A Little R & RA Little R & R

http://davemale.typepad.com/churchunplugged/

Acts 10 Peter & CorneliusActs 10 Peter & Cornelius

1.1.What do we learn about God?What do we learn about God?

2.2.What do we learn about Peter?What do we learn about Peter?

3.3.What do we learn about mission?What do we learn about mission?

1.1. What is your biggest encouragement ?What is your biggest encouragement ?

2.2.What is the biggest challenge we face?What is the biggest challenge we face?

3.3.What is the biggest challenge I face? What is the biggest challenge I face?

Seeing with new eyes

“The real voyage of discovery consistsnot in seeking new landscapes

but in having new eyes.”

Marcel Proust

Where are we nowculturally ?

‘‘What is taking place is not merely theWhat is taking place is not merely thecontinued decline of organised continued decline of organised

Christianity but the death Christianity but the death of the culture which of the culture which

formerly conferred Christian formerly conferred Christian identity upon the peopleidentity upon the people

as a whole.’as a whole.’

Callum BrowneCallum BrowneDeath of Christian BritainDeath of Christian Britain

Five implications for the church

in the UK

A decline in religious affiliation

Christian1983 66% 2010 50% No religion1983 31% 2010 43%

British Attitudes Survey

But 2011 Census 71% of population ChristianBut 2011 Census 71% of population Christian

Belief in God

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1947 1981 1990 2000

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Christian Affiliation UK

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1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

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A Fall in Church Attendance

A decline in church attendance of 55% is forecastfrom 1980-2020

2007 Tear Fund survey of 7000 adults in contact or not with church

“ “ this majority (66%) presents a major this majority (66%) presents a major challenge to churches. Most of them are challenge to churches. Most of them are

unreceptive and closed unreceptive and closed to attending church; churchgoing isto attending church; churchgoing is

simply not on their agenda.”simply not on their agenda.”

The absence of the younger generation

The average age of a churchgoer in 2010 was 51

The average age in 1980was 37

Tear Fund

The growing influence of spirituality

“ The world today is as furiously religious as it ever was and in some

places more so than ever.”

‘‘Spiritual’ experience in 2000 Vs 1987Spiritual’ experience in 2000 Vs 1987

55% saw a patterning of events – up 90%

38% felt God’s presence – up 41%

37% had answered prayer – up 48%

29% felt sacred in nature – up 81%

25% the presence of the dead – up 39%

25% the presence of evil – up 108%

1987 48% report a spiritual experience - 2000 risen to 76%

‘ It is very difficult to buildbridges to sailing boats.’

George Lings

Changes in the church culture

Increased openness to new initiatives

A missional A missional re-engagementre-engagement

with societywith society

Playing Away

‘ It is becoming clear that many ofthe people for whom Christ

died are unlikely to be drawn to ourexisting churches howeverspiritually alive, hospitable

and attractive they are.’

Bishop Graham Cray

‘ ‘ the church is missionary the church is missionary by it’s very nature…….by it’s very nature…….

the church does not havethe church does not have a mission a mission

but the mission has but the mission has a church.’a church.’

Prophetic Dialogue. Prophetic Dialogue. Bevans and ScroederBevans and Scroeder

A re-imaginationA re-imaginationof what church isof what church is

(and could become) (and could become)

‘We are seeing what corporate formsof life actually happen when people

meet Jesus.’

Rowan Williams

‘The illiterate of the 21st century will notbe those who cannot read or write,

but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.’

Alvin Toffler ‘The Third Wave’

A re-orientation A re-orientation towards whole lifetowards whole life

discipleship.discipleship.

The glory of God is the human person fully alive

Irenaeus of Lyon

‘‘a discipleship movement a discipleship movement shaped for mission’shaped for mission’

Questions for discussion?

•Is this how it feels for you?

•Are there any other key movements?

1. Context is king

Continuity and change

““church planting is a process by which a seedchurch planting is a process by which a seedof the life and message of Jesus, embodiedof the life and message of Jesus, embodiedby a community of Christians is immersedby a community of Christians is immersedfor mission reasons in a particular culturalfor mission reasons in a particular cultural

or geographic context.or geographic context.The intended consequence is that it rootsThe intended consequence is that it rootsthere, coming to life as a new indigenousthere, coming to life as a new indigenousbody of Christian disciples well suited to body of Christian disciples well suited to

continue in mission.”continue in mission.”

MSC reportMSC report

‘ I have become all things to all people,so that I might by any means save some.

I do it all for the sake of the gospel,so that I may share in its blessings.’

1 Corinthians 9;16f

Incarnational mission – Phil 2Jesus as part of Trinity

Takes on the form of those to whom he is sent

God exalts him

All must kneel before him

Incarnational mission – Phil 2

• We take off our current form and put on that of those we seek to reach and affirm their culture

• We die to ourselves in incarnation in order to be obedient to God

• God will use this to exalt Jesus• All must come to accept Jesus as Lord and this

will involve challenging culture as people become like Christ.

2. Church is multi level

‘listening to the space openedup by Jesus.’

•church viewed as a verb

•importance of leadership

•church viewed as a verb

•importance of leadership

•recovery of church as domestic

3. Community is central

•accessible & accepting

•missional and focused outwards

•transformational for the individual, community and world

“To live in one place no longer means to

live together and living together no longer means to

live in the same place.”

Ulrich Beck

There is no ideal community. Community is made up of people with all their richness

but also their weakness and poverty..Humility and trust are more at the foundation

of community than perfection.

Jean Vanier

4. Discipleship not attendance is the

measure

““We should give up the foolish task of We should give up the foolish task of trying to be saints and get on with thetrying to be saints and get on with themore important task of being human.”more important task of being human.”

Dietrich BonhoefferDietrich Bonhoeffer

•Simple in its natureSimple in its nature

•Relational in its emphasisRelational in its emphasis

•Transformational in its outcomesTransformational in its outcomes

•How we see God

•How we see ourselves and others

•How we see our community

•How we see creation and society

What kind of people are we called to be?

What kind of community is capable of raising people like that?

“ If not part of a mutuallyIf not part of a mutuallydiscipling community the discipling community the culture will disciple you.”culture will disciple you.”

Graham Cray

5. There is NO one size fits

all model of church

Questions for discussion?

•Which of these 5 points struck you? Why?

•What might it mean for your context?

CommentsQuestions

Insights/examples

Some dangers

•We already have too many churches

•Beware of the default position

•The danger of domestication

•Change of language does not necessarily mean a change

of mindset