Church Actually: Rediscovering the brilliance of God's plan
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Church Actually is the theme of Spring Harvest 2012. Church attendance in the west has declined in recent years, but decline has been accompanied by growth in spiritual exploration, a desire for spirituality, faith, even Jesus - all without the church. Experience, history and the New Testament suggest this desire is ill-founded. It is through the church, the Bible suggests, that the Kingdom comes. How can we find a wider vision of the Kingdom and the church's role? Kelly explores four of the 'brilliant ideas' inherent in God's design of the church. God works through his people, and the church trains and equips; the church is Spirit-driven, and spiritual formation is central to God's mission; the church's task force transforms the world through acts of love and service; the church is the rainbow-clothed Bride of Christ, one global family, a reconciling model for the world.
An exploration of the challenges of 'being church' in the 21st century.
Contents
Acknowledgments 9
Introduction: God’s Brilliant Idea 11
God’s Brilliant Idea #1: “Shine Through Them!”
Assembly Lines 31
Prismatic People 38
The King’s Dome 43
Mission is a Mirror-Ball 50
Task #1: Illumination 54
Human Church 55
Fresh from the Factory 61
Your Call is Important to Us 67
Task #2: Vocation 73
God’s Brilliant Idea #2: “Give Them Power!”
Charismystic Community 77
Task #3: Formation 87
Discovering Fire 89
A Gift Economy 95
Honoured Architects 101
Task #4: Improvisation 106
God’s Brilliant Idea #3: “Help Them Love!”
Transformant Task Force 111
Task #5: Imagination 117
Rooted and Booted 119
Task #6: Imitation 124
Charlie Chaplin’s Cane 126
Meekonomics 132
God’s Brilliant Idea #4: “Make Them One!”
Metanational Movement 141
Task #7: Integration 148
The Church You Already Belong to 150
The Future that Already Holds You 156
Gauguin’s Angel 161
Task #8: Translation 164
After Athens 166
Epilogue: The Most Brilliant Idea Ever
I See a New City 173
Notes 185
Product Details
- Title : Church Actually: Rediscovering the brilliance of God's plan
- Author: Kelly, Gerard
- Publisher: Monarch Books
- Publication Date: 2013
- ISBN: 9780857212856