What To Do At Central

This is one of those "stream of consciousness" posts.

I am currently reading Harvey Cox's book, The Future of Faith. I think he exhibits remarkable insights which can help us on our journey. His basic premise is that the time of Jesus was the Age of Faith. The era of Christendom (from Constantine until near the end of the 20^th Century) was the Age of Belief. Now, according to Cox, we are entering the Age of the Spirit. I encourage the reading of this book. Cox's analysis of historic and current trends has numerous ramifications for the church in the 21st Century.

What to do at Central?

I am in the midst of a sermon series on "Faith as a Journey". I am going to put all the sermons on a DVD, write a brief study guide with questions and offer the study to Sunday School classes or small groups in the Fall. It should lead to some interesting discussions.

I am going to ask the Elders of the church to participate in a small group Bible study entitled, Journeying the Good News Road. One session will meet during the WWNF class time beginning in late August. If more Elders are interested than one group can accommodate, then we will schedule additional groups.

I am distributing copies of Brian McLaren's book, Church on the Other Side: Exploring the Radical Future of the Local Congregation, to a number of our college students and young adults. Hopefully we can finds ways to discuss his ideas, probably with a few "face to face" meetings and then via "social media".

My Pastoral Relations committee and the staff will be reading the book, Me To We, talking about and hopefully finding ways to initiate the 3 to 5 year change in culture at Central where we can truly equip the saints for the work of ministry.

I am helping to teach the Seekers (Young Adult) Sunday school class. Recently I ordered "DreamThinkBeDo" a DVD based curriculum from the "Living the Questions" group. The promotional material states: "Looking for a springboard to get young adults talking about what Christianity is all about for this generation? DreamThinkBeDo is an engaging new catalyst for conversation among young adults searching for what's next for followers of Jesus. Starting with the foundation of "Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind" (Luke 10.27), DTBD is what Christian educators have been looking for to help college groups and twenty to thirty-somethings build a 21st Century faith." I have reviewed a couple of sessions and I believe they are right on the money. We may even begin an evening "young adult" small group for those who don't want to get up on Sunday morning and use the same study.

Finally, I pray that we can develop a culture of love, compassion, radical hospitality and discernment at Central. The foundation of this culture will be Bible study, mediation and prayer with the expectation that God's Spirit will lead us into being Christ's church in the 21^st Century.