REC 100: Revitalizing Mission in the Parish: Part I · Placing God’s People Under Tremendous...
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6/4/17 1 REC 100: Revitalizing Mission in the Parish: Part I
Transcript of REC 100: Revitalizing Mission in the Parish: Part I · Placing God’s People Under Tremendous...
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REC100:RevitalizingMissionintheParish:PartI
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AmonasteryinGermanytrainedChristianbrothersforvariousresponsibilities.OneChristianbrotherintraininglivedinmortalfearofbeingcalledupontopreachthesermoninthedaily
chapel.Asthisyoungmanthoughtabouthisapprehension,hedecidedtoheaditoffbygoingtothemonitorofthemonastery
anddiscussingtheproblemwithhim.Inthecourseoftheconversationhesaid,“Sir,Iamwillingtodoanymenialjobthatyouassignme.Iwouldbedelightedtogooutintothefieldsandplow,fertilize,andirrigatethembyhandtoincreaseproductivity.Ifyouwouldcareformetodoso,Iwouldbehappytogetdown
onmyhandsandkneesandscrubthefloorshereinthemonastery.Itwouldbeaprivilegeformetopolishthe
silverware.AnymenialjobthatyoucalluponmetodoIshallbehappytodo.However,pleasedon’taskmetopreachasermon
inchapel.”
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Themonitor,lookingattheyoungmanandrecognizingthatanassignmenttopreachwasexactlywhatheneeded,replied,“Tomorrowyouaretoconductthechapelandpreachthe
sermon.”Thenextdayasthisyoungbrotherstoodbehindthepulpitandlookedoutintotheeyesofhispeerswhohad
assembledinthesanctuary,hewasgreatlyapprehensive.Hewassonervoushehardlyknewwhattodo.Hestartedhis
sermonbyasking,“Brothers,doyouknowwhatIamgoingtosay?”Theyallshooktheirheadsinthenegative.Hecontinued,“NeitherdoI.Let’sstandforthebenediction.Pax vobiscum.”Naturally,themonitorwasinfuriatedbythis.Hesaidtothe
youngman,“Iamgoingtogiveyouasecondchance.Tomorrowyouaretoconducttheserviceinthechapel,andthistimeIwant
youtopreacharealmessage.”
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Thenextdaythescenewasthesame.Andtheyoungmanbeganashehadthedaybefore,“Brothers,doyouknowwhatIamgoingtosay?”Whentheyallnoddedtheirheadsinthe
affirmative,Hesaid,“Sinceyoualreadyknow,thereisnopointinmysayingit.Let’sstandforthebenediction.Pax vobiscum.”Themonitorwaslividwithanger.Onceagainhewenttotheyoungbrotherandliterallyroaredathim,“Iamtiredofyourchicanery.TomorrowIamgoingtogiveyouathirdchance.Ifyoudon’t
comethrough,Iamgoingtoputyouinsolitaryconfinementonbreadandwater.”Thethirddaythescenewasthesame.Thebrotherbeganashehadthetwopreviousdays,“Brothers,do
youknowwhatIamgoingtosay?”Somenoddedtheirheadsintheaffirmative.Someshooktheirheadsinthenegative.Hethen
toldthem,“Letthosewhoknowtellthosewhodon’t.Let’s
standforthebenediction.Pax vobiscum.”
Inonesensethemonkwasright,thoseofuswhoknowaretotellthosewhodon’tknow...WhichbringsustoREC100
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ToRevitalizeMissionintheParishMeans...
• RemainingCommittedtoPrayerBookWorshipaswehaveapprovedintheREC
• “Reachingoutwithoutdumbing down”(Marva Dawnbooktitle),theworshipofGodorthecontentofthefaith
• RisingfromapreservationmindsettopromotionoftheGospel...ThedualmovementofHolyAltarTabletoMissionandMissiontotheThroneofGodshoulddriveeverythingwedo...Thereforemission/evangelismismorethanacommitteetackedontoeverythingelse...
