Up, In, Out: Re Commitment To Our Call - David Mitchell. Luke 6:12-19. Mike Brean, formerly the vicar of St Thomas Crooks, Sheffield, uses ‘life shapes’, kingdom geometry to help visualise some dynamics of discipleship (c.f. the Passionate Church by Brean and Kallestad ISBN: 0-78144-227-3). The balanced life is symbolised by the triangle which point to three essential dynamics of Christianity, orientation upwards toward God, inwards in fellowship and discipleship and outwards into service and mission in the world. Download Discussion notes
Up, In, Out: Up, The Lord - Rob Scott-Cook. Revelation 2:1-7. Mike Brean, formerly the vicar of St Thomas Crooks, Sheffield, uses ‘life shapes’, kingdom geometry to help visualise some dynamics of discipleship (c.f. the Passionate Church by Brean and Kallestad ISBN: 0-78144-227-3). The balanced life is symbolised by the triangle which point to three essential dynamics of Christianity, orientation upwards toward God, inwards in fellowship and discipleship and outwards into service and mission in the world. One of the scary research facts about Christian leaders is how little time they spend in prayer, and this can seem to be reflected in the life of Churches too. Download Discussion notes
Up, In, Out: In: The Church - Nigel Savage (Ephesians 2:11-4:16). Ephesians is a book for and about the Church and in it Paul encourages believers, because of the richness of their inheritance in Christ to have rich relationships with one another. The ‘Up’ strengthens the ‘In’. The Church is not always regarded as essential by contemporary Christians, particular in the ‘individualistic’ culture of the western world. Yet commitment to the Church is intrinsic to commitment to Christ by the nature of His own commitment to the Church. And the nature of the In element of Church is about the expression and practice of distinct community. Download Discussion notes
Up, In, Out: Out, The City - Rachel Riddall(Matthew 28:19). The earthly ministry of Jesus was to ‘the lost sheep of Israel.’ Yet in his teaching and lifestyle Jesus always demonstrated a priority for those on the edge, those on the outside, those who did not belong. His ‘famous last words’ to his followers were to go, to all nations, all people groups. Download Discussion notes