Key Quote: "People of this generation have a prior question of trust that must be addressed before we can have meaningful spiritual conversations with them." RR - Pg 66
Until we realize that step of rebuilding trust with people is key to communicating the gospel in an authentic and effective way we will be forever frustrated with our attempts to reach people consistently. If we think we can ignore the trust factor we will not be effective. The question then becomes, how do we rebuild the trust with them?
For one, we give up what RR calls the "Script". That means all the trite little questions and cliches that mean nothign to a post chrisitan culture. It means instead we get in tune with the prompting and leadership of the Holy Spirit and let Him be our guide as to what we need to say and when, if anything.
RR Goes on to talk about developing friendship itentionally by doing the things we love to do but doing them intentionally with non believers. For me, I love to shoot my bow and hunt. I need to use that interest as a bridge and start shooting at the archery shop and building friendships there based on a common interest. That gives me a platform to develop friends in a comfortable way and a way that gives me an instant connection with other guys.
So, do you have a hard time building friendships with non Christians because you don't know where to connect? Answer these two questions RR asks:
1. What do you love to do?
2. How could you do what you love with people who don't know Jesus yet?
Again, we have to get involved here. We can't wait for God to do for us what He has already asked us to do. While He is certainly in partnership with us in all our endeavors, we have to take some steps of faith and be intentional here.
If we all vote to accept the prescription Borden laid out for us we have to be willing to take some hard steps to follow that up. They are hard for me to. They call into question my priorities and how I spend my time. But the mission we are talking about is far greater than any other in existance in terms of value and impact. It's challenging but it's far beyond worth our time to accept and embrace the challenge.
More later....
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Chapter 3 - The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Wow! Read these words again carefully: "...likely the most strategic and transforming thing you could do as a leader is to help your church define, strategize, and implement a vision for corporate witness in your community." That is a powerful challenge but think about how liberating this is to you as an individual. Richardson is making the point in this section that it's not all up to just you to witness, win and disciple all on your own. It's the responsibility of the entire body of Christ at Covenant. You are called to be a vital part of that by identifying and using your spiritual gifts and actively participating in the mission.
The next few pages are dedicated to giving a list of general areas of spiritual giftedness. I want each of us to try and identify where we think we are gifted. If you have no idea, post that and let the others on this blog share with you what kind of giftedness they see in you.
When you and I get in sync with our giftedness and let the Holy Spirit express himself through us in that way, I think you will be amazed at how effectifve and satisfied you feel in moving people toward Jesus. It's not up to just you. We are in this together and God has added you to Covenant because you have a gift/gifts that will greatly help our corporate witness. Do what God has called and gifted you to do and God will do what only He can do...save people from sin through faith in Jesus. Cool stuff!
The next few pages are dedicated to giving a list of general areas of spiritual giftedness. I want each of us to try and identify where we think we are gifted. If you have no idea, post that and let the others on this blog share with you what kind of giftedness they see in you.
When you and I get in sync with our giftedness and let the Holy Spirit express himself through us in that way, I think you will be amazed at how effectifve and satisfied you feel in moving people toward Jesus. It's not up to just you. We are in this together and God has added you to Covenant because you have a gift/gifts that will greatly help our corporate witness. Do what God has called and gifted you to do and God will do what only He can do...save people from sin through faith in Jesus. Cool stuff!
Chapter 3 - The Witness of the Community
Richardson states on the bottom of page 50, "Most people will come to faith today in the context of a community. Belonging comes before believing." Community is not a place or a program. Community is the experience of belonging, being known and knowing others on a very personal level. The old model of evangelism effectively kept spiritual seekers at arms length until they accepted Christ inspite of the fact that Jesus himself never modeled that kind of approach. Instead Jesus often accepted the outcast and valued them before they believed. He did that with the blind, the lame, the shameful and the downright sinful. Over and over Jesus afforded people space to feel accepted in order to provide them the freedom to explore and believe subsequently.
There are a lot of reasons for the need to belong before we believe but basically it's because we no longer live in a culture where there is a common biblical understanding that ties our culuture together. People don't have any common spiritual thread of understanding or language that ties them together, speeding up the process of communicating the gospel. Today, we cannot afford to speak Christian ease with those who are not in a realtionship with God. It is probably not a good idea with those who are in that realtionship!
To deal with this, we have to let people establish a sense of belonging in our community of faith as they progress in their spiritual journey. Along the way we love them, answer their questions, share our experiences and invite them to take one step further down the road as we stay by their side in an authentic friendship.
Life Groups and Men's & Women's ministries are ideal for creating the kind of atomosphere where someone can belong and continue on a journey toward Christ. The larger congregation is ok but it is very likely they will remain annonymous and not experience belonging in that context.
This is a fundamental value / belief we, as leadership have to agree upon and uphold in our areas of responsibility if it is going to be a part of the culture at CBC. Let's let people belong before we require them to believe.
This doesn't mean they are alllowed to "join" the church. It means we accept them and lock arms with them before they believe so that they can believe. Remember, they need you. You and I are essential parts of this mission as we partner with God to reach them. He wants our hands and feet, He needs our ears and voice to manifest Jesus to people who are seeking.
