Gallipoli and the church’s mission in a post modern society

Understanding the Times 1 Chronicles 12:32 “…men of Issachar who understood the times and knew what Israel should do…”

Understanding the Terrain The social, political, religious and technological landscape.

“War is essentially the triumph, not of the chassepot [a breech-loading rifle closed with a bolt] over a needle-gun, not of a line of men entrenched behind wire entanglements and fireswept zones over men exposing themselves in the open, but of one will over another weaker will.” Sir Ian Hamilton, Commander of the Allied Forces in Gallipoli

The Nek “We knew we were doomed”

“Goodbye, Cobber. God Bless you”

“The problem came not with the goal (the pursuit of God’s presence), but with the assumption that, in order to be spiritual, one must no longer pay attention to the world.” Mark Noll: The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind

Sir John Monash

Understanding the People Those that live within a specific social, political, religious and technological landscape.

Who are your enemies?

The Dreaded Hun

The Truce

Paul and Incarnation 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Sympathy and Confidence Hebrews 4:14-16 ‘Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Lets us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.’

Chocolate and Redemption

Image of an Incarnational Church “Vianne Rocher’s chocolaterie is our vision of an incarnational church. She is warm, nonjudgmental, and compassionate, offering grace and peace to the troubled community. Her shop is a haven, but she doesn’t simply wait for people to enter. She engages the lives and troubles of her community and offers practical help as well as space for honesty and truth-telling to happen. She celebrates life, good food, loud laughter, love, romance, storytelling, fantasy, and imagination.” Frost and Hirsch: Shaping of Things to Come

The Wrap Up The invitation is to be a person who: Makes an effort to understand the culture he/she lives in – doesn’t live in it unthinkingly Lives and demonstrates the alternate Christ culture Makes an effort to know and understand the people he/she shares this society with – embody love, grace, warmth, peace, compassion and acceptance