Understanding the Church as the Creation of the Spirit TS 820 The Practice of Ministry Houston Graduate School of Theology Presented by Craig Van Gelder Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

PENTECOST AS A NEW BEGINNING  Images of Fulfillment Tower of Babel – Genesis 11 New Covenant – Jeremiah 31 Descent of “Glory/Spirit of God” – 1 Kings 8 Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

NAMING THE EXPERIENCE OF PENTECOST Descriptive Naming “ekklesia” – an assembly of free citizens “called out” by a herald in connection with public affairs (see Acts 19:39) Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

NAMING THE EXPERIENCE OF PENTECOST Theological Naming Metaphors – there are ninety-six (96) images and analogies used in the New Testament that are used to refer to the church Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

FOUR KEY METAPHORS FOR THE CHURCH  People of God  Body of Christ  Communion of Saints  New Creation ALL COMMUNAL ALL MISSIONAL Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

PEOPLE OF GOD “As indeed he says in Hosea, ‘Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people.’ And her who was not beloved I will call beloved... Romans 9:25 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people... once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people.” I Peter 2:9-10 Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

LIVING INTO THE REALITY OF PENTECOST Prayer “Lord, help us to become more of what you have already made us to be.” Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

BODY OF CHRIST  The DEATH - “all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death.” (Romans 6:3)  The RESURRECTION - “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11)  The ASCENSION - “When he ascended on high... he gave gifts to his people.” (Ephesians 4:8) Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

LIVING INTO THE REALITY OF PENTECOST Prayer “Lord, help us to become more of what you have already made us to be.” Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

COMMUNION OF SAINTS Acts 2-6 New Behaviors  New behavior of “gathering”  New behavior of “sharing the story”  New behavior of “giving of resources”  New behavior of “faith when facing adversity”  New behavior of “protecting community integrity”  New behavior of “addressing issues of justice” Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

LIVING INTO THE REALITY OF PENTECOST Prayer “Lord, help us to become more of what you have already made us to be.” Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

NEW CREATION (2 Cor. 5:17 and Eph. 2:19-22) “If anything is in Christ, it is a new creation...”  CITIZENS of a new nation  MEMBERS of a new household  LIVING STONES being built into a holy temple as the dwelling place of God Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

LIVING INTO THE REALITY OF PENTECOST Prayer “Lord, help us to become more of what you have already made us to be.” Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Extending a Biblical Metaphor into Our Experience Ocheyedan Mound Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Extending a Biblical Metaphor into Our Experience Ocheyedan MoundHawkeye Point Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Extending a Biblical Metaphor into Our Experience Ocheyedan Mound What are the stones saying this week? Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

LIVING INTO THE REALITY OF PENTECOST Prayer “Lord, help us to become more of what you have already made us to be.” Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Using a Metaphor Out of Our Own Experience Demonstration Plot Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Using a Metaphor Out of Our Own Experience Demonstration Plot The Church is God’s demonstration plot in the world that heaven has already begun! Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

LIVING INTO THE REALITY OF PENTECOST Prayer “Lord, help us to become more of what you have already made us to be.” Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

A MORE BASIC UNDERSTANDING  CHURCH – The church is.  MINISTRY – The church does what it is.  ORGANIZATION – The church organizes what it does. Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Discussion What are the most important implications that the church is the creation of the Spirit have for the work of your church and/or ministry? Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016