The Emerging Church

1. The Emerging Church In this presentation, we will examine a contemporary model of “doing church” from an attempt to reach the post Christian generation

2. The Emerging Church • To help us with this study, I have selected The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations, by Dan Kimball, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. • In this volume, Kimball tells of a journey to reach a non-churched population of young adults in a fast-paced and changing world • These adults have no relationship to the church; they are among the age group that was identified by the book UnChristian and demonstrate similar characteristics to that group

3. Anti-Christian, Antichurch, Post-Christian Seekers • These people do not necessarily dislike Jesus • But they do not see any Christians that they like or want to emulate— • They see Christianity as a man-made organized religion • Christians are, in their view close-minded, judgmental people • Christian are arrogant to think they alone have the only true religion • These criticisms are so reminiscent of the complaints of the young adults, that we examined in UnChristian

4. Seeker-Sensitive as a Lifestyle • Being seeker-sensitive as a lifestyle means that we are sensitive to spiritual seekers in all that we do • This can apply to our conversations with those seeking; it can apply to how we design any style of worship service • In this sense, it is not a style or methodology of worship; it is a lifestyle approach to how we live as Christians in relations to being sensitive to seekers of faith

5. Post-Seeker-Sensitive • Going back to a raw form of vintage Christianity, which unapologetically focuses on kingdom living by disciples of Jesus • A post-seeker-sensitive worship gathering promotes, rather than hides full displays of spirituality (extended worship, religious symbols, liturgy, extensive prayer times, extensive use of Scripture and readings, etc.) so that people can experience and be transformed by the message of Jesus • This approach is done, however, with renewed life and is still “sensitive” as clear instruction and regular explanation are give to help seekers understand theological terms and spiritual exercises

6. Post-seeker-sensitive adults • The changes in our culture are influencing emerging generations to crave a raw and vintage approach to Christianity and church • Therefore, contemporary seeker-sensitive methodology goes against what connects with them most deeply • This is particularly relevant for the generation 18-30 year olds, but also has appeal to many who are well beyond 30 and have hungered for this kind of ministry

7. Observations on Young Adults • From the Barna research— • Out of all age groups, 18-32 are least likely to describe themselves as religious, as Christian, or as committed Christians • Young adults today in the US seem the most open to exploring faiths other than Christianity • Young adults are avoiding church: Church attendance is declining by generation • Compared with teens throughout the past 20 years, today’s teenagers have the lowest likelihood of attending church when they are living independent of their parents • The data regarding young adults also pose the possibility that churches are losing ground in terms of influence and may need to consider new approaches

8. The Key to the Future is Understanding the Past • We need to look into our past in order to understand how we got where we are today • Then we can begin to discern where the emerging church may be heading in the future • The year 2000 was chosen at a transitional point for postmodernism merely because we began to see such a large degree of postmodern philosophy evident in our culture

9. What is Postmodernism? • Origin of postmodernity—a reaction to modernity— • Modernism held a universal worldview and moral standard, a belief that all knowledge is good and certain, truth is absolute, individualism is valued, thinking, learning, and beliefs should be determined systematically and logically • Postmodernism holds that there is no single universal worldview; all truth is not absolute, community is valued over individualism, and thinking, learning, and beliefs can be determined nonlinearly • Stan Grenz—Postmodernism “is an intellectual mood and an array of cultural expressions that call into question the ideals, principles, and values that lay at the heart of the modern mind-set”

10. Postmodernisms Expressions • Postmodernism expresses itself in a variety of ways— • Rejection of modern values in architecture • Changing from a country singer to a brooding grunge-punk rock star as done by Garth Brooks • Others have followed suit, as Shania Twain and Faith Hill • Pop culture to everyday life is radically changed by the postmodern mindset • Ambiguity and contradictory meaning are expected • It has an impact on values, sexuality, ethics, and virtually everything else, including religion and spirituality Garth Brooks—Country Singer “deconstructed” himself as a Grunge-punk rock star Note “brooding” Garth Brooks

