52. The Future of the Church w/ Alan Hirsch and Brian Sanders - Reimagining Microchurch, Ep. 3
May 31, 2023
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Alan Hirsch and Brian Sanders discuss the future of the church, emphasizing values of humility, openness, and embodying Jesus. They explore collaboration as key to church growth and the potential for micro-churches to address social issues. The metaphor of the seed is used to highlight growth and collaboration, while emphasizing the need for deeper partnership and unity among churches.
Collaboration is essential for the future of the Western church, as seen in the struggles and decline of the European church.
Repentance involves a radical paradigm shift and openness to change, requiring Western Christianity to embrace diversity and learn from different contexts.
The church's focus should be on rediscovering biblical forms and prioritizing love through vibrant missional movements, instead of relying on megachurches and institutionalized structures.
Deep dives
The power of collaboration in the Western Church
Collaboration is seen as a technique and a key element for the future of the church in the Western world. The European church, struggling and declining, serves as a warning to the Western church that preservation of outdated systems and Eurocentric ecclesiology can lead to its demise. The call for the Western church is to adopt a missionary stance and form partnerships to address the challenges of a rapidly changing society. Collaboration is not only a necessary strategy, but it also aligns with the concept of networks and impact networks, where the power of the church as an impact network can make a substantial difference in addressing societal issues and spreading the gospel.
The importance of repentance and paradigm shift
Repentance, understood as a radical paradigm shift and reorientation, is crucial for the future of the church. It involves acknowledging personal and collective wrongs and being open to change. Repentance goes beyond recognizing personal sin and extends to a willingness to undergo transformation and be reframed by God. Western Christianity needs to embrace paradigm shifts and openness to learn from diverse contexts, rather than being confined to Eurocentric ecclesiological structures. Repentance is not only a personal act but also a collective one, encompassing the church as a whole and enabling it to grow, adapt, and become relevant in the coming years.
The hope of movements and the recognition of biblical forms
The future of the church lies in rediscovering biblical forms and recognizing the power and effectiveness of movements. Megachurches and institutionalized structures may not necessarily embody the biblical model, but missional movements with networks of small, vibrant communities can create a significant impact. Movements rooted in love, collaboration, and a focus on mission have the potential to bring about transformation and address the challenges facing the Western church. The church should prioritize being a people defined by love, both within the body and in relationships with the world, striving for unity, commitment, and trust as they bear witness to the grace and kingdom of God.
The significance of love and the call to be Christ-like
The church must prioritize the embodiment of love, characterized by commitment, trust, perseverance, and sacrificial affection for one another. Love should define the church's interactions within the body and with those outside the church, even those with differing opinions or backgrounds. The call is to be Christ-like in love, recognizing that it is in loving one another that the church truly exemplifies the heart of Jesus. The church's identity should be rooted in love, rather than in institutional structures or individual pursuits of power or fame.
The need to keep our eyes on Jesus and the call to repentance
In the midst of ideological ferment and uncertainty, the church's focus should remain fixed on Jesus. Christians should reject the tendencies of looking to the left or the right for solutions and instead keep their eyes on Christ. The church must remember that the goal is not to preserve past practices or cling to individualistic ideologies, but to orient oneself towards the future with faith and a willingness to repent and undergo paradigm shifts. Jesus should always be the determinative center and source of wisdom for the church, guiding its actions and decisions.
Welcome back, and thanks for tuning into this episode of Microchurches. Last episode, we sat down with Alan Hirsch and reflected on the missional conversation thus far. Today, we're joined by both Alan Hirsch and Brian Sanders, to continue this conversation and to unpack what it means for the future of the church. You will hear insights into what Alan and Brian have seen and experienced in the Western church particularly, and together we'll dive into the values of humility and openness, repentance, and embodying Jesus in every way as we embrace the transformative possibilities of the church ahead.