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61 – 4 UK. ‘Emerging Conversation’ Cliff College 29 September 2011. What do we mean by emerging conversation? 3 way conversation with Culture Scripture Christian Heritage. What is 61-4?. Re-imagining Re-Commitment. Re-imagined. Isaiah 61:4
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61 – 4 UK ‘Emerging Conversation’ Cliff College 29 September 2011
What do we mean by • emerging conversation? • 3 way conversation with • Culture • Scripture • Christian Heritage
What is 61-4? Re-imagining Re-Commitment
Re-imagined Isaiah 61:4 ‘rebuild the ancient ruins, restore the places long devastated, and renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.’
Re-imagined Jeremiah 29:11 ‘for I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’
Re-imagined ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.’ A. Einstein 61-4 vision: We believe that the Bible re-imagines something different for our neighbourhoods.
about re-imagining church ‘We don’t need to re-invent church but we do need to re-imagine it.’ Chick Yuill ‘The church is the only organisation that exists primarily for the benefit of non members.’ George Carey ‘Church is not about theories or clever models, it is about people relating to God and each other.’ Re-source ‘The church has little to offer the world until it learns to throw better parties.’ Tom Sine
Re-Commitment The forgotten 5% Incarnational living Transformational experiences Building Community
Current Communities: Aston, Birmingham Beeston, Leeds East End Park, Leeds Fitton Hill, Oldham Gibbonsdown, Barry Granton, Edinburgh Holmewood, Bradford Meadows, Nottingham
New communities planned for: 2 in London Kirkby in Ashfield Research and feasibility in: Chatham Manchester Glasgow Aberdeen
Conversation with Culture Incarnational – ‘I come into your world’ ‘The Missional church is incarnational not attractional, in its ecclesiology. By incarnational we mean it does not create sanctified spaces into which unbelievers must come to encounter the Gospel. Rather, the missional church disassembles itself and seeps into the cracks and crevices of a society in order to be Christ to those who do not yet know him.’ (Frost and Hirsch)
Conversation with Culture Incarnational – ‘I come into your world’ Balancing – incultural and counter cultural
Conversation with Scripture What does it mean to be an authentic disciple here? Jesus at the Centre Christology informing Missiology and Ecclesiology Christian Doctrine – the non-negotiables of faith
Conversation with Christian Heritage Between traditional and innovative mission Questions of identity New engagement Criteria How emerging conversation interacts with mission in wider church thinking
Emerging Conversation‘Did not our hears burn within us as he talked with us along the road?’
Luke 24:13-26 is Luke 24 a three-way emerging conversation? about how God does mission in the world about discipleship
Discipleship Being in Community Being learners Being employed in God’s mission in the world
Discipleship Removing thresholds A discipleship agenda changes the dynamic of the nature of church
Principles of Fresh Expressions Worship for people who do not connect with traditional church Strong emphasis on making disciples Adult faith Call to build community and bless those you are called to serve Potential to become ‘full-blooded church’
Principles from the holiness tradition Emphasis on holiness of life Sacramental life theology Church experience is a catalyst for mission
Transformed livestransforming their communities Jesus’ life and work made the gulf between a holy God and sinful men seem more impassible than ever. And yet men found that, in spite of his knowledge of their darkened hearts and stained imaginations, he was willing to keep them company and to allow his friendship to be the bridge that would carry them over into new ways of clean and honest living (my italics)…in Jesus, God’s love is most fully and perfectly realised. General John Coutts:
Does a discipleship agenda work?YES !Examples are FEIG and 61-4
Conclusion Linear priorities: CHRISTOLOGY MISSIOLOGY ECCLESIOLOGY Making disciples God’s Mission in Expression of the World ‘Church’ Conversation cycle: Scripture Culture Christian Heritage