• ResultinginthemakingofdisciplesintheAnglicanWaytobecomeworshippersthroughthemultiplicationofprayerbookcongregations
• Realizingthattheworldofpostmodernityisdifferentandhasrenderedcertainapproachestoevangelismmuchlesseffective...
GrowingaChurchisnottheWayItUsetoBe...
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TheChallengeoftheWorldofPostModernity:“Theold‘certainties’of
modernismderivedfromtheEnlightenmentarebeingassailedbythe
diverse‘uncertainties’ofpostmodernism...Whereasmodernismwasstrictlyrational,
thenewwaysofthinkingarefuzzy,suspiciousoflogicalthinking,unsureofprogress”(JohnFinney,Recoveringthe
Past,pp.34-35)
CharacteristicsofPostModernity:TheChallengeofReachingtheNewMillennial
• Distrustofmetanarratives,systemsthatexplaineverythingelse,includingbelief,moralandjusticesystems(i.e.worldviewetc.)
• Approachesnotfromtherationalandthemindbutfromexperienceandthepersonal
• Approacheslifefromtheimmanent,presence,andnotfromthetranscendent
• Truthisrelativeandimpersonal• SeeksCommunity
• WhenChristiansapproachwithonewaytosalvation(eventhoughthereisonlyoneway)PostModernsseethisasmeta-narrative
• WhenChristiansemphasizeasetofdoctrine,thePostModernseesthisasimpersonal
• WhenChristiansrefertoJesusChristasDivine,thePostMillennialresponseis“sowhat...Where’sthehumanityinHim?”
• ForChristiansTruthisabsolutebutnotabstract...RatheritisIncarnational ...
• WhenChristiansapproachwithaplanforindividualsalvationthePostMillennialwantstoknowwhat’sinitforme...Forthecommunity
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Whatthismeansforevangelismandmissionis...
• Postmodernsaresuspiciousofthebigeventapproachtoconversionsuchascrusadesandtentmeetings...Theyaretooimpersonal...
• Goingdoor-to-doorisnotonlyunsafebutviewedwithsuspicion...
• CannedGospelpresentationsappearasa“one-size-fits-all”approachtopeoplewhowantdiversityandmostofallacustomizedapproach“justforme.”
• Whenweadvertizeourownsetofmetanarrative(Anglican,Biblical,Evangelical,Sacramentaletc.)weappealonlytosomeonewhoalreadyholdstheseviews,whoarefewerandfewerinnumberinsociety...
• WhenwetrytoexplainourselvesasthoseChristianswhoarenotliberal,againstordainingwomenandsamesexmarriage,weattempttoreachpeoplebysaying“whatwe’renot.”
ButtheScripturesSpeaktoAlltheSituationsCallingforaBiblicalandApostolic,Pre-ChristendomRethink.
..
1.TheUseofanEmmausRoadViewofConversionaswellastheDamascusRoadModel...
2.TheWesternChurchReturnstotheparish-mission-modelandawayfrommissionsassomethingthat
happenfaraway3.TheBiblicalViewofMissionasNetsnotHooks...
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FirstPresentationFishingWithANet:TheCommunityof
thePeopleofGodReachingtheCommunitiesoftheWorld...
Jesus’andHisDisciplesFishedwithNetsnotHooks
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“Ononeoccasion,whilethecrowdwaspressinginonhimtohearthewordofGod,hewasstandingbythelakeofGennesaret,andhesawtwoboatsbythelake,butthefishermenhadgoneoutofthemandwerewashingtheirnets.Gettinginto
oneoftheboatswhichwasSimon’s,heaskedhimtoputoutalittlefromtheland.Andhesatdownandtaughtthepeoplefromtheboat.Andwhenhehadfinishedspeaking,hesaidtoSimon,‘Putoutintothedeepandletdownyournetsforacatch’”
(Luke5:1-11)
TotheContrary...FishingWithHooksImplies...OneWayofDoing
EvangelismthatTranslatesintothe“SilverBullet”Expectation...
