Questions for Next Steps

Okay…it’s been 21 days since we were gathered for the Art’s Conference and I am wondering, are you still thinking about what you heard? I am. It’s not just because it’s my job. My mind was stirred by what was said & what I experienced. I am working to keep the thoughts & questions that came to mind 21 days ago out front. I’m working to be transformed by what I heard. To me there would be nothing sadder than all of us listening for a few days and then diving back into life as we know it.

Our team would love to hear how things are going for you all. We would welcome news about how God has been working in & through you & your team. (maybe put a link to my blog or some other place they could post what is happening.)

We put together some questions regarding the plenary sessions for you & your team as you continue to process your experience. We hope these are useful.

Blessings as you continue to follow Christ,

Pam

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.
Proverbs 18: 15


June 13, 2007 Session 1: Celebrating What is Right With the World – Dewitt Jones

Dewitt talked about living from ‘a full cup.’ Are you living out of fullness? Identify how you got where you are. What has been going on in your life that has led you to this place? Are you satisfied with where you are?

Are there changes you need to make in how you’re living? How is your pace of ministry? Do you need to ask for help? Who can you go to?

Are you in love with what you are doing these days? Is anything holding you back from what you love to do? Is there something you need to change about what you are doing? Is there something you need to die to, so God can work through you?

June 13, 2007 Session 2: The Audacity of Hope – Nancy Beach

Nancy talked about being people of hope. She challenged us to create places of hope.

Are you a person of hope? How prone are you to choosing trust and joy over cynicism, despair, and bitterness?

Are you living in a place of contradiction? Believing in & embracing the hope of Christ with eyes wide open to the pain & despair of our world. Psalm 42: 4, 5

Are you honest about your life in your personal relationships, and on Sunday morning at your church?

Are you & your church extending yourselves with intentionality into our broken world? What have you done lately? Spend some time with a friend or with your team talking about what you could do for those in your community looking for hope.

Are you like Christ? A friend of sinners?

Are you … is your church, better at judging & condemning people than welcoming them in & sharing the hope you have found?

Have you become so consumed with building & sustaining ministry that you have no time for relationships?

What are some steps you can take to change? To become more like Christ.

What steps can you take as a church to be a place where people feel welcome, regardless of where they are on their journey?

June 13, 2007 Session 3: They Like Jesus but not the Church – Dan Kimball & panel

At the top of the session Dan talked about 6 perceptions people have about the Christian Church: (these can also be found in his book They Like Jesus but not the Church)

1. The Church is an organized religion with a political agenda.
2. The Church is judgmental and negative.
3. The Church is dominated by males and oppresses females.
4. The Church is homophobic.
5. The Church arrogantly claims all other religions are wrong.
6. The Church is full of fundamentalists that take the whole Bible literally.

If we asked people in your community would they say these statements are true of your church? If we asked people who know you personally, would they say these statements reflect you?

What do you do personally & as a church that brings a different picture of the church … of Christ to people around you?

What do you need to change in yourself or your church so that the people in your community will see Christ and embrace the hope he has to offer?

Do you look like Christ these days? Galatians 5:22-23
Would your family, friends & team agree?

Toward the end of this session we touched on the question of reaching out to the 18-30 year olds in our communities. Is this a priority for your church? If it isn’t, is there a desire to reach out to this group?

Thinking about this group … thinking about your services … is there something that needs to change? Can you identify steps to making that change? Do you have to open up your team to new members?

June 15, 2007 Session 4: On Truth & Meaning – Donald Miller

Donald talked about the challenge of balancing truth and meaning and how messy that can be. Quite often we approach the Bible, the church & our ministry from a left brain point of view.

What challenged you in Donald’s message?

What was your aha moment? Where does that lead you? Is there a new way for you to think? Will you approach Sunday morning differently?

June 15, 2007 Session 5: Scribble – Erwin McManus & artists from Mosaic

Erwin & the Mosaic team challenged us to be true to who God has created us to be. Do you have a clear picture of who God created you to be? What steps could you take to explore deeper who God has designed you to be & how you can use your gifts & abilities in the church?

How will you help the people in your ministry teams … your church … embrace who they are?

How prevalent in your thinking or in your team’s thinking, is the belief that things never change? How has that influenced how you live? How has that influenced how you create?

Erwin challenged us to write the future … what do you want the future to look like? What does your church’s future look like? What role do you play in the future? Talk about that with members of your team.

Ask each member of your team to share their most powerful insight or emotion from Scribble. What are you going to do with those thoughts or emotions? Where does that lead you to grow as a follower of Christ and as an artist?
How has the Mosaic team’s creativity challenged you? Are there ideas it has inspired?