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Convergence 2015 mission 3

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Convergence 2015 mission 3

  1. 1. 1 welcome!
  2. 2. The Lord’s Prayer • O God, whose love makes us one family … 2. May Your unspeakable Name be revered.
  3. 3. 3. Now, here on earth may Your commonwealth come. 4. On earth as in heaven may Your will be done.
  4. 4. 5. Give us today our bread for today. 4. Forgive us our wrongs as we forgive.
  5. 5. 3. Lead us away from the perilous trial. 2. Liberate us from the evil.
  6. 6. 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.
  7. 7. 5. Now, here on earth may your commonwealth come. 4. Here on earth may your dreams come true. 3. Hallelujah 2. Hallelujah 1. Amen.
  8. 8. 1. Relationship-Building: Worst case scenario of our gathering is that we leave with a lot of new friends who share a common vision and heart. 2. Mutual Inspiration/Encouragement: We'll have three hours together each morning to ensure that all will leave with full tanks - with questions answered, with dreams confirmed, with plans solidified, with allies enlisted, sharing the joy of being seen and heard by one another. 3. Planning/Conspiring: How can our efforts be more wisely synergized? How can our many endeavors contribute to a sustainable, gently-powerful movement? 4. Rest/Reinvigoration/Fun: There will be plenty of time for walks on the beach, swimming, boating, fishing, walking, exploring while we're together. 5. Targeted Conversations: Each afternoon, you'll have the opportunity to pull together specific conversations about issues you think are important.
  9. 9. A story about a youth group …
  10. 10. Conventional View Emerging View The Human Situation: What is the story that we find ourselves in? God created the world as perfect, but because our primal ancestors, Adam and Eve, did not maintain the absolute perfection demanded by God, God has irrevocably determined that the entire universe and all it contains will be destroyed, and the souls of all human beings – except for those specifically exempted – will be forever punished for their imperfection in hell.1 God created the world as good, but human beings – as individuals, and as groups – have rebelled against God and filled the world with evil and injustice like a terrible disease. God wants to save humanity and heal it from its sickness, but humanity is hopelessly lost and confused, like sheep without a shepherd, wandering farther and farther into lostness and danger. Left to themselves, human beings will spiral downward in sickness and evil. Basic Questions: What questions did Jesus come to answer? Since everyone is doomed to hell, Jesus seeks to answer these questions: how can individuals be saved from eternal punishment in hell and instead go to heaven after they die? How can God help individuals be happy and successful until then? Since the human race is in such desperate trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this question: what must be done about the mess we’re in? The mess refers both to the general human condition and its specific outworking among his contemporaries: living under domination by the Roman empire, and divided into various competing sects. Jesus’ message: How did Jesus respond to the crisis? Jesus says, in essence, “If you want to be among those specifically qualified to escape being forever punished for your sins in hell, you must repent of your individual sins and believe that my Father punished me on the cross so He won’t have to punish you in hell. Only if you believe this will you go to heaven when everyone else is banished to hell.”2 This is the good news. Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and groups – including your own religious leaders - are leading you farther and farther astray. I have been sent by God with this good news – that God loves humanity, even in its lostness and sin. God graciously invites everyone and anyone to question and reject what they have been told and instead follow a new path. Trust me and become my disciple, and you will be transformed, and you will participate in the transformation of the world, which is possible, beginning right now.”3 This is the good news. 1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too, plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious. 2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
  11. 11. Conventional View Emerging View The Human Situation: What is the story that we find ourselves in? God created the world as perfect, but because our primal ancestors, Adam and Eve, did not maintain the absolute perfection demanded by God, God has irrevocably determined that the entire universe and all it contains will be destroyed, and the souls of all human beings – except for those specifically exempted – will be forever punished for their imperfection in hell.1 God created the world as good, but human beings – as individuals, and as groups – have rebelled against God and filled the world with evil and injustice like a terrible disease. God wants to save humanity and heal it from its sickness, but humanity is hopelessly lost and confused, like sheep without a shepherd, wandering farther and farther into lostness and danger. Left to themselves, human beings will spiral downward in sickness and evil. Basic Questions: What questions did Jesus come to answer? Since everyone is doomed to hell, Jesus seeks to answer these questions: how can individuals be saved from eternal punishment in hell and instead go to heaven after they die? How can God help individuals be happy and successful until then? Since the human race is in such desperate trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this question: what must be done about the mess we’re in? The mess refers both to the general human condition and its specific outworking among his contemporaries: living under domination by the Roman empire, and divided into various competing sects. Jesus’ message: How did Jesus respond to the crisis? Jesus says, in essence, “If you want to be among those specifically qualified to escape being forever punished for your sins in hell, you must repent of your individual sins and believe that my Father punished me on the cross so He won’t have to punish you in hell. Only if you believe this will you go to heaven when everyone else is banished to hell.”2 This is the good news. Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and groups – including your own religious leaders - are leading you farther and farther astray. I have been sent by God with this good news – that God loves humanity, even in its lostness and sin. God graciously invites everyone and anyone to question and reject what they have been told and instead follow a new path. Trust me and become my disciple, and you will be transformed, and you will participate in the transformation of the world, which is possible, beginning right now.”3 This is the good news. 1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too, plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious. 2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant 2 questions: From Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope What are the top global problems? What does the message of Jesus say to those problems?