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1.TheSilverBulletApproachMeansUsuallyLookingforthe
MagicalProgramButtheMissionoftheNewTestamentisNota
Programperse...
2.TheSilverBulletApproachUsuallyMeansPlacingGod’sPeopleUnderTremendousGuilttoTakeontheEvangelismTaskByThemselves...ButintheNewTestamentanindividualmayintroducesomeonetoChrist(i.e.AndrewwithPeter)...butinrealityittakesMoreThanOneBecomingFullyinvolvedintheConversionofaPerson;MissionIsthereforetheeffortofthewholeGospelCommunityoftheChurch...UsuallyItisaGroupofPeopleThatBringsaPersontoChrist...BiblicalMissionand
Evangelismarethusacommunityeffort...
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3.TheSilverBulletApproachAllTooOftenTreatsAllBelieversAsThoughTheyHavetheGiftofEvangelism.YettheNewTestamentIndicatesThatSomeDo...WhileCertainlyNotAll...AndMostDon’t...Have
theWonderfulGiftofEvangelism...
Rather,intheNewTestament...St.PauloffersatwofoldapproachdistinguishingEvangelistfromindividualbelievers’responsibilitytoevangelize:“Devoteyourselvestoprayer,beingwatchfulandthankful.Andprayforustoo,thatGodmayopenadoorforourmessage,sothatwemayproclaimthemysteryofChrist,forwhichIaminchains.PraythatImayproclaimitclearly,asIshould.Bewiseinthewayyouacttowardoutsiders;makethemostofeveryopportunity.Letyourconversationbealwaysfullof
grace,seasonedwithsalt,sothatyoumaynowhowtoanswereveryone”(Colossians4:2-6).
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“Forevangelists,PaulasksforopportunitiestoshareChristandforcouragetoproclaimthegospelclearly(verses3-4).Buthedoesn’tsuggesttheColossiansprayasmuchfor
themselves.Rather,evangelisticbelieversaretoprayfortheevangelists’ministry,tobewiseintheirconducttowardoutsiders,andtolookforopportunitiestoansweroutsiders....ThisiswhyPaul’stwofoldapproachissostrategic:We
needbothgiftedevangelistsandordinarybelieverswhoarehabituallyevangelistic”
(MichaelFrost,SurprisetheWorld,pp.3-4,27)
4.TheSilverBullet,Fishing-With-HooksApproachHasTendedToHaveAsItsGoaltheMakingofConvertsInsteadofDisciples...AreMoreAboutObtainingaDecisionThan
MakingaDisciple...Andassuchfailtoseethetaskofdiscipleshipasre-formingapersonintotheImageofChristasatrueworshipperofthe
LivingGod...
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“Personalconversionisnotagoal[ofMission]initself.Tointerprettheworkofthechurchasthe‘winningofsouls’istomakeconversionintoafinalproduct,whichflatlycontradictsLuke’sunderstandingofthepurposeofmission.Conversiondoesnotpertainmerelytoanindividual’sactofconvictionandcommitment;it
movestheindividualbelieverintothecommunityofthebelieversandinvolvesreal– evenradical– changeinthelifeofthebeliever,whichcarrieswithitmoral
responsibilitiesthatdistinguishChristiansfrom‘outsiders’whileatthesametimestressingtheirobligationtothose‘outsiders’”(DavidJ.Bosch,
TransformingMission,p.119)
...InsteadWeShouldSeeOurWorkOfMissionasaParishTaskoftheWhole...TheEntireCommunityoftheParishBringingPeopleto
Christ...WhichProvokestheQuestion,“Ismyparishamission-alCommunity?”
