Connecting the Dots
Retreating & Rising Emphases
in the church?
Can you help me think through something?
I’ve been taking notes on reading, preaching, and emails for about a year now.
I think I see some dots but I still can’t connect them all.
The dots don’t yet create a clear picture for me. Maybe you will help me out?
Here’s what I’ll do. I’m just going to type up my notes from a dozen or so 3x5 cards right here into a table.
Then I’ll invite you to look it over and comment. I’m wondering what you make of these dots?
.
|
Seems to be Retreating |
|
Seems to
be Rising |
|
Your big problem is sin and the solution is confession, repentance and forgiveness of your sins. |
1 |
Your big problem is lack of connectedness and the solution is linking with the community. |
|
Relief from guilt. |
2 |
Relief from loneliness. |
|
The |
3 |
Personal story & narrative |
|
Faith & hope |
4 |
Love & joy |
|
Cross |
5 |
Resurrection |
|
The forgiven life—all my sins are gone and I’m forgiven. |
6 |
The abundant life—the life I now live is the most fulfilling. |
|
Get saved |
7 |
Begin a journey |
|
Truth |
8 |
Relationship |
|
Winning the world |
9 |
Serving the world |
|
Proposition |
10 |
Experience |
|
Avoiding vices |
11 |
Practicing virtues. |
|
Gospel lighthouse. |
12 |
Serving community |
|
Talking |
13 |
Listening |
|
Preaching and teaching |
14 |
Worship and service |
|
Scolding the world for sin |
15 |
Scolding church for sin |
|
Separation from world |
16 |
Integration into world |
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Are these dots even appearing or have I missed this? If so, when you connect them what do you get?
Is this a healthy correction or a dangerous aberration? What other dots are missing?
So what do you think?
During the first few weeks click here to comment or read comments
Keith Drury