I will post a second topic on the second half of chapter 3 where is deals with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
There are a lot of reasons for the need to belong before we believe but basically it's because we no longer live in a culture where there is a common biblical understanding that ties our culuture together. People don't have any common spiritual thread of understanding or language that ties them together, speeding up the process of communicating the gospel. Today, we cannot afford to speak Christian ease with those who are not in a realtionship with God. It is probably not a good idea with those who are in that realtionship!
To deal with this, we have to let people establish a sense of belonging in our community of faith as they progress in their spiritual journey. Along the way we love them, answer their questions, share our experiences and invite them to take one step further down the road as we stay by their side in an authentic friendship.
Life Groups and Men's & Women's ministries are ideal for creating the kind of atomosphere where someone can belong and continue on a journey toward Christ. The larger congregation is ok but it is very likely they will remain annonymous and not experience belonging in that context.
This is a fundamental value / belief we, as leadership have to agree upon and uphold in our areas of responsibility if it is going to be a part of the culture at CBC. Let's let people belong before we require them to believe.
This doesn't mean they are alllowed to "join" the church. It means we accept them and lock arms with them before they believe so that they can believe. Remember, they need you. You and I are essential parts of this mission as we partner with God to reach them. He wants our hands and feet, He needs our ears and voice to manifest Jesus to people who are seeking.
I will post a second topic on the second half of chapter 3 where is deals with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Friday, December 4, 2009
I have read Chapters 1-3.5. Don't take this to be negative because it is a great book but it
seems to me that RR hasn't asked the question to start this which I think is "why were we created"?
We were created to have a personal relationship with the Trinity. To go along with this we were created to have relationships with each other. Then the questions becomes why haven't we developed these relationships before and how do we do this now?
To me this is sort of where RR starts to explain this in chapters 1-3.5. We have the old model of evangelism which was not fully developed that I personally don't understand which has failed anyway. We have the new model which RR is developing which I believe to be correct. When you look at Blackaby's "Experiencing God" and Rick Warren's books, they seem to say most of these things. What RR is saying is that we have to become relational people to win folks to Christ. That's what Christ and all the apostles did. They went out and made friends and developed relationships.
RR is dead on when he starts with Lord of the Rings and the interaction between persons. Then he goes into where the people are. What he really points out is how bad the previous model was and how bad the church fails as a seemingly majority of the people believe in God they have just been turned off by the church in general. He was dead on with that one. Why were people so turned off by the church? His answers really make sense.
RR was quick to point out the different movies and how they have attracted people. Why?
If we really want to get to know people and properly do evangelism we have to understand where people really are. The movies that people go to is a clue. The bigger the success of a movie the bigger the clue.
To me the church has become very out of touch with the world and the people in it. We don't have to be of the world we just have to understand it and temporarily exist in it.
To me the church became too much like the picture American Gothic with the old man and woman. Who would want to be like that. I know I wouldn't.
Christ loved people and went out among them and was an authentic person who truely loved them. We should do likewise and I believe RR says this quite clearly.
RR is quite clear on what needs to be done and hopefully we will all get the message.
A simple thing like opening the church up to "Friday night at the movies" just for fun and to develop friendships that develop into relationships is a great place to start. Bring your own pop and a few cents to buy popcorn. With our poor ecconomy it could be a great hit. We develop the community and this seems to go along with what RR says on p. 27. "Belonging comes before believing. Evangelism is about helping people belong so that they can come to believe. So our communities need to be places where people can connect before they have to commit." With this we can attract persons from the neighborhood and other friends to come and join us. Would this not be part of what RR is describing? Relationships lead to discussions which are natural where we can share the Gospel and win people to relationships with Christ. How serious are we about this? Are willing to take the time and energy to do something simple like this?
Are we willing to do whatever is nessassary?
Isn't that where we started this?
seems to me that RR hasn't asked the question to start this which I think is "why were we created"?
We were created to have a personal relationship with the Trinity. To go along with this we were created to have relationships with each other. Then the questions becomes why haven't we developed these relationships before and how do we do this now?
To me this is sort of where RR starts to explain this in chapters 1-3.5. We have the old model of evangelism which was not fully developed that I personally don't understand which has failed anyway. We have the new model which RR is developing which I believe to be correct. When you look at Blackaby's "Experiencing God" and Rick Warren's books, they seem to say most of these things. What RR is saying is that we have to become relational people to win folks to Christ. That's what Christ and all the apostles did. They went out and made friends and developed relationships.
RR is dead on when he starts with Lord of the Rings and the interaction between persons. Then he goes into where the people are. What he really points out is how bad the previous model was and how bad the church fails as a seemingly majority of the people believe in God they have just been turned off by the church in general. He was dead on with that one. Why were people so turned off by the church? His answers really make sense.
RR was quick to point out the different movies and how they have attracted people. Why?
If we really want to get to know people and properly do evangelism we have to understand where people really are. The movies that people go to is a clue. The bigger the success of a movie the bigger the clue.
