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Presbytery of Ottawa 22/11/2014

Roots and WingsBeing Church in the 21st Century

Part 1: Roots—Recovering our Passion

John BowenWycliffe College

Ottawa, November 22, 2014

What is the New Testamentinterested in?

• “Fellowship” x 7• “Ministry” x 22• “Pray”/”prayer” 25• “Forgiveness” x 36• “Worship” x 53• “Preach” x 56• “Church” x 76• “Gospel” x 100

So . . . what is the Gospel?

• What would you say the Gospel is?A sentence beginning, “God . . .”

• What is good news about Christianfaith for you?

A sentence beginning, “I . . .”

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Presbytery of Ottawa 22/11/2014

God can be my father!

I feel more alive than ever before!

In Jesus, my personality gets integrated!

What is the Gospel?

Danger of Nazism over!

Democracy safe!

Servicemen and women came home!

Evacuated children returned home!

People got married!

Couples had children!

People went to university!

No more blackouts!

Street & city signs restored!

Food rationing ended!

What happened at the end ofWorld War II? • “My husband came home!”

• “I got to go to university!”• “I got to eat bananas!”

• EFFECTS

• The end of the War!• CAUSE

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Presbytery of Ottawa 22/11/2014

Integration of my personality

God can be my father

A new life

Meaning to life

God is my home

Hope beyond the grave

I am a child of God

I have a family

Forgiveness

?“The time is fulfilled,

and the Kingdom of Godhas come near:

repent and believein the Gospel!”

Mark 1:14-15

What is the Gospel?

“The time is fulfilled,and the Kingdom of God

has come near:repent and believe

in the Gospel!”Mark 1:14-15

What is the Gospel?– Where God is acknowledged as ruler– Where things are done in God’s way– A world of love, beauty, wholeness, justice & joy– A world where evil is eradicated– “A plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all

things in him, things in heaven and things onearth” (Ephesians 1:10)

– Wherever the King goes!

What is the Kingdom?

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Presbytery of Ottawa 22/11/2014

• Queen Elizabeth I’s “Royal Progress”

• The story of the Kingdom– Act 1: God makes a good and beautiful world– Act 2: humankind betrays the Creator’s trust– Act 3: the Creator starts over with the promise to

Abraham– Act 4: the Creator enters the story—lives, dies, rises

again– Act 6: the Creator intervenes to bring down the curtain– Act 5: our calling to live lives of “faithful improvisation”

Integration of my personality

God can be my father

A new life

Meaning to life

God is my home

Hope beyond the grave

I am a child of God

I have a family

Forgiveness

TheKingdomof God

has comenear!

“The time is fulfilled,and the Kingdom of God

has come near:repent and believe

in the Gospel!”Mark 1:14-15

What is the Gospel?

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Presbytery of Ottawa 22/11/2014

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, hesaw Simon and his brother Andrew casting anet into the sea—for they were fishermen.And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I willmake you fish for people.” And immediatelythey left their nets and followed him. As hewent a little farther, he saw James son ofZebedee and his brother John, who were intheir boat mending the nets. Immediately hecalled them; and they left their fatherZebedee in the boat with the hired men, andfollowed him.

What is a disciple?

• A learner, a student• An apprentice of Jesus• Learning the ways of the Kingdom

What will ensure a bright futurefor our churches?

• Not better marketing• Not more programs• Not structural reorganizationBUT• An infectious joy for the Gospel• Growing whole-hearted disciples• Preaching, worship and community which

communicate Good News

Discussion questions• What was particularly helpful or

encouraging or stimulating for you in John’stalk?

• What did you find troubling, bothersome orsimply wrong?

• How is your church doing in relation to theGospel? Where are you weak? Where areyou strong?

• What’s one question you would like to askJohn?