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

My storyMy story

Welcome to the futureWelcome to the future

‘‘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

“The real voyage of discovery consistsnot in seeking new landscapes

but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust

Acts 10 Peter and CorneliusActs 10 Peter and Cornelius

“ 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

Six basic principlesSix basic principles

““From Safety netsFrom Safety netstoto

Fishing nets”Fishing nets”

There is no return addressThere is no return addressor we will not be going back….or we will not be going back….

1

‘ ‘ The defining aspect of this change of epoch The defining aspect of this change of epoch is that things are no longer in their place……is that things are no longer in their place……

we cannot simply wait for what we are we cannot simply wait for what we are experiencing to pass under the illusion experiencing to pass under the illusion

that things will return that things will return to being how they were before.’to being how they were before.’

Pope Francis.Pope Francis.

In working with young people . . . do not try to call them back to where they were, and do not try to call them to where you are, as beautiful as that place might seem to you.

You must have the courage to go with them to a place that neither you nor they have ever been before.

Christianity Rediscovered: An Epistle from the Masai (1978)

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

Public worship services probably Public worship services probably are not the best starting pointare not the best starting point

2

LoveLove Relate Relate CreateCreate

PrayerPrayer

PrayerPrayer

CommunityCommunitycontextcontext

WordWord EventEvent

The big pictureThe big picture

Who is church for?

3

The church is Gods gift to the world.The church is Gods gift to the world.

Why are we here ?Why are we here ?

‘ ‘ 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

Church as a place where Church as a place where certain things take placecertain things take place

toto

a body of people sent on a missiona body of people sent on a mission

‘ ‘ Either we are defined by mission , or we reduce the Either we are defined by mission , or we reduce the scope of the gospel and the mandate of the church.’ scope of the gospel and the mandate of the church.’ p6

•Who is the church for?

•Who is the church by?

•Who is the church with?

DisciplesDisciplesof Jesusof Jesus

rather than rather than ‘‘discipleship’discipleship’or attendees or attendees

at church at church

4

‘ ‘ We would intend to make disciples We would intend to make disciples and let converts happen rather than and let converts happen rather than

intending to make converts intending to make converts and let disciples happen.’and let disciples happen.’

The Divine Conspiracy, p334.The Divine Conspiracy, p334.

•How we see God

•How we see ourselves and others

•How we see our community

•How we see creation and society

•instructioninstruction

•imitationimitation

•participationparticipation

1. What kind of people are we called to beas disciples of Jesus ?

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

The two key questionsThe two key questions

Church is multi levelChurch is multi levelor ‘it depends what you mean by church’

5

“ “ the theological doctrine of the church the theological doctrine of the church cannot be simply expressed in abstract termscannot be simply expressed in abstract terms

about the churches timeless nature. It willabout the churches timeless nature. It willhave to provide points of departure for have to provide points of departure for

reforming the church, for giving it a more reforming the church, for giving it a more authentic form. Faithfulness and the fresh authentic form. Faithfulness and the fresh

start are not antitheses in start are not antitheses in the history of the Spirit.”the history of the Spirit.”

Jurgen Moltmann, The Church in the Power of the SpiritJurgen Moltmann, The Church in the Power of the Spirit

Church as four sets of relationships.Church as four sets of relationships.

Moynagh, Church for Every Context p 106.Moynagh, Church for Every Context p 106.

ofofupup

inin

outout

‘‘not leaving the traditionnot leaving the traditionbut driving to it’s heart’but driving to it’s heart’

Gerald Arbuckle, Refounding the ChurchGerald Arbuckle, Refounding the Church

‘ ‘ If you want to preserve traditionIf you want to preserve traditiondon’t wear your grandfathers hat,don’t wear your grandfathers hat,

have grandchildren.’ have grandchildren.’

Pablo PicassoPablo Picasso

This might change USThis might change USactually it does!actually it does!

6

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

You can’t predict the outcome anymore

Control to chaosControl to chaos

Answers to questionsAnswers to questions

Certainty to riskCertainty to risk

What might this mean for the structuresWhat might this mean for the structuresand shape of your church?and shape of your church?

Disturb us Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves,

when our dreams have come truebecause we have dreamed too little,

when we arrived safelybecause we sailed too close to the shore.

Sir Francis Drake

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