I thought some of you in this forum would be interested in a new eGroups.com forum I started. I started it after another forum I was in started having messages flying at the rate of 70 a day, so I thought i would break out a subset of them from the noise over there.
The new forum is GreatCommission@egroups.com. It's a list for discussing the Great Commission for those of a Church of Christ/ independent Christian Church background, aka Restoration Movement/Ideal. We will discuss how our churches can reach this world, not the world of the 1950s, 1960s or any other era but our own. We will talk of adapting our message and churches for our current culture without adopting the current culture. Topics may include church planting, creating seeker-friendly events, equipping members for outreach, etc. This list is not for discussing issues not at least loosely related to fulfilling the Great Commission, and really isn't for doctrinal debate.
If interested, visit the website at http://www.egroups.com/group/GreatCommission

-- Anonymous, May 05, 2000

Answers

Question....how can one have a "methodology" discussion without discussing "theology?"

This is what I find wrong with much of the "methodology" approach to ministry today.

Right practice.....follows only after right thinking.

If the thinking is wrong theologically.....then it will follow that the practice or methodology is still wrong....no matter how well intended.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

Sorry Sam....don't accept your premise.

Are we to assume that apostasy and bad thinking are not possible in the Christian church??

Hardly!

-- Anonymous, June 04, 2000

Thanks, Mark. Our focus and priority must become the lost. If it's anything else (like precise doctrinal issues), the world will go to hell in a hand-basket while we prove ourselves "right."

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

Butu Danny, right practice does not neccessarily follow right thinking. What effectively transmits good theology in one setting often differs from what effectively transmits it in another setting. Paul is a fine example. What worked well for him in the synagogues would have gone nowhere on Mars Hill, and vice versa. We must work out the most effective way to reach each different segment of society with the truth. Surely, many of those methods will have a lot of overlap, and some will be identical to others.

Mark clearly stated that the discussion is to be for folks in the CC/CoC/RM, so we will assume at the outset that theology will not be a problem, and we can focus on methodology.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

Having spoken with Mark through this forum, I have no doubts about hid theological positions, or his ability to steer such a discussion properly.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000

Thanks Sam.

It's sad that the GreatCommission hasn't taken off like I would have liked it to. The discussion is pretty much dominated by myself (a lot of time trying to spark discussion) and one other person. We have an interesting international mix, more than this group as a percentage. I have limited experience trying to build up a group on such a focused subject area, so it might yet take off.

There is an interesting inquiry floating right now in its early stages on that forum that I may restate in the form of question here in another thread. I would be interested in some thoughts from this peanut gallery on it. (And I mean peanut gallery in the nicest form of the phrase.) You all might enjoy chewing on it.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000