Tim Keller Article

After reading the following article, the participants gathered in Groups to discuss it.

Ministry in the New Global Culture of Major City-Centers Part I
Ministry in the New Global Culture of Major City-Centers Part II
Ministry in the New Global Culture of Major City-Centers Part III

Group 1

Our group was very diverse: Each continent was repreented exept Africa.

Demography is Changing

Economic and political systems are changing.

Caused by Globalization.

In Mumbai and Beijing there were significant difference from Keller's article.

We recognized that the article was Anglo-centric but not comprehensive for other world cities.

We need to follow Paul's example of contextualizing the Gospel and its expression wherever we find our selves.

We then talked about the international aspects of city ministry. In many city there is a heterogeneous mix of peoples.

What does racial integration look like.

There's a racial integration.

Also a cultural integration.

It's easier to integrate across racial lines where there is parity economical and in language.

It is more difficult integrating across cultures where there are differences in language and economics.

Is it more efficient to partner with culturally focused churches than to try to integrate one church.

Group 2

The religious and non-religious are running from God. For Christians it is our own righteousness. For non-Christians it is idolatry.

Our identity should be the joy of what Christ has done. A lack of joy in what Christ has done is the central problem.

The Gospel is not only the ABC but the A to Z of the Church. They preach the gospel to themselves. It is a robust understanding of the Gospel that speaks.

Preaching should be Christ-centric, not moralism. The Bible is about Christ (Luke 24).

Worship should be experiential.

IN city centers you must have artistic excellence and liturgical richness.

Group 3

Every part of the is being contextualized: be Jesus right where you live.

Be respectful and sensitive in our communication.

What's out there right now isn't working.

Leadership should humbly empty ourselves of old practices and say, "Lord teach me so I might teach others."

We become genuine community within the larger community.

We don't want to reproduce after our own kind.

Truly care for injustices.

Group 4

Thinking Christianly
We generally isolate from the city.

Or we integrate and lose our salt and light.

We strive to be incarnational: relationally, learners,

Fall redemption heaven needs to change to fall, redemption, restoration and heaven.

Church planting must be a primary part of every church.

We tend to over adapt or under adapt.

Para-churches are becoming church planting movements.

Cultural Transformation happens when cultural institutions are transformed.