  12. 12. Conventional View Emerging View The Human Situation: What is the story that we find ourselves in? God created the world as perfect, but because our primal ancestors, Adam and Eve, did not maintain the absolute perfection demanded by God, God has irrevocably determined that the entire universe and all it contains will be destroyed, and the souls of all human beings – except for those specifically exempted – will be forever punished for their imperfection in hell.1 God created the world as good, but human beings – as individuals, and as groups – have rebelled against God and filled the world with evil and injustice like a terrible disease. God wants to save humanity and heal it from its sickness, but humanity is hopelessly lost and confused, like sheep without a shepherd, wandering farther and farther into lostness and danger. Left to themselves, human beings will spiral downward in sickness and evil. Basic Questions: What questions did Jesus come to answer? Since everyone is doomed to hell, Jesus seeks to answer these questions: how can individuals be saved from eternal punishment in hell and instead go to heaven after they die? How can God help individuals be happy and successful until then? Since the human race is in such desperate trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this question: what must be done about the mess we’re in? The mess refers both to the general human condition and its specific outworking among his contemporaries: living under domination by the Roman empire, and divided into various competing sects. Jesus’ message: How did Jesus respond to the crisis? Jesus says, in essence, “If you want to be among those specifically qualified to escape being forever punished for your sins in hell, you must repent of your individual sins and believe that my Father punished me on the cross so He won’t have to punish you in hell. Only if you believe this will you go to heaven when everyone else is banished to hell.”2 This is the good news. Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and groups – including your own religious leaders - are leading you farther and farther astray. I have been sent by God with this good news – that God loves humanity, even in its lostness and sin. God graciously invites everyone and anyone to question and reject what they have been told and instead follow a new path. Trust me and become my disciple, and you will be transformed, and you will participate in the transformation of the world, which is possible, beginning right now.”3 This is the good news. 1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too, plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious. 2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant United Nations University: The State of the Future Top Fifteen Challenges: How can … 1. … sustainable development be achieved for all? 2. … everyone have sufficient clean water without conflict? 3. … population growth and resources be brought into balance? 4. … genuine democracy emerge from authoritarian regimes? 5. … policymaking be made more sensitive to global long- term perspectives? 6. … the global convergence of information and communications technologies work for everyone? 7. … ethical market economies be encouraged to help reduce the gap between rich and poor?
  13. 13. Conventional View Emerging View The Human Situation: What is the story that we find ourselves in? God created the world as perfect, but because our primal ancestors, Adam and Eve, did not maintain the absolute perfection demanded by God, God has irrevocably determined that the entire universe and all it contains will be destroyed, and the souls of all human beings – except for those specifically exempted – will be forever punished for their imperfection in hell.1 God created the world as good, but human beings – as individuals, and as groups – have rebelled against God and filled the world with evil and injustice like a terrible disease. God wants to save humanity and heal it from its sickness, but humanity is hopelessly lost and confused, like sheep without a shepherd, wandering farther and farther into lostness and danger. Left to themselves, human beings will spiral downward in sickness and evil. Basic Questions: What questions did Jesus come to answer? Since everyone is doomed to hell, Jesus seeks to answer these questions: how can individuals be saved from eternal punishment in hell and instead go to heaven after they die? How can God help individuals be happy and successful until then? Since the human race is in such desperate trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this question: what must be done about the mess we’re in? The mess refers both to the general human condition and its specific outworking among his contemporaries: living under domination by the Roman empire, and divided into various competing sects. Jesus’ message: How did Jesus respond to the crisis? Jesus says, in essence, “If you want to be among those specifically qualified to escape being forever punished for your sins in hell, you must repent of your individual sins and believe that my Father punished me on the cross so He won’t have to punish you in hell. Only if you believe this will you go to heaven when everyone else is banished to hell.”2 This is the good news. Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and groups – including your own religious leaders - are leading you farther and farther astray. I have been sent by God with this good news – that God loves humanity, even in its lostness and sin. God graciously invites everyone and anyone to question and reject what they have been told and instead follow a new path. Trust me and become my disciple, and you will be transformed, and you will participate in the transformation of the world, which is possible, beginning right now.”3 This is the good news. 1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too, plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious. 2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant 8. … the threat of new and reemerging diseases and immune micro-organisms be reduced? 9. … the capacity to decide be improved as the nature of work and institutions change? 10. … shared values and new security strategies reduce ethnic conflicts, terrorism, and the use of weapons of mass destruction? 11. … the changing status of women help improve the human condition? 12. … transnational organized crime networks be stopped from becoming more powerful and sophisticated global enterprises? 13. … growing energy demands be met safely and efficiently? 14. … scientific and technological breakthroughs be accelerated to improve the human condition? 15. … ethical considerations become more routinely incorporated into global decisions?
