Comments on: The Soapbox of our Righteousness http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/ Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:19:27 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: jeremyhodges http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-67 jeremyhodges Sat, 08 Dec 2007 19:53:44 +0000 http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-67 Agreed. It seems often that people are often like racing greyhounds unable to remove their blinders to what really matters and run full speed at whatever the culture dangles in front of them. But, I must also bring up a situation present in many churches. How are we to incorporate community evangelism in a society where most the congregation could live 10 miles or more from the Church? More specifically, when the Church has unconverted "next door neighbors," should we seek to reach out to our churches immediate community first, or to our own community? Does the living out of the gospel and the reaching out to others have less affect when believers live it out apart from each other? I know that is kind of a jumbled mess, but I think you may see my point. Agreed. It seems often that people are often like racing greyhounds unable to remove their blinders to what really matters and run full speed at whatever the culture dangles in front of them.

But, I must also bring up a situation present in many churches. How are we to incorporate community evangelism in a society where most the congregation could live 10 miles or more from the Church? More specifically, when the Church has unconverted “next door neighbors,” should we seek to reach out to our churches immediate community first, or to our own community? Does the living out of the gospel and the reaching out to others have less affect when believers live it out apart from each other?

I know that is kind of a jumbled mess, but I think you may see my point.

]]> By: Point number 4? « Bound yet Free http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-66 Point number 4? « Bound yet Free Sat, 08 Dec 2007 19:12:55 +0000 http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-66 [...] Big thanks to Brian for introducing me to this article on his blog. [...] [...] Big thanks to Brian for introducing me to this article on his blog. [...]

]]> By: Vargas http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-65 Vargas Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:46:16 +0000 http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-65 I love the way the Spirit is working in our lives. It blesses me to hear things like this being discussed. I pray that this idea would become a reality. If it's one thing I'm prone to it's ideas with little action behind them. I know what some of the basic needs of college students are but I must confess I have never been over to the poor part of Auburn where almost no students are so I have no clue what it would look like there. I'm going to talk with some Burners. I love the way the Spirit is working in our lives. It blesses me to hear things like this being discussed. I pray that this idea would become a reality. If it’s one thing I’m prone to it’s ideas with little action behind them. I know what some of the basic needs of college students are but I must confess I have never been over to the poor part of Auburn where almost no students are so I have no clue what it would look like there. I’m going to talk with some Burners.

]]> By: dubtron9000 http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-64 dubtron9000 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:48:29 +0000 http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-64 I've also decided i need to do this soon before i become disillusioned by this "missional living" thing (by that name). I’ve also decided i need to do this soon before i become disillusioned by this “missional living” thing (by that name).

]]> By: dubtron9000 http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-63 dubtron9000 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:47:49 +0000 http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-63 sweet. I'm psyched about this discussion. I've encouraged rachel to interact too since all things missions-related are of interest to her. I'm not much of a visionary but i need to make out some sort of medium-term plan to move out, begin learning hospitality, and how to be a Christian man in America. Dangit. sweet. I’m psyched about this discussion. I’ve encouraged rachel to interact too since all things missions-related are of interest to her. I’m not much of a visionary but i need to make out some sort of medium-term plan to move out, begin learning hospitality, and how to be a Christian man in America. Dangit.

]]> By: Brian http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-62 Brian Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:58:22 +0000 http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-62 P.S. Ryan, and all others reading, here is a page with many rich resources on reaching suburban America. Once again thanks to Steve Mccoy for providing this, what a helpful brother. http://www.stevekmccoy.com/reformissionary/suburbia.html P.S.
Ryan, and all others reading, here is a page with many rich resources on reaching suburban America. Once again thanks to Steve Mccoy for providing this, what a helpful brother.
http://www.stevekmccoy.com/reformissionary/suburbia.html

]]> By: Brian http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-61 Brian Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:54:20 +0000 http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-61 Ryan, I am encouraged by your heart to reach not only urban life, but suburbia as well. Election is indeed unconditional. That aside, we need to begin thinking about how to be missional not only in urban, city areas but in the everyday life in suburbia. (i will also be posting on this topic this weekend or early next week). For a quick preview of where I will go, here are a few thoughts. 1. I am pursuaded that the "missional" mindset and life is not just lived out by individuals, but whole churches, and this starts with the expositional, gospel saturated preaching of the word of God and it being taken in by congregations. 2. When this happens, whole churches are being sent out week by week with the gospel into the world in which they live (in this case we are talking about suburban communities). 3. I believe this will result in continual evangelism on the part of the believers, and the weeding out of unbelievers that are often a part of the cultural Christianity that is often so prevalent in these areas (at least the ones I have been a part of). 4. Now, what does this look like as far as ministries go? I am not totally sure. But I suspect that at least where we come from it will involve alot of hospitality and mercy ministries to the poor. This alongside every Christian being gospel centered, and missions minded when they see their next door neighbors washing their cars or walking to the mailbox, and while they are at their workplaces. I suspect that this is what (at least in part) is going to need to happen to get the gospel to the suburbs. I am encouraged to see a suburban fleshing out of missional theology lived out at Immanuel, and the more urban missional theology lived out at Sojourn. Many people are in both places and both churches are thriving at being missionaries in both settings (though only 2-3 blocks away from one another.) Let the conversation begin. Ryan, I am encouraged by your heart to reach not only urban life, but suburbia as well. Election is indeed unconditional.

That aside, we need to begin thinking about how to be missional not only in urban, city areas but in the everyday life in suburbia. (i will also be posting on this topic this weekend or early next week).

For a quick preview of where I will go, here are a few thoughts.
1. I am pursuaded that the “missional” mindset and life is not just lived out by individuals, but whole churches, and this starts with the expositional, gospel saturated preaching of the word of God and it being taken in by congregations.
2. When this happens, whole churches are being sent out week by week with the gospel into the world in which they live (in this case we are talking about suburban communities).
3. I believe this will result in continual evangelism on the part of the believers, and the weeding out of unbelievers that are often a part of the cultural Christianity that is often so prevalent in these areas (at least the ones I have been a part of).
4. Now, what does this look like as far as ministries go? I am not totally sure. But I suspect that at least where we come from it will involve alot of hospitality and mercy ministries to the poor. This alongside every Christian being gospel centered, and missions minded when they see their next door neighbors washing their cars or walking to the mailbox, and while they are at their workplaces.

I suspect that this is what (at least in part) is going to need to happen to get the gospel to the suburbs.

I am encouraged to see a suburban fleshing out of missional theology lived out at Immanuel, and the more urban missional theology lived out at Sojourn. Many people are in both places and both churches are thriving at being missionaries in both settings (though only 2-3 blocks away from one another.)

Let the conversation begin.

]]> By: dubtron9000 http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-60 dubtron9000 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:08:52 +0000 http://brianmoats.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/the-soapbox-of-our-righteousness/#comment-60 I love it. Great thoughts. I guess my deal (which might be my first blog entry) is...what does it look like here? or there in KY? we have AMAZING examples in other countries and in large cities, but i guess the disconnect for me is what does it look like? I love it. Great thoughts. I guess my deal (which might be my first blog entry) is…what does it look like here? or there in KY? we have AMAZING examples in other countries and in large cities, but i guess the disconnect for me is what does it look like?

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