Session 5 - Transitioning Historic Churches and Birthing New Faith Communities
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Transcript of Session 5 - Transitioning Historic Churches and Birthing New Faith Communities
TRANSITIONING HISTORIC CHURCHES AND BIRTHING NEW FAITH COMMUNITIES
Identifying new initiatives among historic denominations, new
church networks, and communities engaged in
incarnational urban mission
2
Distinguish between “change” and “transition”
Change is what happens to us from the outside and over which we usually have no control.
Transition is our inner response to the change we are experiencing and over which we do have some control.
3
The Change Process
Identify the stories and images with which people connect
Connect these images with the biblical narrative
Cultivate dialogue to interpret and apply these images
4
Move from Church Member to Jesus Follower
Christian commitment measured primarily in terms of loyalty to the institutional church
Faith has become individualized and privatized
Reductionistic gospel that meets our personal needs without challenging our priorities
Church needs to re-evangelize itself
5
The Gospel and Culture
The gospel judges each culture according to how compatible it is with the focus, values and goals of the kingdom of God.
The gospel also reveals the extent to which the church itself has become acculturated by accommodating to cultural aspirations that are contrary to the reign of God, thereby denying its prior allegiance.
Gospel
CultureChurch
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Five Megatrends
1. From Modernity to Postmodernity
2. From the Industrial Age to the Technological and Information Age
3. From The Christendom Era to The Post-Christendom Era
4. From Consumer Demand to Creative Participation
5. From Religious Identity to Spiritual Exploration
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What’s God Up To?
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3: “Fresh Expressions”
4: The Megachurch Factor
5: Urban Engagement
6: Resurgent Monasticism
7. Expanding Networks
8. Alternative Worship
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“Fresh Expressions
Church planting initiatives within traditional denominations
Bottom/Up rather than Top/Down Hierarchy response:
Permission giving Ownership and control
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Critical self evaluation Who are they attracting? How are they impacting their lives? What is the extent of their influence?
Their strategic importance Visibility and influence Educational and equipping centers Birthing and nurturing new faith communities
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The Megachurch Factor
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Urban Engagement
Incarnational witness Long term commitment Raising up indigenous leadership Multicultural challenge Social engagement Forging coalitions
With city hall, schools, social services, law enforcement, etc.
With other churches, specialized ministries and non-profit organizations
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What is a ‘Missional Community’?
Consists of followers of
Jesus who are seeking
together to be faithful in
their place and time
Ringwood, Melbourne
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Resurgent Monasticism
Grassroots ecumenism and prophetic witness
Incarnational ministries among the poor Renewal and reconciliation Mission order inspired by the ancient
Celtic model
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Expanding Networks
Independent church planting initiatives
Origins among the Jesus People and in the House Church Movement
Apostolic leadership Core groups of “tent-makers” with
bi-vocational leaders Multi-site churches Facilitating organizations
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Alternative Worship
Listening with discernment to the broader culture
From passive consumption to creative participation
Embracing the whole of life Ideas and resources
Home grown Shared
“Third space” hospitality The universal call to worship
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Worship in the Psalms
Embrace the whole of life Issue a universal call to worship
The Temple–a house of prayer for all nations
Worship is inseparably linked with witness
Worship separated from mission is in danger of lapsing into self-indulgence.
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