  14. 14. Conventional View Emerging View The Human Situation: What is the story that we find ourselves in? God created the world as perfect, but because our primal ancestors, Adam and Eve, did not maintain the absolute perfection demanded by God, God has irrevocably determined that the entire universe and all it contains will be destroyed, and the souls of all human beings – except for those specifically exempted – will be forever punished for their imperfection in hell.1 God created the world as good, but human beings – as individuals, and as groups – have rebelled against God and filled the world with evil and injustice like a terrible disease. God wants to save humanity and heal it from its sickness, but humanity is hopelessly lost and confused, like sheep without a shepherd, wandering farther and farther into lostness and danger. Left to themselves, human beings will spiral downward in sickness and evil. Basic Questions: What questions did Jesus come to answer? Since everyone is doomed to hell, Jesus seeks to answer these questions: how can individuals be saved from eternal punishment in hell and instead go to heaven after they die? How can God help individuals be happy and successful until then? Since the human race is in such desperate trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this question: what must be done about the mess we’re in? The mess refers both to the general human condition and its specific outworking among his contemporaries: living under domination by the Roman empire, and divided into various competing sects. Jesus’ message: How did Jesus respond to the crisis? Jesus says, in essence, “If you want to be among those specifically qualified to escape being forever punished for your sins in hell, you must repent of your individual sins and believe that my Father punished me on the cross so He won’t have to punish you in hell. Only if you believe this will you go to heaven when everyone else is banished to hell.”2 This is the good news. Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and groups – including your own religious leaders - are leading you farther and farther astray. I have been sent by God with this good news – that God loves humanity, even in its lostness and sin. God graciously invites everyone and anyone to question and reject what they have been told and instead follow a new path. Trust me and become my disciple, and you will be transformed, and you will participate in the transformation of the world, which is possible, beginning right now.”3 This is the good news. 1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too, plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious. 2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant 8 Millennium Development Goals: 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. 2. Achieve universal primary education. 3. Promote gender equality and empower women. 4. Reduce child mortality. 5. Improve maternal health. 6. Combat HIV/AIDs, malaria, and other diseases. 7. Ensure environmental sustainability. 8. Develop a global partnership for development
  15. 15. Conventional View Emerging View The Human Situation: What is the story that we find ourselves in? God created the world as perfect, but because our primal ancestors, Adam and Eve, did not maintain the absolute perfection demanded by God, God has irrevocably determined that the entire universe and all it contains will be destroyed, and the souls of all human beings – except for those specifically exempted – will be forever punished for their imperfection in hell.1 God created the world as good, but human beings – as individuals, and as groups – have rebelled against God and filled the world with evil and injustice like a terrible disease. God wants to save humanity and heal it from its sickness, but humanity is hopelessly lost and confused, like sheep without a shepherd, wandering farther and farther into lostness and danger. Left to themselves, human beings will spiral downward in sickness and evil. Basic Questions: What questions did Jesus come to answer? Since everyone is doomed to hell, Jesus seeks to answer these questions: how can individuals be saved from eternal punishment in hell and instead go to heaven after they die? How can God help individuals be happy and successful until then? Since the human race is in such desperate trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this question: what must be done about the mess we’re in? The mess refers both to the general human condition and its specific outworking among his contemporaries: living under domination by the Roman empire, and divided into various competing sects. Jesus’ message: How did Jesus respond to the crisis? Jesus says, in essence, “If you want to be among those specifically qualified to escape being forever punished for your sins in hell, you must repent of your individual sins and believe that my Father punished me on the cross so He won’t have to punish you in hell. Only if you believe this will you go to heaven when everyone else is banished to hell.”2 This is the good news. Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and groups – including your own religious leaders - are leading you farther and farther astray. I have been sent by God with this good news – that God loves humanity, even in its lostness and sin. God graciously invites everyone and anyone to question and reject what they have been told and instead follow a new path. Trust me and become my disciple, and you will be transformed, and you will participate in the transformation of the world, which is possible, beginning right now.”3 This is the good news. 1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too, plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious. 2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant Copenhagen Consensus Top 10 Global Problems 1. Hunger and malnutrition 2. Climate change 3. Conflicts 4. Financial Instability 5. Water and Sanitation 6. Subsidies and Trade Barriers 7. Population/Migration 8. Communicable Diseases 9. Education 10. Governance and Corruption
