emerging disciple-forming churches

What’s emerging?

choluteca river bridge after hurricane mitch, honduras, CA 1998

In your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect... 1 Peter 3:15-16

2500+ BC Prehistoric World

2500+ BC Prehistoric World

2500 BC - 500 AD Ancient World 1 AD 500 BC 500 AD Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian, Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman empires

2500 BC - 500 AD Ancient World 1 AD 500 BC 500 AD Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian, Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman empires

2500 BC - 500 AD Ancient World 1 AD 500 BC 500 AD Medieval World 500 AD - 1500 AD 1500 AD Printing/Gutenberg Caravel/Transport Guns/Infantry/Artillery New Economy Copernicus/Galileo Reformation/Luther

2500 BC - 500 AD Ancient World 1 AD 500 BC 500 AD Medieval World 500 AD - 1500 AD 1500 AD Printing/Gutenberg Caravel/Transport Guns/Infantry/Artillery Copernicus/Galileo Reformation/Luther

1500 AD - 2000 AD Modern World 1750 AD 1500 AD 2000 AD Postmodern World 1950 AD - ??? Medieval World Print/Screen/Internet New Science New Weapons New Transportation New Economy New Spirituality

1500 AD - 2000 AD Modern World 1750 AD 1500 AD 2000 AD Postmodern World 1950 AD - ??? Medieval World Print/Screen/Internet New Science New Weapons New Transportation New Economy New Spirituality

Some ways to think of the church that is emerging - As center a… a fringe a stage a n d a r a n g e.

a stage

Consider that we live in at least three worlds. Pre-modern world Non-modern world Modern world Emerging world NOW

Old Paradigm/ Model Early Transition Late Transition

Old Paradigm/ Model Early Transition Late Transition

Old Paradigm/ Model Early Transition Late Transition New Paradigm/ Model

Old Paradigm/ Model Early Transition Late Transition New Paradigm/ Model

The Churches We Know The Churches that are emerging The Churches of Tomorrow

The Churches We Know The Churches that are emerging The Churches of Tomorrow The Churches We Love and Respect

As center

Liturgical Charismatic Social Action Evangelical

a fringe

Is this “the emerging church?” A new “slice of the pie?” catholic Anglican baptist pentecostal

Or are these the churches that are emerging ? A new ring on the tree… catholic reformed baptist pentecostal

Or are both forms of the church that is emerging? How will they relate? catholic reformed baptist pentecostal

a r a n g e.

DEEP ECCLES IOLOGY Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic Anglo-Catholic Anglican Lutheran Presbyterian Methodist Baptist Pentecostal House, Cell, Storefront Micro, quantum, liquid, ghost, ephemeral, unconscious, etc .

DEEP ECCLES IOLOGY Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic Anglo-Catholic Anglican Lutheran Presbyterian Methodist Baptist Pentecostal House, Cell, Storefront Micro, quantum, liquid, ghost, ephemeral, unconscious, etc . NOTE: Protestant History - Downward Expansion Power becomes more widely distributed; control is increasingly limited.

DEEP ECCLES IOLOGY Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic Anglo-Catholic Anglican Lutheran Presbyterian Methodist Baptist Pentecostal House, Cell, Storefront Micro, quantum, liquid, ghost, ephemeral, unconscious, etc . QUESTION: What happens when various levels learn from one another? What happens when people inhabit various levels at once?

DEEP ECCLES IOLOGY EARLY HOUSE CHURCHES JESUS AND DISCIPLES … ITINERANT COMMUNITY NOTE: THE EARLY CHURCH BEGAN AT THE BOTTOM AND EXPANDED UPWARD OVER 3 CENTURIES …

DEEP ECCLES IOLOGY Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic Anglo-Catholic Anglican Lutheran Presbyterian Methodist Baptist Pentecostal House, Cell, Storefront Micro, quantum, liquid, ghost, ephemeral, unconscious, etc . PERHAPS GOD’S GOAL IS DIVERSIFICATION - NOT DIVISION NOT UNIFORMITY BUT FLEXIBILITY FOR MISSION

emergence and convergence

Modern Crisis Medieval church Conservative way Liberal way from Nancey Murphy, “Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism”

Modern Crisis Medieval church from Nancey Murphy, “Beyond Liberalism and Fundamentalism” “ evangelical” “ mainline”

Modern Crisis Medieval church Conservative way Liberal way Increasing Polarization

Modern Crisis Medieval church Conservative way Liberal way Increasing Polarization

Modern Crisis Medieval church Conservative way Liberal way Postmodern Interruption The Post-Liberal, Post-Evangelical Convergence

A Generous Orthodoxy? A Missional Church? Modern Crisis Conservative way Liberal way

Modern Crisis Conservative way Liberal way

What will happen?

What will you and I do?