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“WhenHecamebacktoCapernaum,itwasheardthatHewasbackhome.Andmanyweregatheredtogethersothattherewasnoroomnotevennearthedoor.AndHewasspeakingtheWordtothem.AndtheycamebringingtoHimaparalyticcarriedbyfourmen....Andwhentheyhadduganopeningintherooftheyletdownthepalletonwhichtheparalyticwaslying.AndJesusseeingtheirfaithsaidtotheparalytic,“Yoursinsareforgiven”(Mark2:1-5)
TheGreatCommissioninAlltheGospelsProvidesaCompleteViewofWaystheChurchasaCommunityFisheswithaNet...TheWhole
CommunityofBelievers...ParticularlyLuke/Acts...
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Luke/ActsPresentstheCommunityoftheIncarnationReachingtheCommunitiesAroundThem...PrimarilythroughtheCommunityActivityoftheMeal...
“Inapproximatelyone-fifthofthesentencesinLuke’sGospelandinActs,
mealsplayaconspicuousrole.”MarkusBarth,RediscoveringtheLord’s
Supper,p.71.
Thereare19mealsinLuke’sGospel,13ofwhichareuniquetohim...
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ThemealsinLuke’sGospelarecommunityoccasionsforhealingandhospitality(9:10-17;10:5-7),forfellowship,forcelebration(13:29),
forworshippingJesusandreceivingforgiveness(7:36-50)forproclamation(11:37-54)andforredemptionandthecelebrationof
redemption(15:6,9,23-24).ThebookconcludeswithanextraordinarymealattheendoftheEmmausRoadjourney...ItconnectsallthemealsoftheGospelwiththecentralityofthe
EucharistwheretheHostofGod,JesusChrist,isreceivedbyfaith...TheninunionwithChristtheChurchbecomesthelivingBodyofChristformedinHisImage...tohostitsownmealsamidstthecommunitiesoftheworld...Andthroughthesemealstobring
peopletotheTrueHost...JesusChrist
DoesOurParishHaveMealsWhereUnbelieversCanandDoCome?Oraretheyalwaysandonlymealsforthosewhoalreadybelieve?
MealsandhospitalityaccordingtoSt.LukeareprimarymeansforthepeopleofGodtoreachunbelievers:“InvariousculturesunderlyingtheNewTestament,diningwithsomeoneindicatedsolidaritywiththatperson.Toeatwithsomeoneistoindentifywithhim.Totakea
mealwithanotherwastoofferthatindividualtherighthandoffellowshipinthedeepestsenseoftheterm.Mealfellowship– whatanappropriateimagefor
Incarnational Christianity....ThethematicemphasisontablefellowshipfairlyexplodesinLuke’sGospel(sometimeslabeledastheGospelofHospitality)”
(RobertI.Kelley,MealswithJesus,p.123)
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AndsomealsareaprimaryactivityoftheBiblicalChurchrevealinghowmissionisacommunityeffort...Forittakesmore
thanonetohostacommunitymeal...Butcommunitymissionextendedfrommeals
toothercommunityactivitiesofthepeopleofGod...
Thisearlycommunity-mission-approachtotheGreatCommissionappearsintheconcernsofantagoniststo
Christianity...ThePaganEmperorofRome,Julian,inthe4th century...Complainsofthe“atheism”ofChristians
becausetheydonotworshipthepagangods...AndinhiscomplaintbelievingChristianitytobeasicknesshewritesadirectivetohisofficialinwhichhenoteshowtheChristians
reachunbelievers...