  16. 16. Conventional View Emerging View The Human Situation: What is the story that we find ourselves in? God created the world as perfect, but because our primal ancestors, Adam and Eve, did not maintain the absolute perfection demanded by God, God has irrevocably determined that the entire universe and all it contains will be destroyed, and the souls of all human beings – except for those specifically exempted – will be forever punished for their imperfection in hell.1 God created the world as good, but human beings – as individuals, and as groups – have rebelled against God and filled the world with evil and injustice like a terrible disease. God wants to save humanity and heal it from its sickness, but humanity is hopelessly lost and confused, like sheep without a shepherd, wandering farther and farther into lostness and danger. Left to themselves, human beings will spiral downward in sickness and evil. Basic Questions: What questions did Jesus come to answer? Since everyone is doomed to hell, Jesus seeks to answer these questions: how can individuals be saved from eternal punishment in hell and instead go to heaven after they die? How can God help individuals be happy and successful until then? Since the human race is in such desperate trouble, Jesus seeks to answer this question: what must be done about the mess we’re in? The mess refers both to the general human condition and its specific outworking among his contemporaries: living under domination by the Roman empire, and divided into various competing sects. Jesus’ message: How did Jesus respond to the crisis? Jesus says, in essence, “If you want to be among those specifically qualified to escape being forever punished for your sins in hell, you must repent of your individual sins and believe that my Father punished me on the cross so He won’t have to punish you in hell. Only if you believe this will you go to heaven when everyone else is banished to hell.”2 This is the good news. Jesus says, in essence, “Other people and groups – including your own religious leaders - are leading you farther and farther astray. I have been sent by God with this good news – that God loves humanity, even in its lostness and sin. God graciously invites everyone and anyone to question and reject what they have been told and instead follow a new path. Trust me and become my disciple, and you will be transformed, and you will participate in the transformation of the world, which is possible, beginning right now.”3 This is the good news. 1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too, plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious. 2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular Roman Catholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow its instructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant Rick Warren’s PEACE Plan 1. Plant churches to combat spiritual emptiness 2. Equip servant leaders to combat corrupt leadership 3. Assist the poor through humanitarian aid (poverty) 4. Care for the sick to combat disease 5. Educate the next generation to combat ignorance
  17. 17. spiritual emptiness corrupt leadership poverty disease ignorance hunger and malnutrition climate change conflicts Financial Instability Water/Sanitation subsidies/trade barriers population/ migration communicable diseases education governance/corruption hunger education gender inequality child mortality maternal health environmental sustainability ethnic conflicts terrorism weapons of mass destruction organized crime networks energy demands clean water population growth authoritarian regimes
  18. 18. spiritualemptinesscorrupt leadershippovertydisease ignorancehungerand malnutritionclimatechange conflictsFinancial InstabilityWater/Sanitation subsidies/tradebarriers population/migration communicablediseases education governance/corruption hungereducationgender inequalitychildmortality maternalhealth environmentalsustainability ethnicconflictsterrorism weaponsofmassdestruction organizedcrimenetworks energydemandscleanwater populationgrowth authoritarianregimes FOUR GLOBAL CRISES
  19. 19. Societal Machine Equity Security Prosperity Heat Solar Energy Resources Waste Good News (an alternative story) PLANET POVERTY PEACE RELIGION
  20. 20. Luke and Acts One ongoing story: Good News of Jesus and the Kingdom/Commonwealth of God
  21. 21. 16:11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
  22. 22. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.
  23. 23. 16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved."
  24. 24. 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
  25. 25. 19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice."
  26. 26. 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
  27. 27. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
  28. 28. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.
  29. 29. May 2010 Washington DC, USA 4.5 on richter scale (viewer discretion advsied)
  30. 30. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
  31. 31. 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
  32. 32. Saved = set free from the oppression, fear, and exploitation of an enslaving system.
  33. 33. The next morning - a sit-in followed by demands and negotiations and reconciliation.
