S BELONGING TOGETHER IN CHRIST
Vision
Our vision statement is: “Living the Mission of Jesus”
The 3 dimensions of that vision are:
Passionate personal spirituality
Pioneering faith communities
Prophetic global citizens
Growing into the fullness of Christ
Under God, delighting in His grace and rooted in the Diocesan rule of life, we will be a
Diocese in which:
We belong together in Christ, practising sacrificial living and good stewardship of all
that God has entrusted to us. We will combine radical generosity, care and capacity
building with a clear focus on directing finance into the mission of Jesus. Sharing and
multiplying local good practice, using people, buildings and other resources wisely, we
will seek to boldly prune, plant and invest in building for the Kingdom.
I puzzled about this theme – so diverse: belonging together, sacrificial living, generosity,
stewardship of people, buildings and money, pruning and planting.
I have come to the conclusion that these are primarily spiritual issues, rather than
resource management issues. That the issues to be addressed are more cultural and
spiritual, than strategic.
Start by saying the grace together.
‘The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ……..
S But one thing unites this theme and shows how it can be fulfilled is ‘the fellowship
created by the Holy Spirit’
What is fellowship – much more than ‘tea in green cups after everything!’
Fellowship ‘koinonia’ a seriously under explored biblical theme
S – inseparably linking the Christian’s relationships with the Christians resources.
S Rooted in a shared participation in the Spirit
'For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the ‘body,
though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized
into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one
Spirit.' 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
S ‘The people of God as a community of believers owe their existence to their common,
lavish experience of the Spirit.’ Gordon Fee GEP 872
S In Acts 2 ‘fellowship’ a consequence of Pentecost
2:1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ….
41So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons
were added. 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of
bread and the prayers. … 44All who believed were together
S ‘Fellowship is created by the Holy Spirit, but is sustained by consistent habits –
Note ‘devoted themselves’
Ongoing learning (the apostles’ teaching)),
Community,
Holy Communion,
Shared patterns of prayer.
(Diocesan rule of life)
S A new form of life together – the fellowship of the Holy Spirit takes tangible form.
2:44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and
goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in
the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God
They shared their homes, their needs, their meals, their time, their possessions, as well as worship, spiritual
gifts and mission.
4:32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed
private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33With
great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace
was upon them all. 34There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or
houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35They laid it at the apostles’ feet,
and it was distributed to each as any had need.’
When given free reign the Holy Spirit brings about a radical change in attitudes to other people and
to money and possessions.
S 'The sign of the Holy Spirit's coming and abiding in a particular place is the emergence of a
common life, an openness to one another, a sharing in each other's lives, becoming the pattern,
rather than the exception' Gordon Abbott (Community of Celebration)
‘the fellowship of the Holy Spirit’ is an interdependent life shared within the mission of
Christ.
S Its characteristic is generosity.
Its foundation is gratitude.
It is a response to grace
S 2Cor.8:9For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
This shared life in and created by the Spirit continued as the gospel spread across the
Roman world..
S So when Paul addresses the Corinthians he is clear about what ‘God has arranged’.
What the body of Christ, formed through the action and presence of the Holy Spirit, is to
be like.
12:13For
in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or
free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
24 God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member,
25that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same
care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member
is honoured, all rejoice together with it..
The next time he writes to them it is clear that this mutuality is not just to apply within
churches but between churches as well.
S 2Cor. 8:We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has
been granted to the churches of Macedonia; 2for during a severe ordeal of affliction,
their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity
on their part. 3For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and
even beyond their means, 4begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing (koinonia)in
this ministry to the saints.
9:6 The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one
who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7Each of you must give as you have
made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always
having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
13Through
the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the
confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing (koinonia) with
them and with all others.
Rom 15.26 26for Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to share their resources
(koinonia) with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
What is remarkable is that this gift is to the church from which Paul’s critics came!
S The tradition continued through the centuries, and not just as mutual care in the
churches.
Julian the Apostate ‘the impious Galilaeans support not only their own poor but ours as
well’
S The fellowship of the Holy Spirit involves money!
