Tuesday, October 11, 2005

evangelism as process part 2

On Sunday at Opawa I laid out my stall. I asked the question: what would a church committed to evangelism-as-process look like? I used the image of lounge and kitchen and offered about 5 concrete ideas that I thought could work out Opawa.

The sermon is here and is part two of a two-part series. (The first one is here)

Note some things:
The aim: to allow the Biblical stories (of Peter and Paul) to release missional imagination among the people of God.
Us not them: I wanted us to take seriously the issues in our community. I want the church to be a resource for people reaching their friends. I have been wondering if mission as radical discipleship, while a wonderful ideal, actually disempowers us from reaching the people in our networks and workplace. So I wanted to sow “us” ideas not “them” ideas.
Could not should: practical suggestions not finger waving guilt.
We not I: possibilities that would suggest people working together.
Grounded not pie-in-the-sky: and so on Sunday I brought with me a Further Reading Handout for those interested. I was delighted to see all 10 reading handouts disappear. As a concrete next step I am planning to hold an “evangelism as process” brainstorming time Saturday, 29th October, 4-5:30 pm in the church foyer.

Richard Peace’s book, Conversion in the New Testament, has been very helpful.

Posted by steve at 02:07 PM

4 Comments

  1. Sounds really good. The book looks a gem too.

    Comment by Paul Fromont — October 11, 2005 @ 3:32 pm

  2. Thanks again. You mention John Drane’s book in your notes at the end of the sermon. It might be helpful for people to know that the book was re-published under the title “Faith in a Changing Culture”.

    Comment by Graham Doel — October 11, 2005 @ 9:41 pm

  3. using stories… cool stuff steve.

    did you see winn is working on some similar stuff? http://www.godsepicadventure.com/story/ you 2 should bang brains

    peace

    Comment by erickeck — October 11, 2005 @ 11:39 pm

  4. Hi Steve.
    I have a question, though I’d understand if you didn’t want to address it in a comment string. But it is a serious question. Why do you think that mission as radical discipleship might actually disempower us from reaching the people in our networks and workplace? That is quite a wondering, not one I’ve come across before, and I’d be interested to understand more of your thoughts on that…

    Comment by Andrew Dowsett — October 13, 2005 @ 9:31 pm

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