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“Wemustpayspecialattentiontothispoint,andbythemeanseffectacure.Forwhenitcameaboutthatthepoorwereneglectedanoverlookedbypaganpriests,thenIthinkthe
impiousGalileansobservedthisfactanddevotedthemselvestophilanthropy.Andtheyhavegainedascendencyintheworstoftheirdeedsthroughthecredittheywinforsuchpractices.Forjustasthosewhoenticechildrenwithacake,andthrowingittothemtwoorthreetimesinducethemtofollow...Bythesamemethod,Isay,theGalileansalsobeginwiththeirso-calledlove-feast,orhospitality,orserviceoftables– forhencetheycallitby
manynames– andtheresultisthattheyhaveledmanytoatheism”[i.e.Christianity](JohnDickson,TheBestKeptSecretof
ChristianMission,p.93)
“InthebookofActs,Jesus’missiontorestoretheworldasGodintendedittobeistransformedintothemissionofthecommunityof
Jesus’followers.ActstracesthelifeofthecommunityofJesus’followersastheSpiritformsthemintoagroupofpeoplewhoworkandusework-relatedpowerandwealth[forservicenotpower]differentlyfromtheworldaroundthem.Theworkbeginswiththecreationoftheuniquecommunitycalledthechurch.Lukebeginswiththecommunity,“whentheyhadcometogether,”andcontinueswiththemissionto“restorethekingdomtoIsrael”(Acts1:6).Toaccomplishthiswork,thecommunitymustfirstbeorientedtoitsvocationforthekingdomofGod,andthentoitsidentityasthekingdomofGod’switnessesindailylife.”Theology
ofWorkCommentaryVolume4:MatthewthroughActs
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ThereforeWeMayConcludeAbouttheConceptofMissionbytheCommunity...• MissionintheNewTestamentisnotaprogrambutacommunityoperation...Theremaybeprogramsbuttheyarenotthemission...Onlypartofit...
• JesusallowedpeopleintoHisIncarnational communityprimarilythroughmealsandhospitalitybeforetheybelieved...Somustwe...
• InActsthecommunityofthepeopleofGodtookthetablefellowshipofthecommunityintothecommunity...Becomingtheparochia (parishes)oftheancientGreco-Romanworld
• OurEnglishpredecessorscalled,theCelts,wereamodelof:belongingprecedingbelieving...
TheEarlyCelticModelofChristianityisthebackgroundofourownAnglicantradition
AccordingtoGeorgeC.Hunter’sinsightfulbook,TheCelticWayofEvangelism ...
HunterdescribesthisCelticApproachtoMissionastheUnbelieverbeingpermittedtobelongbeforebelieving...Notnecessarilyto
bebaptizedortocommunebeforebelievingbuttobelongwithinthecommunityinways...
Beforebelieving...
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WhoWereThoseCelts?
• ChristiansinearlyBritonwhoestablishedCelticMonasticCommunitiestodomissionascommunity
• Theyhada“missionaryecclesiology”(Hunter,p.47)
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HowDidtheCeltsDoIt?• Theyunderstoodevangelismandmissionascarriedoutbya“team”ortheparishasacommunity,asopposedtoa“LoneRanger”or“confrontationalevangelism”approach(Hunter,CelticWayofEvangelism,p.47)
• “Theimportanceoftheparishasateamisagroupofpeoplecanthinkandpraytogether.Theyinspireandencourageoneanother.Thesingleentrepreneuristooeasilypreytoselfdoubtandlossofvision”(JohnFinney,RecoveringthePast:CelticandRomanMission,p.67)
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Hunter’sResearchContrastsTheCelticVersusRomanModel
• Roman• Presentation• Decision• Fellowship• Thereforebelievingrequiredbeforebelonging
• Celtic• Fellowship• MinistryandConversations
• Belief,InvitationtoCommitment
• Thereforebelongingpermittedbeforebelieving
BelongingBeforeBelievingMeantTheCeltsAllowedtheWorldtoSeeTheHabitofTheirCommunityinaVarietyof
Ways...
