Comments on: Refocusing on Making Disciples http://makingdisciples.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/refocusing-on-making-disciples/ Making Disciples One Relationship at a Time Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:22:46 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: wchaney http://makingdisciples.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/refocusing-on-making-disciples/#comment-2216 wchaney Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:20:36 +0000 http://makingdisciples.wordpress.com/?p=323#comment-2216 Sally We can encourage churches to engage the culture if they have a healthy self esteem about themselves and they truly have the love and compassion for the stranger and outsider that is equivalent to their own self love. I have worked with churches that have given up on reaching new people for Christ. Almost always the church has more love for themselves than for others or they do not think of themselves as a church as the place other people would want to come without a compelling reason. They are usually correct. There are members of churches that only attend because their friends of many years will be there each Sunday. Churches must find the burning issue that they can address and translate that into a compelling reason for people with that issue to choose your church. Sally
We can encourage churches to engage the culture if they have a healthy self esteem about themselves and they truly have the love and compassion for the stranger and outsider that is equivalent to their own self love. I have worked with churches that have given up on reaching new people for Christ. Almost always the church has more love for themselves than for others or they do not think of themselves as a church as the place other people would want to come without a compelling reason. They are usually correct. There are members of churches that only attend because their friends of many years will be there each Sunday.

Churches must find the burning issue that they can address and translate that into a compelling reason for people with that issue to choose your church.

]]> By: wchaney http://makingdisciples.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/refocusing-on-making-disciples/#comment-2215 wchaney Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:12:52 +0000 http://makingdisciples.wordpress.com/?p=323#comment-2215 Jim I believe that we can engage the issues of the culture without adopting the cultures approach to handling the issues. This requires that the pastor and congregational leaders have a world view that is shaped by the scriptures. Redeeming the Biblical text for guiding principals and direction is first. We then apply the lessons from the Scripture to the culture through methods that they understand. As we do this we show the application of the Scriptural teaching and bring people into our worldview that is not shaped by secular influences. When we start with the culture and then bring in scripture we have a greater chance at proof texting and justifying sin that disguises itself as “pop culture” rather than teaching God’s plan for our lives. We engage the culture where there are needs to teach the way of the Lord. We also need to deal with the appearance and perception that the church is disconnected with the lives of everyday people. If we truly care about those who are not connected to our faith community we should be going to them instead of expecting them to come to us. Music preferences make a difference. Choose music that has the melody and style of the people are attempting to reach and re-write the words to be in sync with the theology of the church and the theme of the sermon. Use video clips in worship, fitness classes during the week, preschool services and soup kitchens to reach out but continually teach, live and share the love of Christ. This must be the motivation that overrides style, technique and activity. Jim
I believe that we can engage the issues of the culture without adopting the cultures approach to handling the issues. This requires that the pastor and congregational leaders have a world view that is shaped by the scriptures. Redeeming the Biblical text for guiding principals and direction is first. We then apply the lessons from the Scripture to the culture through methods that they understand. As we do this we show the application of the Scriptural teaching and bring people into our worldview that is not shaped by secular influences. When we start with the culture and then bring in scripture we have a greater chance at proof texting and justifying sin that disguises itself as “pop culture” rather than teaching God’s plan for our lives.

We engage the culture where there are needs to teach the way of the Lord. We also need to deal with the appearance and perception that the church is disconnected with the lives of everyday people. If we truly care about those who are not connected to our faith community we should be going to them instead of expecting them to come to us.

Music preferences make a difference. Choose music that has the melody and style of the people are attempting to reach and re-write the words to be in sync with the theology of the church and the theme of the sermon. Use video clips in worship, fitness classes during the week, preschool services and soup kitchens to reach out but continually teach, live and share the love of Christ. This must be the motivation that overrides style, technique and activity.

]]> By: Sally http://makingdisciples.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/refocusing-on-making-disciples/#comment-2214 Sally Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:43:17 +0000 http://makingdisciples.wordpress.com/?p=323#comment-2214 An excellent post, the only question I have is how do we encourage churches to be in touch with culture? An excellent post, the only question I have is how do we encourage churches to be in touch with culture?

]]> By: jimmorrow http://makingdisciples.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/refocusing-on-making-disciples/#comment-2213 jimmorrow Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:23:48 +0000 http://makingdisciples.wordpress.com/?p=323#comment-2213 Good post! What is the line between engaging the culture and becoming the culture? Good post! What is the line between engaging the culture and becoming the culture?

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