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“ “ having discharged a temporaryhaving discharged a temporarycommission, they went backcommission, they went back
to school to make greater advancesto school to make greater advances in learning.”in learning.”
“ “ despite there being with Jesus, theydespite there being with Jesus, theystill did not comprehend aright. To bestill did not comprehend aright. To bewith Jesus is to learn of Him, to thinkwith Jesus is to learn of Him, to think
the things of God, not of humans.the things of God, not of humans.The disciples, however show The disciples, however show
themselves prone to regard reality themselves prone to regard reality from a human point of view.”from a human point of view.”
“ “ Our whole business in Our whole business in this life , is to restore to healththis life , is to restore to health
the eyes of the heart,the eyes of the heart,whereby God may be seen.”whereby God may be seen.”
Changing culture‘‘What is taking place is not merely theWhat is taking place is not merely the
continued decline of organised continued decline of organised Christianity but the death of the cultureChristianity but the death of the culture
which formerly conferred Christian which formerly conferred Christian identity upon the British peopleidentity upon the British people
as a whole.’as a whole.’
Callum BrowneCallum BrowneDeath of Christian BritainDeath of Christian Britain
““The day of the churched cultureThe day of the churched cultureis over. The day of the missionis over. The day of the mission
field has come.”field has come.”
Kennon L CallahanKennon L Callahan Effective Church LeadershipEffective Church Leadership
“ “ this research helps us to understand this research helps us to understand that the further people are from church,that the further people are from church,(in terms of churchgoing) the less likely (in terms of churchgoing) the less likely
they are to attend in the future.they are to attend in the future.Mission opportunities are very differentMission opportunities are very different
when to step over the church when to step over the church threshold is an unknown experience…..”threshold is an unknown experience…..”
“ we understood mission oneway and organised life to accomplish it. We have awakened to find out the mission moved on us. To keep focusing on mission, wehave to turn the furniturearound and face a differentdirection. We may even have to move into another room.”
Loren Mead. The Once and Future Church
“ “ create a linguistic community create a linguistic community which speaks to itself but gives up which speaks to itself but gives up responsibility to put the gospel in aresponsibility to put the gospel in alanguage which is understood by language which is understood by
the whole of society.”the whole of society.”
Are People Searching and why?
► 73% of people are searching
► 70% of people are searching because of either the credit crunch, concern about personal finances or job insecurity
Christian Research Association. 2000 interviews with a nationally representative sample
of UK adults, conducted 24-27th April 09
“ The foundation of being Christianis being community centred around
Jesus. Public worship is the consequence of this reality, not
its creator.”
George Lings
The ends of the earth
Samaria
The eccentric effects…
Judea
The centre and the Acts story shift Samaria is not a return ticketstory moves from a focus on Peter to Paulthe Church goes west church is done differently among Gentiles
‘‘The reality is that mainstream The reality is that mainstream culture no longer brings people culture no longer brings people to the church door. We can no to the church door. We can no
longer longer assume that we can assume that we can
automatically automatically reproduce ourselves, because reproduce ourselves, because the pool of people who regard the pool of people who regard
church aschurch asrelevant or important is relevant or important is
decreasing decreasing with every generation’with every generation’
Mission shaped church report p11Mission shaped church report p11
“ it is not the church of God which has a mission
but the God of mission who has a church.”
Tim Dearborn
‘‘Mission is often described as if it wereMission is often described as if it werea planned extension of an old building.a planned extension of an old building.But it fact it has usually been more likeBut it fact it has usually been more like
an unexpected explosion.’an unexpected explosion.’
John V Taylor John V Taylor
Dying to liveDying to live
“ “ I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheatI tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheatfalls to the ground and dies, it remains onlyfalls to the ground and dies, it remains only
a single seed. But if it dies, it producesa single seed. But if it dies, it producesmany seeds.”many seeds.”
John 12; 23-6John 12; 23-6
• ‘…do not try to call them back to where they were, and do not try to call them to where you are, beautiful as that place may seem to you. You must have the courage to go with them to a place that neither you nor they have been before.’
• Vincent Donovan
The 3 eccentrics • Who are the Philips?
– A Dangerous Deacon? – Allow space for the unknowns
• Discover Cornelius– who evangelizes who
• Pray for Pauls– Eccentrics will do it differently
““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
“ 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
What kind of people are we called to be?
What kind of community is capable of raising people like that?
•Incarnation- a world to enterIncarnation- a world to enter
•Cross- a world to counterCross- a world to counter
•Resurrection- a world to anticipateResurrection- a world to anticipate