Mayfair Bible Church

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Mayfair Bible Church
Lords Day February 22, 2009

• Ministry in a Postmodern Context

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A Critical Moment in Americas Worldview

• The Death of Modernity the death of the
  positive dynamic of the Enlightenment has been in
  process since the mid 1960s
• The Rise of Post modernity the impact of the
  new worldview taking over the soul of America
• The Present Crisis economic, political, killing
  unborn, same sex unions, terrorism, shifts in
  centers of power and religion

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PostmodernismEarly 1960s to the Present

• 1. Universe Not Self-Contained
• 2. No Basis for Morality and Values
• 3. Progress Not Inevitable
• 4. No Basis for Truth
• 5. Language of Public Debate Lost
• 6. Meaning of Written Texts Lost
• 7. Limited Autonomy/Process

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Postmodernism
Social Relativism
Pluralism
Suspicion of Truth
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Deconstructionism

• There are no absolutes or total solutions
• Any text (especially those that claim total
  solutions) must have contradictions
• Identifying the contradictions shows the text
  fallible and stops its oppressive power
• Deconstruction spotting contradictions
• Examination of a text leads to identifying the
  contradictions there is a plethora of meanings
  all of which are valid
• Everything is a text whole world, people

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Characteristics of Postmodern
Young People

• Much more relational and communal and less
  cerebral and individual
• Attracted to mystery in worship and life
• Resistive of cognitive/moral authority
• Desire the whole person to be addressed including
  the aesthetic aspect
• Open to many interpretations and viewpoints and
  wish for latitude to express their own
• Suspicious of universal solutions
• Enjoy the good life of consumerism and wealth
  while seeking its containment

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Characteristics Emergent Church

• Inclusion vs. Exclusion
• Nothing said to be incorrect, affection for all
• Experience vs. Rational Truth
• Feelings Affections vs. Inquiry Solutions
• Story vs. Propositions
• Participation vs. Auditing
• Witness bound to Life vs. bound to Words
• Community vs. Individualism, Consumerism
• High Value on Integrity/Authenticity
• Abduction, Aesthetics, Mystery are Prized

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Characteristics Emergent Church

• Creative approaches to worship and spiritual
  reflectionfrom contemporary music and film to
  ancient liturgical practices
• Minimalist and decentralized organizational
  structure
• Reanalyze the Bible with the goal of showing
  multiple perspectives rather than a single
  normative interpretation
• Flexible approach to theology to allow
  differences in belief and morality
• Communities built on the creativity of each local
  body
• No agreed upon doctrine of the church a
  theology of the church, its role, nature, origin
  and leadership

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Evaluation Emergent Church

• Postmodernism is usually viewed only in its most
  popular form in a thesis/antithesis mode...
• Postmodernity is accommodated without ever
  confronting its non Christian aspects
• They seem not to grasp the full epistemic crisis
  that Postmodernism propounds
• Character of the Form/Content of Words which come
  from God is readily set aside for media that
  speaks to this generation
• Criteria for choosing worship ethos from pre
  reformation liturgy are not developed

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Evaluation Emergent Church

• The gospel no longer includes the areas of
  judgment and repentance
• Gospel is denuded of Biblical tenets that
  include/exclude people from the kingdom
• Relational/Storey replaces righteousness and
  justice
• Perspicuity of Scripture is set aside for many
  interpretations which allows for diversity of
  theological and moral beliefs
• Issue of Biblical Authority is behind all of
  these evaluation

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The Overarching Chiasmus of the Bible

• Creation/Perfection Genesis 1 2
• 2. Sin/Judgment Genesis 3 4
• 3. Old Covenant Redemptive Event
• 3'. New Covenant Redemptive Event
• 2'. Judgment/Removal of Sin Rev. 18-20
• 1'. Consummation/Perfection Rev. 21-22

The Bookends of the Bible! Genesis
1-4 Revelation 18-22
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Canonical Biblical Theology

• Historical progress Gods self-disclosure is a
  sequence of revealing actions and words over a
  long period of time
• Historical development in both act and word is an
  internal expansion, an organic unfolding from
  within
• The process increases rapidly the nearer
  revelation approaches its final goal
• Canonical Biblical Theology is the exhibition of
  the organic progress of special verbal revelation
  in its historic continuity and multiformity

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The Church an Alternative Culture

• Matthew 513-16
• Salt of the Earth to become foolish
• Light of the World represent kingdom salvation
  to the world
• City Set on a Hill issue is seen or not seen
• Live in Such a Way that the Kingdom Will Be
  Manifested

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The Church Between the Gospel
and the Culture

• Gospel

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Mayfair Bible Church
Lords Day February 22, 2009
The End

• Ministry in a Postmodern Context

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Missional Ministry Enactment

• Founded in a biblical/theological framework so
  its connection with Gods mission and our
  participation in it is clear to all.
• Informed by the best literature (common grace)
  which bear on the ministry enactment to be
  implemented.
• Carefully evaluate the amount of change and/or
  disruption for the congregation.
• Implementation focus on outcomes stated in
  measurable verbs with specific timetable.

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Missional Ministry Enactment

• Develop active prayer base for the agreement and
  enactment phases.
• Plan a communication strategy that will keep
  people informed on what is happening.
• Regular feedback and evaluation in order to
  adjust the action in process when necessary.
• Careful formal and informal assessment which
  provides learning for the next biblical/theologica
  l enactment of mission.

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The Missio Dei

• Theology Proper
• a. Based in the character of God
• b. Based in the action of God
• 1.) Father sends the Son
• 2.) Father and Son send the Spirit
• 3.) Father, Son and Spirit send the
  church
• Implications for Ecclesiology
• Implication for Soteriology