Counter cultural by the power of the Spirit
S ‘The activity of consuming has become a kind of template or model for the way in
which citizens of contemporary Western societies have come to view all their
activities.’ Colin Campbell
S Countering consumerism - calling people to something better
•A more captivating motive for daily choices
•A more powerful set of character forming habits
•A proactive supportive Christian community
All in the power of the Holy Spirit
Why?
S 'Once upon a time there was a Man who lived in Scarcity. After many adventures and a
long journey through Economic Science, he met the Affluent Society. They married and
had lots of needs.' Jean Baudrillard
S Idolatry (Misdirection)
Misdirection services the idolatrous element of consumerism.
Misdirection is ‘the advertising strategy of associating commodities with needs, desires
and values that are not directly related to the given products. Misdirection works by
encouraging consumers to fulfil more profound needs and desires through
consumption.’ Vincent Miller P109
False Hope (Seduction – Miller following Bauman)
Seduction is not really about the seductive qualities of particular products, but the
ongoing process that keeps us moving on from one consumer choice to another.
‘Seduction concerns our relationship to objects of desire. Contrary to what is generally
assumed, consumer desire is not focussed on particular objects, but is instead stretched
out across an endless series of potential objects.’ Miller P109
‘Consumer desire is not focused on particular things; it is constantly enticed to go
beyond what has been acquired to consider something new.’ Miller P141
Provides a consumer hope, a consumer promise of the future.
A Counterfeit of Christian Spirituality
‘Seduction spurs consumption by prolonging desire and channelling its inevitable
disappointments into further desires.’ Miller
A striking parallel to Augustine: ‘You made us for yourself and our heart find no peace
until they rest in you.’
‘Consumer desire mimics the restlessness of our earthly pilgrimage.’ Miller P130
An Assurance Mechanism
‘The deeper underlying human need for reassurance concerning the reality of the self.’
Campbell P35
‘A kind of default philosophy for all modern life.’ Campbell P42
Consumerism is habitual and character forming. (A disciple making practice)
It makes religion seem unnecessary, or turns it into a consumer experience!
Two key words undermine it:
S Enough
2Cor. 9:6 The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the
one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7Each of you must give as you have
made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always
having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 9As it is
written,
‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness* endures for ever.’
10He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your
seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.* 11You will be enriched
in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through
us.
S Contentment
1Tim. 6:6Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; 7for we
brought nothing into the world, so that* we can take nothing out of it; 8but if we have
food and clothing, we will be content with these.
Phil 4:11 I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 12I know what it is to have
little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned
the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.
13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
S These passages are an advertising agency’s nightmare!
S Basic discipleship
Mt. 6:25 ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you
will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the
body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor
gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value
than they? 27And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28And
why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they
neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like
one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and
tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
S 31Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or
“What will we wear?” 32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed
your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the
kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
S But it is not just money and possessions, it is people as well.
S Acts 13:Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas,
Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod
the ruler, and Saul. 2While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit
said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’
3Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Releasing your best to follow the Spirit’s call to the unreached.
Stewardship of people implies the recognition and release of their gifts.
S The body of Christ
It is the environment of koinonia in the Spirit in which all can contribute their gifts
which enables vocation.
S S S S Fresh expressions data re 10 dioceses
‘Lay lay’ leaders in fresh expressions in 20 dioceses.
Locked away resources, waiting to be released.
S Identify people who can, support them and train them ‘on the hoof’
Just in time, not just in case
Conc.
S The release of money and people is a consequence of the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit.
We are to receive this gift, and nurture the resulting culture
‘devoting ourselves’ to the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
S 'Luke's interest lies elsewhere than institutional arrangement, and his challenge to
the church is less to do with how the assembly structures itself, than with the
character of the assembly's response to the Holy Spirit at work in the world.' Luke
Timothy Johnson
S ‘Our theology would improve if we thought more of the church being given to the
Spirit than of the Spirit being given to the church.’ John V Taylor
I cannot offer you a strategy for achieving this goal, but I can offer you a prayer.
S Come Holy Spirit
+Graham Cray – October 2016