11. Postmodernism and Religion • An article in Newsweek pointed out that “young people are openly passionate about religion—but insist on defining it in their own ways” • This is a normal response for a person raised in a postmodern culture • The megachurch with its crafted services and sophisticated choreography is far from the mindset of the postmodern young adult • Postmodernity and the spiritual relativism it brings completely pull the rug out from under most of our current, modern ministry strategy and methodology

12. More than a Generation Gap • What we are experiencing in our culture is not merely a generation gap but a change in how people view the world— • Kimball uses the analogy of the root system of a tree; what you see is the behavior, but it is caused by the root system (not observed)— • Modern Era: Judeo-Christian • Ethics based on Judeo-Christian worldview, family, rational, propositional, systematic, individualistic, Truth • Post-Christian Era: Global Pluralistic • All religions are equal, Christianity is negative; ethics based on cultural level of acceptance learned by the media, pluralistic, experiential, mystical , narrative, fluid, global, tribal, preference

13. Postmoderns and Spirituality • People are not going to learn, relate and think in the same way • Emerging generations believe differently from us— • Spirituality is pluralistic • Drawn toward mysticism and experiential • Sexuality is much more open and tolerant • Christianity is a negative religion of “ginger-pointers” • Postmoderns will not “grow up” and become modern • Modern leaders have difficulty understanding post-Christian ministry • Whatever becomes of postmodernism, it will not become modernism

14. Religious Pluralism in Our Culture • Here are two examples— • Actress Halle Berry is quoted as saying, “I believe in God. I just don’t know if that God is Jehovah, Buddha, or Allah.” • Actress Meg Ryan said, “Eastern thought, Western mysticism. I really dig the whole Hindu pantheon. And I just pull from all kinds of different things.” • Choosing a sexual orientation is open, since postmoderns have little knowledge of the God of the Bible—straight, gay, bi—a matter of preference • Tremendous impact of the internet and media • “Like missionaries respectfully entering a foreign culture, we need to approach the culture with a gentle awareness of the prevailing worldview while boldly expressing the great name of Jesus and God’s truth”—Kimball Actress Halle Berry Actress Meg Ryan

15. What is Church? • Church is not a building—It is the people of God gathered together with a sense of mission—Acts 14:27—we cannot “go” to church, because we are the church • Much of our church—megachurch and traditional church is what he calls Consumer Church—dispenser of goods and services • The missional church has been sadly forgotten amid the programming, preaching and people pleasing • A foundational and critical challenge for the emerging church will be teaching people that they are the church and that they don’t simply attend or go to one

16. Missional Church • People won’t go to church but are on mission together • People feed on Scripture—1 Peter 3:15-16 • People see themselves as ambassadors for Jesus—2 Cor. 5:20 • Parents will lead their families—Deut. 6:4-9 • People will depend on prayer—John 15:5 • People will see church as family and community on mission—Acts 2:42-46 • Ministry designs and programs from productions to equipping people to serve on mission—Eph. 4:11-12 • Evangelism will rise—locally and globally • Social justice concerns for poor and needy will be part of the church on mission This is not megachurch; it uses modern media, but in a different way

17. The Problem for Seeker Sensitive Churches • Modern seeker-sensitive churches face a dilemma as more emerging generations are born with no connection to their approach • We will soon lose our impact and influence in the emerging culture, unless we plan to reinvent ourselves for their future • Consider the differences between the two types of services—Seeker-Sensitive (Modern) and Post-Seeker-Sensitive (Emerging Church) Worship from the Website

18. Approaches in Worship Services

19. Approaches in Worship Services

20. Worship in the Emerging Church • Absolutely everything we do when we design a worship gathering should focus upon Jesus, as we lift up His name; He must never be subtly pushed out of His rightful place at the center • We must not be afraid to admit that the modern contemporary form of worship services may not connect with the emerging generations • We must not be afraid or too prideful to allow them to use new forms of worship • The goal is to move from a consumer-oriented “sit and watch” to community and participatory gatherings

