Total Church

How is the first church in Jerusalemdifferent form your church?

“ ecclesiology assumes greater urgencyin times of renewal in the church as old

beliefs and structures are placedunder strain.”

Paul AvisPaul Avis

•fresh is a tolerable eccentricity on the edge

•everything happening now is totally wrong

Mission Shaped Church

1. ‘The Church is the fruit of God’s mission’

2.Mission shaped is expressed in the Trinity

3.Mission shaped means being Christ shaped

Incarnation

•human and divine•God the Son and Son of Mary•Jesus the eternal Son is shaped by the mission context

Other dynamics

•kingdom

•death and resurrection

Dying to liveDying to live

“ “ I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheatI tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheatfalls to the ground and dies, it remains onlyfalls to the ground and dies, it remains only

a single seed. But if it dies, it producesa single seed. But if it dies, it producesmany seeds.”many seeds.”

John 12; 23-4John 12; 23-4

““church planting is a process by which a seedchurch planting is a process by which a seedof the life and message of Jesus, embodiedof the life and message of Jesus, embodiedby a community of Christians is immersedby a community of Christians is immersedfor mission reasons in a particular culturalfor mission reasons in a particular cultural

or geographic context.or geographic context.The intended consequence is that it rootsThe intended consequence is that it rootsthere, coming to life as a new indigenousthere, coming to life as a new indigenousbody of Christian disciples well suited to body of Christian disciples well suited to

continue in mission.”continue in mission.”

MSC reportMSC report

Other dynamics

•kingdom

•death and resurrection

•work of the Holy Spirit

‘ An environment in which the Spirit givenpresence of God’s future may emerge

among the people of God.’

The relationship between Community and Mission

Telling the gospel creates communitybut community is the main factor

in telling the gospel.

Community in mission

“ These people who have being turningthe world upside down have come here also.”

“ interactions with others forms a pattern that impacts others who

are not directly involved.”

Prof Paul Fiddes

Questions for discussion?

•How is your churchshaped by its mission?

•What may need to die?

•Any questions

What is church ?

What are we trying to do?

“ church is what happens when people encounter the Risen Jesus

and commit themselves to sustainingand deepening that encounter intheir encounter with each other.”

Rowan Williams MSC p vii

Up

InOut

Of

Worship

CommunityMission

Connexion

One

Holy

Apostolic

Catholic

Questions for discussion?

•How are you doing in thesefour areas?

Fresh Expressions – of what?

WorshipWorship

Fresh expressions – of what?community actioncommunity action

Fresh Expressions - of what ? Of Mission/Evangelism

•can start at different places•need all 4 for maturity or is it church?•don’t wait for perfection•bigger than our imagination•gathered and dispersed•too restrictive

Questions for discussion?

• What is the main thingthat has struck you?

•What is the first thingyou need to do?

•What resources do you need?

•Any questions

A Missionary church 1.is focused on God the Trinity

2.is incarnational

3.is transformational

4.makes disciples

5.is relational

Alan Roxburgh’s Five Steps

• Awareness

• Understanding

• Evaluation

• Experimentation

• Commitment

The Missional Leader