Fishing nets or safety nets

Need to start outside the church culture

What are the differences in life between 1950 and 2010?

Going out Coming In.Going out Coming In.Christendom SpiritualityChristendom SpiritualityAuthority AuthenticityAuthority AuthenticityConforming ChoosingConforming ChoosingCommunity Self referenceCommunity Self referenceSunday Time ChaosSunday Time ChaosOrganisations NetworksOrganisations Networks

Changing culture‘‘What is taking place is not merely theWhat is taking place is not merely the

continued decline of organised continued decline of organised Christianity but the death of the cultureChristianity but the death of the culture

which formerly conferred Christian which formerly conferred Christian identity upon the British peopleidentity upon the British people

as a whole.’as a whole.’

Callum BrowneCallum BrowneDeath of Christian BritainDeath of Christian Britain

“ “ create a linguistic community create a linguistic community which speaks to itself but gives up which speaks to itself but gives up responsibility to put the gospel in aresponsibility to put the gospel in alanguage which is understood by language which is understood by

the whole of society.”the whole of society.”

Five implications for the church

in Australia

A decline in religious affiliation

Christian

1947 88% 2006 64%

No religion

1947 0.4% 2006 19%

NCLS

A decline in Church Attendance

1960 41% attend at least monthly

1980 25%

2000 20%

NCLS

“ “ this majority (66%) presents a major this majority (66%) presents a major challenge to churches. Most of them are challenge to churches. Most of them are

unreceptive and closed unreceptive and closed to attending church; churchgoing isto attending church; churchgoing is

simply not on their agenda.”simply not on their agenda.”

“ “ this research helps us to understand this research helps us to understand that the further people are from church,that the further people are from church,(in terms of churchgoing) the less likely (in terms of churchgoing) the less likely

they are to attend in the future.they are to attend in the future.Mission opportunities are very differentMission opportunities are very different

when to step over the church when to step over the church threshold is an unknown experience…..”threshold is an unknown experience…..”

The absence of the younger generation

The average age of a churchgoer is 5353

Typical churchgoer is 40+, female, with a Universitydegree, in first marriage,employed or retired. NCLS

The rising influence of spirituality

“ The world today is as furiously religious as it ever was and in some places more so than ever.”

Rise in Wiccas from 1996-2001in Australia was 373%.

Are People Searching and why?

► 73% of people are searching

► 70% of people are searching because of either the credit crunch, concern about personal finances or job insecurity

Changes in the church culture

Increased openness to new initiatives

NCLS

“ we understood mission oneway and organised life to accomplish it. We have awakened to find out the mission moved on us. To keep focusing on mission, wehave to turn the furniturearound and face a differentdirection. We may even have to move into another room.”

Loren Mead. The Once and Future Church

7 principles for remodelling church

Public worship probably isn’tthe best starting point

1

Prayer and Support

Connection

Listening and Following God’s call

Loving Service

Evangelism andDisciple- Making

Forming Community

EvolvingWorship

“ The foundation of being Christianis being community centred around

Jesus. Public worship is the consequence of this reality, not

its creator.”

George Lings

There is no return address

2

Ends of the EarthSamaria

Judea

Half the picture

Jerusalem

The ends of the earth

Samaria

The eccentric effects…

Judea

The centre and the Acts story shift Samaria is not a return ticketstory moves from a focus on Peter to Paulthe Church goes west church is done differently among Gentiles

“ cultural diversity was built intochurch for ever when so early in the

church’s life the decision wastaken to abandon the

Jewish proselytite model.”

Andrew Walls

Mission not modelsshape the church

3

‘‘The reality is that mainstream The reality is that mainstream culture no longer brings people culture no longer brings people to the church door. We can no to the church door. We can no

longer longer assume that we can assume that we can

automatically automatically reproduce ourselves, because reproduce ourselves, because the pool of people who regard the pool of people who regard

church aschurch asrelevant or important is relevant or important is

decreasing decreasing with every generation’with every generation’

Mission shaped church report p11Mission shaped church report p11

“ it is not the church of God which has a mission

but the God of mission who has a church.”

Tim Dearborn

This might change US

4

Dying to liveDying to live

“ “ I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheatI tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheatfalls to the ground and dies, it remains onlyfalls to the ground and dies, it remains only

a single seed. But if it dies, it producesa single seed. But if it dies, it producesmany seeds.”many seeds.”

John 12; 23-6John 12; 23-6

TOGETHER TO GOD’S FUTURE

• ‘…do not try to call them back to where they were, and do not try to call them to where you are, beautiful as that place may seem to you. You must have the courage to go with them to a place that neither you nor they have been before.’

• Vincent Donovan

“Safe, who said anything aboutbeing safe. Course he isn’t

safe. But he is good. He’s the King I tell you.”

Welcome the three eccentrics

5

The 3 eccentrics • Who are the Philips?

– A Dangerous Deacon? – Allow space for the unknowns

• Discover Cornelius– who evangelizes who

• Pray for Pauls– Eccentrics will do it differently

The challenge of discipleship

6

•Simple in its natureSimple in its nature

•Relational in its emphasisRelational in its emphasis

•Transformational in its outcomesTransformational in its outcomes

The Pattern of Jesus Life7

•IncarnationIncarnation

•Cross Cross

•ResurrectionResurrection

•Which of these principles do you find most helpful? Why?

•Which of these principles do you find least helpful? Why?

•Any questions/comments.

http://davemale.typepad.com/churchunplugged/