Workshoppin'
Friday night kicks off the first Kingdom Workshop. T and I have been into it thick this week - I feel like I'm cramming for a midterm. I've been at his house until 11 the last two nights. For some out there, 11 PM is nothing...for me it might as well be 3 AM.
It's a challenge preparing for something where the goal is not simply information transfer. What I mean is, when I used to prepare for sermons or some kind of lecture the process was fairly simple. It just required the necessary time to gather all the information and put it in a form that people would understand. Preparing to facilitate a conversation where no one person is the "expert" is a whole other ballgame. Conversation is fundamentally something that does not want to be controlled; but left alone without discipline it becomes an unruly child. It's a dance...and I've never been a very good dancer:)
Maybe the new skills needed in the church have less to do with theological nimbleness or creativity in worship and more to do with becoming immersed in this communal dance. One of my favorite Toddisms is, "What does it mean to lead in a group of people who are supposed to be following Someone else (i.e. God the Holy Spirit)?" Preparing for this weekend, I'm acutely aware of that reality. We are coming as seekers of the kingdom, but sometimes I feel like I'm John's mom asking if her sons can sit at Jesus' right and left in his kingdom. That would be cool, right? Hangin' out with the King in his crib?
"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?"
Uhhhhh. Better stick to the "I don't have a clue" attitude.
It's a challenge preparing for something where the goal is not simply information transfer. What I mean is, when I used to prepare for sermons or some kind of lecture the process was fairly simple. It just required the necessary time to gather all the information and put it in a form that people would understand. Preparing to facilitate a conversation where no one person is the "expert" is a whole other ballgame. Conversation is fundamentally something that does not want to be controlled; but left alone without discipline it becomes an unruly child. It's a dance...and I've never been a very good dancer:)
Maybe the new skills needed in the church have less to do with theological nimbleness or creativity in worship and more to do with becoming immersed in this communal dance. One of my favorite Toddisms is, "What does it mean to lead in a group of people who are supposed to be following Someone else (i.e. God the Holy Spirit)?" Preparing for this weekend, I'm acutely aware of that reality. We are coming as seekers of the kingdom, but sometimes I feel like I'm John's mom asking if her sons can sit at Jesus' right and left in his kingdom. That would be cool, right? Hangin' out with the King in his crib?
"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?"
Uhhhhh. Better stick to the "I don't have a clue" attitude.
posted by Mike Bishop at 9:15 AM
4 Comments:
All the best Mike. I hope it goes well.
that todd quote - In my mind - is one of the more overlooked questions being asked (honestly) in the church by church leaders today.
god forgive us.
glad to see you guys doing something about it ... sounds awesome.
hey there... i hope all is well
Mike, check out Wheatley's article.. I think you will enjoy it.. reference escape from certitude and the call to dance..
http://www.margaretwheatley.com/articles/fireorfire.html
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