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When the Church Was a Family
Recapturing Jesus’ Vision for
Authentic Christian Community
Session #3:
THE CHURCH AS A FAMILY IN THE NT
Implications for Theology & Practice
1. Implications For Soteriology: Salvation as a Community-Creating Event
A. Salvation To Community: Justification AND Familification
THE CHURCH AS A FAMILY IN THE NT
ME
GOD
ME
Relationship Restored
GOD
Broken Relationship
AN INCOMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF SALVATION
BECOMING PART OF GOD’S STORY
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Broken Relationship
GOD
Relationship Restored
GOD
OLD GROUP
YOU ME
THEM GOD’S FAMILY
ME YOU
THEM
A HOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF SALVATION
BECOMING PART OF GOD’S STORY
1. Implications For Soteriology: Salvation as a Community-Creating Event
A. Salvation To Community: Justification AND Familification
B. Salvation To Community: Restoring a Holistic Gospel
THE CHURCH AS A FAMILY IN THE NT
AMERICAN EVANGELICAL SPIRITUALITY
Individualistic
me
Collectivist
us
“My Lord”
“Our Lord”
— 1x in Paul
— 53x in Paul!
Compare & Contrast
BIBLICAL HISTORIC CHRISTIANITY
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American Christians . . . [Barna Research 1998]
• prefer a variety of church experiences, rather than
getting the most out of all that a single church has
to offer.
• think that spiritual enlightenment comes from
diligence in a discovery process, rather than from
commitment to a faith community and perspective.
• view religion as a commodity that we consume,
rather than one in which we invest ourselves.
• are transient—15 to 20% of all households relocate
each year.
AMERICAN EVANGELICAL SPIRITUALITY
Individualistic
me
Collectivist
us
“My Lord”
“Our Lord”
— 1x in Paul
— 53x in Paul!
BIBLICAL HISTORIC CHRISTIANITY
Compare & Contrast
1970s — Personal Evangelism
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SYSTEMATIC-THEOLOGICAL METHOD [STM]
• Reads: Synchronically
• Approach: Topical
• Gospel: God–Sin–Christ–Faith
• Answers: “What must I do to be saved?”
SYSTEMATIC-THEOLOGICAL METHOD [STM]
• Reads: Synchronically
• Approach: Topical
• Gospel: God–Sin–Christ–Faith
• Answers: “What must I do to be saved?”
REDEMPTIVE-HISTORICAL METHOD [RHM]
• Reads: Diachronically
• Approach: Historical
• Gospel: Creation–Fall–Redemption–Restoration
• Answers: “What hope is there for the world?”
1970s — Personal Evangelism
‘God has a wonderful plan for your life’
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1970s — Personal Evangelism
‘God has a wonderful plan for your life’
1980s — Spiritual Gifts
‘What color is your (spiritual) parachute?’
1990s — Seeker Sensitivity
‘God wants to meet your needs’
American Christians . . . [Barna Research 1998]
• prefer a variety of church experiences, rather than
getting the most out of all that a single church has
to offer.
• think that spiritual enlightenment comes from
diligence in a discovery process, rather than from
commitment to a faith community and perspective.
• view religion as a commodity that we consume,
rather than one in which we invest ourselves.
• are transient—15 to 20% of all households relocate
each year.
American Christians . . . [Barna Research 1998]
• prefer a variety of church experiences, rather than
getting the most out of all that a single church has
to offer.
• think that spiritual enlightenment comes from
diligence in a discovery process, rather than from
commitment to a faith community and perspective.
• view religion as a commodity that we consume,
rather than one in which we invest ourselves.
• are transient—15 to 20% of all households
relocate each year.
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Individualistic Subjective Ahistorical
me experiencing God in my daily life
Collectivist Objective Eschatological
us making disciples until Jesus returns
AMERICAN EVANGELICAL SPIRITUALITY
BIBLICAL HISTORIC CHRISTIANITY
Compare & Contrast
Individualistic Subjective Ahistorical
me experiencing God in my daily life
Collectivist Objective Eschatological
us making disciples until Jesus returns
ASKS:
ASKS:
AMERICAN EVANGELICAL SPIRITUALITY
BIBLICAL HISTORIC CHRISTIANITY
Compare & Contrast
BIBLICAL HISTORIC CHRISTIANITY
Individualistic Subjective Ahistorical
me experiencing God in my daily life
Collectivist Objective Eschatological
us making disciples until Jesus returns
AMERICAN EVANGELICAL SPIRITUALITY
Compare & Contrast
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2. Implications For Ecclesiology: It’s Not About Sunday, Brothers & Sisters
A. We Share Our STUFF with One Another
B. We Share Our HEARTS with One Another
C. We Do Not STRIKE BACK at One Another
D. We STAY, Embrace the PAIN, and GROW Up with One Another
