Peter Rollins- Reduce or Wrestle

Book Draft- Continued

So where does church fit in?

• Church in the kingdom

A brief Church history

• through the reformations
• from houses to stadiums to houses

us and the church

Falling in the kingdom of God

Falling in the church

Book Draft

Separation in the Garden

Where is God?

• another way of saying, where is God in suffering or why do bad things happen to good people

Know who you are looking for

• who is the God you are looking for?
• making Jesus in our image/ expectations
• who is the Jesus we have made corporately
• inconsistencies w/ the bible
• What does the bible say about Jesus (full revelation of god)

Presence

• Eden, Canaan, Moses, Promise Land, Temple, Holy of Holies

Where

• heaven

Summary

• Where=place
• Is=presence
• God= God

Kingdom of God

• what is it
• whats missing from the question "where is God?"
• "Where are we?"

Where are we?

• this is questions is more than just a matter of geography but our humanity and presence

Humanity

• image of God
• easter orthodox theology

Earth

• God's good creation
• new heavens and earth = restoration
• eschatology views
• seamless continuity

Our presence

• our limits
• our unlimited

in reference to the kingdom

Where are we in the kingdom (time, heir achy, salvation)

• in and out of time
• up and down in heirachy
• in and out salvation
• 
  

To be continued.....

THE SHIFTS IN AUTHORITY

Phyllis Tickle on the Current Reformation

LEADERS OF THE REFORMATION [not including you]

http://theooze.tv/

http://dougpagitt.com/

http://www.sojo.net/

http://www.thesimpleway.org/shane/

http://tonyj.net/

https://www.robbell.com/

http://www.brianmclaren.net/

http://www.emergentvillage.com/

http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/

http://www.phyllistickle.com/

TRUTH

I think this is a major theme in the present reformation. Authors, pastors, speakers, friends, neighbors, churches, communities. Opening the box, exploring the foundations of the Christian faith, delving into our dogmatic beliefs. Head first. Questioning everything. Learning again what it means to follow Christ. Truth isn't absent from the modern Christianity, but its Truth absent from reality. It has become inapplicable and unattainable.

the old church

Prayer.

Prayer.
Is the act of speaking and listening to God.
It is an act that is not easy.
It cost us something.
Every time.
Our pride.
Our honesty.
Our whole being.
It is acknowledging that we are living in the throne room of God.
It is a scary thing.
God is not predictable.
But he is Good.
In his throne room.
My mind is blown
My heart is humbled
My lips tremble
And my eyes weep
My stomach is nervous
Not because God hates what I have done.
But because he has/does/will love me.
I am filled with light.
After the very long dark.
He is the dawn.
That comes after every night.
In his throne room
He is not sitting.
He is standing
Face to Face
With me
His heart is broken, because mine is.
His eyes are weeping, because mine are.
Though I am not worthy.
He calls me righteous
He calls me friend
He calls me.
And every time I didn’t listen
He didn’t give up.

How do you begin, to speak to the creator of the universe?
What words can we use to describe
his mercy/grace/justice/righteousness
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord
Who was
And is
And is to come.
In my prayer.
Although my heart is aching
I encounter peace.
I encounter hope.
I embrace forgiveness.
I rest in mercy.
I am inspired but his creation
I am renewed by his spirit.
I am led by his son.

This is my prayer.

Our father
Who is in heaven
Hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On Earth
As it is in heaven
Give us today
Our daily bread
And forgive us of our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory
For ever and ever
Amen.

Who is your Jesus?

who is your Jesus?

is he

Black

White

Asian

Latin

European

or Arab?

is he

rich

poor

middle class

homeless

is he

a socialist

a marksist

or a capitalist

is he

a fascist

a communist

a dictator

a democrat

a republican

or does he not care about politics?

is jesus worried about big government?

is jesus worried about high taxes?

is jesus worried about the 'homosexual agenda'?

is jesus worried about Global warming

is jesus worried about tax reform or values reform

is jesus worried about gun control

is jesus worried about immigration

is jesus a patriot?

is jesus worried about Social Justice

The picture of jesus that you have. Is it jesus? or is it you?

this is the reformation

What an incredible conversation that is happening. Salvation as God giving us hospitality and we the church are an extension of that. Now this is Good News. To the Poor, and the widow and the orphan. Open table fellowship is a major theme in the Gospels and it is almost forgotten in mainstream church life.

A testimony

No longer can I, do nothing I grew up in the church I was taught stories, learnt memory verses, went to youth group. I knew what to say and how to seem ‘Christian’. But in the midst of a religion I missed a relationship. In the midst of a book of stories I somehow missed the story of what God is doing. Because Jesus isn’t safe I have been taught to believe that Jesus died for my sins so that I wouldn’t have to go to hell and that when I died I would leave earth to be with God in heaven. God has revealed to me that he does not retreat into the clouds but he moves forward and conquers, that Earth was invaded by heaven and now the kingdom of god is a reality now but not yet fully here on earth. Because being the church isn’t easy Now the kingdom is here now but not yet fully, our job as the people of God, the church, the bride of Christ is to live in the Joy of the Good News of the kingdom of God and to bring shalom (Hebrew word for peace) to the world through loving God and loving others. This should in no way be limited to a Sunday service. Because the call of discipleship costs everything Loving God is obedience, Loving God is Loving others. It will cost us our time, our effort, our talents, our money, our voice, our everything, it will not be comfortable, it will not make sense, it will not make us look good. Because I have been, because we have, because all of creation has been redeemed by grace and is being redeemed by grace We love as a response to God’s grace. Therefore; I cannot stand still. I can’t pretend, that I don’t know, I must pursue justice No longer can I, do nothing have been called to feed the poor, to give water to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, plead the case of the widow, visit those who are imprisoned. My words of praise are meaningless if I do nothing. My part in the restoration of the world is my worship.

What are you afraid of?

I am afraid that the Good news of Jesus Christ, will not make it out the church doors

I am afraid that the hope of the kingdom of God, has been lost in our selfish efforts

I am afraid that gods Beautiful creation, has been disgraced by man as a sinful

I am afraid that our hearts have forgotten that loving your neighbor, is not an option, it is not just a good idea, it is our call, it our chance, to give serve, to love spread hope, evangelize, journey with others.

I am afraid that we will live with our eyes on heaven and forget that heaven is possible, right here and right now.