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The absurdity of the attempt made by some to draw unworthy distinctions between our social and spiritual work pp 15

he faith she saw was not put into any creed, and yet it was pervading everything and everybody... before she could find any dogma ripe for attack, discovered that she had treated Jsus all these years worse than any of the poor creatures around her had pp37

The italian earthquake has given us one of the grandest opportunities we ever had to multiply our power in europe... it was seen that our officers were acting with greater speed and efficiency than anybody else, for the good of the remoter sufferers. Of course they did not seek to meddle with any relgious question in connexion with this relief work, but they must needs have creqated a very great opening for us in regions where we were never known before. It was especially a sign of the new era that has dawned for us in which we can begin anywhere with the perfect confidence instead of the distrust of every one

pp 10

The church of Christ is perfect when she is fulfilling her intended end as the body of Christ, acting as His eyes to serach out human need, His feet to run to meet that need, His hands to succourneed, His lips to speak comfortable words to those in need. Thu sbehaving, His church is a glorious church without spot or wrinkle, perfect in the Father's sight because she is fulfilling His purpose for her. pp48

When we love men we care for them as God cares, which is caring till it hurts pp60

"we must not make the mistake of supposing that holiness means the eradication of any of our normal human appetites. The redirection and control of all to the divine glory - yes; but the elimination of none... to suppose otherwise is a reflection upon the creator whose handiwork we are" pp103

To sum up - what needs to be sanctified is the will. As the will is th esource of all sinning, so it can be the spring of all right living

Polanyi

God loves and reaches out to every individual person in God's unique and different ways. The son is the only way to the father, but there are many ways to Jesus Christ. (Fung, 2002:3)

It is the suggestion of Ambiguous Evangelism that the claims of Christ can best be presented playfully, through story, in an understated manner, and through dialogue. The claims of Christ can be presented:

* playfully because appealing to someone's imagination can be stronger than appealing to their intellect - initially, people will generally respond more to passion and feeling than to clarity and understanding.

* through story because the narrative forms an easy way for people to appropriate ideas and thoughts into their own context.

in an understated manner, where appropriate, in order to encourage people to come back and ask questions.

through encouraging a dialogue and exchange of ideas with the other person, because belief is not a subject that can be dealt with in one single conversation or presentation. Pp73

What this means in terms of evangelism is that priority needs to be given to acknowledging what someone has got right ahead of criticizing what they have got wrong. Pp76-77

The foundations of true dialogue are 'humility' and 'compromise'. The history of the word humility and the current usage of the word 'compromise' illustrate how people are not naturally comfortable with the idea of dialogue and listening to alternative points of view.

… The essence of a compromise, however, is when two people come together and each of them takes on board some of what the other person has said. This is a good and honourable thing, but there is no word in the English language that adequately describes the process.

Not a selling out or capitulation 89

David Attenborough - The essence of a compromise, however, is when two people come together and each of them takes on board some of what the other person has said. This is a good and honourable thing, but there is no word in the English language that adequately describes the process. Pp99

The fool is a character in whom seriousness of content and lightness of manner are found hand-in-hand. In the same way, the Christian point of view can be offered with lightness of touch - as suggestion or insight, rather than as direction or command. Pp 99

There is something deeply unappetizing about hard, granite-like slabs of Christian truth being thrown at people who are either unaware or uninterested. 120

if people were happy, how then could they be made to realize their need of forgiveness in Christ?

This raises the question of why the Church seems to expect, or even need, such a realization. I would argue that a presentation of the cross on the basis that someone should realize their need of forgiveness is an inadequate paradigm for mission. There are deep flaws within a pathological presentation of Christianity where the validity of the message is wholly dependent on the hearer realizing their need of salvation.

Pp123

1 also find it harder and harder to get anyone to disagree with me. However, this lack of disagreement is not an indication of agreement. People tell me that they find what 1 am saying interesting. They respect me for my convictions. They tell me that they are glad that 1 have got a faith, but it is not for them. It is not that people have rejected Christianity, but rather that they have never encountered it. People admire me for my faith as if 1 am a novelty, a rare species of being; they want me close enough to be interesting but not so close as to be threatening. 2

If 1 make a claim about jesus statement of choice rather than a truth claim. 54

ambiguity in evangelism... is not about having a vague message, but rather the confidence that no one model of person will suffice 142

a.k.a. "Lost": Discovering Ways to Connect with the People Jesus Misses Most Jim Henderson,
Reimagining Spiritual Formation: A Week in the Life of an Experimental Church (Emergentys S.) by Doug Pagitt
Spirituality Workbook David Runcorn
The responsive church Tomlin and Spencer
Spirituality Workbook David Runcorn
Orlando Costas wrote in "Christ outside the gate: Mission beyond Christendom" (1982)
Richard Peace, conversion in the New Testament
Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community With Good News and Good Works (Paperback) by Ronald J. Sider, Philip N. Olson, Heidi Rolland Unruh
apostle notebook - mike brean