  34. 34. The gospel of the kingdom of God engages with a colony of the empire of Caesar Begins with the marginal Rescues the vulnerable Infuriates the oppressors Loves the enemy Confronts injustice among the powerful Sings, prays, and gains participants
  35. 35. Internal spiritual formation in the way of Jesus ... is expressed through participation with the Spirit in the liberation of children, women, and men ... starting with the weakest and least and continuing to those in power.
  36. 36. reclaiming the “e-word” evangelism
  37. 37. Communities Families, individuals, and organizations linked to a common environment, collaborating for the common good.
  38. 38. Publics: Organizations which operate across many communities. Coca Cola, McDonald’s, Democratic/Republican Party, BP
  39. 39. Individuals People who live their lives in relation to communities and publics.
  40. 40. 46
  41. 41. Planet Poverty Peace Religion
  42. 42. Planet Poverty Peace Religion
  43. 43. Social Movements Organizations which make proposals or demands to communities and publics to make progress towards new gains.
  44. 44. It takes collective, non-institutional (or prophetic) power to bring change to communities/institutions/publics. You can’t change the center/inside/priestly without proposals and pressure from the margins/outside/prophetic.
  45. 45. The Personal Question What kind of personal spiritual formation keeps us alive and empowered for long-term, non-self-destructive engagement?
  46. 46. The Audience Question: To the churches? With the churches, to the world? To the churches and the world? 100 - 500 - 1000 - 10,000 churches joining with a message to their fellow churches and the world.
  47. 47. 55
  48. 48. 56
  49. 49. 57
  50. 50. 58
  51. 51. Philippians 2:1-11
  52. 52. If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete:
  53. 53. be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
  54. 54. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
  55. 55. Let this attitude be in us, The attitude of Jesus.
  56. 56. Christ being in the image of God ... Did not count equality with God Something to be grasped, But he emptied himself,
  57. 57. By taking the very nature of a servant, Being made in human form, And being found in human form, He humbled himself.
  58. 58. He became obedient to the point of death, Even death upon a cross. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place.
  59. 59. God gave him the highest name of all, So that at Jesus’ name All knees should bend/ All tongues confess/
  60. 60. That Jesus Christ is Lord/ To the glory of God the Father, ... Who works in us to desire And do God’s good pleasure.
  61. 61. Let this attitude be in us, The attitude of Jesus. Amen.
  62. 62. we need a theology of Communities, institutions and movements
  63. 63. 1. The Bible: In light of how the Bible has been abused in the past and present, we know that we need a new way of describing what the Bible is, how it reached its current form, how we should interpret and teach it (especially to children and youth), etc. 2. The Church: A vision of integral missional prompts us to challenge the church in many ways - moving beyond preoccupation with its own institutional maintenance towards forming Christ-like people who become a blessing to the larger community, and thus embody the message we proclaim.
  64. 64. 3. The Poor: The growing gap between rich and poor calls for a multi-faceted partnership that expresses compassion, seeks justice, confronts exploitation and marginalization, and creates opportunity, especially in a global economy. 4. The Planet: The environmental crisis must evoke from us proposals that will benefit the birds of the air, the flowers of the field, and the ecosystems that maintain them, so that followers of Christ will pioneer a new lifestyle and help create the regenerative economy the planet needs. 5. Pluralism: To love our neighbors in today’s world means to learn to appreciate our neighbors’ diverse religions. We must propose new ways of encountering the other that provide alternatives to both combative fundamentalism and combative atheism. 6. Peace: After two thousand years, it is time for the Christian faith to distinguish itself not just by advocating for war with less injustice, but by proclaiming an attainable ideal of peace, along with equipping Christians as practical peacemakers.
  65. 65. 7. Equality: Women and men, gay and straight, minority and majority, alien and native-born, unbeliever and believer, occupied and occupier, one percent and ninety-nine percent - our world is torn by divisions that put some in a position of of privilege and power, and others in a position of disadvantage and danger. Sadly, our churches are often laggards, not leaders, in confronting prejudice and standing for the dignity and equality of all people. 8. Families, Women, and Children: Families face multiple challenges today, including greed-based economies that corrode humane values, exploitive entertainment industries that undermine human dignity, and patriarchal religious systems that reward a crude form of masculinity. We must challenge churches to propose and embody family life that can overcome these challenges.
  66. 66. 9. Business/Economics: We must challenge business and economic leaders to create new forms of business that seek a triple bottom line - lasting social, environmental, and economic benefit, not just maximized short-term profit. In a world of rising population and increasing mechanization, we must also challenge business leaders to seek to maximize employment along with profit, and to discover new ways to reduce economic inequality by expanding opportunity. 10. Personal Dimensions: In what way must those who articulate demands like these make demands on themselves? And how can those demanding practices be sustainable and life-giving rather than burdensome and restrictive?

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