129. Recalibrating the Church Around Jesus, with Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch, authors of ReJesus
May 24, 2022
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Authors Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch discuss the need to recalibrate the church around Jesus. They address the challenges faced by the evangelical church and the importance of refocusing on Jesus' teachings. The conversation highlights the significance of discipleship and the essential role of embodying Christ's values in the church community.
Recalibrating the church around Jesus is crucial for embodying its intended essence and purpose.
Sidelining Jesus within the church's core poses perilous consequences, emphasizing the need to resurface His significance and teachings.
Deep dives
ReJesus: Recalibrating the Church Around Jesus
ReJesus emphasizes the critical need for the church to center itself around Jesus. The conversation with Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch highlights the importance of refocusing the church on being 'ReJesus,' letting Jesus return to the core of its existence. In the rapidly changing world, the church has veered away from the image and centrality of Jesus. Recalibrating around the person of Jesus emerges as a vital step for the church to embody the essence it was intended to reflect.
The Urgency to Restore Jesus' Preeminence
As highlighted by the podcast, the diminishing presence of Jesus in church communities is a concerning trend. The authors emphasize the perilous consequences of sidelining Jesus within the church's core. The landscape of contemporary Christianity reveals a necessity to resurface Jesus' fundamental role and significance. By revisiting Jesus' teachings, actions, and character, the church can realign itself with its original purpose and essence.
ReJesus: Rekindling Discipleship and Renewal
ReJesus underscores the roadmap to uplifting the church via discipleship and renewal. The essence of remaining anchored in Jesus and enabling lives to be transformed by His teachings resonates throughout the conversation. Engaging in contemplative practices, emphasizing heartfelt commitment to Jesus, and nurturing a community dedicated to learning about Christ are pivotal steps in rejuvenating the church's soul and mission.
Aligning Orthodoxy, Orthopathy, and Orthopraxy
The holistic approach encompassing belief, heartfelt devotion, and practical living epitomizes the essence of recentering the church on Jesus. Embracing orthodoxy, orthopathy, and orthopraxy forms the bedrock of restoring Jesus' centrality in the church. As pastors embark on this transformative journey, prioritizing personal transformation, communal scripture reading, and deep learning experiences can pave the way for a revitalized expression of faith and mission.
In a world in which the church has in many ways lost, not only the image of Jesus, but also the centrality of Jesus, how do we once again become the church we were meant to be? The church that the world needs us to be?
In this episode, Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch discuss how we can recalibrate the church with Jesus at the center.
The last five years have shown that the church needs a recalibration around the person of Jesus.
In some places the word “evangelical” has become a bad word.
Alan Hirsch is surprised and disappointed at the direction the evangelical church has taken over the last 5-10 years.
Michael Frost says the word “gospel” has been reduced to a particular atonement theory. But when Jesus used the word, he was talking about the Kingdom of God.
Much of the church’s unhealth has been unveiled in recent years.
Alan Hirsch suggests that the gospel has been depersonalized into a doctrine. We need to see the face of Jesus once again in the gospel.
The church has recalibrated itself numerous times throughout history.
Discipleship is crucial to being the church we’re called to be.
Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch both answer the question: What is the church’s mission?
Many in our churches seem unable to recognize the voice of Jesus—even when read from the scriptures.
Being the church we are called to be requires three things:
Orthodoxy – not just right beliefs, but truly taking the scriptures into our hearts and souls
Orthopathy – a right heart, right feelings, love and allegiance toward Jesus
Orthopraxy – right action
Alan Hirsch says we can’t go wrong if we become more like Jesus.