Fishing nets or safety nets

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

“ “ 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.”

You want us to do what ?You want us to do what ?

“ “ 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

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

“ “ 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

Playing Away

7 principles for remodelling church

Public worship probably isn’tthe best starting point

1

“ The foundation of being Christianis being community centred around

Jesus. Public worship is the consequence of this reality, not

its creator.”

George Lings

There is no return address

2

Ends of the EarthSamaria

Judea

Half the picture

Jerusalem

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

Mission not modelsshape the church

3

‘‘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

This might change US

4

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

Welcome the three eccentrics

5

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

The challenge of discipleship

6

““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?

The Pattern of Jesus Life7

•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

•Which of these principles do you find most helpful? Why?

Questions

Comments

Examples/Insights