• Theparishwasviewedasmonasticcommunitysentintotheworldtoreachtheworldwithitshabit
• Monasticmodelishabitus,oraformedlifeinChristincommunityaroundthethroneofGodinHolyCommunionandgoingintotheworldasacommunitywithahabittakesChristintotheworld
• WalkingwithChristisalifestyleorhabit.TheNewTestamentteachesthatfaithisnotonlyamomentarytrustinChristbutalifestyleinandwithHim:“...Itisnotjustanact,asinglechoice,orevenjustabeliefsystem;itis[also]ahabit”(MichaelFrost,SurprisetheWorld,NavigatorsPress,p.18)
• AhabitaccordingtotheFrenchphilosopher,PierreBourdieu:“societyatlargedevelopsacomplexseriesofnorms,andtendencies,thatguidethebehaviorandthinkingofitsmembers.Inotherwords,thepracticesandactionsthatasocietyendorsesinturnshapethewaymembersofthatsocietythink.Habitus isthewayasocietyhelpspeopletothink,feel,andactinde-terminantal ways,whichthenguidethem”(Frost,p.18)
• TheBookofCommonPrayerexpressesnotonlytheCelticbuttheBenedictinethreefoldruleofDailyOffice,MorningPrayer,PrivateDevotion
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“IfouronlyhabitsasChristiansaregoingtochurchandattendingmeetings,they’renotgoingtoconnectuswithunbelieversnorinvitetheircuriosityaboutourfaith.The
trickistodevelophabitsthatuniteustogetherasbelievers,whilealsopropellingusintothelivesofothers
[unbelievers]”(Frost,p.22)...
Alsoaparishwithahabitmustallowtheworldintothecommunitytoseethehabit...
MichaelFrostinhisSurprisetheWorld offersamodelofhabitandreleasingthehabitwiththeacronymBELLS...
BELLS:FiveCharacteristicsofMission-alPeopleandtheCelts...
• Bless:Blessingunbelieversbyactsofkindnessandgiving• Eatingwithunbelieversbygoingtoeatwiththemandbyallowingthem
tothepartiesandmealsofthechurch...EvenallowingthemtobeholdtheDivineMysteryofChrist’spresenceintheEucharist...Trusttheliturgy...
• ListeningtotheworldoftheSpiritandtheKingdomofGodinthemidstoftheunbelievers...GodusescreationtorevealHiswill(i.e.stormandprovidenceetc.)...AndtheirviewofHeavenasherenotupthere(i.e.theCelticKnott)...TalkingwithGodandthesaints
• Learningcommunitycatechizingandbeingcommunitiesofschoolsandknowledge(i.e.HowtheCeltsSavedtheWest)
• SendingthewholecommunitybyconstantlytryingtofigureoutwaystoinsertthecommunityoftheChurchintothecommunitiesoftheworldwithsmallgroups,chapels,missions,parishesandmonasteries
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RelevanceTodayoftheCelticCommunityApproach:
“InanempiricalstudyconductedbytheUnitedBibleSocietiesinGreatBritain...Aresearchteamreceived360
completedquestionnairesfromconverts,andtheyinterviewed151converts.These511convertsrepresentedtherangeofdenominationsinEngland....InFindingFaithToday:HowDoesItHappen?JohnFinneyreportsthatmostpeopleexperiencefaiththroughrelationships,thattheyencounterthegospelthroughacommunityoffaith,thatbecomingaChristianinvolvesaprocessthattakestime.Inhislaterbook,RecoveringthePast,Finneysummarizestheirchieffindinginfourwords.Formostpeople,‘belonging
comesbeforebelieving’”(cf.Hunter,p.54)
TheParish,Fishing-With-A-Net,TeamApproachToMissionandEvangelismMeans...AllowingBelongingBefore
Believing...InsertingtheHabitoftheCommunityofFaithIntotheMidstofUnbelieversbyBELLS...AndBalancingRightVersusRisk...ItCan’tAllBeRightBeforeWeRisk
ReachingOut...IfWe’llEverSuccessfulinREC100...ItwilltakeRisk...AndYesfailure...Andrisk...ThenSuccess
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ThereforeEachParishMustask,“Whatisourcommunity?”“Whatisourlifetogether?”“Howdowegatherasacommunityatothertimes
besidesSundays?”“Whatarethingsthatwedoasacommunitythatoutsiderscanparticipate
in?”“Wherearethemealsanddothoseoutsidecometoourmealsandparties?”
“WhatareactivitiesthatourcommunityparticipatesinthecommunitywithWordand
Deed?”“Areweacommunityinvitingtobelong?”
FishWithaNet...TheWholeCommunity
