This Sunday, January 18th, we will embark on a an exciting 5-part sermon series based on the book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations by Bishop Robert Schnase. The 5 practices are Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. Bishop Schnase suggests that churches that seek to excel at these 5 practices not only thrive but more importantly faithfully fulfill the mission of the church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the trasformation of the world.
I am inviting all leaders and staff in the life of St. Mark’s church to read the book. A copy has been bought for you and can be picked up in the church office. I pray that reading and reflecting together on these 5 practices will inspire as well as give shape to our work in 2009. Please note that we will be reading the chapters in order except for Passionate Worship and Intentional Faith Development. These two will be reversed.
I will also be blogging about the 5 practices. Mostly I will be asking questions about how we are doing with regards to each practice. I covet (even though technically we are not supposed to covet) your (everyone’s…not just the leader’s) responses and your engagement with me on this journey. Each of one of us has a unique perspective. I believe we are on the right trajectory and are attempting to try and live out each practice at some level. But I also know we have not yet arrived, no church has, and that we much keep honning each of the 5 practices in order to be faithful to the call God has given us. I look forward to hearing from you.
Ben-e-diction: As we read and study may God show us were we are doing well, where we have failed, and where we need to keep working. Amen.
