How to ReJesus Practically

Posted on January 21, 2009

Here is a helpful chart from Alan Hirsch’s ReJesus. It explains how we can ReJesus our churches practically. If you haven’t read the book or any of my reviews, Alan is calling us to imitate, know, and demonstrate Jesus as Lord in all of church and life. The Action Points jump-start thinking about how to do that through teaching, community, mission, worship, etc. If you have more practical thoughts, do share them in the comments.

What the Church Becomes

Action Points
1. A Christ-like community that reflects his character, life, and activity 1. By making an intentional corporate study of the Gospels to model our lives on the example of Jesus, preferring no lesser hero from our tradition
2. A holistic community that seeks to offer up all of life to the lordship of Jesus 2. By de-emphasizing Sunday and equipping all followers to hand over every sphere of their lives and every day of the week to Jesus
3. A peace-loving community that is considerate, submissive, merciful, fruitful, impartial, and sincere 3. By moving outward to serve others, knowing that community is forged by our collective commitment to a cause beyond ourselves
4. A worshiping community that exalts Jesus and declares his sovereignty 4. By understanding that worship includes singing but is never limited to it and involves a whole-of-life exaltation of Jesus
5. A devoted community that experiences intimacy with Jesus 5. By practicing the presence of Jesus in prayer, solitude, fasting, and missional action
6. A graced community that relies on the work of Jesus for salvation 6. By insisting continually that it is not by our own efforts that we are saved-that is, through a continual re-evangelization of believers
7. A holy community that seeks after the righteousness of Jesus 7. By learning and living the values of Jesus, as distinct from the piety of middle-class, good-manners conventionality
8. A healthy community that feeds on God’s Word and the ministry of his Spirit 8. By corporately devoting ourselves to the Scriptures and the exercise of the spiritual gifts

Gospel & Method

Posted on January 21, 2009

Resurgence is running the first in a series of articles I am writing on Gospel and Method. These articles are an expansion upon a few blog posts I wrote on Methods, Debate and the Gospel. In other words, there will be new material. Here is an excerpt:

The debate between attractional and organic is largely a debate over method. What method should we use when planting and leading churches? Do methods matter? Does the gospel allow for all kinds of methods, or does it prohibit some? Should we be more concerned with debating the gospel or our methods? This series of posts will try to answer some of these questions. What is the role of method in the gospel?

Read the rest.

How Would You Rate Your Community?

Posted on January 21, 2009

As I continue to read on community in the US, I’m struck by the steady decline of genuine human interaction beyond superficial familial, vocational, and patron-client relationships. Robert Putnam notes the decline of community in the United States stating that over the past 25 years, attendance at club meetings has fallen 58 percent, family dinners are down 33 percent, and having friends visit has fallen 45 percent. The last two figures are most disconcerting. People just don’t share meals much anymore, especially in their homes, a place where community has often flourished.

In Urban Tribes, Ethan Watters confesses that the “never-marrieds” (singles in 20s-30s) abandoned community in pursuit of vocation and avocation. Many of them critique the superficiality of our culture, form bonds with a small group of like-minded people, bemoan the breakdown of community, but don’t really do anything about it. Their bonds tend to be negative and inward, not positive and outwardly focused. In short, “a population defined by what we aren’t doing.”

Can you relate to any of this, positively or negatively? I’m curious what your experience of community is like? Where are you finding meaningful connections with other people? Are these relationships satisfying your hunger for community? What is lacking, if anything, and what is wonderful?