Refocusing a Congreation
Recently I was elected to the post of a new church. In the years that I have been serving congregations, Imust admit that all of the congregations were onese needing a refocus on the definitation of who there are today in the world. In ministry talk, this is church redevelopment. I have worked among these groups of faithful people wanting to help bring new directions and light to a path, but they did ot bring me to the congregation for this particular role, that is except when I was asked to be the Interim Pastor of a congregation. In this call, I have been specificly asked to accomplish redevlopment among the group. I am looking forward to the work we can accomplish in God's desire.Instructions to the Disciples
In the book of Acts, Jesus instructs the remaining disciples to remain in Jerusalem till the coming of the gift of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Holy Spirit would empower the disciples to be witnesses of the work of Jesus." But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8As I have studied this passage over the years and studing Missional Theology, the realms that Jesus tells His disciples to witness towards is words for us to follow in our work.
The End of a Matrix
In the time of Christendom (a period in history when the church was the primary authority in society), the church believed that the only focus of witnessing of Jesus' Gospel was to the ends of the earth. Most leaders in he church have come to the realization that the times have changed and the church is not central in society. In this change of times, the position of religion has changed. Most realize that many people have not heard the message of Jesus nor seen a a reliable witness. The focus of the church need ot be redirected towards the first of these focus, Jerusalem.The next post will look at what the rediscovery of Jerusalem means to the local congregation.
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