I often ask my students at Eastern [University], why did Jesus come into the world? Why did he leave the glories of heaven and break into history? What was he out to do? If he were to write out his mission statement, how would it read? Good question! Everybody is writing out mission statements. What would be his?
This is a short one… I’ve just come back from a “conversation” within the Diocese of Coventry regarding Fresh Expressions…
Logn story short, there is no shortage of imagination and energy about reshaping the Church so that we may engage with people and communities who would not normally “go to church”…
“We have a gospel to proclaim” as the hymn goes but if we think we’re still in 1982 doing mission england and Billy Graham then we need to have a rethink.
I’m encouraged because:
1) I feel confirmation on my own calling and encouraged by what God is beginning to do with the business community;
2) There is real energy to do something different led and released by the Bishop of Coventry;
3) God is doing great stuff already e.g coffee tots;
4) There is a real sense that people are waking up to the fact that we are to “go” and that this is just as much about our identity as it is our activity.
5) And relating to point 1, wow the next 12 months in Wood End are going to be cool!
Come on, come on, come on!!!!!!
I remember the last Bishop of Coventry telling us to “get out”, and he really meant it. I think we might just be doing that…
4)
The kingdom of God is at hand.
The kingdom of God - God’s reconciling community, God’s new way of living, God’s dream for creation, God’s mission in this world, God’s healing of all creation, God’s will being done on earth as in heaven, Creation 2.0
At hand - within reach, available to everyone,…
So I had the honour of leading worship with friends at Coventry Cathedral the other Sunday. I don’t generally do church buildings, and I’m really an advocate of us breaking out of what I call “four wall worship” but Coventry Cathedral ironically is different. It’s whole essense screams of the Glory of God, and is actually a “thin place”.
As we sound checked I was facing the baptistry window and had one of those “moments” when all you can do is be lost in “wonder, love and praise”…
So we (Fightclub) met yesterday at Coffeetots a brand new cafe that is being opened in the heart of the city aimed at befriending Mum’s and their kids, particularly those Mum’s who are from “disadvantaged” communities…
… and it was good to pray around the venue, and for our friends who have had this vision for a while now. There was a definite sense that this space would be a “thin place, where the distance between heaven and earth is negligable” and that the cafe would have an impact throughout the whole city arcade…
Something of this resonates, something of this rings true, and something of this makes me uncomfortable…
Fightclub - We met two weeks ago in our usual pub. This week we’re meeting at “coffeetots” a new coffee shop which is about to open. It has a particular focus on mums, particularly those who are new mums and looking for friendship and a place to rest… So we’ll be meeting on Sunday to pray in silence, followed by a beer!
As we strive to become the Church Jesus intended along the way we face questions and challenges from those who want to find out more, and from those who don’t understand why we are challenging the status quo…
These challenges can unsettle to the core some of our strongest friendships and lead to…
So I find myself in an interesting time of my life…
… having worked in business for the last 12 years or so I suddenly find myself now supporting businesses, enabling them to grow, diversify into new markets such as Low Carbon technology in order that they may grow and employ more local people. This is very much in line with my view that the central message of Jesus is that the Kingdom of God is hand.
The central message of Jesus is this….
… “The Kingdom of God is at hand”….
Now the word for “at hand” in Greek is Eggizo which when translated means to approach, to come near, to draw close…
So when Jesus says the Kingdom of God is at hand, he is saying something so incredible, something so provocative and something that will change the course of humanity. Now the Jews had looked forward to the “year of the LORD” the day when the messiah would come, for they had been captives of many Kings in many Kingdoms…
…. think Egypt….
…. think Babylon….
… and now Rome…
… and in the midst of this political hot potato a rabbi said to all the wrong people, “the Kingdom of God is at hand… follow me”.
