Representing

March 19th, 2008 | by Scott |

So, Tracy encouraged me to go to the local meeting of the Kay County Democrats last night. So, after dinner I headed to our local Pizza Hut for a stirring meeting of like minded individuals to discuss and debate Obama’s speech, Universal Health Care, and other salient issues.

There were 8 people there, counting me. Apparently, I was representing the under-75 segment. To say that this is red county is quite the understatement. Not that there is anything wrong with that. :lol:

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Speaking of representing I just finished listening to a webinar on being an externally focused church. So few congregations are really good at doing this and it’s a transition I struggle with daily. Four paradigm shifts were mentioned as being necessary to truly be externally focused:

1. From How-to to Want to
I think we have focused a lot on the how-to when it comes to how to get people into the baptistery but when it comes to really wanting to transition from service-centric church to really going is a huge step.

2. From Coming to Going
An interesting point about the kind of offerings that we provide is that they are very limited in the number of people that they can bring in. But there are thousands of people out there. Switching our focus is just good math.

3. From Protection to Proclamation
This is probably my greatest area of struggle with a good section of evangelical Christianity today: it is so designed to “protect” our way of life rather than truly seeking to be good news. One of our state reps here in Oklahoma recently gave a rather hate filled speech, rather than backing down and apologizing she is standing behind her comments because the “Christian groups” support her. Not much love in that.

4. From Relevance to Influence
Relevance is overplayed. Being salt is not.

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Now playing: The Rising - Future Unknown
via FoxyTunes

  1. 7 Responses to “Representing”

  2. By Jim MacKenzie on Mar 19, 2008 | Reply

    Sermon 3 point outline as follows - ;)

    Going

    Proclamation

    Influence

    Love those words… now if we can LIVE those words… Good stuff Scott.

  3. By Steve D on Mar 19, 2008 | Reply

    How do you get access to the webinar?

  4. By Scott on Mar 19, 2008 | Reply

    Thanks Jim.

    Steve, it was through Monday Morning Insight.

  5. By JAW on Mar 19, 2008 | Reply

    Don’t feel bad, Scott. C and I thought we would be really cool by going to the Malibu Democratic Club meeting a couple of years ago…thinking, come on, it’s Malibu: surely we’ll see some stars. Instead, we were the only folks under 80 in a crowd of 50 or so. Local associationalism is on the decline just as Robert Putnam says.

  6. By Greg England on Mar 20, 2008 | Reply

    Most of my life in the church has been in the context of forever “learning” how and never actually taking the knowledge out into the community. Good thoughts. I am also encouraged by the “redness” of where you live!! :)

  7. By Scott on Mar 20, 2008 | Reply

    James, I guess I had fleeting images of the jet set. Alas, it was not to be

    Greg, it is pretty red here. It’s okay. I’m used to being different. Then again you are swimming in a sea of blue yourself, aren’t you?

  8. By Greg England on Mar 21, 2008 | Reply

    Scot … it’s more like I’m drowning in a sea of blue! But we know Who really controls our present and future and it has little to do with politics. I’ve become pretty disillusioned and discouraged by all of them.

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