This is my series I am starting in the lead up to Easter,
so excited about this one. Looking at some of the things Jesus said which changed the world as we head to Easter.
What do you reckon I am going to preach on Good Friday? Easter Sunday?
It seems Andrew Denton must have been reading my blog. Bono is too appear on Enough Rope tonight.
Will be great to hear an indepth interview on his life, faith and music.
Denton has a great team of researchers, and is also able to quickly take the interview down an intersting path.
Sorry to hear about the Edge’s sickness and the cancelled concerts over East.
Went to Riverview Church tonight with a couple of friends.
Some observations, interesting start to the service, very laid back, casual almost. Devotions and prayer to start, then a couple of worship songs before Mark gave the message. Preaching on Colossions, a good message on needing to have our foundations right, in a world of varying worldviews. Despite all the warnings (!) there was very little made of the offering, just a gentle reminder of the need to give to God, tastefully done.
Bit suprised at the lack of audience participation, particularly the singing, only people really getting into it were those nearer to the front. But maybe that is who Riverview is reaching, those not used to Church.
Overall a good experience, with some good lessons for me in my own circumstances.
Sorry that Phil wasn’t speaking, must go one night when he is on.
The pre season NAB Cup that is. Its not that important, really, (sigh).
Geelong were too strong in the last quarter, actually too quick.
“The Dockers’ final-quarter fadeout was disappointing, considering they were nearly at full strength. ” (Herald Sun)
What made it worse was that a good friend is a Geelong man, and was at church this morning (sigh sigh)
And also a 7 year old at church wore his Geelong jumper (sigh sigh sigh)
Roll on the real stuff.
Easter lunch should be interesting with the Baptist Pastor Tim Costello voicing a strong opinion about the whole AWB scandal.
“The chief executive of World Vision Australia says the AWB kickbacks scandal has ruined Australia’s international reputation. Tim Costello, the brother of federal Treasurer Peter Costello, has addressed a Baptist Church forum in Adelaide. Reverend Costello says the AWB affair means Australia can no longer take the moral high ground in calling for fairer world trade markets. “It was [Trade Minister] Mark Vaile arguing not just for Australians but arguing for poor Africans and Asians,” he said. “The tragedy of the AWB is we’ve thrown away that high moral ground and our voice now just looks as dirty and muddied and sullied as anybody else.
“I literally weep over that.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1588970.htm
Interesting comments on something which we probably thought we could get away with. I say we because we are Australians, and these people have represented themselves as Australians to the world, whether we like it or not.
“The most significant sociological phenomenon of the first half of the 20th century was the rise of the corporation. The most significant sociological phenomenon of the second half of the 20th century has been the development of the large pastoral church — of the mega-church. It is the only organization that is actually working in our society.” — Peter Drucker, as quoted by Rick Warren at the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life’s biannual Faith Angle conference on religion, politics and public life, May 23, 2005.
Okay, let me unpack something I have been thinking about for a while. I went to hear Steve Timmis from The Crowded House yesterday at a event Hamo put on. I went to hear him because I think he is an excellent bible communicator. He is, and I enjoyed greatly his biblical exegisis, stories and general teaching. It was great that Hamo and others could bring him over.
Steve was pushing that the small/house church way of doing something is the most effective missional approach. It is not. In fact it seems to me that Steve is benefiting from something we all know to be true. A church plant will experience the most growth in its first couple of years. Also a small group of authenticity is very attractive. These are not really biblical reasons so much as sociological ones, people are attracted to something new, people crave community. So what, mega churches know that too, which is why they emphasise small groups. Steve implied that small house church was better than more traditional church because people there actually cared for each other. Well…great. But a larger church can and many are, just as authentic. They care for each other through small groups as well.
In fact Rick Warren says this, “The small group structure is the structure of renewal in every facet of Christianity – including Catholicism.“
Church is not about this method being better than that method, it is about embracing what is effective for Christ.
It was exciting to hear how Steve and The Crowded House network of churches have led people to Christ.
However my personal belief is that a large, motivated, inspired and cared for community of people can do far far more to reach the community and have a significant impact, than a small struggling group of people. I might even argue that such house methods might be seen by a significant group of people as ‘weird’ or ‘cultish’. But you know what? I don’t care what method you use, and I think many of these emergent types are doing an effective and passionate ministry.
Its time for us to embrace the personality type, the gifting, the wiring God has given us, and allow others to do the same. And recognise that very often the reason we do things the way we do is because of these reasons.
Church is meant to be fun, seeing what others are doing for Christ is meant to be fun.
May we shout for joy when we hear of your
victory,flying banners to honor our God.
