NOTE: CHILDCARE IS NOW FULL

This year’s Missional Learning Commons will take place Oct 28-29 at Lindner Conference Center on the campus of Northern Seminary (620 Butterfield Rd, Lombard, IL). Our focus will be on discipleship, and Mike Breen will be helping to facilitate our time together.

The aim of the Missional Learning Commons is to provide a collaborative learning environment for missional churches to share stories, discuss ideas, and encourage one another for the sake of incarnating the Gospel in their contexts.

This year, we want to focus on discipleship. Here are some of the questions that will be shaping our time together:

• What does discipleship actually look like in our lives?
• Does the gospel we preach naturally and organically lead people into discipleship, or does it feel like an extra-curricular activity?
• How should the call to make disciples shape and guide our church practices: what we do, and how we do it?
• What is the significance of discipleship as the core component of the formation of Christian leaders?

In addition to our regular diet of on-the-ground practitioners, this year Mike Breen and a team from 3DM will be hanging out with us to share some of what they have learned and help facilitate our conversations by asking some provoking questions.

Mike and the 3DM team will also be doing a free workshop on discipleship and mission on Friday from 9am-5pm. You need to register separately for this event.

The MLC this year is sponsored by the Ecclesia Network and the Baptist General Association of Virginia.

NOTE: CHILDCARE IS NOW FULL

Having trouble registering?

*All events hosted at Lindner Conference Center, on the campus of Northern Seminary

Thursday October 27

7:00p-9:00p – The Future of Theological Education: Presentations & Dialogue

• Many have been aware for some time of the unfortunate disparity between seminary training and the on-the-ground challenges faced by Christian leaders and pastors who are engaging increasingly Post-Christendom contexts.  In light of this concern, this event will feature the presentation of a paper and video (created by 3DM), designed to stimulate our thinking and catalyze generative conversation.  There will be responses by David Fitch and Mike Breen among others as well as a time for all in attendance to contribute their thoughts, questions and feedback.

There is no charge to attend this event, but we would ask that you register here, so that we have an idea of how many will be joining us for the evening.

Friday October 28

9:00-5:00 – 3DM TASTER (separate workshop – more info and register here)

5:00p – OPEN TIME

• Open time to connect over dinner.

7:00p – DISCIPLESHIP: The Shape of Our Story

• Open with worship & prayer
• Two practitioners will share about their experiences of being discipled well (or not).
• Sharing stories around tables
• Mike Breen speaks on discipleship

9:00p – OPEN TIME

• Open time to continue discussions and meet new people

Saturday October 29

8:30a – DISCIPLESHIP: The Story of Our Lives

• Prayer and reflection
• 2 Practitioners share briefly, Mike Breen adds, responds.
• Small group discussion
• Mike Breen leads large group reflection

10:30a – DISCIPLESHIP: The Commission of our Churches

• 2 Practitioners share briefly, Mike Breen adds, responds.
• Small group discussion
• Mike Breen leads large group reflection

12:00p – LUNCH

• Onsite – Boxed lunch included with your registration!

1:00p – DISCIPLESHIP: The Formation of our Leaders

• 2 Practitioners share briefly, Mike Breen adds, responds.
• Small group discussion
• Mike Breen leads large group reflection

3:00p – COMMISSION & BENEDICTION

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Hotels Nearby (ask for Northern Seminary rate)

Hyatt Place
2340 South Fountain Square Drive, Lombard, IL 60148
630-932-6501 or 1-800-833-1516
NBTS Rate: Includes full hot breakfast buffet, shuttle to Northern,
indoor heated pool and hi speed internet.

Holiday Inn – Oakbrook Terrace
17 W 350 22nd Street, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
1-800-325-3535 or 630-833-3600
NBTS Rate: Includes shuttle to Northern.

Comfort Inn
3010 Finley Road, Downers Grove, IL 60515
630-515-1500 or 1-800-221-2222
NBTS Rate: Includes continental breakfast and shuttle to Northern.

LaQuinta Inn Chicago – Oakbrook
1S666 Midwest Road, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60142
630-495-4600 or 1-800-531-5900
NBTS Rate: Includes complete breakfast and shuttle to Northern.

Hampton Inn
222 E. 22nd Street, Lombard, IL 6148
630-916-9000 or 1-800-HAMPTON
NBTS Rate: Includes hot breakfast, hi speed internet, and shuttle to Northern.

Staybridge Suites
200 Royce Blvd., Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
630-953-9393
NBTS Rate: Includes hot breakfast, hi speed internet, complimentary laundry on site,
and shuttle to Northern.

Quality Inn
933 S. Rte. 83, Elmhurst, IL 60126
630-279-0700
NBTS Rate: Includes breakfast, shuttle to Northern, indoor pool, and hi speed internet

Fairfield Inn and Suites Marriot
645 W. North Avenue, Lombard, IL 60148
630-629-1500
NBTS Rate: Includes breakfast, indoor pool, and hi speed internet

Embassy Suites Hotel
707 East Butterfield Road, Lombard, IL 60148
630-969-7500
NBTS Rate: Includes hot breakfast buffet and shuttle to Northern.

Download a high-quality 11×17 poster for the event (12.5 MB PDF):

Please leave a comment below to

1. Offer feedback on the most recent Learning Commons (Oct 29-30, 2010 in Chicago), and
2. Make suggestions for topics/issues/format in years to come.

The audio and other resources from the October 2010 Missional Learning Commons are available below.

Friday October 29:

Desiring the Kingdom Part 1 – Jon Berbaum

Desiring the Kingdom Discussion Part 1

Desiring the Kingdom Part 2 – JR Rozko

Desiring the Kingdom Discussion Part 2

Saturday October 30:

Discipleship Backstage – Cyd Holsclaw
teaching slides (pdf)

Discipleship in the Shadow of Empire

Discipleship Panel Discussion

Managing a Missional Family – Jason Lantz

You Must Become Like a Little Child – Helen Lee
teaching notes (doc) || teaching slides (pdf)
Missional Mom book excerpt || 50% off coupon for Missional Mom

Missional Family as Counter-Formation – Ben Sternke

Family Panel Discussion

The Hazards of Being Paid to Pastor – Dave Fitch

Global Perspectives on Missional Leadership – Amy Rozko

Leadership is Submission – Dave Fitch

Leadership Panel Discussion & Closing Thoughts

Thanks to JR Rozko, we have audio from all the 2010 Non-Conference sessions, including the extended times of discussion, as well as the notes he took during the lunchtime discussion of missional approaches to theological education.

Notes from Theological Education Discussion:

Missional Theological Education Discussion Notes (PDF)

Audio Resources from the Commons

FRIDAY JAN 8
Book Discussion: The Next Evangelicalism by Soong-Chan Rah

SATURDAY JAN 9
Crucial Practices for Deeper Churches (Eucharistic Economics)

Sharing a Deeper Gospel in Post-Christian Contexts

Should Deeper Churches Have Paid Staff?

How Can Deeper Churches Become Multi-Ethnic?