The ministry apprentices at Wahroonga have commented on how much they have learned simply by being with those training them.  They watch us deal with someone in distress, someone who needs to hear the gospel, someone who is being ungodly, and so on. 

It can also be very helpful to explain why we acted in a particular way or why we said something, so that those we train not only get to watch us in action, they also get to understand the thinking behind our actions.

Great post Tony, and very much against the grain of what we’d like. We are impatient…

Hi David,

Tony’s on hols this week and next so I will attempt to stand in his shoes (probably a big mistake). I am presuming that you are referring to point 8 above? Do you want to expand your thoughts a little?

Thanks,
Paul G.

<i>I understand that church plants are effective in the short term in reaching different groups but surely true discipleship means embracing those who are not like you in age, race, socio-economic status, musical tastes, personaliy etc.</i>

David, am I right that you are criticising the homogeneous unit principle? I’m not sure I see the exact relevance to the post?

Hi Dave and Matt,

I think I would agree that Sunday ought not to be the main recruiting ground for the congregation. And I presume that by “recruiting ground” you mean evangelism?

But I think that that was Tony’s point in #8. I think he’s saying, let’s think about how we meet together around the word of God and grow in Christ together as God’s people in a way that doesn’t cut people off completely from their broader set of relationships and community.

That’s what he’s saying about clearing out some of the events to help people make the most of their relationships. But, if we clear out the church calendar a bit, then we need to think very carefully about what we do when we meet. I don’t think that Tony is arguing for Sunday as being the primary recruiting ground at all.

Although, he would certainly say on the basis of 1Cor 14 that the word of God ought to be intelligible in such a way that the outsider might fall down and declare that God is among us.