Book: HINGES - Opening your church's doors to the community

This is one of a number resources that help pastors and congregations who are pursuing God's mission for their church that will assist them in the work of revitalisation.   

In the past, the doors of the church opened inward, but now people are no longer coming in through church doors as they once did. Instead, God is calling the church to open the doors outward as the people of God take the Gospel to their community.

The central theme of this book is based on extensive statistical research, personal pastoral experience, and practical work with over one thousand churches.   From this Transforming Churches Network has found the eight key factors that open the doors of the church outward and empower the church to have an impact upon the community God places it in. 

Read Hinges to discover these eight factors and go beyond mere theories about what might work. Many who have follow these practical steps and have found new life and fruitfulness in their church.

Song/Hymn: We all are one in mission

 

Book: Inspired by the Holy Spirit - 4 habits of faithful living

 The world is bustling with consumerism and digital connection. Yet, there's still a bone-deep longing for something personal. In a world that has given you distraction and impersonal modes of communication, reach out to the Holy Spirit to guide you toward the most personal connection of all: one with God. 

Christina Hergenrader invites you to travel with her and the Holy Spirit in four weeks to re-evalute your spiritual habits. Read personal annecdotes from Christina's journey on the same path and find yourself in her stories. Focused on four cornerstones of healthy spiritual habits—word, prayer, praise, and reflection—you can find fulfillment of that soul-deep want for connection with guidance from the Holy Spirit. 

4 main sections

• Word
• Prayer
• Praise
• Reflection

This Bible study is perfect for individual study, groups of all sizes, or as an event kick-off. Each day ends with Bible verses to read or challenges to take your journey into your life and off the page. Pray at the end of each session to connect with God and the Holy Spirit as you go forward and reconnect, personally, with Him. 

Article: Good governance and mission

Good Governance and Mission

Sometimes in the church and Christian circles, governance as seen as a nuisance to mission and ministry, instead of being supportive to the mission and ministry God has given us.   This arises because of a misunderstanding of what good governance is about. 

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is to limit governance to simply making good financial decisions and making sure that we are meeting all our legal obligations.   Good governance for ministry and mission is more than that.   In fact, just focussing on the financial and legal matters when it comes to governance may actually lead to bad governance.   Why?  Because a key to good governance is ensuring we are focussed on living out why we actually exist.   In a practical sense this means focussing on our objectives, mission and strategic directions as a church or ministry of the church.  Our response to our financial and legal obligations should always be based on why we exist, assisting us to live out our objectives and mission in the environment God has called us to.    

As a result of Covid we have seen good and not so good governance in churches and other organisations.  Covid brought about a number of rules and restrictions for us as church.  Legally we can’t avoid these rules.  Many of the rules and restrictions were brought in to help and care for the community.   

Some churches and organisations applied these rules without considering their mission and objectives.  People relating to such organisations had a sense that all the organisation cared about was keeping out of trouble.  The attitude appeared to be here are the rules, you must do this or that, its not our fault but the governments.  In many cases there was a sense of coldness with little love or care for others.   Other churches and organisations gave some more thought to how they applied the rules and restrictions in the light of their mission and objectives.   Many of them encouraged their community to see how these rules were in place to care for and love others.  They went out of their way to greet people in a welcoming and encouraging way.  They made it easy for people to comply with the rules.  They considered the diverse opinions of their community.  They explored other ways they could serve and care for people and keep engaged with people, considering the restrictions and rules in place.  This later group was not just focussed on their legal obligations, but more importantly on the community God has placed around them to serve.    They were not just concerned about not getting in trouble, but their main focus was on living out who had God called them to be. 

So how might we develop a more missional approach to governance?

1.     Focus continually on who God has called us to be and what has God called us to do. 
2. .    Know our mission, objectives and strategic directions, and view everything through these.
3. .    Spend a significant time at each meeting in listening to God, reflecting on and sharing what God says and prayer.
4. .   Reflect on who has God placed in your organisation’s life to serve and share the Gospel with. 

2.       Understand the financial and legal responsibilities you have, then shape your response to these based on your objectives and mission.   Think about how your response can reflect your mission, objectives and strategic direction.    This may take time, prayer and much discussion. 

Pastor Richard Schwedes

Assistant Bishop LCA NSW and ACT

 This article appeared originally in The Contact magazine - LCA NSW and ACT District 

  

Book: It takes a church to baptize

Scot McKight's book it takes a church to baptize, unpacks the issues of baptism that have divided Protestant Christianity.  McKnight a lecturer at a Baptist Seminary, and an ordained Anglican explores how infant baptism is theological, biblical, historical and personal.   He answers many questions people have about Infant baptism in this book, It takes a church to baptize.

This book will be helpful in responding to people who struggle with Infant Baptism.

About the book

The issue of baptism has troubled Protestants for centuries. Should infants be baptized before their faith is conscious, or does God command the baptism of babies whose parents have been baptized?

Popular New Testament scholar Scot McKnight makes a biblical case for infant baptism, exploring its history, meaning, and practice and showing that infant baptism is the most historic Christian way of forming children into the faith. He explains that the church's practice of infant baptism developed straight from the Bible and argues that it must begin with the family and then extend to the church. Baptism is not just an individual profession of faith: it takes a family and a church community to nurture a child into faith over time. 

McKnight explains infant baptism for readers coming from a tradition that baptizes adults only, and he counters criticisms that fail to consider the role of families in the formation of faith. 

Editorial Reviews

"As someone who grew up Baptist and has wrestled deeply with questions about infant baptism, I wish I could have read this book years ago. McKnight has given the church an enduring gift--a book that is theologically rich, serious, and steeped in tradition yet accessible and readable. As a mother of young children and as a priest, I will put this book in the hands of many a friend and parishioner. If you are a parent deciding whether to baptize infant children, this book is essential reading."
--Tish Harrison Warren, priest in the ACNA, co-associate rector (Church of the Ascension Pittsburgh), and author of Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life

"Able, strong, wise, and biblically and theologically rich. There are a great number of confusions and misunderstandings about infant baptism that Scot thoughtfully clarifies. So even if you don't end up being convinced, you will know why people like Scot (and me) think it is a practice essential for proper Christian discipleship."
--Mark Galli, editor in chief, Christianity Today

"A cogent apology for the sacrament of infant baptism. McKnight, a New Testament scholar, writes in a comfortable and non-academic style that his readers will surely appreciate."
--Kathryn Greene-McCreight, Episcopal priest and author of Darkness Is My Only Companion: A Christian Response to Mental Illness

"McKnight provides a controversial though ultimately compelling case for infant baptism. It is not just the who and how of baptism that he tackles; the genius of this book is that McKnight elegantly explains what baptism is even about, what it means, what it does for the recipient, and why it really does take a church to baptize a child. This book could change your whole view of conversion, faith, family, children's ministry, and the church!"
--Michael F. Bird, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia

"The most compelling case for infant baptism available today. Not content to sprinkle with prooftexts, McKnight immerses his reader in the biblical, historical, and sacramental theology of this ancient Christian practice, and seals it with a testimony of how his mind was changed."
--Joel Scandrett, Robert E. Webber Center, Trinity School for Ministry