Michael Harvey has presented 12 Steps to becoming an inviting church. Here is a summary:
1. Vision: An ungodly belief: “If they wanted to come they would come.” Change to: “If we invited them, many would come.”
2. Modelling: leaders should set an example.
3. Cascading: Use one on one invitation. One then invites another – personally not just a leaflet.
4. Gift of friendship: Make friendships outside of church. Take time to build friendships
Read more: The 12 Steps to becoming an inviting church 19 Aug 12
What do you do when the going gets tough? The cliché says that’s when the tough get going. But what do Christians do when the pressure mounts? When people oppose us, or attack us, or when things just seem plain difficult?
One thing they do is to pray. They call out to the God who saves. Ah, but what do they pray? A variety of things if we are to judge by the Psalms. Even “destroy my enemies!”. But Christians have a different model. Jesus prayed “forgive them”. Stephen, the first Christian killed for his faith, prayed, “Don’t hold this against them.” Christians are taught to let God take care of the justice side of things – they are not to take vengeance themselves.
But all of this is a bit self-focused (understandable if you’re being beaten up I suppose). The other thing disciples pray is for help and courage to keep on doing what God told them to do. And to ask God to keep on doing his part.
Read more: “What would you like me to pray for you?”. 12 Aug 12
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Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 5 August 2012
How different groups saw Jesus' action and message as brought by Peter and John
Are you a disciple – of Jesus that is? Have you ever been helped to be a disciple? I know a man who is a disciple of a famous guitarist. He has even travelled overseas to study with him. I know another person who is a disciple of a fine carpenter. He made sure he got an apprenticeship with him, and even though he has now passed out of his indentures he still learns from him. Another friend of mine is a disciple of a high level mathematical physicist, again she has followed her teacher overseas in order to benefit from his supervision of her PhD.
These are all disciples, even though we have different words to describe them. At least they are disciples in the biblical sense. Unfortunately in church language “disciple” has tended to mean merely a follower. Someone who follows Jesus around, watching and listening, yes, but mostly a spectator. A bit like the peloton in a bike race.
But disciples are not a fan club. They are not even supporters. They are apprentices. This implies five things at least.
Read more: Would you like to start an apprenticeship? 5 Aug 12
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Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 29 July 2012
What happened to the lame man; how it happened; and what it means.
Today we start reading the story of Jonah the reluctant prophet. Well, a bit more than reluctant, positively grumpy. Or was he afraid? As soon as he was told to go to Nineveh he got on a boat going in the opposite direction. Maybe he thought he wouldn’t get much of a hearing from them. Perhaps he thought he was being sent on a fool’s errand, like the apprentice looking for a left handed screw-driver – only more dangerous.
Or maybe he just didn’t like the Ninevites. Maybe he thought they deserved whatever was coming to them. After all they were hardly Israel’s favourite friends. A bad people, with bad religion and bad customs, that didn’t deserve any help or mercy – especially not from Israel’s God.
On Wednesday night Church Council brought to a conclusion our discussions and prayers over the last few months. They agreed that it is time to start two new congregations in place of the one at 9am.
On September 2 we will have a final Thanksgiving Service at 9am to give thanks for God’s work among us over the last 26 or so years, and to send out the two new congregations which will start on September 9 at 8.30am and 10.00am.
This seems like a radical and scary plan. And it is in a way. But perhaps this is in our genes, since the church plant that began at Leeming more than 30 years ago was a radical experiment in Christian community that gave birth to a number of strong churches, including Willetton.
I am grateful for the wonderful way in which we have handled this process. There was been goodwill, open and honest questions and expressions of opinion, and a general commitment to work together in harmony. Not all the differences of opinion have been resolved (maybe some never will be) but there has been a strong fellowship and unity.
Now the new work begins.
Read more: A new stage in God’s mission through Christ the King 22 July 12
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