To me the church has become very out of touch with the world and the people in it. We don't have to be of the world we just have to understand it and temporarily exist in it.
To me the church became too much like the picture American Gothic with the old man and woman. Who would want to be like that. I know I wouldn't.
Christ loved people and went out among them and was an authentic person who truely loved them. We should do likewise and I believe RR says this quite clearly.
RR is quite clear on what needs to be done and hopefully we will all get the message.
A simple thing like opening the church up to "Friday night at the movies" just for fun and to develop friendships that develop into relationships is a great place to start. Bring your own pop and a few cents to buy popcorn. With our poor ecconomy it could be a great hit. We develop the community and this seems to go along with what RR says on p. 27. "Belonging comes before believing. Evangelism is about helping people belong so that they can come to believe. So our communities need to be places where people can connect before they have to commit." With this we can attract persons from the neighborhood and other friends to come and join us. Would this not be part of what RR is describing? Relationships lead to discussions which are natural where we can share the Gospel and win people to relationships with Christ. How serious are we about this? Are willing to take the time and energy to do something simple like this?
Are we willing to do whatever is nessassary?
Isn't that where we started this?
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Chapter 1
I loved Richardson's comparison of travel guides or spiritual mentors to the characters in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Not only did he develop that concept but he explained some of what I hadn't nailed down regarding the characters. His interpretation of Galadriel revealing the "temptation with which she struggles. She becomes vulnerable about her own soul's darkness. But she also shares her triumph." p.23 How many times when I share my weaknesses and struggles does God allow me to see the help and hope it brings to another struggling soul. It becomes clear when Sam speaks to his friend Mr. Frodo that we don't need to be eloquent but honest about the hope we have in our Savior, Jesus. That the "plan" we see is not the big plan and that it is alright if Christ choses to leave us in our struggle while His big "plan" is being accomplished. We will never be able to understand His ways, at least not in this life.
How about p.27 where the "what if" is that we rediscover the role and reality of the Holy Spirit. I love a mystery, looking for clues regarding where God is already at work is not only inspiring, it also makes sense! Don't we wish we always did that! :>) Henry Blackaby taught us to think this way many years ago.
And Richardson's points on community where he says, "Evangelism is about helping people belong so they can come to believe." Somewhere they "can connect before they commit". Weren't we all there once? p. 27 This is right on good-stuff.
I really related to the comment about that "we are at different points along the way". p.29 I recall when I was a new believer that my spiritual mentors talked about that very fact. Obviously, I, a new believer was not where my new friends and mentors were in my Biblical knowledge or faith but that didn't change my standing with Christ or theirs. We were now on the same path but at different distances from where we each began.
Isn't it exciting to know that as we each continue to develop our relationship with the Holy Spirit, our trust in Him will grow and our experience with Him teaching and leading us will become clearer and as He promises He will direct our paths to who God has for us to share ourselves with authentically.
How about p.27 where the "what if" is that we rediscover the role and reality of the Holy Spirit. I love a mystery, looking for clues regarding where God is already at work is not only inspiring, it also makes sense! Don't we wish we always did that! :>) Henry Blackaby taught us to think this way many years ago.
And Richardson's points on community where he says, "Evangelism is about helping people belong so they can come to believe." Somewhere they "can connect before they commit". Weren't we all there once? p. 27 This is right on good-stuff.
I really related to the comment about that "we are at different points along the way". p.29 I recall when I was a new believer that my spiritual mentors talked about that very fact. Obviously, I, a new believer was not where my new friends and mentors were in my Biblical knowledge or faith but that didn't change my standing with Christ or theirs. We were now on the same path but at different distances from where we each began.
Isn't it exciting to know that as we each continue to develop our relationship with the Holy Spirit, our trust in Him will grow and our experience with Him teaching and leading us will become clearer and as He promises He will direct our paths to who God has for us to share ourselves with authentically.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Chapter 2 - The Role of the Holy Spirit in Evangelism
Richardson states on the bottom of page 32 "Nothing would transform our pictures and practices of evangelism like rediscovering the role of the Holy Spirit and learning to go along for the ride." To, me that sums up this chapter very well. Evagelism or proclaiming the Good News is an intensely spiritual endeavor and for me I have, in the past, made it more of a duty that is done whenever I felt enough guilt to prompt me to action. In this chapter we are being challenged to stay in sync with the movement and prompting of the Holy Spirit. Thus we respond to His leadership and follow him into a conversation instead of barging into a persons life not knowing whether or not God was working in their life or not. Recognizing that God is truly at work in other people is powerful and exciting. I feel a freedom knowing that I can trust the Spirit to lead me in sharing my faith or helping move others toward Christ instead of me having to discover that by trial and error. Question: Richardson states on page 34 near the bottom of the page, "But I do not believe Jesus did all those miracles and knew all those things because He was God." He says on the top of the next page, "The key is not that Jesus is divine but that Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit." What do you think he is saying here? Is this a statement about the diety of Christ or is it a statement about empowering presence of the Holy Spirit? If it is the latter, how can that impact us as we seek to Reimagine evangelism in 2010? If it is a statement about His diety, how do you interpret that?
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