Sharing our Faith: Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Why are we facing such diversity in our congregations? Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

The Church as an institution: Helpful or unhelpful? Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

How can we proclaim the Christian truth in a world of diversity? Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

To what extent should we declare the truth cf invite people to believe. Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Have we overemphasised the place of preaching and neglected other aspects of worship? Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

How do we craft ‘sacred spaces’ for worship that allow enable to experience God? Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

How do our methods of communication in the Church relate to those in the world? Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

How do our methods of communication and learning in the Church relate to those in the world? Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Starting out: Do we live in a modern age? Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Introducing postmodernity: “It’s life Jim, but not as we know it!” Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Star Trek NBC Mission: “To boldly go where no one has gone before.”

Original Star Trek Series: 3 Main Characters – Captain Kirk, Doctor McCoy and Spock. Spock is an alien who thinks logically and does not sense emotion – against his character the weakness of human character can be seen. The series was aired against the backdrop of the cold war.

New characters: Data, Counsellor Troy Development of the ‘Prime Directive’

Start Trek: Voyager, NBC Stranded in Space & making the long journey home

Star Trek: Reflecting changes in our community and attitudes Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

A clash of philosophies: What is ‘truth’? Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

They who have power own ‘the truth’ – and can use it for their own ends. Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Instead, ‘truth’ is relative: no one has a right to assert or impose an ‘ultimate truth’ Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Postmodern criticism of science and hope in human progress Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

2 World Wars Awareness of human Failure Science and reason are no longer a panacea

Postmodernist criticism of language Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Language is a slippery tool for communicating the truth. Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

It is easy to be economic with the truth when using language. Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Language is not always the best vehicle to convey meaning….ie Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

‘evangelical’ ‘left-wing’ ‘Church’ Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

The meaning of scripture is biased by culture, politics and ideology. Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

There is no thing as ‘the self’, God is a ‘construct’, meta- narratives are out Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Postmodernists searching for a different kind of freedom Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Postmodernists as moody teenagers: Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Postmodernist attitudes in the Western world: Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

More touchy-feely! Wary of criticising the beliefs of others (unless fundamentalist)….. Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Most people in the West are part modern, part postmodern, and share a number of attitudes. Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

What are the implications for evangelists today? Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Tomlinson and the Post-evangelical debate Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Allow people to think for themselves. Use doubts and questions, be creative in presenting the gospel. Do not hide from the issues. Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Alternative styles of worship Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Provide ‘space’ where feelings can be acknowledged, Share planning of worship, use more dialogue. Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Alternative styles of preaching: Is the age of preaching ‘dead?’ Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

More story. Allow people to assemble the truth for themselves. Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Roy Clements Are we overreacting? Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Responding to postmodern trends Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

The need for more dialogue Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Don’t assume that people have a Christian background Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

An unembarrased ‘public’ living of the gospel Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Focusing on the incarnational and the relational aspects of faith Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Additional Tasks Worship and Preaching in a modern age?

Final Question: Is postmodernity that bad? Worship and Preaching in a modern age?