Nomad, Christian community, mission and the future of the church.

Hello and welcome back to Nomad podcast, the podcast where we dip our metaphorical toe in the waters of mission

and new forms of church. On this month's show, we're chatting with Scott Boren about mission

and small groups. On the podcast, the critics are calling Nomad. On this month's podcast, I'm chatting to Scott Boren.

For the last couple of decades, Scott has been working with churches to help transition traditionally structured small groups into places that are genuine expressions of community and mission.

He's based at Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul's, Minnesota,

but he's also an author and small group consultant. So, Scott, welcome to Nomad Podcast.

Oh, great to be here. Yeah, great. What time is it out there? Four 30 in the morning.

So what made you get out of bed so early? Well, I've got four kids, and they're full of energy, and school has just started this week,

so interesting mornings around here.

I thought it best just to get it out while they're asleep.

Mate, I really appreciate your commitment.

Oh, no worries.

So I was wondering whether you could begin by telling us a little bit about your journey

and why you started to have concerns about the way church traditionally went about doing small groups.

During the university time, I realized that my relationship with Jesus was not really a relationship.

I was just doing the religious thing and knew how to do what I grew up with.

And when I actually started developing a relationship with Jesus, I realized how in the world

did I, I was just asking questions about how in the world did I slip through the cracks here?

I was being considered for positions in churches.

I was actually a summer missionary in Germany.

I knew how to do all the right church stuff, but I didn't know how to be real.

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