Congregations as Signal Communities - Transforming the World

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Congregations as Signal Communities-
Transforming the World
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So we can be a signal community that changes
the worldone person and one neighborhood at a
time
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What is a Signal Community?

• Four things
• Vision
• Worship
• 3. Formation
• 4. Action

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We Share a Vision for Creation

• Gods vision of reconciliation, salvation,
  wholeness, justice and peace.
• Shalom fullness of peace, everything is right

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We share a mission

• We proclaim Jesus Christ
• and
• Promote Communities of
• Joy, Hope, Love, and Peace
• What happens if we just emphasize
• half of the mission statement?

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Your Kingdom Come Your will
be done On earth, as it is in
heaven (Matthew 610 NRSV)
Signal Community Vision We Pray Christs
Prayer
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Signal Community Vision God creates sacred space
through us.

• Sacred space is safe space, sanctuary for all.
• Sacred space is healing space.
• Sacred space is a peaceful, just place.
• Together we model the change we want to see
  happen in the world. We are light to the world, a
  City on a Hill, salt of the earth, leaven, a
  touch of heaven on earth.

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Signal Community Vision Power of the Few

• Be courageous and visionary
• believing in the power of just
• a few vibrant witnesses
• to transform the world.
• (Doctrine and Covenants 1613c)

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful
committed people can make a difference.
Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.
(Margaret Mead, US Anthropologist)
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What is Formation?

• becoming disciples of Jesus
• in community
• for the sake of the world

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Mission as Jesus Did Mission
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What do you do well in your congregation?
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What is missing?
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Three Steps to Transform the World
Step 1
Touch the Pain!

Compassion
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Step 1
Touch the Pain!
Step 2
Hear the Call!
Compassion
Discipleship Making

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Step 1
Touch the Pain!
Step 2
Hear the Call!
Compassion
Step 3
Discipleship Making
Change The System!
Peace/Justice
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What happens if one step is missing?
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Listen to the need first.This is the first act
of compassion. Do not assume!
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Christ of the Bread lines
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Share Christs Peace Conversion
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• What is
• conversion?

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Personal change/conversion

• Jesus said
• No one can see the kingdom of God without
  being born from above
• No one can enter the kingdom of God without
  being born of water and Spirit.
• (John 33,5)

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Personal change/conversion

• Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ
  Jesus (Philippians 25 NKJV)
• Do not be conformed to this world, but be
  transformed by the renewing of your minds, so
  that you may discern what is the will of God
  what is good and acceptable and perfect.
  (Romans 122 NRSV)

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Proselytism

• Jesus said
• Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
  hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win
  one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him
  twice as much as son of hell as yourselves.
  (Matthew 2315 NKJV)

• Proselytism is
• change of group without change of character
• just about numbers group egotism/pride
• change of label, not change of life.

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Personal change/conversion

• Justification
• first experience of Holy Spirit
• knowing for the first time we are loved by
  God
• Sanctification
• journey of transformation in covenant
  community
• progressive change of character with help of
  others
• becoming Sermon on the Mount
• Christians. (Matthew chapters 5-7)
• seeking to bring forth and establish the
  cause of Zion