This document discusses 10 questions that are transforming Christian faith. The questions include: 1) What is the shape of the biblical narrative? 2) What is the Bible and how does it have authority? 3) Is God violent based on some biblical passages? 4) Who is Jesus and why does he matter? 5) Is the gospel a message of evacuation or transformation? 6) What do we do about the church? 7) Can issues of sexuality be addressed without division? 8) Can a more hopeful vision of the future be found? 9) How should other faiths be related to? 10) How can this quest be pursued in humility, love and peace? The document argues these questions can create new conversations and lead to transforming
13. From the place where
we are right
Flowers will never
grow
In the spring.
The place where we
are right
Is hard and trampled
Like a yard.
But doubts and loves
Dig up the world
Like a mole, a plow.
And a whisper will be
heard in the place
Where the ruined
House once stood.
Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai
14. What are the questions?
1. The narrative question: What is the shape of the
biblical narrative? Storyline, plotline?
2. The authority question: What is the Bible, and
what is it for? How does it have authority?
3. The God question: Is God violent? Why does
God seem so violent and genocidal in so many
bible passages?
15. 4. The Jesus Question: Who is Jesus, and
why does he matter?
5. The Gospel Question: What is the gospel
- a message of evacuation or
transformation? Exclusion or inclusion?
16. 6. The church question: What do we
do about the church?
7. The sex question: Can we deal
with issues of sexuality without
fighting and dividing?
8. The future question: Can we find a
more hopeful vision of the future?
17. 9. The pluralism question: How
should we relate to people of other
faiths?
10. The next step question: How can
we pursue this quest in humility,
love, and peace?
25. sdrawkcab gnidaer
Rick Warren, Billy Graham, Charles Finney, John Wesley (or Calvin), Luther,
Aquinas, Augustine, Paul, Jesus
reading forwards
Adam, Eve, Sarah, Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, John the Baptist, Mary, Jesus
35. LEGAL CONSTITUTION COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Uniformity Diversity
Preserve order Preserve diversity
keep agreements intact keep arguments alive
enforcement of conformity
encouragement to risk, imagine,
experiment
36. LEGAL CONSTITUTION COMMUNITY LIBRARY
Rules to live by Stories to live by
Submission Creativity
Analyze, interpret, enforce Enter, inhabit, practice
Intentional internal consistency Intentional internal tension
37. Stories in conversation ...
David, Goliath, and the Temple
Two Arks
Pharoah, Hagar, Solomon
Joshua, Jesus, and the Canaanites
38. Matthew 5:17 ff
Do not think that I have come to abolish
the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to
abolish but to fulfill them. I tell you the
truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not
the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a
pen, will by any means disappear from the
Law until everything is accomplished.
39. Anyone who breaks one of the least of
these commandments and teaches others to
do the same will be called least in the
kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices
and teaches these commands will be called
great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell
you that unless your righteousness
surpasses that of the Pharisees and the
teachers of the law, you will certainly not
enter the kingdom of heaven.
40. You have heard it was said to the people
long ago ... But I tell you ...
You have heard that it was said ... But I tell
you ...
It has been said ... but I tell you ...
41. You have heard that it was said, Love your
neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell
you, love your enemy and pray for those
who persecute you, that you may be
children of your Father in heaven. He
causes his sun to rise on the evil and the
good, and sends rain on the righteous and
the unrighteous....
Be perfect (mature, complete) therefore, as
your Father in heaven is perfect.
44. Luke 4 - Isaiah 61
18
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the
captives and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
19
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’
and the day of vengeance of our God.”
20
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back
to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes
of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
21
Then he began to say to them, ‘Today
this scripture has been fulfilled in your
hearing.’
46. Paul’s use of Psalm 18:41-49 and Deuteronomy 32:43 in Romans 15:8-10.
For I tell you that Christ has become a servant
of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the
promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles
may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I
will sing hymns to your name.” (Ps. 18:41–49).
Again, it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his
people. (Deut. 32:43)
47. Paul’s use of Psalm 18:41-49 and Deuteronomy 32:43 in Romans 15:8-10.
For I tell you that Christ has become a servant
of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the
promises made to the patriarchs so that the Gentiles
may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: “I
destroyed my foes. They cried for help, but there
was no one to save them—to the LORD, but he did
not answer…. He is the God who avenges me, who
puts the Gentiles under me…. Therefore I will
praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to
your name.” (Ps. 18:41–49).
