Comments on: The Micro-Shift That Could Be a Gear Changer for Your Church

By: Arthur Ramsey

Arthur Ramsey — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 23:03:15 +0000

In reply to Stojan Ninkovic. Exactly, nailed it also John 17 that we will understand we are now one with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The church is God's habitation Ephesians chapter 3, and it's all about His glory filling believers . His goal and will for our life is knowing his high, wide, deep that glory is in fact with us now.

By: Olive Fleming Drane

Olive Fleming Drane — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 10:56:38 +0000

It’s now 11.30am in Scotland & John & I are still discussing this with great enthusiasm — a connection we made during our morning reading from Hosea!
I’m going to dig out Van Engen’s writings again to reflect more & inspired by Veli-Matti’s reversal! Resonates with how Steve Croft (now Bishop of Oxford) was similarly inspired in envisioning Fresh Expressions of Church. Sits well with reversing ‘believe/behave//belong’
The practice of letting Scripture shape the way we live as much as the way we think has for me been profoundly shaped by working with Raymond Fung *author of The Isaiah Vision) as well as the guys who’ve inspired you – and right now I’m thanking God our paths have crossed again because this piece today is a rich feast Mike.
Shalom
Olive

By: Stu

Stu — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 07:33:57 +0000

I really love this Mike: it grounds orthodoxy in praxis that stems from the apostolic commission to ‘Go…’ (Matt 28)

On a personal level, it really challenged me this morning in a couple of ways that reminded me I am part of incarnating these facets of being part of the Church. So, thank you

By: Stojan Ninkovic

Stojan Ninkovic — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 03:21:04 +0000

Doesn’t it all hang on that big IF?
If you abide in Me you will bring forth fruit, then more fruit then much fruit. John 14.
My Father is the vine keeper and He prunes you to make you fruitful. (My paraphrase).
Its a fact that God is never more closer to the branches than when He’s pruning them.
There’s organic growth simply by abiding in the true Vine. The only violent part of it is the pruning.
Its interesting that joy and sacrifice are intertwined throughout Scripture. Phillipians comes to mind as Paul is chained between 2 soldiers awaiting his imminent execution and writes whether by life or by death I just want Jesus to be glorified. You cant kill a guy who’s already died to himself.

By: Barbara Bjelland

Barbara Bjelland — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 01:35:19 +0000

Great post–thanks! I think of proclaiming in terms of inviting others to the great wedding feast. Some holy clothing is required. In the meantime, we share physical bread as well as Living Bread, and care for all Creation.

By: Michael Frost

Michael Frost — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 01:00:46 +0000

In reply to Rebekah Robinson.

I hear what you’re saying, Rebekah, and I had anticipated someone might respond like this. I know terms like ‘accountable’ and ‘answerable’ conjure unhelpful images for a lot of people. I certainly didn’t mean that it should look like a tribunal or that people get excommunicated if they fall short. Rather, I saw it in the context of intentional pastoral care. My pastors or home group leaders should enquire of me at some stage how I’m living out the things listed, instead of just asking, ‘How are doing?’ Why do I only talk to my pastor when I have a problem instead of talking to her about how to be more unifying or sanctifying etc?
I have several friends who have drawn enormous strength and comfort from their 12-Step groups. These groups hold their members accountable in the context of supreme grace. We could learn a thing or two from them.

By: Rebekah Robinson

Rebekah Robinson — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 00:41:30 +0000

Looking at your final thoughts, I think a lot depends on what we mean by ‘answerable’ and ‘require’. There is a chance it could produce the beatific situation described, but it is equally likely to produce anxious, bondage-ridden KPI-strivers. Forgive me if I sound argumentative; in my head I’m speaking in a gentle, interested voice, if it helps, and coming from a background of spiritual abuse survival. I still hold a vague notion that in a ‘missional’ church there is facility for seekers/incumbents to belong before they behave. Not sure if by ‘members’ you mean ‘voters’ or ‘regular adherents’.
How about instead of ‘answerable’ we tried ‘aspirational’, and instead of ‘require’ (which suggests you could be kicked out of your church for failing to hit a too-high Jesussy benchmark set by … whom?) we could try ‘encourage’? I realise this would not produce as large a shift as might be desired. But I am concerned about, well, people like me, who love Jesus and people passionately, can’t seem to produce a nice, straight, upward vector. More like a tangly piece of string, but God’s with me in my mess and calls it Art. And my ‘worst case scenario’ brain can’t help but worry that it could all end, especially in some churches, with a monthly meeting where you have to give an account for your growth before a tribunal of some sort … you get the picture! It’s a silly extreme, but you can see how it could arise; whereas gentle accountability happens in friendships and connect groups which foster growth by acceptance, example, and good teaching in an environment where vulnerability isn’t a liability. I like to say that magic happens on Sunday mornings but discipleship happens on Tuesday nights. Just some thoughts to add to the discussion. Love your work.

By: James McAulay

James McAulay — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 23:47:02 +0000

I am not a theologian, or even an ordained minister. I am a lay non-conformist Christian, a Baptist by conviction, Scottish by birth but I have live lived for nearly forty years in England. Scottish church traditions are very different to those of England and both are very different to those of USA.. Unusually, I read Christianity Today by subscription. I am a retired family doctor. I am sympathetic to other theological convictions and a supporter of the Christian Church Worldwide, in all its various forms.