Sunday 7th September, 2008
Think about how people are fed (e.g. at a restaurant, a self-serve cafeteria, supermarket, at home and so on…)
- How could you use this idea of being fed as an analogy to explain how an average church, like ours, works and is structured?
- What strengths and weaknesses about the church does this analogy show up?
- Using the same type of picture (about feeding), how would you change the analogy to better suit the kind of church do we often look for or want to go to?
- And what feeding analogy might better suit the way you think church should be?
Contribute your thoughts by clicking "comments" below. You can also read other people's contributions too.
posted by Dave @ 10:30
2 Comments
2 Comments:
Restaurant: - Served up, we choose type of food (Denomination) and dish from menu. Visited. No commitment, high expectations. Can take or leave. Formal or casual. May be expensive. Pride. Often good quality. Reputation important. Can have servant leadership, but very hard work.
Self Service: - We help ourselves to what we want and when. Choice over type of food and quantity. Selfish. No commitment. Casual. Can be positive though, like attending conferences and choosing seminars.
Supermarket: - Buy what we want to prepare ourselves. Like buying books, DVD’s and CD’s. No commitment. Good supplement to the real deal.
Takeaway: - We choose. Order by phone. Delivered or collected. Casual. No commitment.
Soup Kitchen: - Served up free. No choice. Giving. Focus on the poor. Service orientated. Inclusive. Non-judgemental.
Home: - Best option! Cook for oneself and others. Share meals. Prepare message oneself. Study and learn together. Be oneself before others/transparency.. No set menu. Caring, committed, knowing each others needs, likes and dislikes. Sharing responsibilities and tasks. Teams and rotas. A Family belonging to one another. Place of safety. Basic unit in society. Parenting roles/bringing up children/new believers. Social democracy (or autocratic) leadership. Commune, Some grow their own food. Economically self sufficient. Wider family involvement. Balance of leisure/rest and work. Fun place to be. Inward and outward focus. All things in common/New Testament Church in Acts. Can be exclusive though. Servant leadership.
First of all I think where our chuch is at the moment is rearly good and inviting, welcomeing, not too scarry! I feel so much like an outsider and Ive been going to Exeter Vineyard since 2000! our church used to be soooo cleakey groups of 1st class, 2nd class and 3rd Class! I didnt help by wearing a big chane attached to my trousers!!! and a shaved bald head!!! not very apealing for a young lady!!! I totally feel at home and conftable at Exeter Vinyard now! I find I miss our family when I go away! I love them sooooo much mi heart could burst! Im fed by the fellowship and GoOd Word and the Faith shared alike! Im not quite sure what Im talking about and Im a Hippocritte for the way I live my life! but I come just as I am, A broken vessle, A wreck!!!! I totally gone off the whole point and had a rant!!!!! Sorry!
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