministry,” but then grew vague about exactly why it was so hot. It was difficult to discern what changes leaders could implement from the STR, beyond avoiding the obsession with statistics. The deemphasis on counting was only marginally-helpful for NeoXenos leaders, since our statistical work is already sloppy and pathetic enough.¹

NeoNews reported the aspects of Calvary which Dennis said were not enviable or easily-transferred into a Xenos ethos, and the list eliminated most of the distinctive differences from Xenos.

But there was one major distinction from Xenos which Calvary pursues with gusto: Calvary is perpetually sending out leaders to plant extra-local churches. This was, of course, the point of Tom’s teaching about “GO!” Unfortunately, only Tom’s teaching tackled this issue. Some of the other teachings casually mentioned the “sending” ministry of Calvary, but without much practical benefit.

The Multi-Site Movement

Driscoll’s “Tri-Perspectival View” of leadership is merely an introduction to the real excitement and drama in Driscoll’s teaching. He uses the Prophet-Leader concept to call for potentially-unsettling changes at Mars Hill in Seattle. He calls it “Multi-Site Church”, and whatever else may be said about his vision, it is certainly valuable for Xenos in two big ways. Continue Reading »

1. Leaders discuss statistics about once every six months: the October leader retreat and February FST retreat. View a slide show of the 2008 retreat slide online. [⇑]