Again, it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his
people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants;
he will take vengeance on his enemies and make
atonement for his land and people.” (Deut. 32:43)
49. Romans 9
Nor is that all; something similar happened to
Rebecca when she had conceived children by one
husband, our ancestor Isaac. 11
Even before they had
been born or had done anything good or bad (so that
God’s purpose of election might continue, 12
not by
works but by his call) she was told, ‘The elder shall
serve the younger.’ 13
As it is written,
‘I have loved Jacob,
but I have hated Esau.’
14 What then are we to say? Is there injustice on
God’s part? By no means! 15
For he says to Moses,
‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have
compassion.’
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55. He himself went on ahead of them, bowing himself to the
ground seven times, until he came near his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his
neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5
When Esau looked up and
saw the women and children, he said, ‘Who are these with you?’
Jacob said, ‘The children whom God has graciously given your
servant.’ 6
Then the maids drew near, they and their children,
and bowed down; 7
Leah likewise and her children drew near and
bowed down; and finally Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they
bowed down. 8
Esau said, ‘What do you mean by all this
company that I met?’ Jacob answered, ‘To find favour with my
lord.’ 9
But Esau said, ‘I have enough, my brother; keep what
you have for yourself.’ 10
Jacob said, ‘No, please; if I find favour
with you, then accept my present from my hand; for truly to see
your face is like seeing the face of God—since you have received
me with such favour. 11
Please accept my gift that is brought to
you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I
have everything I want.’ So he urged him, and he took it.
56. Romans 11
Just as you were once disobedient to God but have
now received mercy because of their disobedience,
31
so they have now been disobedient in order that, by
the mercy shown to you, they too may now*
receive
mercy. 32
For God has imprisoned all in disobedience
so that he may be merciful to all.
33 O the depth of the riches and wisdom and
knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his
judgements and how inscrutable his ways!
34
‘For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counsellor?’
35
‘Or who has given a gift to him,
to receive a gift in return?’
36
For from him and through him and to him are all
things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen.
57. He himself went on ahead of them, bowing himself to the
ground seven times, until he came near his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his
neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5
When Esau looked up and
saw the women and children, he said, ‘Who are these with you?’
Jacob said, ‘The children whom God has graciously given your
servant.’ 6
Then the maids drew near, they and their children,
and bowed down; 7
Leah likewise and her children drew near and
bowed down; and finally Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they
bowed down. 8
Esau said, ‘What do you mean by all this
company that I met?’ Jacob answered, ‘To find favour with my
lord.’ 9
But Esau said, ‘I have enough, my brother; keep what
you have for yourself.’ 10
Jacob said, ‘No, please; if I find favour
with you, then accept my present from my hand; for truly to see
your face is like seeing the face of God—since you have received
me with such favour. 11
Please accept my gift that is brought to
you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I
have everything I want.’ So he urged him, and he took it.
58.
59. A New Kind of Christianity:
ten questions that are transforming the faith
Text
60. What are the questions?
1. The narrative question: What is the shape of the
biblical narrative? Storyline, plotline?
2. The authority question: What is the Bible, and
what is it for? How does it have authority?
3. The God question: Is God violent? Why does
God seem so violent and genocidal in so many
bible passages?
61. 4. The Jesus Question: Who is Jesus, and
why does he matter?
5. The Gospel Question: What is the gospel
- a message of evacuation or
transformation? Exclusion or inclusion?
62. 6. The church question: What do we
do about the church?
7. The sex question: Can we deal
with issues of sexuality without
fighting and dividing?
8. The future question: Can we find a
more hopeful vision of the future?
63. 9. The pluralism question: How
should we relate to people of other
faiths?
10. The next step question: How can
we pursue this quest in humility,
love, and peace?
83. Fr. Vincent Donovan:
Do not leave others where
they are.
Do not bring them to where
you are, as beautiful as that
place might be.
Instead, go with them to a
new place neither you nor they
have ever been before.
84. A New Kind of Christianity:
ten questions that are transforming the faith
Text
85. a new kind of
christianity:
ten questions that
are transforming the
faith
86.
87. The Lord’s Prayer
1. O God, whose love
makes us one family …
2. May Your unspeakable
Name be revered.
88. 3. Now, here on earth
may Your ecosystem
come.
4. On earth as in
heaven may Your
dreams come true.
89. 5. Give us today our
bread for today.
4. Forgive us our
wrongs as we forgive.
90. 3. Lead us away from
the perilous trial.
2. Liberate us from the
evil.
91. 1.For the kingdom is
yours and yours alone.
2. The power is yours and
yours alone.
3.The glory is yours and
yours alone.
4.Now and forever, amen.
92. 5. Now, here on earth may your
commonwealth come.
4. Here on earth may your
dreams come true.
3. Hallelujah
2. Hallelujah
1. Amen.
93. something is trying to be born:
10 Questions Transforming Christian faith
Text
