Growing God

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Growing Gods Mission

• September 2007

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As the world changes, the constant of Gods
purpose remains
Gods work to bring about the Reign
Reign of God
Church called to participate in Gods work
Church
The Changing World
Witness and engagement
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The old world
Normal people go to church
Normal people go to church
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In the old world the church is a building, a
pastor and enough laity to pay the bills
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Purpose in a world like this

• The world told us To be a respected and
  sustainable social organization that produces
  respectable and socially acceptable citizens.

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The new world
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The New Church
Life/ministry as witness and parable of the
kingdom
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Purpose in a world like this?
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As the world changes, the constant of Gods
purpose remains
Gods work to bring about the Reign
Reign of God
Church
Church called to participate in Gods work
Witness and engagement
The Changing World
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The Two Kingdoms

• Basic premise God uses everything and everyone
  to further Gods dream

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• In the kingdom of God, the Redeemer rules all
  regenerate believers through Christ and the
  gospel in personal faith and love. In the kingdom
  of men, the Creator rules all sinful but rational
  creatures through Caesar and the law in civil
  justice and order. As both Redeemer and Creator,
  God is at once the Lord of both kingdoms as both
  righteous and sinful, the Christian is at once a
  subject of both kingdoms. Hence for an
  evangelical theology of society, the two kingdoms
  must always be properly distinguished, but never
  separated in secularism or equated in
  clericalism.
• Luther, M. 1999, c1966. Luther's works, vol. 44
  The Christian in Society I (J. J. Pelikan, H. C.
  Oswald H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther's Works.
  Vol. 44 (Vol. 44). Fortress Press Philadelphia

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Leadership

• when someone assumes responsibility for
  transforming a reality
• Dave Frenchak

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• Where your hearts deepest longing meets the
  worlds deepest needs, there you will find your
  calling
• Albert Schweitzer

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What Do We Need to Help Vision Emerge?

• Clear Purpose and principles/values biblically
  based, prayerfully discerned, and communally
  owned these should be well articulated, easy to
  remember and useful in decision making. Always
  tied to Gods mission!!
• Contextual Engagement Vision is always tied to
  the transformation of what is into what God
  dreams for it to become and requires engagement
  with the world.
• Accountability changing behaviors is a process
  that takes time. Most people do not stay the
  course without accountable people/structures to
  help them!

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Discerning where to lead
Key question God, what are you about And who are
we as a result?
God in Christ
Tools Scripture, prayer, conversation
World
Key question God, what are you doing And what
are we to do as a result?
Tools Demographics, current events, relationships