Worship: Anointing with oil and Sending Forth
When is the right time to develop leaders?
Recommend a Book: Leadership Jazz---book
What do I think leadership is in my context?
What is my definition of leadership?
“Leadership is the process of aligning abilities of all areas to produce a common desired result of influence.” Influence!
Ephesians 4:11-13
New International Version (NIV)
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Leadership is embedded in my community.
Equip, prepare, order, confirm are all descriptions of the action involved with leadership
Book recommendation: The Jesus Way by Eugene Peterson
[4] “Jesus as the truth gets far more attention than Jesus as the way.”
[:1]
In what ways do you experience our culture as impersonal as opposed to personal?
[:22] to follow Jesus means that we can’t separate what Jesus is saying from what Jesus is doing and the way he is doing it.
[:30] the devil is content to leave the matter of ends…uncontested. His tempting is devoted exclusively to ways…
What are the implications to my ministry?
Book recommendation: Deep Mentoring by Randy Reese
So what? What does this program mean to me?
I believe that God has spoken to me through this week in a way of better understanding the need I have in adapting to various changes that constantly pass through my ministry and helped me to focus my leadership skills in ways to clarity and resolve. A theology of exploration is a way of viewing the BIGNESS of God with no limitations and to inspire new leadership to think through visional eyes and be strong enough to overcome diversity and recognize fruitfulness.
H healing by the Holy Spirit
O obedience to Jesus, living in the midst of God
P presence
E equals hope in the mission of God, Missio Dei
Class Book Review: Exiles by Michael Frost
Hold fast to most dangerous hope filled stories and memories
Exodus: God sets the Israelites free from Egypt, a seditious story
-Gospel stories of Jesus…..dangerous memories
Church: smallboatbigsea in Manly, Australia
Thesis is that in post-Christendom, the biblical metaphor most applicable is that of the exile:
Chapters: dangerous memories, dangerous promises, dangerous criticisms, dangerous songs
Memories:
[:10] recollections of the promises made by Jesus and his daring agenda for human society.
Promises:
We will: Be authentic, serve a cause greater than ourselves, create missional community, be generous and practice hospitality, will work righteously.
Criticisms:
Exiles must practice critical distance from their context. [:18]
Religious critique
Political critique
You have been an unjust empire!
You have not cared for God’s creation!
You have not protected God’s children!
Songs: What does corporate worship look like?
Communal: everyone is involved
Contextual: it has been a style that naturally reflects the lifestyles, rhythms and interest of the surrounding culture.
Ambient: multi-sensory, uses visual art, music that sets the mood
Ritualized: ancient, rituals, labyrinths
Spirit-filled singing: songs that are God, not self, directed
Worship is bigger than corporate singing; it is a life that pleases God.
The whole of our lives can be God-glorifying
Learning Task
What is one area of your ministry where you are functioning under the Christendom paradigm?
What is one thing that you could change about your current ministry context to make it more in line with the exile paradigm?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Whenever there are 16 people from throughout the world gathered together within the same framework and context of ministry, you know that God is involved in what you are doing.
Most likely, I will never see these same Christian brothers and sisters again on this side of heaven; but rest assured we will have a grand reunion on that side of heaven. As we individually drifted away from our time together, many tears of joy and sadness streamed from my face and heart. They have been on the journey with me for over 18 months and we have bonded and contemplated the same mysteries of the Gospel. In life, we all have our assignment in one way or another from God. Most of us recognize it, some ignore and others are stranded in self-denial. I blessed each brother and sister in Christ to go their separate way to do their separate calling from God. My heart is sad, but my spirit is rejoicing that I have been called to be a part of something eternal. I am blessed by being with them.
Those that have followed me along my path these two weeks, I hope that you will make contact with me and share some of your contexts of ministry and devotion to God. I look forward to hearing from you. ben@livinghope4etexas.com
See you on the journey,
Brother Ben
Rev. Ben Bright is the Logistics & Administration Pastor for LHF.
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