21. Multisensory Worship and Teaching • God communicated in a multisensory way and received multisensory worship • In the emerging church, we must revisit the holistic multisensory approach to worship, an approach that is biblical • Each of the following examples involves hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, and (all but Mt. Sinai) tasting— • Mt. Sinai—Exodus 19 • Isaiah’s Vision—Isaiah 6 • The Last Supper—Matthew 26 • Heavenly Worship—Revelation4-5, 19

22. Sacred Space in Vintage Worship • Do not underestimate the differing aesthetic values of different people groups • What feels like sacred space to one mindset may be ugly or repellent to another • In the emerging culture, darkness represents spirituality • In traditional churches, why does the band disappear behind a curtain? If feels like a performance • Where are the crosses? It seems more like a theater than a church • Why is the speaker way up on that stage? It seems like he is talking down to us • Aesthetics in the environment are important

23. Creative Expression in Worship • Worship experience should result in the sense of awe and wonder • We need to incorporate the arts and the visual into worship • Most often in our traditional worship services sports are used as examples and illustrations • Why not incorporate the arts in the service of the church? • All worship must be 100% about Christ at the center of our gatherings • Art, music, literature, drama may all be used to great benefit of the worshippers • The emerging role of women must be taken into account, as well as children and families • Video may be used, but it must be appropriate, not as a show; the same is true for the use of technology

24. Experiential and Multisensory Worship • From 1 Cor. 14:26, we learn that the early church gathered to participate • Leonard Sweet wrote, “It is one thing to talk about God. It is quite another thing to experience God.” • Music is important in the worship, but worship is more than singing • We need to guard against addiction to musical worship • We need to guard the content of what we sing • Times of silence are important • Communion is important to worship • Open sharing is important • Reading verses and the creed • Lectiodivina is time to repeat out loud a passage of Scripture • Prayer and meditation are essential

25. Preaching and Worship • Billy Graham was accustomed to hold up the Bible and say, “The Bible says…” • The emergent generation responds, “What makes that book any different from other religious books?” “Don’t preach at me!” • Assumptions— • Prayerfully study and exegete Scripture to communicate meaning—2 Timothy 2:15 • Jesus must be the ultimate focus of all sermons—not information about Jesus—John 5:39 • Goal is to see lives changed, so they too may become ambassadors of Jesus—2 Corinthians 5:20—and messengers of kingdom living

26. Shifting Values in Approach to Preaching

27. Preaching in Context of the Emerging Church • Sermon Preparation— • Sermon preparation requires considering what Paul did in his sermon preparation • Continually tell the story of God and His love for humans • Deconstruct, reconstruct, and define biblical terms • A Desire for depth and theology— • Allow God to speak • Preaching needs to be theocentric • Hunger is for the deep wisdom of God • Sermons can exceed 20 minutes • Use complete sections from Old and New Testaments • Teach the Jewish roots of faith • Theotopical preaching—retelling the story to shape worldview • Preach on kingdom living, Triune God, Jesus is the only way • Address sexuality, marriage and family regularly • Teach about Hell • Affirm the trustworthiness of Scripture

28. Preaching without Words • Modern mindset— • FACTS BELIEF BEHAVIOR • Emerging culture— • EXPERIENCE BEHAVIOR BELIEF • Visuals are essential to the new paradigm • Dialogue is essential to the new paradigm • Art preaches; Music preaches; Scripture preaches; Even silence preaches • Propositional truth is not the only way to communicate what the Bible teaches • The stories of the Bible are essential to the effective teaching in the Post-modern context

29. New Approach to Evangelism

30. Discipleship in the Emerging Church

31. A Ministry of Social Justice • Social justice is an issue of the Emerging Church • When people are hurting and down and out, the Christians need to respond with love and help • The is part of Loving one’s neighbor as one loves himself • This is why the Emerging Church is a Missional church as they participate in the gathering and as well as participating outside the walls of the church • If the church is to truly be the Church, we must meet needs in the community as well as in the church itself

32. Emerging Church Leadership

33. The Road Goes Ever On • Exactly what the emerging church will look like and how it will go about mission is yet to be discovered • But Jesus has promised that His church will prevail • The church must follow the Great Commandment—Matthew 22:3-40— • 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." ESV • Love God and Love others!