April 12th was a long and full day. I processed and received a lot of information. By way of abbreviating I want to capture just some of my notes (not direct quotes) from the four workshop sessions I attended and where thoughts are continuing to unpack from. Here is the website http://www.missioalliance.org/ with speaker bios listed.
1- "The ways we talk about Kingdom/Gospel/Salvation that change the dynamic of the Church"
Presenting were Scot McKnight and David Fitch
SM:
God and Kingdom have become language of salvation but this is not what Jesus' language was.
First century defined gospel as the goodo news that Jesus was king. It was not about salvation.
We've designed the gospel as evangelism. New Testament evangelistic questions are defining who Jesus is but we now tack on the second questions of 'do you accept him' making it about salvation.
Salvation for Zechariah in Luke is a socio-salvation from the Roman opression.
DF:
Evangelical movement no longer speaks contextually.
Evangelical ideas work best in western cultures. Even then the ways we package the gospel actually distance us from the non believer when you first have to convince them they are sinners. We've lost the ability to speak the gospel into everyday life.
There is a lost sense of God's rule in our lives. (No grasp of value placed on what God's way is)
We need to teach people how to be present in the lives of people. We have lost the practice of proclaiming the gospel in our neighborhoods.
SM:
Evangelism in the New Testament is declaring, pronouncing, announcing something. It's not about finding God in the midst of the world.
When we are present with people and that is the focus, then the right words will come and meet us there.
2- "God's Mission at God's Speed"
Presenting were Tim Soerens and Christine Sine
I shared the blurb for this session on facebook that day- I was really looking forward to the topic about slowing down and being present/mindful.
CS:
The Hebrew view of a day began at dusk when you start the day with rest so when you get up you can ask what work has God already been up to. Our view is that the day begins when we begin, whatever time that is in the morning- and sometimes we ask what do you want me to do today God instead of reflecting on what God is already doing and where can we join the work in progress.
TS:
How are we being faithfully present? How are we always in the presence of listening? Where are we going to be responsible to a specific area of where God is working? Mministry begins first with listening.
A growing section of the church is looking at sustainability carving for this model of slowing down.
CS:
Weekly asking/reflecting: What am I grateful for? What am I struggling with? What bears the fingerprints of God? Takes four times a year to retreat. In staff meetings uses the Quaker discernment process as a model to think about reflective questions.
Recommendations from group q/a: Susan Cain TED talk, Parker Palmer 'A Hidden Wholeness'
3- "Reconciling Spirituality and Sexuality"
Presenting were Deb and Alan Hirsch
Al:
Lust when redeemed can be turned into passion for God.
CS Lewis' imagery in the Great Divorce is the lust lizard turned into a white stallion.
The love of beauty separated from the love of goodness is pornography. To overcome we do not need to ignore beauty but love goodness more.
Deb:
Three layers: Gender identity, social sexuality, genital sexuality.
In the community of the church, riich intimacy can be had in other ways that are non genital.
Further reading recommendations- James Nelson Theology of the Body, Stanley Grins Developing a theology of sexuality
4- "Embracing the Generosity of a Christian Pluralism"
Presenting were Gary Black and Amos Young
GB:
The logos gets freedom to incarnate in various forms. Jesus says I am the way but this is a reference to logos and is incarnated in more than just Jesus the Nazarene.
No one is in a position to say who makes the cut and who doesn't,
An all powerful God will focus on agape love and we do not make te call.
We do know A way through Jesus the Christ.
AY: Relational transformation is going to happen between neighbors of various faiths. We cannot incubate ourselves from being transformed also. This may also include intellectual transformation with our neighbors.
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