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2008 July 01 » Mission in Action
Jul 01

Summer In the City 2008

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TCH’s Summer in the City is starting in three days time – it must be; according to the Bureau the weather is about to turn horrible in Sheffield. You can read about SITC here.

A year since our experience of SITC and I still marvel how effective it was.? There were no new programs, no razzmatazz, simply an upping of the ante.? All of the mission that was done was an increase in the work that the household congregations do day-in-day-out for the rest of the year.? It was that increase in activity for a short period of time that raised the interest among those on the periphery – those who had been watching the lives and lifestyles of the congregations over the preceding year – to a level where their curiosity drew them closer.? Seeing how effective such a small group was over that period of time, and watching the goodwill SITC engendered among locals, businesses, community festivals, migrant and asylum seeker groups was great to see.? Taking the mandate in Jeremiah seriously – to “seek the welfare of the city” has been the most effective mission strategy I have seen.

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Jul 01

One down – 89 to go

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Ok – so I’m not going to do this thing religiously. ? I’m not going to read the Bible in 90 days as a way of seeking favour in God’s eyes. ? Which is just as well as the first 25 chapters of Genesis would disavow you of that notion. ? I read those today, and was struck afresh by just how foundational to absolutely everything in the Bible those early chapters are. ? Yes, I know, I’ve sneaked a peek at the back of the book and I know we win, but it’s amazing to read how Abraham’s trust in God’s promise was reckoned to him as righteousness – grace all the way, no place for self-righteous works. ? Now I have to say I have been reading the NASB instead of the NIV and the ebb and flow of it compared to the NIV is remarkable – it’s a far clearer read and being more of a literal translation than what is known as a “dynamic equivalence” it really sticks in your brain.

Despite all the good stuff, the murder, the intrigue, the Ancient Near East IVF program, the thing that most sticks with me from today’s reading is the logical consequence of listening to the devil. ? “You shall surely not die” says the father of lies to Eve, only for us to read over and over again a few chapters later in the genealogies “And so-and-so fathered many other sons and daughters, and he died.. and so-and-so fathered many other sons and daughters and he died”: A staccato reminder of the fact that sin leads to death and God actually was telling the truth when he pointed it out.

If you’d like to post some comments about the things you’ve taken from your readings for the day that would be great. ? Our own online Wikipedia-esque commentary.

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