© 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center Living System Ministry Embracing our Poverty What it Means to Have an Inner Poverty Before God

Western mental models  As Western Christians, our knee-jerk reaction is to use our worldly riches, abilities and resources to try to solve problems.  When we do, we develop a mental picture of ourselves as: Educated Rich Influential Well-resourced © 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center

Imperfect mental models  Regardless of wealth, education or resources, because of our fallen nature, we all have imperfect mental models that can: deceive us in our ministry activities cause us to take actions that will be ineffective for the kingdom of God © 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center

Embracing our poverty  As the Church, we need to repent of our self – sufficiency and instead rely on the indwelling Spirit of God.  To embrace our poverty means to accept our limitations and recognize our natural weakness. © 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center

The entry point to fruitfulness Acknowledging our Fallenness Embracing our inner poverty © 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center The entry point to life with Christ The entry point to fruitful ministry in God’s Kingdom

Change in our attitudes and actions Having an inner poverty drives us to:  Ask questions  Relate well to others  Expect unintended negative returns  Embrace the complexity of living systems © 2012 Emmanuel Gospel Center